Meghan- This trip has been a life changing experience for many of us including myself. Opening our eyes to the real world outside of the U.S can change your perspective and make you grateful for everything you have in life. This trip was a once in a lifetime experience and everything that we participated in will forever hold a special place in my heart. From coming out of my comfort zone to zip-line, learning more about agriculture in the country, and taking in all of the nature and beauty around us, this trip has been amazing and I encourage everyone who has the opportunity to, to take advantage of this wonderful experience!
Emily- If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you. I think we all came into this trip with our own fears and challenges. Some were afraid to try some of the more extreme activities like zip lining, others were worried about wild animals (especially the poisonous ones!), and I think we all wondered about spending 8 days in a foreign country with a group of people some of whom we didn’t know very well. My biggest challenge was the worry about leaving my family and comforts of home behind and whether taking the time for a personal adventure was selfish. As I watched many of the others overcome their fears, and as I watched, felt, and shared our support of each other as we overcame our challenges, I think a transformation definitely took place in all of us. To be able to experience another culture and experience different ways of life, along with bearing witness to the incredible courage of those around us is truly life changing. Don’t feel for one moment that you can’t do it or you don’t deserve it. An experience like this is truly once in a lifetime. I will always treasure the memories and friendships I have made, and we will all carry a little piece of Costa Rica in our hearts forever. ❤️🇨🇷 Becca- The Power of Presence — whether it was morning yoga sessions, leaving our cell phones behind during the day for activities, or ending the night with card games our time in Costa Rica was capitalized in the moments when we were completely present in the moment. From our tour guides to each and every one of the participants we hit the jack pot that made the experience that much better. Making the decision to study abroad is not an easy one and it can be scary but having this be my first time abroad I cannot wait to go back or travel elsewhere. We make our own limits and get what we put into each and every situation at hand. It is up to you to step out of your comfort zone. Everyone person on our trip did in their own way. It is up to you to be present in the moment rather than worrying about keeping your streaks alive or posting on Instagram. Being able to study abroad brings back the human element that we often overlook while we are scrolling our newsfeed. The ability to be present in every moment is a power — capitalize on it and make the best of it! Pura Vida, Costa Rica! Liz- Pura vida - a phrase with so much meaning behind it. Costa Rica has taught me this phrase. In only a week, I have learned so much about Costa Rica’s agriculture, people, and way of living. We were taught several meanings of the phrase ‘Pura Vida’. That it means pure life or hakuna mutatah- but I think we all took home our own definitions of the saying pura vida. For some, it may be the ability to overcome their biggest fears and zip line over the rainforest or travel to an entirely different country. For others it may be trying a new food for the first time or being able to step out of your comfort zone and interact with strangers. To me, pura vida means all of these things and more. Costa Rica has taught me to not fear anything, to try new things, and make the most out of your life without fear. The country taught me to be more resourceful with the planet and to appreciate life whether it be by avoiding stepping on the hardworking leaf cutter ants or by appreciating the many different species of frogs and snakes. Without traveling, I would be an entirely different person. Traveling abroad offers new perspectives, friends, memories, and opportunities to grow into an entirely different person. As Saint Augustine says, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” There are so many opportunities out there, make every moment count, and fear nothing. Live for pura vida... Raegan- Overall, my orchids have to be creating bonds with everyone, white water rafting, and being within arms reach of a sloth. What other way could we do these things, than travel abroad? The experiences that this trip has allowed me are unexplainable, and I wish that everyone could get the chance to do this. Also, traveling abroad nearly forces you to create relationships with people that you wouldn’t imagine connecting with, and that is something that I am forever thankful for. Nick- Well where to begin. This trip has been amazing to put it in simple terms. We seen monkeys, sloths, we rafted the top 5 river for rafting in the world, flew over the rainforest canopy, and made new friends. These experiences changed my perspective of countries around the world. I can’t really put my feelings into words that’s why the best way to find out what I’m talking about is to experience it for yourself. Ben- This trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity, that I am ecstatic that I was able to go on. Leaving the environment of Michigan and traveling all the way to Central America really shows you how big and unique this world is; from witnessing the different lifestyles people can live to the diverse ecosystems such as rainforests (even though snakes live there), and even being able to raft through canyons or jumping off a cliff (Like who would jumps off a cliff). That all sounds cool (besides the snakes) but, I personally believe the best part of studying abroad is the connections and relationships you form with the people you go with as well as your tour guides and locals. These connections are what make study abroad trips life changing and also help make this world seem a little bit smaller, which is why everyone should try and leave the country at least once. Kody- Some things I saw on the trip to Costa rica was a sloth hanging from a power line and a few different kind of snakes. I enjoyed seeing the animals and meeting the people. People should go abroad because there is a lot of opportunities to experience things in this once in a life time opportunity. You will also always learn about something you never knew existed. Ashley- The decision to study abroad in Costa Rica is by far the best decision I’ve ever made. From learning about the biodiversity in the rainforest to the agriculture, to the amazing cultural experiences which made us all grow tremendously as people. The bond our group had specifically with our tour guides really made the trip worth it especially in times when we needed to convince ourselves and others to take the big leap and zip line, raft level four rapids, or stand on a ledge above the rainforest and swing like Tarzan! The chance to study abroad is truly once in a lifetime, if you don’t take it while you have it you’ll never know what you missed out on. I can’t wait to travel abroad again. Gracias, Senior Pepe for encouraging and organizing such an amazing experience in Costa Rica. Pura Vida! Joe- This trip shouldn’t of happened. Let me share where my mind was in December: The timing wasn’t ideal- we’d be planning an international trip in less than six months. The money wasn’t there either- we’d do all our fundraising in half a year. None of the initial group had ever been to Costa Rica- we’d be putting our eight days abroad in the hands of a Costa Rican business. I had to keep asking myself- is this going to work? It worked and I’m so glad it did! We just wrapped up a trip of a lifetime with a group of ten resilient and amazing students, two other fun-loving and adventurous adults and our extraordinary guides that helped make the experience unforgettable. The trip almost didn’t happen- but we made some of the best memories possible. We’re leaving Costa Rica as stronger leaders and better people. We all grew in some way- wether that was overcoming a fear, experiencing something brand new, or connecting with someone else. We’re leaving Costa Rica more educated. We all learned something- we gained more knowledge about sustainable agriculture practices and growing food in tropical humid regions. We learned about cultures and how kind and amazing people around the world can be. But most importantly we’re leaving Costa Rica with new relationships. Relationships we built with others on the trip and relationships we built with people in this amazing country. I can’t wait to return. Pura Vida! What an amazing experience. Thank you to everyone that helped support the trip in any way. A special thanks to our school board and administrators for allowing us to offer this opportunity to our students.
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The UpdatesEach week there will be a new post to the blog, that will highlight our students and there projects. It will also give weekly announcements. Archives
May 2019
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