2023 Costa Rica: Day 6 & 7
Greetings from our intrepid explorers!
Today, Friday, March 24, is our last travel day in Costa Rica, and we’re packing our bags for home! We will make our way from the Pacific Coast, across the Continental Divide, and back to the Caribbean to our airport.
Our sixth day in Costa Rica was one of the most fun and bittersweet. We had another water-filled day, switching between an outrigger canoe trip with snorkeling and a visit to a beach, then some fun activities in the evening.
I assigned a few student volunteers to recount their experiences today, to capture as many memories as we could before we say farewell. Here are their stories from their experiences and reflections:
Joao wrote about yesterday: “After lunch, we got ready to go snorkeling. The trip took a bit, we had to go out of the resort which takes a while, and arrive at where we were going which also takes a while. We're lucky to have buses. Once we were there, there were five teams made, each in a canoe. Our goal was to cross the sea and go to another part of the land, a small beach hidden in a forest between mountains. Once there, only half of us decided to actually snorkel. The ones who didn't decide to stay at the beach and play soccer or play in the sea. The ones who did go snorkeling put on the equipment and went swimming in the middle of the sea. The equipment was a life jacket and that breathing mask. We saw tadpoles, rocks, and the floor; it was a bit challenging as we needed to be breathing with our mouths. After the snorkeling, they gave us watermelons and pineapple. We played around the sea for a bit more, then went back. After dinner, we played many things at the resort. Some yard chess, volleyball, went to the pool, ping pong, or table soccer.”
Serian reflected about yesterday: “After a delicious lunch, it was time to head down to the beach for snorkeling. I was extremely excited because I’d never done it before, and I wanted to see the colorful fish darting beneath me. We had to canoe down there and that took a team effort. As I looked to the side, there were boulders—all complete with their own mini waterfalls. It looked straight from a fairy tale with the calming “woosh” of the waves. The ocean was sparkling mint that got bluer and bluer the deeper it went, leaving an ombré of turquoise. When we arrived, we were given our own set of gear needed to snorkel which consisted of a goggle set, a long tube to breathe out of, and a life vest. After I put everything on, I dove under and looked below. It was at that time that I realized I’d never seen below the ocean before. There were underwater plants and uniquely shaped rocks with even holes through them like a sponge. Then, there were bright yellow fish that swam together and light magenta starfish. When we got back we saw a dog digging in the sand and out came a big crab! It was glossy with orange pinchers and a dark purple head. This was truly an experience.”
To tie our trip together, I asked some volunteers to think back on their trip as a whole, and share what they learned and will take away from this experience. Here’s what they wrote:
J.T.: “Some of the memories I while keep with me after my trip to Costa Rica are spending time with friends, learning about the country, and trying new things. It was a great opportunity and experience for me and my classmates. I am thankful for the wonderful staff and teachers that made this happen.“
Ivanna W.: “This trip has been amazing, but, unfortunately, it comes to an end today. This trip was everything — I was able to come out of my comfort zone with things I thought I wouldn’t be able to experience ever. I enjoyed many things on this trip, but there were moments I will never forget, like when we went to the hot springs and got to hang out with our friends.
Yesterday in my opinion was the funnest day throughout the whole vacation. We went canoeing in the middle of the ocean. That’s an experience that I would probably never do again but it was a great once-in-a-lifetime type thing. This was a great opportunity to experience what it’s like in another country because I’ve never been out of the country before so this was a great thing that I got to experience.”
We hope you enjoyed the stories from our journey! We can’t wait to show you more about what the students learned on their trip, with photo essays, research projects, and more when we return to Bullis. Thank you for your support and trusting us to travel with your children. We will cherish the memories from our adventures, and we hope they had as much fun as we did!
Best Fishes! Adios Amigos! See you soon!
Your Mindful Explorers,
The 8th Grade Discovery Days Trip
🐠🏝️🌊🌅🤿 🦜🌺
Enjoy today's photos (click on any image to enlarge and view a slideshow)!
