It is an amazing thing to think about just how much can happen in a matter of five short days. Thursday afternoon, exactly one week ago, was the last time I had a chance to write. (The kids were hogging the computer.) So here is the trip summary from start to finish.

Thursday, May 24^th

Thursday afternoon, the kids returned from lunch with the Roteracts just in time to get on the bus to the the first book delivery we would do on our trip. The roads in costa Rica are rough and narrow, and there were moment when I feared our bus might tilt that one extra degree to plunge us into a ravine. Thankfully, the drivers are phenomenal and we arrived at the school to be greeted by a long line of children each ready to lead us one by one into the auditorium of the school.

The auditorium was a large warehouse-type structure with corrugated metal sheets for a roof. The kids inside were already sitting orderly in rows of chairs they had toted in from their own classrooms. The kids were all waving to us and smiling, and for the first time, I was really wishing I’d learned Spanish rather than French in high school. Almost immediately, my eyes were drawn to a young girl with a glowing smile, only matched by the manhole-cover-sized smiley face she had in hand. Matthew’s dad Efrain was invaluable in translating for me as these wonderful third graders introduced themselves to us. With Cate and Noel nearby, I told the kids about the books we’d brought for them and then showed them the pictures of Noel and Cate in the back of How to Cook with a Pencil, so that they would understand that the authors were kids just like themselves. I absolutely love that expression of joy and surprise when they make the connection. I was equally tickled that they looked in the back of Watute and recognized me as well (not so much because I like the recognition but because I’m pleased to know I bear some resemblance to a photo-shopped picture from three years ago – ahhh vanity)

We settled ourselves down for the performance the children had prepared for us. They kids were adorable, and it was a riot to see that the one girl I had really felt so drawn to was the leader of the pack of smiley faces on stage. She’s quite a kid. She kept looking over her shoulder to make sure all her classmates were keeping in step with her – bossy, but effective. After the show, there was a small presentation of the books that the Rotary had brought for the school. Felicia asked why the books we had brought weren’t among those at the front, and I guess I just wanted to remain low key for a while. Besides, I really wanted the experience of handing books to kids individually. One of the neatest parts of the YouthInkwell kids is that they have the ability to inspire other kids when they have the time to interact with the reader.

When the “ceremony” was disbanded, I was rushed by a hoard of smilely faces. The kids insisted that I autograph every single smilely face they had. Meanwhile, Noel and Cate and Shaina and Ivy and Matthew headed into the adjacent classrooms to see what the school was like. I knew they were exhausted after the day’s travel and felt a bit bad about dragging them out right away… I ventured with Matthew’s dad into the library to give several books to the librarian. I watched Efrain tell the librarian about our project, and it was so exciting to see her reaction. Educators seem to speak with an enthusiasm that seems to transcend language barriers – nevertheless, I was immensely grateful to have Matt’s dad there. Engrossed in a conversation about getting the kids of the school to perhaps begin a letter-writing campaign with the YouthInkwell kids, we were the last to get on the bus.

After an even more nerve-wracking bus ride, we arrived at school number two, called, strangely enough, the California School. Because the hour was late, the students had all left for the day and instead, we were greeted by teachers and several parents. Three students did return to thank the Rotary for the donation of books. Looking about the room, I could see that the energy level was fading fast. People were slumping in the few chairs that could be found in this very small space. One detail worth mentioning about the library though was the great painting on the wall. The kids gravitated toward it.

With the rain showers soaking the ground, we then dashed to the “cafeteria” (a small room not much bigger than a guest bedroom) and sat down for a snack. There we spoke to a beautiful blond woman who taught the second graders. Once again, Efrain was great to translate for us and explain about the books that the kids had written. We left her with two sets, one for her class, and one for the library. She had a fantastic smile and gave us all hugs as we left.

That night, there was a welcome dinner for all Rotary travelers. We walked into the hotel banquet room and saw huge round tables, only half occupied. We took possession of a table at the edge of the dance floor and one by one, I watch the YouthInkwell kids begin to nod off. I suppose it didn’t help that the dinner began with about forty-five minutes of speeches – and this was before the waiters would even pour drinks! Thankfully, the proverbial dinner bell rang and the kids could finally get some sustenance. (Heck! I think it was the adults who were more hungry – we hadn’t been invited to go out to lunch that afternoon – smile). Just as I thought our first full day was winding down and I would have to carry five sizable loads back to bed, they strangest thing happened…

The band began to play some music. Now, I don’t know about most of you readers, but I spent the majority of my teen years surrounded by kids who scoffed at the notion of occupying a dance floor. Not these kids! Matthew, it turns out, is a phenomenal dancer, and he spun Ivy, Cate, and even me around the floor. It was an absolute blast.

I went to bed that night absolutely certain of two things… 1.) I was traveling with five of the coolest kids around and 2.) I desperately need to take some dance classes.

