Affordable Costa Rica Day 5
Affordable Costa Rica
DAY 5 - March 18, 2005
Visit School - Home-Hosted Lunch
Waking up to birds singing and chirping is certainly a great morning alarm. But this morning we had two red headed woodpeckers trying to get to their image on the reflection from the large bathroom windows. As I got up and picked up my camera I saw twelve of our fellow travelers looking through their binoculars at the two birds and me. We have some real peeping toms in the group ;-) We took our showers and then went to the restaurant where we were able to tell our story and share a laugh with everyone. A pet wild toucan joined us for breakfast. I was able to feed it, pet it and get nibbled on before Eddie took him and put him back in the forest. We had some fruits, toast, eggs and rice and beans (gallo pinto) with coffee and watermelon juice.
At 9 we met the group at the Reception where we were given an hour briefing on the educational system of CR. It was very refreshing to know what a country this size can do with money it does not have to spend on a military! Their protection is guaranteed by 45 countries in the UN. They spend 18% of their GNP on their educational system.
At 10 we piled into the bus and were off to the local school at San Rafael de Chachagua. The children were waiting for us at the entrance to the school; each dressed in a native Tico outfit, and gave us a warm welcome. Each of us were taken by a student to a large room where they began by singing the CR national anthem and then we all sang the American anthem. They performed four traditional folk dances, showed us their most staple vegetables and then invited us to play some games. At the end we all danced the Hokey Pokey with them. In 90 degree heat and humidity we were all very warm. The Grand Circle Foundation grant has helped improve and expand the school building and grounds by constructing a new ceiling, classrooms, and sidewalks. Again, we saw first hand that as nation with no standing army and a literacy rate of 95%, Costa Rica is truly devoted to peace in the world and education for its people.
As we finished, all of us were perspiring heavily. This morning has been really fulfilling and enriching. We gave some items to the school as we left, as did other members and proceeded to the bus that had the air-conditioning set to the highest. Three students had invited us to their homes for a home hosted meal. The Costa Rican cuisine is simple and wholesome, and a typical meal features chicken, beef or fish (sometimes grilled) and served with tortillas, gallo pinto (a zesty rice-and-bean side dish) and palmito (hearts of palm) salad. Our meal was preceeded by lemonade and water, then the five of us sat down with Margarita Paniogua Salazar, a 60 year old woman with 8 children and 22 grandchildren, her daughter Gretel, grandsons William and Luiz Felipe. After lunch we walked down to the river, a social spot of this small rural community.
At about 2 PM, Eddie and the bus arrived to pick us up. We said our thank-yous and goodbyes and entered the air-conditioning of the bus. We went to pick up the two other groups who had different host families and then exchanged stories about our meals, our host families and impressions. All were very positive. On the way back to the Bosques de Chachagua Rain Forest Hotel, Eddie finished his discussion of the school system - Close to 90% of all students finish high school and go on to some type of college.
When we arrived at the hotel we were given some free time that we used to work on the pictures and this journal. Others went bird watching, hiking and swimming. At 4:15 Gennie and I decided to take a quick swim. So we walked up to the pool and shared a refreshing dip with several others from our tour, joined again by our friend the toucan, who got a little demanding and I had to carry him off to a portal by the pool and distract him with some fruit. What a little beggar!
At 5:30 we regrouped for a presentation and discussion about Costa Rica's geology, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Costa Rica, a country the size of West Virginia has 138 active volcanoes! Eddie also shared his great specialty - guacamole. Once again the toucan joined us but he was getting smarter, he begged and when some of us approached him he flew up into a rafters. I finally climbed a chair, grabbed him while offering him some food, and took him to the river where I gave him several crushed guava fruits. We never saw him again.
At 7:30 we adjourned and had dinner as a group. All of us are getting along very well considering the high temperatures and humidity. We have generally had pretty good weather, but this afternoon the skies clouded over which just served to trap the air. Fortunately, our rooms have a fan and there was a slight breeze.
Accommodations: Bosques de Chachagua Rain Forest Hotel
Meals: B, L, D
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