On Wednesday, March 11, twenty-two seventh grade students and four chaperones arrived in Sarchi, Costa Rica for ten days of Spanish immersion, cultural exchange, and hands-on lessons in local history and geography.

The Costa Rica Exchange Program is more than just a fun trip. It is a two-year program that integrates curriculum, language, science, service learning, and social studies. It begins in the fall, when seventh grade students start communicating (en Español) with their pen pals. In addition to traveling to Costa Rica in March, the students host their pen pals in Philadelphia for two weeks the following November.

This is the 12th class that Spanish teacher Sandra Rodriguez has led to her native country. Maestra Sandra created the program in 2004 to build a greater interest in Spanish. “Students are motivated to study Spanish knowing that they are going to use it and need it for the exchange program. This experience is something that students look forward to. It provides an extra incentive for them to work harder on their academics and citizenship at school,” she says.

Highlights of the trip each year include a visit to an organic coffee farm, a sky-trek canopy tour, climbing the Paos Volcano, white water rafting, snorkeling around Turtle Island, and spending time with Costa Rican pen pals.

Before the 7th grade students leave for Costa Rica, the School hosts a send-off assembly where each class presents cards wishing a buen viaje to the exchange participants and 8th grade students share their advice. “Don’t be afraid to try new things, even if you don’t think you’ll like them. One example is tamarind juice,” shared Remy Bou ’15.

Kyra Buonomo ’14 was on campus for the assembly last Tuesday to cheer on her brother, Kyle, who is currently in Costa Rica with his class. She recalled that “the Costa Rica trip gave me confidence in my Spanish speaking ability, sparked my passion for travel, and most of all the trip turned my class into a family. Together we went through the excitement, anxiety, curiosity, and joy. It honestly was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.”

The impact of the Costa Rica Exchange Program can be felt long after students leave the GSFS hallways. Amelia Aretz ’10, a freshman at Penn State, said that “the Costa Rica trip really helped with my decision to minor in Spanish. It has also inspired me to start getting certified to teach English as a second language so I can, hopefully, teach in a school in South America for a couple of years.”