Quincienera

Author: Hilary
Location: La Carpio, Colinas del Poas, and El Maranon
Today was my fifteenth birthday! I was very excited for my birthday but was not expecting anything other than maybe a few 'happy birthdays" I woke up to the joyous screams of pleasant birthday messages through the surprisingly thin walls, from Russell, Jorge, Morgan and Sydney. We arrived to the school in la Carpio and began mixing cement. Although we spoke to the children in the hallway, we mostly worked on our "playground project." As time passed, I became tired. When I took a long awaited water break. I noticed three kids that had peered over the fence. They asked me if we were building a medical clinic, in Spanish. I replied that we were in the process of building a playground. There faces lit up with beautiful smiles. Suddenly I was inspired and began to work more diligently. The three kids stayed and observed out work, until we finished. As we left, the children hospitably said "adios" along with their jumping and waving. We were off to the zip line site, as Deborah, Russell and Richard sang old Backstreet Boys songs. Along the way, we inquired about Hilary's (the counselor) high school days, (very funny). We arrived to the zip line site and we strapped into our safety gear. The zip line was very fun. I thought I was going to crash on the last line since it was so very long. Lunch was delicious (muy rico). Then the waiter brought out a cake and everyone sang happy birthday. The cake was really cute because it contained chopped apples and watermelon on the sides with the amazing butterscotch or coffee (couldn't tell) flavored cake. I was very surprised and happy because I had just met these people last week and yet they were all so caring and thoughtful about my birthday. Everyone's zealous attitudes about the day made my fifteenth (quinceinera) birthday on e of the best I've ever had. We traveled to the market where everyone staked up on junk food and we headed to our hotel. Dinner was also very fun, we shared stories about our favorite birthdays memories. The hotel staff brought out another cake (I've never had two cakes before!!), which was drizzled in chocolate syrup (my favorite). Everyone sang happy birthday again, and ate cake but soon the cake became a facemask for Hilary, Ella and myself, (compliments of Colleen, Richard and Ella) we headed down to the "Ranch" and began an activity of ordering facts based upon the history of Costa Rica. Russell busted out some interesting 90's music and others created a funny massage circle. After the activity was finished, Richard taught us how to salsa. Everyone got into it and was a rousing success except for a few stepped on feet and my predilection for spinning whenever I felt like it. My birthday was one of the most fun ones I've had and I couldn't image better people to spend it with!
Flickr Photos from Today
Flickr Photos from this Voyage