Reflections from Nita

Just wanted to share some of my thoughts from the last few days....

Up at 5am and went to take a cold shower.  Sophie B., Kennedy, Sarah and Lily are already up and in the bath area talking excitedly. I decide to come back later to shower. Many screams later we are off to breakfast to enjoy eggs, sausage, pancakes, fresh pineapples, mangoes, watermelon, and cantaloupe. The coffee was not hot. 

6:30 am and we are off to school to meet the pen pals. The walk was definitely invigorating and the hills were intense. Peter, Shania and Hannah give me moral support as I struggle to climb the last steep incline.

We arrive at school and are shown into the gymnasium where Nelson and Vernie are waiting to greet us. The pen pals and other students are present for the Costa Rican students’ slide show diary from their trip last year. It was very touching to see familiar faces from Greene Street Friends with the Costa Rican students. The pen pals and the Greene Street Friends students were introduced and spent time getting to know each other. Next they were off to class with their pen pals. 

Matt, Will and I are off to the teachers' lounge to send messages home via the web page.

At 10:30 am we all meet in the gym to say goodbye to the pen pals and are off to the coffee plantation.

Once on the bus the conversation is rapid, spontaneous and energized.  Robin talks about how the school really rocks and he can’t wait to visit tomorrow. Evan and Jason share that the students have a lot of freedom and can just walk around the classroom or leave to get a book or pencil without asking the teacher. Alex shares that his pen pal is really nice and the school is sooooo different from Greene Street. Sophie W. says her pen pal took her to the outdoor café and they bought soda in a bag. Yea how cool is that shouted Ray, Trey, Megan and David. Ethan shared how Peter’s pen pal can speak English and translated for Mike and James. Everyone was excited that Naeem’s pen pal was as tall as he was, yeah, that was pretty cool responded Naeem. Listening to their excited conversations I thought of Courageous Community and how it was now working in Costa Rica. From cold showers, plain sleeping arrangements, trying new foods, embracing their pen pals and the school visit with an open honest and respectful attitude was truly awe inspiring. Looking out into the world and acknowledging its different and yes I am out of my normal comfort zone, but wow what an experience to treasure for a life time. Way to go 7^th graders, you are truly every day heroes.