by Ms. Julia Arce, Studies in Literature & English Language, Faculty
Amidst a prolonged downpour, we ate a breakfast of eggs, toast, sausages, cereals, juice, and coffee in the outdoor gathering area. With daypacks and water bottles, we boarded the three Kermit-green tour buses for our concurrent activities, highlighted briefly below. Dinner was shared as a whole class at the hotel, followed by a serious game night and some free time for pool, swimming, and hanging out.
The first group, Barat, spent the day horse-back riding through lush jungle to the family-run Nauyaca Waterfall Park. We departed the trust plunge and rode to lunch. The family prepared a traditional lunch with rice, beans, marinated chicken and potatoes, salad, and pineapple lemonade. While we refreshed ourselves together, regal peacocks meowed at us with screeching, shrill calls. Upon return to the hotel, students went swimming, played pool, drank smoothies, showered, and chilled until it was time for salsa dancing. Hector Flores, one of our chaperones, taught us the steps, Then we had a dance-off. Fia Douglas and Henry Wang were voted as winners.
Photos by Ms. Julia Arce, Studies in Literature & English Language, Faculty
Quotes: Azalea Scavullo (student): The waterfall was honestly a little bit terrifying. We all just sort of stared at it for a while. It was buckets of water. But, we had a lot of fun!
Heidi Yeung (student): A lot of beautiful scenery. The horses were so nice. The waterfall was very dynamic. Everything was run by one, sweet family.
Mr. Campos (chaperone): When you’re standing under the pressure of the water from the falls, you don’t see anything. All you feel is the speed and intensity of something trying to push you down. It’s exceedingly loud. Then you climb up rocks and put your balance in places you also cannot see. You’re forced to trust in the care of the guides and the experience.
The second group, Stuart, spent the day doing service work in the community of Silencio. Activities were interspersed with some serious soccer matches. In the afternoon, the group went white water rafting in the Savegre River.
Photo by Trisha Peterson, Chief Financial Officer
Quotes: Graham Woods (student): We did some service at a school where we got to paint hopscotch games, which was really fun. Then we went white-water rafting, which was really fun. Our guides were really great…we got to jump off…into the river!
Tanner Parent (student): I was clearing some big weeds around the base of a tree with a machete. It was a lot of work. For the white-water rafting, I was kind of anxious, but it turned out to be really fun. Swimming was relaxing and a nice pairing with the fast rapids. The view was the best part of it.
Photo by Dr. Michael Campos, Religion, Theology & Spirituality, Faculty
Quotes: The third group, Duschene, hiked through the Hacienda Baru Biological Preserve for an eco-tour. After lunch back at the hotel, they split into two smaller groups, either to surf at Playa Dominicalito or snorkeling around Palm Island at Ballena National Park.
Emilie Fæste (student): The eco-walk was very fun. We saw a lot of animals. Forty monkeys. Then we went snorkeling and saw the beautiful sunset. It was a lot of fun.
Chris Chow: I enjoyed watching the monkeys climbing, as well as the long boat ride and beautiful view when snorkeling.
Elizabeth Fox (student): I went surfing for the first time. It was my favorite activity!
Mr. Bryan Lorenz (chaperone): We saw wild pigs…leafcutter ants farming leaves…and as we walked along the trail, we heard something come crashing down through the canopy. A small monkey had thrown a stick. Then a few more threw more sticks our way. We were in their home and they were being themselves. About 30 monkeys (monos) appeared today. We were part of something so much bigger than ourselves.
We spent the last day at Rio Villa Mar getting ready to depart for San Jose. After a morning meeting where we sang the “Chi Chi a Wa Wa” song three final times, people had the option of visiting the shops and river in the small town of Dominical and/or chilling around the hotel for games and packing. Before and after a savory lunch of fish, potato wedges, salad, and juices, students ordered sodas, smoothies, shakes, and snacks. Indeed, this was a hungry crowd, grateful for the abundance of sustenance.
We boarded three Kermit-the-Frog green tour buses for the long ride to the Holiday Inn in the capital. The ride provided time to sleep or chat for many hours along a two-lane highway banked by green hills, blue skies, and small towns. Traffic wasn’t bad, though we stopped for some time due to an accident. We took a break for more snacks and souvenir shopping at El Garden, then drove on for another couple of hours. (Max Machle and Indie Briggs spent at least 1/3 of the bus trip fervently debating and discussing the top cultural cuisines ever – and also best individual meals – as we rolled through verdant valleys and bid adieu to the sloth-slow descent of sun).
