Friday, June 24, 2011

A ride on a catamaran and snorkeling!

Thursday was a relaxing day.  Students had the morning free to finish up their shopping and lounge by the pool.  After class, we went to bed early to get a good night's sleep for our snorkeling trip the next morning.

Early Friday morning, we set out from Tamarindo Beach on a large catamaran, complete with a friendly crew.  We rode past lush, green hills with rocky cliffs, and stopped near a small island to snorkel.  On the boat, we were treated to freshly cut fruit, smoothies and snacks.  We even found and got to touch some sealife: a puffer fish and a starfish!

After lunch in Tamarindo Beach, the students have their last class and say goodbye to their Flamingo Beach teachers.  Tonight, we will have a farewell fiesta on the beach and enjoy our last moments with our little "familia".

The students have formed such strong bonds that they are already exchanging their U.S. phone numbers to stay in touch, and planning to visit each other!  Through all of their experiences, whether they were fun or challenging, the students supported each other and grew as individuals.  They will return as better people and as better Spanish-speakers!  I'm so happy to have gotten to know each one of them on this trip.  Thank you for providing them with this opportunity!

Pura vida por siempre!
Natalie

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Fun in the sun (and rain)!

The rainy season is upon us!  Typically here in Flamingo Beach, it is hot and sunny in the morning and a little rainy in the afternoon and night with a possibility of a thundershower.  In the mornings, students now know to be prepared with sunblock, insect repellent, a towel and raingear in addition to their school supplies!

Wednesday morning, we ventured out to Tamarindo Beach, a 20-minute drive south from Flamingo Beach.  Some students rented surf boards and boogie boards to ride the waves, and some students enjoyed the sandy beach as we watched the tide go out.  Being more of a touristy beach town, there were people on the beach selling everything from jewlery to fresh coconut water, and many sun-baked surfers slicing their way through the waves.  After a while on the beach, we did some shopping, ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant and returned to Flamingo Beach for class.  After class, students enjoyed the pools at CPI and at the hotel, and we had dinner at a nearby restaurant.  In the evening, the girls decided to treat themselves to a homemade spa night, complete with advocado-cucumber face masks, manicures and pedicures!

Saludos de Playa Flamingo!
Natalie

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

A relaxing weekend and on to Flamingo Beach!

After saying goodbye to our host families on Saturday morning, we headed out to one of the five most active volcanos in the world, the Arenal Volcano.  What an impressive sight from anywhere in its vicinity, even from our comfortable hotel room porches!  We learned from our ecotourism guide that the dark patches we could see down the side of the vocano are actually lava rocks.  Que interesante!  That night we enjoyed hot water springs, which were pools naturally heated by the volcano.  At the springs, we had a good mix of relaxation and excitement.  In addition to the dimmly lit hot spring pools, they also had three small water slides and a buffet style dinner for us.

Sunday, we went shopping in downtown La Fortuna which is where our hotel was, then took a bus ride around the Arenal Lake and westward to Flamingo Beach, our home until we return.

Monday, we awoke in our new hotel, the Guanacaste Lodge, where we are staying in little cabanas situated around a beautiful courtyard, complete with a pool and resident parrots.  Before class, we ventured out to the gorgeous beach.  The students enjoyed throwing the frisbee, swimming in the warm Pacific Ocean, burying each other in the sand and soaking up the rays.  We then moved on to a refreshing pool nearby and sipped on delicious fruit smoothies before meeting the new teachers at CPI.  After class, we had a wonderful dinner, followed by a group trip to the ice cream shop!

Tuesday morning, we volunteered at a local clinic where we helped paint the outside of the building a light papaya color.  After working up an appetite, we had lunch and headed to class.

Everyday, the students understand and speak more Spanish!  I enjoy hearing about the one-on-one practice activities they are doing in their classes.  I've been impressed at how the students give each other positive support with everything from health issues to photography.  They have continued to bond, sharing things about their classes here in Costa Rica as well as about their home towns back in the United States.  What a great group of students!  It has been valuable for the students to be able to experience various parts of Costa Rica, including the cool mountain community of Monteverde and now the hot beaches of the Guanacaste area.  They are getting to see first hand the many little details that make up the culture!  Everything from the kind, helping nature of the Costa Rican people to the wide variety of insects here.

