An Unforgettable Journey

Patrick, 17

Transitioning from San Jose city life into an adventure in the rain forest in Yorkin has been one of the most difficult and challenging tasks that the group has experienced. This was when the teachers said that we would start getting frustrated with people and people would start showing their true colors; and they were right.

I personally have never been in the rainforest, so everything that I encountered was a first for me. The local people called the Bri Bri were so nice and welcoming to us. They cooked us 3 meals a day and provided us with snacks. I really liked and appreciated what they did for us. They were so patient, family-orientated, and respectful of each other and that's something that I really admire about them. From an economic point of view, we Americans have more than them but I think that they are truly happier than we are because they appreciate everything that they have and use all of their resources to their full potential.

As I previously mentioned, their were a lot of things in the rain forest that agitated people. The main thing was the bugs everywhere. It seems like it didn't matter how much bug spray or sun block we put on, there were still bugs everywhere. Also, people were frustrated at a lack of people's participation when it was time to dig down and work hard. From carrying huge and heavy bags of sand to carrying wooden "cookies," the work that we did in the rain forest was hard, tiring and made people want to give up, but I honestly believe that, as a whole, we did a fantastic job in the short amount of time given.

I think looking back at the whole rainforest experience, I am definitely going to appreciate the smaller things in life and not take anything for granted. I think the Bri Bri people showed me that and that's what I'm going to take out of it the most.

Things that I really enjoyed in the rainforest were all time we got to spend with each other and the endless laughs that we experienced. Also, I learned how to play a neat card game called President that I think was really cool. All the time I spent with my other group members let me get to know them as people, which I thought was really important. Also, although I dont speak Spanish particularly well, I think that playing soccer with the kids was really cool. Also (I know I use this word a lot) helping out in the kitchen was something really interesting because I enjoy cooking. Even though I got a lot of mosquito bites, I honestly think that sleeping under the mosquito net was really cool too (and I dont know why!!!!)

My first time at the beach wasn't what I expected, mainly due to the weather, the beach wasn't what I thought. I envisioned palm trees, sunny skies and clear water. The forecast was kind of rainy when we went, but I still had fun. The sand was something that I am going to have to get used to because it was kind of painful. The second day at the beach had more of an my idea of the beach because it was sunny out.

Throughout the trip, I experienced many ups and downs, but I think that I gained a deeper understanding of who exactly I am as a person. Everyone who goes on this journey experiences it from their own perspective. I definitely want to study Spanish beyond high school now because of this experience. I hope to one day come back to this place with new ideas, thoughts and memories.

A Whole New Experience

Alyssa, 17

We have finally returned back to San Jose for our last night in Costa Rica. Although I am glad to return home to my family, kitty, and friends, I will definitely miss a few parts of Costa Rican culture; especially the friends we made earlier on with the high school students at Liceo Vargas Calvo.

The rainforest was a completely different experience than San Jose. I think I was preparing for the worst, so the experience was not so bad in the end. I really enjoyed being able to experience another way of life. It began with a one hour canoe ride. Being able to see all of the scenery on the way to the Bribri community was really cool, although I was worried about how far we were from modern civilization.

When we first arrived in Yorkin, I wasn't sure what to expect. I saw a few buildings with roofs that looked like huts. There were chickens roaming around. It took about a day to get used to the feel of the community. I was really worried about the food, and some of it was left untouched. But, I did try a lot of things. I loved this bread that tasted like a donut when you dipped it in sugar. I was facinated by the way that they cooked, and was happy when Patrick and I got to help out in the kitchen on the last night for dinner. It was hard work helping to cook for our entire group plus the families of the women that were cooking. We had to peel, cut, and cook carrots, shape dough, serve, and do the dishes. But the greatest thing was being a real part of their community.

I think we put in a lot of hard work in Yorkin. We built paths, carried sand, planted trees, and more. All of which was mostly in the rain! Costa Rica is currently entering its wet season and it has rained a lot so far. It definitely made the work harder, especiallly carrying the sand since wet sand is heavier, but we got through it. We made a lot of progress in the projects they are trying to complete, and helping them felt very good. While I was working, I enjoyed being able to look at the different kinds of plants and animals (including bugs!) that there were in the rainforest. It's a completely different ecosystem than the city.