Friday, May 25th

To my great sadness, we did not connect with Nature Kids in time to formulate a plan for our visit to them. Not wanting to deviate from our tour group without knowing exactly where it was we were going, I resolved to connect the organization over the weekend and try to set up something for Monday morning before we left. And then… we went ziplining!

I know the kids wrote a whole lot about this experience, so I’ll just say in summary that it was an incredible bonding experience. Everyone cheered for each other and laughed and had an all-around fantastic time. It is simply impossible to stand amidst that kind of beauty and not feel compelled to become some kind of environmentalist.

For what it’s worth, the last zip line went an entire half-mile… just you, an extraordinary drop, and a finish point which can only be seen once you have disappeared into the darkness of the trees. Terrifying! Invigorating! Definitely, something to remember.

We arrived back to the hotel late and had to rush to get ready for dinner. We headed by bus to another hotel where we had the opportunity to sit with Peter, a fellow Rotarian. Over dinner, he gave the kids some very sound advice. He told them quite bluntly that many people on the trip didn’t even know they were there, had no idea about the books the kids had brought and the work the kids were doing. He challenged them all to start sitting separately at meals – something the kids looked a bit intimidated to do. Shaina spoke up first. “Then I’m sitting with you,” she told Peter. The others reluctantly agreed that it would be a great idea to branch out and meet some new people.

Saturday, May 26^th

I made everyone get up really early. The night before Catarina, the trip coordinator, had announced that there would be limited space on the busses going to the Indian reservation and it would be first-come, first-served. I knew how much Ivy had wanted to visit the reserve, so I told everyone to be waiting 45-minutes early. The kids used this opportunity to get some journal writing done, while Cate sat in the lobby typing her blog. We headed to the reservation and parked the buses. Immediately, I realized that I had worn the wrong shoes. We descended down a path of mud to an open space where several local people had gathered to sell some crafts. Next to them was a large hut with bones and ornaments hanging from the ceiling. We gathered inside and heard a bit about the community, learning that many of the native people live a three-day walk from the hills to get to the heart of the reservation. In the trees next to the hut was a large cistern for gathering water.

The kids had the chance to see how sugar cane could be crushed into a syrup, which we all got to try. It was interesting to here the tribe’s leader describe the process of operating the machine as a system, a system that could not work with out everyone working as one. He was right. It took six people to make the machine work, and they all had to be in sync. A tremendous example of teamwork. I liked it that Ivy and Cate offered to help.

Throughout the morning, Shaina began drawing different people and things she saw. It was neat to see people gather around and watch her work. When the tribe’s leader gathered us all back in the hut to do a tribal blessing, he said that no photography or videos would be allowed. But he did let Shaina draw him as he gathered around a steaming stone and sprinkled it with sparkling dust.

We gathered back on the bus and headed to the reservation’s school. We were greeted by children dressed in colorful traditional attire ready to perform for us. As soon as we sat down, a man handed me a paper with a translation of two speeches that children would be making during the presentation.

I was shocked to read the words of the 5-year-old Manuel. While so much of what the YouthInkwell kids are doing has been about water, I had not thought of this trip as a vehicle for great discussion of water rights. I had really looked upon this trip as a way mostly to get our kids to connect with the world outside of the one we know in southern California. I thought that they would be able to inspire some of the kids they might meet in Costa Rica to see how writing can make a difference in their own communities. I never really thought that the issue of water would be forefront on the minds of the Costa Rican children. (Granted, I heartily disagreed with the Rotarian woman who rather rudely told the YouthInkwell kids that Costa Rican children would not “understand” the mission of our books.) But I did think that the need for clean water was not as pressing as it is in say, Ethiopia.

This was little Manuel’s speech.

Good morning dear children, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Manuel Enrique Hernández Pérez, I go to Kindergarten and I am pleased to talk to you about a very valuable natural resource: WATER.

Water is an important source of life, it constitutes over 80% of the body of most organisms and it represents the basis of all life forms.

Nowadays, we realize that there is a water shortage problem approaching our country and our community, due to the misuse that humans make of it. For example: deforestation, pollution of rivers, oceans and groundwater. People also waste water at homes, in schools, industries, etc. It is worrying to know that, according to some specialized studies, we could run out of this resource in no more than 10 years if we continue misusing it.

This is why it is our duty to protect the water and avoid all harmful influences on the sources of this liquid. It is everybody’s obligation to take care of our hydrological resources and raise awareness that water is one of nature’s most precious resources, due to the role it performs for all living beings.

Remember that there is no life without water. It is the means in which millions of organisms grow, so let us not destroy it. I invite you to make a change on all the bad attitudes and act towards everybody’s wellness.

Thank you very much.

