CULTURE SHOCK
Science education department grad students welcomed in Costa Rica
Members of the science education department land in Costa Rica. (Contributed photos)
We aren’t in the states anymore!
We are currently in Alajuela, Costa Rica. It is the neighboring town by San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. As soon as we arrived, we met our Council on International Educational Exchange guides, Veronica and Emily, who will be enormous assets during this trip.
First things first — we needed to eat. Costa Rica is two hours behind everyone back home and by noon it had been a long day and nourishment was needed.
Our guides brought us to our hotel then to a Tex Mex restaurant, which was delicious. The people were so kind considering the language barrier. Spanish is everywhere and definitely brings home a new respect for our ELL (English Language Learner) students.
Driving out of the airport you will never believe what we saw: Walmart, McDonalds and KFC. Oh, and Uber can still get you where you need to go. The people that live here take great pride in their city and the cleanliness of their streets.
Trash is not everywhere and trashcans are rarely full (or anywhere close). It isn’t because people aren’t using them, but the people seem to recycle more and are more aware of their trash consumption.
Day one in Costa Rica
While taking in the sights of the city we came across a plaza with dancing and musica (again, Spanish is everywhere). The locals did not let any of us shy into the background and welcomed our participation in their PURA VIDA (pure joy). For two authentic Costa Rican songs, we grooved, we spun and we two-stepped! Dancing With The Stars has nothing on us or the locals.
After finishing our fifth meal of the day and taking more than 13,000 steps (six miles!), we are tired and ready for yet another meal at 6:15 a.m. This trip is not weight-watcher friendly! Everyone is excited for the next leg of our journey to Monteverde.
-by Blair Driver, eighth-grade science and social studies teacher at Pactolus School in Greenville
Beth Wantz, fourth-grade math and science teacher at Sam Bundy in Farmville
Victoria Gemelli, sixth-grade science teacher at 71st Classical Middle School in Fayetteville
June 17, 2018