Pura vida!
Natalie

PS - More pictures soon to come!

Friday, June 17, 2011

From cooking to zip lining!

Not only will the students return home knowing how to speak Spanish, but they will also know how to cook typical Costa Rican burritos!  Before class on Thursday, the students attended a cooking class held in the kitchen of CPI by one of the CPI cooks, señora Beatriz.  They participated in each part of the process, from chopping onions to grating carrots, from frying the burritos to washing the dishes!  After enjoying the burritos and salad they prepared, the students attended their classes, then had a relaxing evening at "home" with their host families.

This morning, we experienced by far the most adventurous excursion yet: the canopy tour.  Once the zip line staff helped the students put on their safety gear, we hiked into the forest, always heading farther and farther up into the canopy.  As we arrived at the take-off platform, we realized just how exciting this was going to be!  The tour consisted of zipping from one platform to another, sometimes just from tree to tree, and sometimes across an entire valley!  It was absolutely exhilarating - and a little scary - but everyone did it!

Today, they enjoy their last day of classes and say goodbye to their wonderful teachers and the incredible CPI Monteverde staff.  We will miss them!

Saludos!
Natalie

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Nuestros primeros días en Costa Rica hermosa

¡Hola desde Monteverde, Costa Rica!

Upon our arrival to San Jose, we were met by Jessica, our group's very own guide from the Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI), which is the language institute providing us with classes, excursions and transportation.  Jessica will accompany us throughout our entire trip!  Saturday night, we were transported directly to our beautiful hotel, La Condesa in Hereida, a suburb of San Jose.

Sunday after a buffett-style breakfast including the "gallo pinto" at the hotel, we went on a very informative, entertaining tour at Cafe Britt, which is a coffee processing company.  We learned a great deal about the history and production of coffee, and even got to try some of the best coffee in the world!  After lunch at Cafe Britt, we were transported to Monteverde.  On the way, we were able to see the Pacific Ocean near Puntarenas, which was absolutely gorgeous!  When we arrived in the hilly, cloud forest town of Monteverde, the students took their Spanish class placement test, which included an interview, then met their wonderful host families.

Monday after enjoying our first breakfast with the host families, we did a walk-about with our CPI guide, Jessica, of the small downtown area of Monteverde, known as Santa Elena.  The students participated in a "busquedad de tesoros" (treasure hunt) to familiarize themselves with the area, and even got to talk with some of the locals!  After lunch, the students were excited to start their Spanish classes.  They were placed into three different classes, which include only students from our group.  I am impressed by CPI's extremely small class size, allowing for individualized instruction and progression.

Tuesday morning, we went on a Trapiche tour.  We learned that Trapiche refers to the machine that extracts the liquid from the suger cane plant, which is then used to make caramel, candy and brown sugar.  The students even got to make their own candy, see banana trees and coffee plants, and ride in an ox-drawn cart on this tour!  After the tour, we ate a fabulous lunch prepared by the mother of the family that has owned this sugar cane business for two generations.  Then, the students attended their second day of class, and returned "home" to eat and relax with their families.

This morning we went on one of the most amazing excursions so far.  After a 30-minute hike through the lush rain forest, we came upon the tallest waterfall I've ever seen, the San Luis waterfall.  Many of the students jumped into the pool that forms at the base of the waterfall to find that the water is quite cold, yet refeshing!  Although we could have stayed their all day enjoying the beauty of the well-protected rain forest, we hiked back to the reception area of the tour and enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared by the older woman that lives on the premisis.

Overall, the trip is going wonderfully!  The students are bonding and getting to know each other as they experience the language and culture of Costa Rica together.  Everyday, they help each other with their homework and Spanish conversation skills.  I am amazed at how much their Spanish has already improved!

The weather here in Monteverde varies daily from sunny and warm in the mornings to windy, rainy and cool in the evenings.  Sometimes we even get drizzle and sunshine at the same time!  Another great aspect of this town is that it's so small that we can walk everywhere we need to go.  The only thing is that walks here are either inclined up or down since it's so hilly, so we are getting a healthy amount of exercise!

Hasta la próxima.  ¡Pura vida!
Natalie