While, we had not wanted to make any great announcements about our presence prior to that, I felt compelled to tell the kids of the school just how much we all had in common. The Roteracts who were in charge of the ceremony were kind enough to give us a few minutes to talk to the audience about the books we were bringing. Ivy gave a book to Manuel for him to keep, and Noel gave a book to the young girl Maria, who had also given an impressive speech about the computer lab that was being donated to her school by the Roteracts.

This was her speech:

Good morning, dear children, teaching and administrative staff, and special guests.

My name is María Fernanda Arce Pérez, I am a fifth-grader in this school and today I would like to talk to you about “Technological Development”.

The level of technological development humans have reached, the advances provided by the information era, and the need to face the coming century, compromise educators as well as administrators to take an active position in order to face this irreversible process, which will be dealt with mostly by today’s student population. Within this frame of technological inventions, the computer comes in as yet another educational tool available to schools in this country.

It is important to analyze that our world is changing rapidly and technology plays a most relevant role in such process. Computing science is the revolution of the new millennium, a revolution that is becoming apparent in the national education system. That is why it is important to understand the importance of the integration of teachers into the specific learning environments of computer labs available for children in schools, in order to make the best use of their creativity, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills, among others.

Such computer labs favor all the individuals around them: students, teachers, administrative staff, and the community. However, this benefit can only be real if these individuals have the right attitude and are actually interested in making the most out of the resources they have.

For years, it has been observed that students’ performance depends on how efficiently they use the different educational tools. Nowadays, in elementary schools, it is fundamental to develop the learning-teaching process based on the use of computer science.

These are the reasons why it is so important that this computer lab becomes a reality. I and the rest of the students in this school will be happy to know that we can fulfill our expectations and hope to be better prepared for the future.

Thank you very much.

While we all concurred that the kids had probably been given some help in writing their speeches, the delivery was impeccable and there was no doubt that the kids knew, understood, and believed what they were saying. Young Maria became a favorite of Ivy’s after the little girl embraced her with the mother of all bear-hugs.

We had the chance to eat lunch at the school and enjoy conversation with teachers and children alike. We were so engrossed in our conversations that we were, unfortunately, once again, the last ones on the bus. The trip organizers politely requested that we be more cognizant of the time, but I am inclined to agree with the comments of the Youthinkwellers later that evening… while resting the hotel room back in San Jose the kids were a bit frustrated that there wasn’t as much time to actually talk to the kids who attended the schools. I can’t recall if it was Cate or Shaina who pointed out how crazy it was to be more attentive to the clock than to the people we were hoping to help. More later…

CATE:

continued from earlier entry…

After enjoying a delicious lunch of chicken, black beans, and rice, we gave our boxes of books to the ecstatic children. Both Maria and Manuel held expressions of shock and excitement as we handed them their copies of Pencil and Watute. However, unfortunately, we were rushed out and again were the last on the bus. The ride back seemed much longer, since our anticipation had disappeared and we were driving very slowly so we did not go flying over the cliff.

Again Matthew and Noel were insane enough to go swimming. Back in Jen’s room, Shaina blogged, Ivy studied for SATs, Jen slept, and, well, I really don’t remember what I was doing. I guess I was just sitting there waiting for Shaina to finish. Finally Matthew and Noel got back and I spent the rest of my time buying Jennifer Diet Cokes in the wonderfully stocked gift shop.

Finally, we left for dinner, where I sat with Ivy and a group of quite interesting people who talked with us about school and college. While dining on coconut candies, we were entertained by wonderful dancers who were accompanied by a wonderful band. Though Jennifer promised us dancing, no one got up. Once we returned to the hotel, I took hilarious videos of Noel and Matthew talking about high school, Ivy randomly moaning and telling Matthew he was awesome, and Jennifer just looking on, wondering what the heck we were doing.

P.S. I completely agree with Matthew. Shaina did have a romantic moment with some guy in a Michael Jordan t-shirt. Though they didn’t say anything to each other, there was definitely a connection…. look out Kevin…

Breakfast was as usual, delicious, except for the minor fact that the kiwis were disgustingly sour. Matt, Shaina, Noel, Jen, Mrs. Mollinedo, Ms. Matsunaga and I were on one bus while Mr. De la Peza and Ivy were on the other bus. Ours contained us + past-Rotary-president Wilson and his wife. To get to know each other a little better, we each gave a presentation about ourselves at the front of the bus with a tiny and quite annoying microphone. Once we had finished, Wilson pointed out various sites of beauty, him being an expert on Costa Rica, and what really happens in banana factories.

Once we got to the hotel on the beach, we ordered delicious seafood while being entertained by a great group of Costa Rican musicians, which resulted in many dancers and a sing-a-long.

There Shaina taught us some very violent finger games including the infamous rock paper scissors where if you win, you get to slap the other person’s hand without mercy. Noel had mercy, Matthew was merciless.

Our first stop was the wheelchair ceremony across the street at the gym.