Finally we arrived at the casino hotel. The breeze refreshed us, but it was humid. Our intrepid bus drivers helped unload hundreds of carry-on luggage onto the front grass and we waited to get room assignments. After a late boxed-meal dinner, we gathered around the kidney-shaped pool. Airplanes rumbled above us and the stars were barely visible in the big-city light. Yet, we sat and reflected on the serendipity, hospitality, personal and collective discoveries of our many adventures. By then it was nearing time to get in the rooms, shower, go to sleep – or watch satellite t.v. – until our wake-up calls at 3:00 a.m.
In the early morning we found our way onto the buses and to the airport. We were tired and ready to head for home. The security lines were extremely long, but we made it to the gate with plenty of time to have a coffee, close our eyes, and watch the night turn to day. Pierce Quigley passed a random security check, in which all his belongings89
]\ ‘was a were thoroughly checked for contraband, with an surreptitiously pleasant smile. Then we boarded.
This blog is being written amidst the Atlanta flight to SFO. Everyone made it through customs and Chick-Fil-A. We’re excited to see our families and friends soon. We’re tired, but we’re incredibly overjoyed. What a gift from our parents, our chaperones, our peers, our exquisite Costa Rican hosts, the biodiversity of our journey’s setting, and the Pura Vida vision of Dr. Krejcarek!
Quotes
I thought being at the beach all together on Thursday was a great bonding experience for all of us and on Day 6 we were given the opportunity to go into the town of Dominical where we could interact with local vendors and explore Costa Rica on our own.
This trip allowed us to truly embrace the well-known “pura vida” lifestyle and connect as a class without the usage of technology and forced us to be independent and responsible. We practiced being considerate of a new culture and ultimately enjoyed the grandeur of Costa Rica’s nature, beauty, and down-to-earth way of life. – Heidi Yeung
Day 4 (January 18th) – by Cabot Dick, Luke Spalding, and Garrett Hoffman
After a restful night’s sleep, we awoke to a new schedule following the end of our three day rotation. Today, we started with breakfast and a group meeting. We were then separated into our three morning activities, a cooking lesson by the hotel’s chef on a traditional Costa Rican dish, a nature tour with one of the groundskeepers and a wade down the nearby river. After lunch at the hotel, we boarded the buses to a picturesque Costa Rican beach. After arriving the lifeguards took us through two caves that connected to the warm ocean. Everyone spent time playing in the water, relaxing on the beach or drinking coconut water from the local vendors. After a few hours we headed back to the buses to come back to the hotel. Following showers and some light packing for our trip back to San Jose tomorrow, we had the Convent & Stuart Hall Talent Show and the final Salsa competition. The talent show was filled with Irish dancing, singing, stand-up comedy, flips, and a creative poem. Then, after much practice from our salsa instructor Mr. Flores, a show was performed for all the students, chaperones and hotel staff nearby. After the impressive dancing, a couple was awarded by judge Alejandro, a hotel staff member. We ended the day with packing and playing pool.
Since the night hike lasted longer than normal, this is a continuation of Day 3. Our journey took place in and around the same place as the waterfall we went to earlier in the morning. We boarded some safari trucks and headed down dirt paths to the trailhead. After turning on our head lamps, Juan Carlos led us down the trail and we spotted poison dart frogs, cicadas and spiders within a few minutes. Later on we saw snakes, butterflies, turtles and countless other insects. We ended the hike at one of our guide’s houses on the top of a hill where we were rewarded with Costa Rican treats & drinks provided by his family along with beautiful views of the night sky and surrounding valley.
