Getting Ready!!
December 26, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °F
Eleven Longwood students and two faculty members will soon be departing for beautiful Costa Rica to study sustainability, economic development, and tourism in a country that is on the frontier ofRead more
Getting ready to board!
December 28, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 28 °F
What a good looking group I have. We are getting ready to board the plane for Panama!! I hope you guys follow our journal.
Home for our first night
December 28, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
We are in a small community outside of the capital, close to the airport. Miss Laura is a gracious host and we hire her to cook our dinner (chicken fajitas). We have spent the morning g exploringRead more
Central market
December 28, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
There is nothing I love more than a market. Students were sent on a scavenger hunt in the market to find unusual fruits, vegetables that are not familiar, Costa Rican brands, etc. The people areRead more
Quiet reflection
December 28, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
We stopped for quiet reflection in Central Park. Students were asked to sit and observe. The noticed multi-generational families together, people eating lunch from the takeaway restaurants, LatinRead more
Today’s tasting
December 29, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
Real chicharrón (pork rinds) at the market. Super fresh and delicious.
Impromptu stop at church
December 29, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
We made an impromptu stop at a stunning church and it welcomed visitors. The national religion of the country is Catholic.
Unesco recognized
December 29, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
Historically, coffee was carried over the mountains by o carts like the one depicted in the sculpture and wall art.
Mask workshop
December 29, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
Here we are at the workshop of Heraldo Montoya, a famous mask maker. He learned from his father and grandfather. These masks are used in celebrations in Costa Rica. The idea is to dance in anRead more
Mask competition
December 29, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
Mr. Montoya challenged the group to a competition. I see a lot of talent in this group. And the winner gets a prize. Initially, the prize was to stay and work on masks for a year. But we settled for aRead more
Another tasting
December 29, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
This time it is chicha, alcohol made from fermented corn, ginger, and sugar cane. The students enjoyed it. And then the students were introduced to sugar cane.
In Palmichal
December 29, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 63 °F
We will spend two days in a rural tourism project, exploring the main agricultural product (coffee) and participating in activities with locals. This is our lodge and the 100% clean river that runsRead more
Coffee in the mountains
December 29, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 63 °F
Coffee is the main product here and we have been passed by several tucks transporting coffee cherries from the fields.
Pizza with the locals
December 29, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 63 °F
Dinner is homemade pizza, Tico style. It’s nice to be in a local home. Students have been practicing their Spanish.
Latin dancing
December 29, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
Students received a great class in Latin dancing…Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia, and Merengue.
Hike up to the farm
December 30, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
We endured a long hike up to the coffee farm today. But it was beautiful.
Coffee picking
December 30, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
After a great presentation about coffee, students had to experience the life of a coffee picker. Hard work, especially in sandals.
And this is what makes it worthwhile
December 30, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
After our coffee farm experience, we hiked to a scenic look where we can see all of Palmichal. Of course, it is all uphill. But check out this view. There is coffee planted straight up the mountains.
Presentation about this project
December 30, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
Out of need to protect the water that fed the houses, a sustainable development organization was born. Farms were contaminating the water with their animal wastes and fertilizers. There are lots ofRead more
Tortilla class
December 30, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 64 °F
Students learned how to make tortillas without a press. It is a challenge to keep them perfectly round, but our teacher was a pro.
Cooking competition
December 30, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 64 °F
Students are making part of the dinner for tonight by preparing guacamole and pico de gallo. This is a competition, and we will judge on the basis of taste and presentation. Job well done! We alsoRead more
Bonfire time
December 31, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
We closed out our night with a bonfire and s’mores. Of course, we had to bring the Hershey bars from home, but we enjoy sharing this American tradition with locals.
Farmer breakfast
December 31, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
We went to my friend, Sergio‘s, family farm for a campesino breakfast. This is what the locals would have packed when they went into the farm years ago to work all day. The dishes wrapped in bananaRead more
Long days
December 31, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
Our days are pretty action-packed here in Costa Rica. I don’t waste any time, and there is not much opportunity for naps. Am I wearing these students out?
Passing the Pacific
December 31, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
We are en route to Monteverde but we have to pass right next to the Pacific Ocean, which we will play in later. You can almost see the island of San Lucas, which once was a prison (until 1991). Now itRead more