The five of us (Ivy joined us later) helped adjust the foot rests and arm rests of the wheelchairs for four very nice ladies, who thanked us afterwards. It made up for the huge wheelchair ceremony we missed the day we went ziplining.
Our second stop was to a homeless shelter in the making. Though they had not begun the project itself, I think they had the money and were to start soon. Though we talked to the nuns, we didn’t get a clear answer when. The shelter has a substantial size, and holds much promise in the near future.

Afterwards, we boarded the bus for another long ride home. Noel, Matthew and I played a Jennifer game called Set, where you had to find three of a kind, while Shaina slept. At dinner, we had a huge platter of plantains, chicken, beef and potatoes that Ivy, Noel and I shared. After taking a wonderful picture on the stairs, we continued our long ride home.

That night we all went straight to our own rooms. Jennifer, Shaina and Ivy finally got some peace…and sleep.
Breakfast was quiet and dreary, today being our last day. Yet we were all looking forward to our last event, Nature Kids! Once we got there we met a ton of kids who were very inviting and welcoming. Some of them were shy but most were overwhelmed with excitement as they arrived. They were magnetically pulled to the gloop.
Noel:

Our day begins with another long (even longer than yesterday’s) bus ride. Today we went to Limon a city close to the Caribbean ocean. I’ll skip the bus ride because you probably now all about it by now, so basically when got out of the bus it felt a hundred degrees hotter. But lucky us, we got right back on the bus. The bus driver took us to the top of a far off hill where we could see all of the ocean and Tortuga Island, which means turtle island. Then one of our fellow travelers decided to exit the bus and say hi to a local friend. During this process she stumbled and fell, cutting her arm on the concrete stairs. When this happened her friend was holding a machete (which he was using to cut his fruit with) and Cate thought that she fell on the machete. But she showed everyone that she just had a little cut and disproved Cate’s dire theory. Soon after she was antisepticted up, we ate at a Costa Rican restaurant. Shaina and I ordered shakes, yum. They were delicious and for the main course I had sea bass, which I found quite fishy. For dessert Cate, Shaina and I had tres leches, a milky cake I guess is the best way to describe it.

After that, we ventured to a decapitated (editorial note: I think you meant dilapidated, Noel) building which the nuns told us was the future homeless shelter. Cate, Matthew, Shaina and I all explored the place but Shaina and I were only the bravest to go upstairs where we found even more grotesque stuff.
Following this desolate place we took a long bus ride to our next meal in a small plaza where everything was wonderful. When we sat down we did not sit together but separate, being part of the deal Jennifer made with us. We figured that we would meet more people and make more contacts if we all sat at different tables and talked with different people. It worked. I sold two books and made many friends. I don’t think everyone had the same experience. Shaina and Matthew sat down at a table and people kept sitting next to them and then getting up and leaving to move somewhere else. They felt kind of bad, especially since we’d already been banned to a bus all by ourselves (thanks, Wilson for coming with us! we really appreciated it!!!!) . Then after dinner we left back for the hotel in the pouring rain — a very different ending to the night before when we’d all headed outside to explore a small plaza that was so inviting. At first it had been only Matthew, Shaina and I so Matt took a lot of pictures of us two on the different statues around the place. Soon Cate and Ivy joined in on the fun and we all had a ball around the fountain. What a night. (but that was the night before)

The Last Day… bum bum bummmmmmm. Sadly all good things come to an end, including our trip to Costa Rica, but luckily we got to end it with a big bang. Our big bang was our trip to Nature Kids where we donated more books to kids in need. Also we spent the day with them and I believe everyone had a fantastic time. Shaina drew pictures for all of the kids while Cate and I played soccer with the children. Cate and I were on opposing teams so obviously Cate got destroyed. Although, it was a close match because Cate had a young Beckham on her team who was a soccer star in the making. I can’t remember his name clearly but I think it was Juan. It was an experience I will never forget. Then we went inside where Cate read Watute to all of the little kids. They enjoyed the book and Matt’s dad translated it into Spanish for all of them. Sadly it was time to leave and we were all forced say our good byes. I miss them already.

Though tired from waking up again at 5:50, the crew was energized as ever for the trip to Limon. The drive there was beautiful, as we passed through the biggest national park in
Costa Rica. Trees, rivers, and waterfalls were ubiquitous. During the three hour drive, the team slept, slept, and slept some more. In order to maximize the bonding experience, Matt’s dad and Ivy were on one bus, and the rest of the people banished to another. In Matt’s dad and Ivy’s bus, they had a great time with the cutest couple, who will be married for 48 years this August, Richard and Deanna Malek. They were extremely supportive of the books and the kids. Afterwards they told us that they would try to connect us with the superintendent of
Lennox, who is in their Rotary club, and help Youthinkwell to connect with the various schools in the community.