However, the thing we looked forward to most after working was swimming! There was a great swimming spot in the river, minus the rocks. We went there two out of the three work days. The first day it wasn't very deep and the rocks were easy to see and overcome. The second day we couldn't swim because of all the rain, so the water was too high. The third day we swam the river was definitely higher than the first day, but it was still fun. I liked how you could relax by sitting in between a few rocks. It was also cool to see the small natural waterfalls caused by the rocks.

I tried my best to speak Spanish well enough to communicate with some of the people living there. There were two little girls that I was talking to and they were so sweet. It was sad to have to leave everyone that we met in the community. We felt a sense of belonging there, and we also realized how important family is.

Although it was sad to leave the rainforest, we got to relax at the beach. I loved being able to be in the Carribean side of Costa Rica. The culture is so different and laid back. The hotel we stayed in was really nice, it was like our own little house. It was unfortunate we only got to stay there for one night. The beach was a lot of fun, and I can now say I swam in the Carribean! I also loved going to Puerto Viejo to shop. The jewelery was beautiful.

Well, we're off to the airport tomorrow. I'm sad to have to leave Costa Rica so soon, and I wish we could have had a few more days in Puerto Viejo and San Jose. I am looking forward to seeing everyone back home again, including Katie!!! I hope she isn't mad at me when I get back. I'm hoping we have a quick and safe flight home, and that I can come home, relax, and eat some real American food!

It really does rain a lot in the rainforest

Samantha, 18

I´m a city girl. If I have taken anything from this experience, that is it!

We spent a few days in Yorkin as you have most likely read in other people´s posts. We built paths and planted trees to lower the environmental impact of flying here. I thought that was pretty cool, especially because I had not even thought of all the fuel we used! The people in Yorkin were really friendly and, even though I knew no Spanish, I was able to communicate with a little girl named Pheve. I was drawn to her when I thought that her name was Phoebe--as in the best character of all time on prime-time television played by Lisa Kudrow in the hit series Friends.

She was really young, maybe five or six so she knew no English and I wasn´t sure what to do. I felt like I was not being social enough with the people there since I did not want to play soccer so I wanted to make an effort to communicate with her. I have a younger cousin, Kayla, who is around that age and I thought about how when I am with her she loves to take funny pictures together so I thought I would give it a try!

I took a picture of myself making a face and then pointed to her and she made the same face. Then she would make up a face and I would copy her. This went on for almost an hour and by the time we were done she had gone from being quiet and shy to all smiles and giggles. I thought that it was really cool that even though they don´t have technology there and we didn´t speak the same language that she was still basically the same as a young girl in the U.S. We all love having our pictures taken!

The beach was nice yesterday and today, but suprisingly I don´t think that was my favorite part of the trip. I liked the Rastafarian feel of the area we shopped in which makes me want to travel to Jamaica really bad, but honestly I think San Jose is my favorite area. I just like the honking of horns when I´m trying to sleep better than the annoying howler monkeys screaming all night or the constant fear that a cockroach is going to crawl into your bed.

Everyone is getting anxious to go home and I´d be lying if I said I wasn´t one of them. I snuck on Facebook and I miss everyone so much. I actually miss Pittsburgh. Even though that means taking off the flip flops and pulling out my hoody from my closet.

To the rain forest, the sea, and the city

Nathan, 18

Since leaving for Yorkin the trip has been an eye opener. Being in Yorkin has changed my perspectives on many things. For the three days of being in the rain forest not having any form of technology to use really affected me. Knowing that I can have fun without using these gadgets, means that I can go out and do more that I want to do, when I want to do it. The Bribri's helped me realize this. We spent most of our time at the main lodge, and working. The work was challenging mentally because I wasn't ready for it to rain while we were working.

At the main lodge we would play cards or hangout with our new friends that live in the Yorkin community. Everyday, after we were done working, our new friends were always waiting for us to do something (mainly wanting to play soccer). We only played soccer twice because it rained so much. When I get back to the states I think I'll be doing more physical activity because I'm still young, and I can do all of that sitting around when I'm older.

After Yorkin, we went to the beach in Puerto Viejas. The beach was relaxing, and it helped me come to my senses about what I miss, and what I'm so grateful for. While being in Costa Rica, my eyes have been opened wide, and I know I'm going to take back a lot of stuff. A couple of the main things are that I'm going to be more open-minded to everything around me, and I'm going to try new things that are thrown at me. Now that I've seen how much volunteer work really affects people, I know that I will want to help less fortunate people in Pittsburgh, and around the world. The final main thing that I will be taking back with me is that I loved having this experience, and I loved sharing it with everyone I traveled with. Knowing that there were people I didn't really talk to before we left, I talked to them here tells me I have built many friendships. The friends I had before this trip started have only become stronger, and I know that these friendships will last a lifetime. I think this is one of the most valuable things I will be taking back with me.

