• Register Now
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
Call Us: 800-487-1074
Global Volunteers
  • Countries
    • International Destinations:
      • China
      • Cook Islands
      • Cuba
      • Ecuador
      • Greece
      • Italy
      • Nepal
      • Peru
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • St Lucia
      • Tanzania
      • Vietnam
    • USA Programs:
      • Appalachia – West Virginia
      • Blackfeet Reservation – Montana
      • Rosebud Reservation – South Dakota
  • Projects
  • Dates and Contributions
  • Discounts
  • Blog
  • Search
  • Menu
Student Volunteers, Volunteer Voices Costa Rica

Highlights of Student Service-Learning in Costa Rica

Highlights from Our Final Days of Service-Learning in Costa Rica. We’re sad this is our last day with our team leader, Maggie. She’ll stay here in Monteverde awaiting the next team, while Diane stays with us until we leave for the airport on Saturday. For every student, service-learning in Costa Rica has been inspirational!

High School Student Service-Learning in Costa Rica

Today was our last full work day at Colegio. Everyone is already sad about that. Friendships have been made with local students, and what was once a cold empty gym we entered Monday morning has become the place where we socialize, meet work partners, watch and play sports, and dance! This morning, our work teams took time to find their rhythm, but before long, metal was cut to create new borders for the trail, the last of the rock was spread, and new dirt was brought to needed areas. A relay was created, with ticos and volunteers 50 meters apart on the trail, only running back and forth between deliveries and delivering to the next person. That relieved the need to run the entire trail from top to bottom with dirt or rocks, which at this point in the process, is very welcomed. There are sore muscles, peeled backs and necks, and blistered feet. But much joy and gratitude!

It was fun to work again with our local partners from previous days, and while waiting for rock deliveries, we sat on the trails and talked to one another. At the end of the day, the gym was divided in half, and basketball and dancing commenced (separately). Elizabeth danced with Sebastián and learned to salsa dance. She said it was embarrassing at first and she stepped on his foot, but had the time of her life! Kaycee danced with Josué and the moment the dance was over, she had a Facebook friend request. The Colegio boys have now adjusted to and welcome our aggressive female athletes. They actually asked for a rematch! Madi said that as cliché as it might sound, sports can overcome language barriers and provides another form of universal communication. When it was time to go, everyone had looks of sadness on their faces, knowing that we are nearing the end of our time at Colegio. Kaycee doesn’t want this experience to end. She is trying to make every moment count. Elizabeth says that though she could only say a few Spanish words to students, she found friends she will always remember and value, and that teenagers can just connect over smiles and fun no matter the language barrier.

Tonight we had dinner at the local pizza place in ‘downtown’ Santa Elena (it’s a block). Students ate, and ate, and ate! No rice and beans anywhere! We gave Maggie and Diane each Costa Rican artisan journals with notes from each and every one of us expressing our appreciation to them for all they did to make this service-learning program in Costa Rica the best. Maggie said the work ethic and flexibility of the team was amazing. Both got quite emotional when they said they’d really miss the students and enjoyed working with them. Teenagers have THE BEST ENERGY they said emphatically!

Tomorrow is our last student service-learning day in Costa Rica. We’ll have a goodbye fiesta, and back to Alajuela down the bumpy mountain. We will all leave a piece of our hearts here in Monteverde.

by: Elizabeth, Madi, and Kaycee

Want to learn more about service-learning in Costa Rica?

Follow this high school group as they discover the flora and fauna of Costa Rica. Or, learn more about serving and learning in Monteverde.

Learn more

Share this:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
March 12, 2015/0 Comments/by Maggie Bjorklund
Share this post with a friend:
  • Share on WhatsApp
https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/COS1503A1-Maggie-Bjorklund-and-Claire-McWilliams-1-960x430-1.jpg 430 960 Maggie Bjorklund https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Maggie Bjorklund2015-03-12 06:23:152018-05-18 20:23:05Highlights of Student Service-Learning in Costa Rica
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

You must log in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Partner Communities

  • China 65
  • Cook Islands 38
  • Cuba 111
  • Ecuador 79
  • Greece 55
  • Italy 52
  • Montana 39
  • Nepal 7
  • Peru 73
  • Poland 72
  • Portugal 41
  • South Dakota 8
  • St Lucia 51
  • Tanzania 55
  • Vietnam 38
  • West Virginia 22

Categories

  • Alumni Global Volunteers
  • Boomer Volunteers
  • Conversational English
  • Couples Volunteering
  • Culture and Traditions Worldwide
  • Development Impact
  • Family Volunteers
  • Free Time Options
  • Global Volunteers
  • Group Volunteering
  • Impact Stories
  • Individuals on Teams
  • Projects for Professionals
  • Reaching Children's Potential
  • Retiree Volunteers
  • Staff worldwide.
  • Student Volunteers
  • Uncategorized
  • Volunteer Voices

Tags

alumni volunteers American Indian culture Appalachian culture Care for children Caribbean island College groups Conversational English Cuba people-to-people Earthbox gardens Essential Services food insecurity Funding your fee Health and nutrition High school groups Labor projects lgbt program retiree service-learning Spring break summer volunteer program Support women teaching children teaching english team leader volunteer benefits Volunteer impact work on reservations Work with youth youth volunteering
  • About Us
  • Board of Directors
  • Staff
  • Our Beginnings
  • Community Partners
  • Collaborators
  • Our Vision
  • Compare Us
  • Volunteer Vacations FAQs
  • Accountability and Agreements
  • Travel Risks
  • Your Impact
  • Donate to Global Volunteers
  • Donate to a Volunteer
  • Money Matters – Explaining Your Service Program Contribution
  • Discounts & Fundraising
  • Alumni Center
  • Scholarship Opportunity
  • News/Media
  • Employment
  • Privacy Policy
  • Agreements
  • Site Map
  • Contact
  • Podcast
  • Volunteer Portal
Global Volunteers
375 East Little Canada Road
St. Paul, MN 55117-1628 USA
(800) 487-1074 | toll-free
(651) 482-0915 | fax
globalvolunteers.org
email@globalvolunteers.org

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Subscribe receive notifications of new posts and updates by email.

Global Volunteers - Partners in Development ® | © Copyright 2002 - Present Global Volunteers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Global Volunteers is an apolitical, non-sectarian, non-profit (501C-3) tax-exempt organization.
  • Send feedback about this web site and its administration.
Last Day for the 11th Time costa rica service learning Farewell to Costa Rica’s Flora, Fauna, Food and Fun at Colegio
Scroll to top
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.