     The other bus was filled with the rest of the “Youthinkers” and a past Rotary president and his wife, Wilson and Amanda.  To help break the ice, each person went to the front of the bus and talked about themselves with a Bob Barker microphone.  After we got acquainted with one another, we slept some more and listened to Wilson and his wife, who was from
Costa Rica, teach about the history of the country.

After 3 hours of bus ride, we were finally there! After opening the bus door, we instantly felt the humidity in the air. We stopped at the beach and Matt took some awesome pictures.  For lunch, we ate at a beautiful restaurant overseeing the
Caribbean. The seafood was great! The seafood soup, fried rice, and shrimp were delicioso!  It was also joined by a wonderful trio of traditional musicians from Limon.  The style can only be described as “happy music” in the words of Ivy.  Not kiddie musical type of happy music but rather just upbeat music from the djembe, bass, and guitar.  It even got some people singing and dancing. 

     Everyone finished their food and went across the street to the gym.  We didn’t go to work on our biceps and glutes, but to deliver some wheelchairs to some people.  Why it was held at a gym I do not know.  The kids went forward and handed the wheelchairs to four very sweet women.  They made the foot rests more comfortable and then the recipients said a few kind words to us.  We bade goodbye to them and got on yet another bus.

     The next stop was the future homeless shelter. The project has not yet begun, but the funds had been secured for the refurnishing of the house. But the biggest question that concerned the youth board was the sustainability of such facility and the reincorporation of the homeless back into society. We talked to the nuns who will be in charge of the project but didn’t get a clear answer. Like all great projects, it is rough in the beginning, but with a clear vision and passion, all things are possible.

  On our drive back, our observant driver spotted two sloths in the tree. According to our driver, sloths are very relaxed animal and do not have teeth. Therefore, they have to knaw on soft leaves, which causes them to be fatigued ( for some unknown odd reason).

  The day ended with a great food and pleasant conversations with the Rotarians. We reluctantly retreated to their rooms after blogging and playing In Jennifer’s room.

until tomorrow…

Even with beautiful weather, the team is a little sad this morning because it was our last day in
Costa Rica. Breakfast was quiet and somewhat dismal. But we quickly cheered up, because we were going to visit the Nature Kids!

to be continued…

Today was really fun!!!

            We started off the day with a 6:30 wakeup call, and were forced down to breakfast, which again, was pretty good. As we walked back, we (everyone except for Noel) decided on Power Rangers and I was given whatever was left over (pink L) Coincidentally, Noel became green, because he’s only around when we need him. Ivy was red because red’s a leader, Matthew’s blue because he’s king of blues, and Shaina was yellow because she’s a girl.

            After listening to the Power Ranger’s theme song, we boarded the bus to head to the Indian Reservation, where we were led into a hut where we met Choto, the shaman of the village. As Ivy probably said, it was really cool how they can live with their culture and traditions without being disturbed by everyday life.

            In the hut, we had a welcoming ceremony. During the ceremony, Shaina was busying drawing the hut, fire and chief all at the same time. After the ceremony, we were led outside to watch a sugar water demonstration using only sugar cane and a very complicated “tool” (it wasn’t electronic). Afterwards, we visited their museum, where they told us about their fight to keep the artifacts. Shaina also drew some of the artifacts. There we also became part of a traditional ritual, where he shook maracas in our faces, brushed us with banana leaves, and splashed us with holy water. He also poured what looked like a kind of oil over a huge ember and made it smoke.

            Once we were done at the Indian village, we drove up to the school the kids attended, where we met two incredible kids, a fifth-grader named Maria and a kindergartener named Manuel. Both gave incredible speeches about technology and water. Shaina drew Manuel, and Ivy became Maria’s new best friend.

to be continued…

Day 4:  May 26, 2007

     Go Go Power Rangers!  This morning the Power Rangers all assembled for a quick breakfast before we prepared our things for the trip to the Quitirissi Indian Reserve.  Noel was dubbed the Green Ranger since they both are nowhere to be found *coughcoughAiportcoughcough.*Our president, Ivy, was named the Red Ranger since they are both leaders and Shaina is the Yellow Ranger since she’s smart and a girl.  Since I am the King of Blues, I was given the title of Blue Ranger and Cate got the leftover: the Pink Ranger.

     After we got on our bus and drove past some beautiful billboards with Shakira on them, we arrived at our destination- the Indian Reserve.  We bought Maurice a nice straw hat and made our way down a beautiful yet slippery mud path.  At the end was a quaint little hut where we learned about Costa Rican Indian culture/history from Choto, the shaman.  After I managed to take a few final snapshots before my camera died, we headed back up the hill.  I then managed to find some batteries from Jennifer and another Rotarian and we went to the local school.  We were treated to very eloquent speeches from Rotarians, Costa Ricans, and even a fifth grade girl named Maria and a kindergartener named Manuel.  It was amazing to see these young children speak so articulately about such important issues like water.  We watched several dances, making me a little tired of going back and forth from my seat to the stage.  To end the trip we ate a nice lunch where I got a little depressed when someone I sat near told the tale of the people in
India who would dig through the trash to eat the leftover scraps of my salad that I didn’t eat.  We left as Ivy gave Maria a hug for the 5,798,342^nd time and waved goodbye. 