Quotes:
The talent show was a very good experience, I just wish Mr. Farrell’s song was a bit longer. — Ross
I’m quite glad I could bring happiness and jubilation to my peers and teachers with my backflip during the talent show. The hours of hard work I put in to be able to perform this dangerous feat were all worth it when I saw the smiles on everyone’s faces. — Saul
One thing I’ve realized today during the river walk is that silence is okay, being in the moment is okay, and you don’t need to worry about what you can’t control. Costa Rica has taught me that the past is unchangeable, and to live a pura vida life every day. — Scarlett
I’ve had so much fun over the course of this trip and have very much enjoyed all of the new experiences throughout, from performing in the talent show to going on the night hike. — Sterling
The night hike allowed us to see Costa Rica through shadows and creatures only experienced in silence. In a similar way, experiencing my students in unfamiliar contexts allowed me to appreciate the best—and often overlooked—aspects of these persons: kindness, care, and openness to others. — Mr. Campos
Day 3 (January 17th) – by Ryker Fringer and Cabot Dick
The day started abruptly with a pounding at the door at 6:45, but with a delightful bacon and eggs breakfast. First thing on the agenda was a group meeting with all of the students and chaperones. Next, we climbed onto a green bus heading to horseback riding and waterfalls! After the short ride, we stepped into three pickup trucks with 10 open-air seats. We then descended down to the ranch where the horses were saddled waiting for us. There, we split into two groups (~19 in each); one group would go back into trucks and the other group mounted onto the horses. This was my (Ryker Fringer – Student) first time ever riding a horse! The two groups then met at the waterfall where they changed into their bathing suits and hiked down to the plunge pool. There was an amazing view! The plunge pool turned into a river, which was completely surrounded by boulders and rocks. To be able to jump off the waterfall (~30 ft), one…
This report was interrupted due to Salsa dancing, surfing, snorkeling, and a night hike, but Ms. Árce will add a couple of sentences… To be able to jump off the waterfall (~30 ft), one “swam across the plunge pool into the thrashing cold water from above. Then one had to climb up onto the slick rocks, get pounded by the river thrashing us, all the while being pulled up by the strategically stationed, brilliant Nauyaca guides.”
It’s 11:20 p.m. and we are all pretty tired. This message will be continued.
Day 2 (January 16th) – by Rebecca Alba and Chiara Ferro
We began the day by heading down to the dining room for breakfast which consisted of rice, beans, eggs, potatoes, french toast, and fresh pineapple. After the meal, we made our way into the common room, where Dr. Krejcarek led us through an exciting new song called “Chi Chi Ri Wa Wa”. Next, we split up into our day groups and headed to our respective activities. My group and I went to a local school in a town called El Silencio, and painted a new hopscotch game for the kids to enjoy. The activity was fun and exciting, but came with many challenges along the way.
Despite the humid and warm climate, we played soccer or “fútbol” with the local kids. One girl that I especially connected with, named Ana, was the daughter of someone who has been working with our community for a long time. It was really interesting to see a glimpse into the life of a Costa Rican teenager and understand the cultural differences and similarities in our lives. The language barrier challenged me when talking to the owner of the school and while receiving directions on what we needed to do. But I was given the opportunity to use my Spanish skills to connect with her despite the language barrier.
Chiara Ferro adds, “I thought that the service work we did was impactful towards me because it was so fun to speak Spanish to the kids and create a bond with them despite the language barrier.“
Our art teacher Ms. Martin, who assisted us during this project, says, “the service work today at El Silencio was meaningful and powerful. It was incredible to see students jump right in and connect with the purpose of the project. We were able to execute a hopscotch painting that will be utilized by primary school students. I am grateful that we all had this experience to give back in a lasting and meaningful way.”
Overall, I’m so glad we were given the opportunity to participate in this experience and connect with people of different cultures, and it’ll be something I remember forever.
Day 1 (January 15th) – by Ms. Julia Arce, English Faculty
Amidst a prolonged downpour, we ate a breakfast of eggs, toast, sausages, cereals, juice, and coffee in the outdoor gathering area. With daypacks and water bottles, we boarded the three Kermit-green tour buses for our concurrent activities, highlighted briefly below. Dinner was shared as a whole class at the hotel, followed by a serious game night and some free time for pool, swimming, and hanging out.
The first group, Barat, spent the day horse-back riding through lush jungle to the family-run Nauyaca Waterfall Park. We departed the trust plunge and rode to lunch. The family prepared a traditional lunch with rice, beans, marinated chicken and potatoes, salad, and pineapple lemonade. While we refreshed ourselves together, regal peacocks meowed at us with screeching, shrill calls. Upon return to the hotel, students went swimming, played pool, drank smoothies, showered, and chilled until it was time for salsa dancing. Hector Flores, one of our chaperones, taught us the steps, Then we had a dance-off. Fia Douglas and Henry Wang were voted as winners.
Quotes:
Azalea Scavullo (student): The waterfall was honestly a little bit terrifying. We all just sort of stared at it for a while. It was buckets of water. But, we had a lot of fun!
