One group of sophomores are enjoying an extra day in Costa Rica after a flight delay caused the airline to rebook them for tomorrow.

Scroll to the bottom of this web story to browse through more photos from Day 6 .

By Madeline Thiara, Grade 10
This trip to Costa Rica has definitely been full of trying and experiencing new things. From making new friends and getting closer with old ones, to having casuals interactions with iguanas and jumping off waterfalls. It is amazing to spend time in such a special place and be able to spend some time with the people who are native to this country. Everyone here in Costa Rica have been so generous and kind to accept our large group into their home, especially our tour guides. They have been so insightful and helpful and have done their best to teach us about this beautiful place.

My favorite moment during this trip was definitely visiting the waterfall. Although it was hard for me to fully step out of my comfort zone and climb up the rocks with the water pounding down on me, once I got up and took the jump, it was amazing. On that same day, I was able to ride a horse for the first time. I was so afraid to get up on the saddle and start riding, but once I got on, I enjoyed every second. Before we wrap up this trip, I hope to reflect on all these great moments and remember how lucky we all are to be able to experience such a beautiful place. 

By Alina Kushner, Grade 10 
The Costa Rica trip has been adventure-packed with excitement, opportunities to take risks and new friendships. The trip has forced me to put myself in new and uncomfortable situations. Back home in San Francisco, we are used to immediate comfort: technology at the snap of your fingers, snacks whenever you start to feel hungry and complete privacy. Costa Rica separates you from those factors that make life seem so simple, allowing you to open yourself to more possibilities and experiences without being distracted by these luxuries that people often take for granted. 

One of my favorite experiences on the trip has been the service trip to a local middle school. Being a French student, I was apprehensive about the service experience and was worried about my interaction with the children because of the language barrier. However, when I arrived at the school and began talking to the children, I noticed that the language barrier began to disappear, and I was able to get to know kids who have such a different life from me on a personal level. 

Costa Rica has taught me that you can make the closest and most trustworthy friends in the most unexpected circumstances. This immersive trip gives you a safe space to take risks, to be yourself and open yourself up to new life-changing experiences. I truly feel that you don’t return to San Francisco as the same person who left after you experience Costa Rica with your sophomore class. 

Scroll to the bottom of this web story to browse through more photos from Day 4 .

Scroll to the bottom of this web story to browse through more photos from Day 4 .

By Joe Shea, Grade 10 
Greetings from Costa Rica! Today, along with the rest of the Ballena Group, I visited a small K–5 school about 35 minutes away from Villas Rio Mar (our hotel). I was able to practice my Spanish skills while playing with the children. We also improved their facade by painting a bridge that connects the two sides of their campus. As our time with the Costa Rican children ended, we handed out the toys and school supplies we brought with us. Not only did this make me realize how gifted we are to attend such an amazing school, but the joyous nature of the children showed me how positive you can make a situation that is not exactly ideal.

By Alia Mogannam, Grade 10
So far, the Costa Rica trip has been amazing! Yesterday my group went horseback riding through the rainforest to a hidden waterfall. The horse riding was super fun even though  I was nervous at first because I do not have a lot of experience with horses, but I was very comfortable by the end. Once we made it to the waterfall we got to swim, climb up the side of the waterfall and jump off from 25 feet up. I am personally not very afraid of heights but a few of my group members were, and it was really nice to see everyone encouraging them and being supportive. The food has been amazing too, and we have done a lot of salsa dancing. There were apparently two earthquakes in the middle of the night and I was a little disappointed that I didn’t feel them. However, it was nice to have a little touch of San Francisco down here. Today I did service at a school in the town. The kids were so sweet and were very kind about my lack of Spanish skills, so we had a really good time and broke down the language barrier pretty well. Tomorrow I go zip lining and snorkeling which I am excited for! I have heard friends that went before me raving about it all. Even though I am homesick and miss my friends and family, I know I am going to miss Costa Rica and all of these experiences the second we leave.

By Clem Mohun, Grade 10
Today we visited the Escuela Baru where we helped the school staff paint their classrooms, played with the children and did simple gardening tasks. The children were very excited to see us and receive the school supplies and small gifts we had brought to them, and we tried our best to bond with them despite the language barrier. My favorite part was enjoying the day with my classmates, as well as meeting a few of the wonderful school teachers. I hope to continue to step out of my comfort zone and bond with my peers over the course of the next week.

By Owen Akel, Grade 10
Today we took a bus to a stable and quickly learned about horseback riding. After that, half of the group, myself included, took a bus ride to a waterfall. The other half rode the horses. When we reached the waterfall we took turns climbing up and jumping off. Then, my half of the group rode the horses to lunch, where we had amazing rice beans and chicken before finishing the remainder of the path back to the stables. Overall, it was a pretty amazing day. The activities my group participated in allowed me and my classmates to venture outside of our comfort zones and try new and interesting things. Additionally, this feeling of uncomfortableness allowed us to look to new people to rely on for support, resulting in many new friendships, especially because groups are assigned randomly. 

You can view more photos of Day 2 here.

We landed in San Jose, Costa Rica around 7:30 a.m. and were greeted by Carlos, Frank and Ruben, our local guides in Costa Rica. After a three-hour bus ride, we arrived at the beautiful Rio Mar Resort in Dominical. We dropped our bags and headed to the beach to cool off. When the second group of travelers arrived, we ate dinner together, cheered on the 49ers to the Super Bowl and ended the night with a salsa lesson from Carlos’ wife, Laura. The boys and girls are exhausted but looking forward working with children at the local elementary schools, touring Hacienda Baru via ziplines and horseback riding tomorrow. Pura Vida! You can view more photos of Day 1 here.