     We arrived back at out hotel and after a quick nap, Noel and I played Marco Polo in the pool, which I learned I suck at.  We then joined a blogging Shaina, a studying Ivy, a sleeping Jennifer, and a bored-out-of-her-mind Cate.  We played some more Upwords which I am horrible at as well.

     Apparently I missed the memo about “Be Mean to Matthew Day.”  After trying to be perky after they called me obnoxious, and really weird, and told me to shut up; I just ignored them and went to the corner with several sheets and towels over my head.  But then they just threw stuff at me and kicked me. Finally Jennifer woke up and saved me from their evil torture.  After blogging, we did some errands and ate some scrumdiddlyumptious calamari we went out for dinner.

     We split up and went to different tables where I met Wilson, Rodolfo, and another Rotarian.  We discussed camera types, zip lining, and coconut candies until we ate dinner and watched some wonderful dances.  One of them even reminded of the blues dance I do in my play where I get rejected by all the girls; but in mine the girls don’t take off masks and reveal skulls and horse heads.  To end the night, Shaina, Noel, and I walked around the town square where I took some beautiful picture of the two of them.

     Finally we went back to the hotel, talked about our favorite part of the day, and filmed us being crazy and tired.  Oh, and Cate growled at the camera like a tiger.  Good Night.

P.S.  Shaina had a very romantic moment today.  She met this Asian guy at the Indian Reserve and they stared into the rainforest on a balcony together.  Then at the last slippery hill, Shaina ran over, held his hand, and pulled him up as he almost fell down to his imminent demise.  How romantic!  Watch out, Kevin!  You’ve got some competition.  

Shaina here.

            A phone call forced me unpleasantly up at 5:50 am. 

            Still sleepy, Cate, Ivy, and I blearily trotted off to breakfast.  Breakfast was delicious as always…except that the mangoes were sour today and that the kiwis tasted like Sour Patch kids.

            Following the breaking of our night-long fast, we (we meaning Ivy, Cate, Matt, and I…hm, notice someone missing?) plopped down onto the green couch we adopted to christen ourselves as Mighty Morphing Power Rangers.  Ivy, our group leader and den mother, is the Red Ranger (group leader).  Matt, King of the Blues, is the Blue Ranger (group nerd).  I was dubbed the Yellow Ranger (female supporting character), because the Yellow Ranger is a girl.  Yes, I am a girl.

            Cate, unfortunately, received the much loathed position of Pink Ranger (token girl), despite her abhorrence of said color. 

            And, well, who wasn’t here?  Noel was dubbed the Green Ranger (anti-hero), the one that never seems to be around…

            But soon, the bus arrived and took us to the Indian Reserve.  The bus ride was boring and not worth mention.

            At the Indian Reserve, we climbed slippery mud paths framed with colorful tropical foliage.  Eventually, we managed to help each other enough so that we reached a big straw hut without much incident.  Inside this big straw hut was a Costa Rican Indian.

            He introduced himself as Choto (something like that), a shaman of the village and he proceeded to tell us all about the Indian lifestyle.

            We sat in a big circle, and I began sketching.

            He led us on a brief tour and showed us sugarcane and Indian artifacts.  I sketched throughout all of this.

            Then we were led to the primary school.  Everything was so cute.  I’m not kidding.  It was a huge cuteness overload.

            A cute little fifth grader, Maria, delivered a speech about the necessity of computer labs, and a cute little kindergartener, Manuel, gave an absolutely cute cute cute speech about water.  Then, these cute little kids danced a cute little dance.  The audience was dying of cuteness.  I was dying of cuteness.  The word cute looks really weird right now.

            After overexposure to too much cute, I sketched a girl and her baby brother.  Although neither of us could speak the other’s language, we tacitly communicated with smiles, laughter, and sign language. 

            Back at the hotel, Ivy and Ms. Sarja went to sleep while Cate, Matt, Noel and I caused a minor earthquake in our room.  Matt lay in my sheets with his wet swimming trunks, so Noel, with the aid of his minion Cate, folded up my cot and made a Matt-taco.  As he flailed his arms and legs, he caused my cot to fold in on itself and create a large banging noise, which somehow did not wake Jennifer.  Matt, feeling abused, stole my sheet and created a small tent in which he stayed for the most of the time.