Heidi Yeung (student): A lot of beautiful scenery. The horses were so nice. The waterfall was very dynamic. Everything was run by one, sweet family.
Mr. Campos (chaperone): When you’re standing under the pressure of the water from the falls, you don’t see anything. All you feel is the speed and intensity of something trying to push you down. It’s exceedingly loud. Then you climb up rocks and put your balance in places you also cannot see. You’re forced to trust in the care of the guides and the experience.
The second group, Stuart, spent the day doing service work in the community of Silencio. Activities were interspersed with some serious soccer matches. In the afternoon, the group went white water rafting in the Savegre River.
Quotes:
Graham Woods (student): We did some service at a school where we got to paint hopscotch games, which was really fun. Then we went white-water rafting, which was really fun. Our guides were really great…we got to jump off…into the river!
Tanner Parent (student): I was clearing some big weeds around the base of a tree with a machete. It was a lot of work. For the white-water rafting, I was kind of anxious, but it turned out to be really fun. Swimming was relaxing and a nice pairing with the fast rapids. The view was the best part of it.
Quotes:
The third group, Duschene, hiked through the Hacienda Baru Biological Preserve for an eco-tour. After lunch back at the hotel, they split into two smaller groups, either to surf at Playa Dominicalito or snorkeling around Palm Island at Ballena National Park.
Emilie Fæste (student): The eco-walk was very fun. We saw a lot of animals. Forty monkeys. Then we went snorkeling and saw the beautiful sunset. It was a lot of fun.
Chris Chow: I enjoyed watching the monkeys climbing, as well as the long boat ride and beautiful view when snorkeling.
Elizabeth Fox (student): I went surfing for the first time. It was my favorite activity!
Mr. Bryan Lorenz (chaperone): We saw wild pigs…leafcutter ants farming leaves…and as we walked along the trail, we heard something come crashing down through the canopy. A small monkey had thrown a stick. Then a few more threw more sticks our way. We were in their home and they were being themselves. About 30 monkeys (monos) appeared today. We were part of something so much bigger than ourselves.
A quick update from Dominical!
Hi Families,
The flights were on time, and students are excited to be getting into their rooms to settle in. The weather is beautiful, and we are excited to begin our rotations tomorrow. We have shared space together as a full group to discuss the trip ahead, and our adventure begins now! Photos and reflections will be posted to the blog tomorrow and the following days.
By Dr. Michael Campos, High School Religion, Theology and Spirituality Faculty
Seminar 2, Day 6: I am Broken Transitioning closer to our embodiedness, participants spent the morning working in the lettuce gardens of the farm. We experienced the fragility of life in the plantation nursery, allowed our bodies to toil directly on the beds of mature lettuce, enjoy our varying skill levels with rural life (we probably destroyed a couple of beds, sadly).
Each morning, Sam invites us to reflect on the day’s theme. In the Christian tradition, “brokenness” constitutes a central experience, evoking Jesus’ promise at the Last Supper, where his body — offered on behalf of his disciples — endures a kind of violation that opens to the possibility of transformation. We considered the “Resurrection” as a moment that arises out of adversity, growth that could only arise from pathos (suffering).
Photos by Dr. Michael Campos, Religion, Theology & Spirituality, Faculty
I facilitated a conversation that took account of our brokenness. Inspired in part by last evening’s intense discussions on sexuality and inclusion, participants drew deeply from places of pain. What initially began as a roundtable grew into a personal sharing of loss and brokenness. These openings reoriented the flow of the roundtable, from intellect to heart, mind to body. Facilitated by Sr. Lydia, we lit candles around an “open heart” (a Sacred Heart icon) to hold our collective mourning.
Sr. Digna engaged participants on the “Art of Listening and Asking Questions” for the afternoon sessions. Given the opportunity to reflect on the roles we inhabit during group work, participants were able to synthesize Elvy’s input on organization structures and Mel’s insights on human development with practical skills in group facilitation and engagement.
We woke up early today to the sounds of the farm dogs barking and the rooster crowing. For breakfast, we had traditional bangus and rice, as well as pancakes, cereal, and toast. After our hearty meal, we attended a presentation on the connections between Sophie’s Farm and the RSCJ. Then, we went on a tour of the farm grounds and prepared for the work we would be doing later. Upon returning to the center, we enjoyed a delicious meal of ginataang, a coconut milk soup with saba bananas and taros, and deep-fried ube on the side.
