Our First Week in Costa Rica!

We’ve just hit the one-week mark of our Costa Rica journey, and we’re living that “pura vida” life. Our first stop was a beautiful lodge in San Miguel, aptly named Epic Adventure. In between orientation sessions, we found time to get to know each other, as well as the lush rainforest around us. Nathan and Jordan led multiple hikes down the mountain to a beautiful river, where Freddy was always enthusiastic to go for a quick swim. We also made time for a few impromptu soccer games. Although the afternoon rain - a staple in the mountains - made the field slippery, the group preserved. Allie was a formidable goalie, and with Or helping her out on defense, they were a fearsome pair. After the orientation period was over, it was time for us to say goodbye to San Miguel and move on to our next accommodation - but on our final night, Sadie worked all evening to make friendship bracelets for the awesome staff at Epic Adventure.

Our next stop was a rustic mountain lodge in the Costa Rica countryside. This was where Lexi and Josh began their co-captainship. Lexi was always there to teach us mindfulness techniques and keep us all zen, and Josh stayed near the back of the group during a long hike to help out a couple team members who were struggling with the heat. Although the wake-up time was 5 am every morning, watching the sun rise over the mountains was well worth it; the fact that Courtney sacrificed her sleep for some meticulous journaling made it even more impressive that she started every morning with enthusiasm.

While at Tinamú, the surrounding community gave us the opportunity to help build a ramp for disabled students at a local school. We went down to the river to gather sand (for cement mixing), which was loaded into a truck and brought to the school. Ben worked hard the whole time, bringing sand bags to the truck to load and unload, and load and unload, and load and unload… Once we gathered enough materials, we walked back to the school and began to mix the cement. It was a complicated process. First, we had to mark the boundaries of the ramp, and dig channels in the dirt to prevent it from shifting over time. The channels then had to be filled with rocks - Miller was particularly eager to pick up some stones and put them in their places. Then, the cement had to be mixed with equal parts sand and water, spread out, and leveled off. Over the course of two days, we got about a fourth of the ramp done. Unfortunately, our group won’t be able to finish the project - a huge bummer, considering how hard we worked, and how attached we got to the children who came out to greet us during recess. Although this was a disappointment, Allyson’s humor and positive attitude kept the group feeling good. Plus, Santiago, an owner of Tinamú, will be keeping us updated.

After a couple days of hard work, we had the option to take a rest day at the lodge, or go on a hike led by Santiago and his friend, Orlando. Those who chose to hike were in for a 9-mile journey, which took us over the hills, across the river (in a little cart on a pulley system - very cool!), and into a beautiful cave system. Although the trek was pretty brutal, Casey took it slow, and Santiago taught her some Spanish on the walk back to the ranch. Most of the group chose to stay at the lodge, but they didn’t have any less fun. Many walked down to see a waterfall, and a few helped Santiago’s wife, Consuela, with some house chores.

In all, it was a great first week. We can’t wait to get to know each other further, and see what else this beautiful country has in store for us!

Written by Casey Bedwell-Coll