I cannot wait to arrive in Pittsburgh late tomorrow night. Even though I love it here, I miss a lot of things about home. What I cannot wait to do when I get home is see Amanda, and my family. They have supported me through the whole trip, and I know that they are excited to see me come back and hear all of the stories that I have to tell about this amazing trip. My dogs also helped me through this trip because they always brightened my day. I could see there faces in all of the dogs that we encountered while working in La Carpio, and Yorkin, and that always put a smile on my face.

As time wears down, I am going to enjoy my last few hours here in Costa Rica, and enjoy it with all the memories that I have made while being here. We have a few more activities planned while in San Jose, and I'll finally be able to get souvenirs for a few people. I love you all, and I cannot wait to see you tomorrow night.

Service Work in Yorkin

Overcoming struggles in the rain forest

Cherie, 17

The trip into the forest was an interesting one. I really didn't know what to expect when heading to our stay with the Bribri tribe, so I was a little worried. As is obvious from my previous blogs, adapting to the food here has been a struggle, but for the majority of our adventure there I dealt with the food they gave us. It really didn't turn out to be that bad in the end, but it still bothered me at times.

However, the biggest thing I learned during our stay there was how to deal with another of my biggest struggles: how easily I lose my patience with people and become frustrated. On the last day of work, I was just about fed up with everyone and everything. I gave up and sat out by the cabin. After some frustation was passed and a little arguing was done, I got back to work. I realized that being frustrated and reaching my breaking point causes others to do the same, which really isn't good for the group. I got back to work after that and tried to keep a positive attitude about the whole thing, which I think helped me and the people around me.

The same thing happened at dinner last night. I pretty much had a major breakdown at the restaurant and really was ready to home. After a talk with Ms. Arenth and Ms. Thomas, I was able to calm down though. I realized that sharing my feelings aloud sparked others to do the same, which really just caused a table full of madness. We went shopping and I was able to remember what I had learned from our stay in the rain forest.

Despite those few struggles I had a difficult time overcoming, the past couple of days were really amazing. The beach was really fun and playing card games for hours before and after dinner in the rain forest was a really cool way to just chill out and get to know people. The van ride coming back to San Jose was really fun too! We may have aggravated Mr. Oliver a lot, but it was all in good fun. I think it was a really good way to get closer to people who I've never really talked to before this trip. I'm really sad our time is coming to an end, but I think it's best. Can't wait to come back and visit!

Thank Goodness

Ashlee, 17

Today we finally got back to San Jose and I am so happy. We went to Yorkin and did some work which was very challenging. We made trails and planted trees all around the rain forest. I never did hard labor like that before and that was one of my challenges.

My other challenge was sleeping with huge bugs at night. I hate bugs! One night we just got into our rooms and I turned around and saw this huge roach on the wall and I started crying, saying that I couldn't do this. In the long run I overcame all of my challenges and I am very proud of myself.

Into the wild!!!

Siena, 17

On friday we went into Yorkin to live with a small community of people called the Bribri. They are an indigenous tribe who live in the rainforest in a totally eco-friendly way. Spending nights with large loud bugs and little to no lighting was certainly a change for us city-dwellers. I found their way of life to be very interesting and inspiring.

Although these people may seem to live in harsh conditions, they are actually some of the happiest and caring people I have met. They value their family and friends along with their natural environment. I really loved how they took times out of their laborious days to enjoy the precious small joys. The best experience I had there happened every night right after dinner. A group of us would gather in the lounge area where a younger man would play guitar and sing songs to us in Spanish before we went to bed. It was lovely.

The Beach!

Danielle, 17

For four days we were in the rain forest. It was really interesting to see what the rain forest is like. At first I thought it was going to be like camping, which it was in a way, but at the same time it was completely different. After being in the rain forest for four days I was ready to get out of there, which is really odd for me because I love camping.

When it was finally the last day there I was extremely excited! I couldn't wait to go to the beach! Once we arrived at the hotel we all got ready really fast to go to the beach. While we were walking to the beach I was so excited I was walking extremely fast. Once we were actually there, the sight of the beach took my breath away. It was so beautiful there I never wanted to leave! I have never seen water as blue as the Carribean Sea. Then when I went into the sea the water felt so good after a long four days in the rain forest.