Photos by Dr. Michael Campos, Religion, Theology & Spirituality, Faculty and Rena Franco, Accounts Payable Specialist
After our snack and break, we walked into the nearby village. There, we connected with local kids and observed the ways of life in Catarman. During our visit, we went to the sea, which we had seen earlier during the property tour. While in the village, some of the boys in our group caught a group of local boys playing basketball and eagerly joined in. This led to a spontaneous basketball game that demonstrated the universality of some experiences. After returning from the village, we observed Ash Wednesday by eating vegetable lumpia and other meatless dishes. Shortly after, we began our service work. We divided into multiple groups and went through each process of horticulture, specifically growing lettuce. It was hard, manual labor, something that most of us had not experienced before. Despite the uncomfortable heat and labor, we pushed ourselves to our limits and helped put food on the table for the community. It was a fulfilling experience to give back to a community that had already given us so much.
Photos by Dr. Michael Campos, Religion, Theology & Spirituality, Faculty and Rena Franco, Accounts Payable Specialist
When we were all ready for a rest, we took some time to reflect. Everyone shared their experiences from the day and the transformations we had undergone throughout the trip so far. Finally, the Sisters at Sophie’s Farm hosted Ash Wednesday mass and confessions. There was lots of singing, and it was amazing to see this mass in comparison to the ones we had experienced back home. The night ended with a dinner, and we hit the hay after a long but rewarding day.
Photos by Dr. Michael Campos, Religion, Theology & Spirituality, Faculty and Rena Franco, Accounts Payable Specialist
Today was our last day in Makati. In the morning, we spent time at the Peninsula Hotel. I had planned to wake up at 6:30 AM to go swimming but ended up oversleeping. I learned later that my friends had come to my room to wake me up, but I was already having breakfast. We then boarded a bus to the airport, where we had lunch during the journey.
Photos by Dr. Michael Campos, Religion, Theology & Spirituality, Faculty
Our plane had a rough landing in Samar, but we eventually made our way to Sophie’s farm with a military truck escort. The locals were welcoming and friendly upon our arrival. It was nice to interact with them and learn more about their culture. For dinner, we enjoyed lechon, tinola, and pansit, while seated at tables with other students from different high schools in the Philippines.
Photos by Dr. Michael Campos, Religion, Theology & Spirituality, Faculty
I was happy to meet Danzel and Ina, who were excited to talk to me. After dinner, we were entertained by a cultural show put on by the students at the farm. We even got to participate in the dances, including the karasha, a dance that mimics the mating ritual of a rooster and a chicken. We ended the night with a tinikling dance. It was amusing to watch Ms. Franco and Mr. Campos try the dance, and I enjoyed bonding with Clayton.
Our first full day in Berlin was spent exploring the city in small groups. We visited many sights where we were able to explore Germany’s history. While Copenhagen felt like a place where we embraced its present culture, Berlin was a city where we immersed ourselves in its past. “It felt like a haunted city” and “A place where the cobblestones looked to be crying due to the melting snow”, as wisely stated by Ms. Mac and Dr. Jorgensen respectively. Although Berlin is a much bigger city than Copenhagen, it was still filled with quaint cafes and bakeries where we were able to have breakfast, and even a kebab kitchen where I enjoyed a delicious lunch. We ended the day watching a huge upset in the World Cup. It was great to able to wander the city and get a taste for all parts of German culture.
Our final day in Rome! We visited the Pantheon in the morning. “After the rainfall overnight, it was cool to see how it fell into the Pantheon,” said Connor Caba, Gr 12. While in the Pantheon, originally a temple later transformed into a Christian church, students saw the tomb of Raphael. After yesterday’s visit to the Vatican and seeing his works of art, the students found it to be a powerful experience.
Following the Pantheon, we all got COVID tested. We’re very happy to announce that we’re all negative! Before dinner, we made a stop at Santa Maria in Trastevere. “The columns are taken from the Baths of Caracalla. It shows the reuse of ancient Rome in Christianity,” said Dr. David Jacobson.
While at dinner, Sofia Tobiason, Gr. 10 volunteered to dance salsa with our waiter. “Besides the food, that was the best part of dinner,” said Sofia. She received a round of applause from the restaurant customers.
The students are all excited to head home first thing in the morning tomorrow.
Convent & Stuart Hall Travel 