Days
1-7 | Days
8-14 | Days 15-21
Day 15: July 5
Author: Justin
Location: La Carpio, San Jose
I was greeted this morning by a pancake breakfast, having slept through the previous P.B. (pancake breakfast). I was super pumped. Right then I knew today would be a good day. Team Lifeworks assembled at Ana's house around 8 and withdrew money for the day's shopping spree in San Jose. Before we could shop, however, we returned to La Carpio to finish up our murals and lay sod. After housing our grassy carpets as to maximize the soddage and minimize the dusty rocky-dirt-age. Team "Impressionist Art" finished up completing mural scenes of butterfly wings and anatomically inaccurate mountain climbers. We wrapped things up around noon and headed over to San Jose to commence our shopping extravaganza. The group split up and meandered through endless alleys lined with merchants and their crazy selection of Costa Rican treats. In the end, the group amassed over a mile combined length of machete blade and countless canastas, along with shoes and mamas chines, which are small strawberry-like fruits covered in wiry barbs that, once cracked open, house white orbs that although have the consistency of a goat's eyeballs, are dee-lishus (in Elan's accent). After returning to tour home stay house, team LW assembled once more at Ana's to construct small giveaways for the kids at tomorrow's grand opening of the playground. We wrote, "su play de la esperanza -FHCR/LW" on heart Popsicle sticks. Tomorrow promises to be an exciting and rewarding day as we hand the playground over to "los nios de la esperanza" of La Carpio. This is J-bone signing out. Representing the Garden State - See ya!
Day 16: July 6
Author: Louise L
Location: La Carpio
After weeks of hard work on the playground, today was the day that we got to reveal our creation to the kindergarteners of La Carpio. With faces full of excitement and anticipation, the little boys and girls filed into the back lot where the playground awaited them. Us Lifeworkers got assigned the task of acting out what not to do on the playground. The five rules were no garbage, no pushing, no defacing the walls or equipment, no eating, and a single file line when entering the playground. After the revealing ceremony, the kids were given watermelon, as well as Popsicle stick "keys" stating "su playground de esparanza" meaning "your playground of hope" to commemorate the event.
That afternoon, we went back to Ana's ranch and were given the option to stay and enjoy some free time at the ranch or to go back to our homestays. Everyone besides Hilary, Deborah, Richard and some of the boys went back to their homestays to relax. We found out later that we missed out on an intense game of "Sardines" that they all played in the pouring rain!
After a few hours of some much needed relaxation, everyone and their homestay families gathered at Ana's ranch for a potluck fiesta. The night was filled with tons of good food, music, and dancing. From the games of musical chairs to being graced by the voices of other Lifeworkers singing karaoke, the night was a hit. All the while, Cascade was blinged out in a gangster shirt and cornrows. The love and compassion expressed and symbolized by the Lifeworkers and the families that night are what Lifeworks and the Humanitarian Foundation are all about.
Day 17: July 7
Author: Erin
Location: La Carpio, La Cine
We all got to sleep in this morning (9 o'clock) and were well prepared for our final day in La Carpio. Activities at the street fair included hopscotch, jewellery, coloring, jump-rope, balloon animals, and airplane flying. I was at the jewellery making table with Paris. As soon as we sat down the kids swarmed us. We can't help that the kids love us. From our area if you take a casual glance around you would see smiling kids faces running around going crazy (and also you would see Mike and his new balloon making skills being put to the test by sugar high kids). As a farewell to the kids in La Carpio we presented them with a delicious cake and said goodbye. Later we all went to el cine, due to some hook-ups by Gail we got to see the much anticipated Harry Potter movie. Even though it was in English it was fun to read the Spanish subtitles. This has been a very Harry Potter enriched trip with two of our members in the group reading the 7th book. You can always hear the angry "Stop talking about Harry Potter...I don't want to hear anything!!" After the movie we were all picked up by our homestay families and taken home, out on the town, or to a fiesta depending on the family. They wanted to spend the last night with us. It was sad knowing that this was our last night with our families. We are all going to miss them very much.
Day 18: July 8
Author: Zoe
Location: Flippin sweet bus and hot springs
There were many highs and lows today. Beginning with a low of
saying goodbye to our home stay families and then a four-hour bus ride, which
included an intense game of Jotta. But when we arrived at the supermarket and
then dipped into a hot, delightful and, of course, delicious thermal pools at our
new wonderful hotel that looks over a sizzling and active volcano...we were
filled with joy. This morning I was woken by the piercing of the rooster and
the delectable smell of empanadas, eggs, and big surprise...Gallo Pinto! As amazing
as breakfast was, leaving our families caused many tears to fall. We all received
our family pictures from Friday's fiesta! Which will be treasured forever. With
our family portraits in hand, my comrades and I boarded our bus where we soon
arrived at the best milkshake place known to man. Although the mint chocolate
chip milkshakes may make Evan a wee bit gassy, that was by far the best flavor
to order. After stopping for milkshakes, my comrades and I stopped at a local
day care to paint a wall of theirs. Finally arriving at Kyoto, everyone was
eager to take a dip into the many thermal pools that awaited us Lifeworkers.
After dinner some of us still wanted to go swimming once again and were lucky
enough to be able to lay in the hot tubs while star-gazing. A good end to our
day. Everyone then went to sleep anxiously awaiting for tomorrow's horseback
riding.
Day 19: July 9
Author: Sarah
Location: Santa Ana
Today was a bit of a sad day as it was our last day working with the children
and on our projects. We finished up with the playground and celebrated our accomplishments.
This evening we will do our closing program. Can't believe there's only one day
left!!!
Day 20: July 10
Author: Gwen
Location: Santa Ana
Today we had a free choice of what we wanted to do. Most of us stayed in groups
and went out to get our last few gifts and momentos. It's hard to think we
won't be here by tomorrow. What an adventure!
Day 21: July 11
Author: n/a
Location: back home
Students wake up early to catch flights back to family and friends at home!
Days
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8-14 | Days 15-21
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