            Then, second-in-command Ivy awoke and ordered us to be quiet for Jennifer’s sake, to which Matt responded, “Well, she already slept through this already…” 

            Ms. Sarja DID wake up, and she told us that she heard everything, including the previous little story.  When the Big Kahuna did awake, she sent Cate for three Cokes, and Noel and I for an extension cord, which we failed to bring back. 

            And then let us summarize the rest of the day in one long, Faulkner-esque sentence: After going to our “fiesta,” where we watched Costa Rican dancers and ate too much food, we headed back to our room, where we filmed each other doing relatively embarrassing things—Noel and yours truly having a tickle-war; Matt and Ivy doing two-person yoga; and Cate, looking like a demure little faun, scratching and violently attacking Matthew.

            It is now very late at night, and Matt, Noel, and Cate are finally back in their rooms.  Ivy is asleep, and Jennifer is doing important-looking stuff. 

            SO.  Good night, dearest readers.

            Shaina out!

I will now express all my thoughts in a most singular, emotional, poetic, soul-baring statement that reaches into the deepest, darkest recesses of my soul:

            Today, I felt like a toucan.

            But, more on that later.  First things first.

            The first thought that entered my mind this morning, as I woke up, was that, the previous night, I had forgotten to put on my night contacts. 

            And, I’d also forgotten to change out of the previous day’s clothing.  I didn’t even remember falling asleep.  So as I got out of bed, the room looked fuzzy and soft.

            I followed Noel through the Casino to the breakfast restaurant of which I do not recall the name.  There, we ate a most delicious meal of fruits, rice, eggs, yogurt, and some odd alien fruit that Matthew, Cate, and Noel agreed was a giant kumquat.

            As it turns out, they were wrong.  As Matthew and I cut open the fruit, a gray goo-ball speckled with cute little seeds tumbled out onto our waiting hands.  Yummy.  Apparently, although Passion Fruit Juice back in the States is yellow, real passion fruit is gray.  In the future, I shall keep this incident in mind while I order my drinks at Lollicup.

            At 9:30, we boarded our bus for our uh, forty five minute ride.  Forty-five minutes managed to stretch themselves into a long, winding, three hour delight of carsickness.  During this ride of utmost pain and misery, we bestowed upon one another the most charming of nicknames, which I will reveal to you, dearest reader, towards the finale of this updation.  Ah, lucky you.

            I actually don’t remember much about the bus ride, because what came next completely overshadowed whatever events that transpired on that little white bus.

            After recovering from my bout of carsickness, we were strapped into harnesses so that we could go zip-lining on our canopy tour.  A worker put a giant metal pulley on my hip.  As I followed our group, my right side threatened to overpower the rest of my body and drag me down into the dirt. 

            And Noel strapped Maurice into his harness. 

            Now, about the rainforest.  (Yes, that is a fragment, and I don’t care.  It’s for dramatic effect, which I just ruined by typing this explanation.)  The rainforest was a huge blanket of green, which sprawled out into the distance and onto the mountains.  As we ascended the nature-made steps to our first platform, I felt as if I were tramping through a green, leafy wonderland.  Yes, my vision was terrible and fuzzy from not having worn my night contacts the night before, but that only added to the dreamlike beauty of the rainforest.  And as yours truly is not as poetic as Mr. Noel Mollinedo, I will move onto zip-lining before I begin to seriously embarrass myself.

              You know how in action movies, the hero slides down a telephone line with some random useful little pulley thing he just happens to find?  (That rhetorical question was way too long.)  But, that’s basically what zip-lining is like.

            We soared through the trees—literally!  Now, back to my philosophical statement made earlier in this blog.  I felt like a toucan.  As ridiculous and “unpoetic” as that sounds, I was really given the capability to soar through the rainforest canopy like one.  I had ample opportunity to look around and take in the rainforest.

            And yes, it was–is beautiful.  If I were a toucan, this peaceful green haven would be my home.  I’d wake up every morning in a leafy paradise.

            Yet people want to chop and burn this place down? 

            The idea is unfathomable.

            As for the rest of today, there were two more incidents of note.

            Number one: Here are those nicknames I’m sure you’ve been dying to hear.

            Noel is Carol (the First Noel is a Carol, HAHA..no.); Matthew is Kermit because he looks like said froggie; Cate is a faun; Ivy is FangXi; and my nickname is
Shannon.

            Number two: We found ants in our room and cheese in Ivy’s bed.  No doubt that this was the handiwork of the one and only Cate and our ridiculous gumdrop war the previous day.  Housekeeping came in to spray ant spray, and it honestly really, really smelled.

            And Ivy said that it’d kill us all in our sleep.  That is an extremely unpleasant thought.

            So tonight I retire in Cate’s room.   

 This is perhaps the most beautiful place that I have ever been; I wish I could stay here forever. Everything is green in
Costa Rica. There is a mysterious aura hidden in these jungles. It is almost like a scene from Jurassic Park which I learned was filmed in
Costa Rica. This could be compared to Oz and the
Emerald
City because we are following one main road and because everything is as green as theEmerald
City. We are now on a bridge and just like a painting, the trees part and there lies in the distance rows of hills that flourish with foliage climbing towards the heavens. The hills are consumed by a fog that whispers to you and creates even more illusions in this land of wonders. Trees soar up with branches as thick as elephants and leaves that are so beautiful that they appear to have been fashioned by Aphrodite herself. Palm trees sprout profusely and give the atmosphere a more tropical mood. It is impossible to tell where the sky begins because it bleeds into the fog which disappears into the mountains. There are small villages amongst the hills where life is much more simple disconnected from our normal emotionless lives. The fog rolls over the hills climbing just to fall again. It floats ethereally, white and surreal, casting long shadows. The fog slowly swallows the forest as its prey.

Later:

            Zip lining ¾ of a kilometer, just a normal part of our day. Today the crew and I drove two hours to the San Lorenzo Canopy where we did what most people will never have the opportunity to do. All of us zip lined across the rain forest which is an amazing experience, but I also had the special honor of carrying Maurice in my harness the whole day. Holding our mascot was the greatest honor I could have ever asked for.

            The day began with a fresh start. We woke up bright and early and ate hearty breakfasts in order to prepare for the long day. At nine we boarded the buses and drove for three talkative hours. I had a great bus ride because the tour guide asked how many provinces were in
Costa Rica and I magically guessed seven and won a traditional Costa Rican candy. When we finally got there we geared up quickly and set off immediately for action. Awkwardly we stumbled along full of heavy equipment until we finally reached our destination. At first most people weren’t sure if they wanted to be the first victims of this new experience, but after the first two cables, mostly everyone was loving it. Later when we felt like pros, some of us dared to let go of the pulley and dangle tauntingly, suspended out of the grasps of imminent death. After all of the zip lining, we settled down to devour a scrumptious meal of quesado provided by the tour. During that time I made a new friend named Carmela; she was small, cute and had short brown hair. She would follow me around everywhere and I always had fun petting her. Oh yes, did I mention she was a beagle?  

Hi Papa, John, Megan, Gabby, Eileen and Ivy

            Waking up in the hotel yesterday morning was a nightmare itself, with all the bugs and stuff floating over my head. But I was finally convinced to get up for ziplining!! We had a delicious breakfast in the restaurant, which consisted of papaya, pineapple, watermelon and mango, as well as bananas, potatoes, rice and beans. Along the tables were these odd orange fruits that Matthew and Shaina finally dissected and found to be gray and slimy. The seeds were encased in disgusting gray gloop, and reminded us all of alien eggs.

            According to Jennifer, the bus ride to
San Lorenzo should only have been 45 minutes. Hah. That was the longest 45 minutes ever (it took three hours, there AND back). Along the way we stopped at a souvenir store, where Shaina, Matthew and I found Maurice a cute Costa Rican dress! But then we were all kindly (and forcefully) reminded by Jennifer and Noel that Maurice was a boy.

            When we first got off the bus, the first thing we saw the long stretch of rainforest, probably the most amazing thing ever! We were harnessed up and given huge pulleys that were attached to our side. At first, we were all kind of nervous, thinking it was one long zipline and that we would go really fast! Turns out we were wrong. In the beginning, we had three really short ones to get us used to the zipline, but they got longer and longer, until we got the Tarzan Swing! Again, we were harnessed in (it was the like the Big Swing at Pali except higher off the ground and over the rainforest, not snow) and pushed into the open air with no visible ground below us. Noel and Matthew both screamed and Matthew did his blues thing. After the rest of the quite small ones, we were driven back to the beginning and faced the zipline towers. Now we were over the rainforest, quite literally. We raced each other, except the guys pushing us liked Shaina better…But the last one was amazing. It was the highest and fastest, and when we got to the top of the tower, I swear I saw the exact same picture as one in a calendar. After lunch (which happened to be tacos!) we were about to board the bus when we realized Maurice was gone!! Turns out he was in a pot in the gift shop. On the bus, we all took pictures of Jennifer and Ivy sleeping.

            For dinner, we went to a buffet of vegetables and meat (no fish for Matthew) and three-milk cake (?). There was also a mariachi band that kept us entertained while we talked about movies. Pretty much the end of that day. We also played UpWords in the hall and Ivy, Shaina and I shared a bed that night. How fun.

 Matthew

     I woke up in the morning and was treated to a delicious breakfast almost immediately.  Plantains, potatoes, rice, and beans filled my empty stomach.  I also cut open a hard yellow fruit with a vile, green, slimy fruit inside.  I think it was an alien egg.  After Shaina was daring enough to slurp some of that up, we got in a bus and headed to the rainforest to go zip lining!  But first we just had to stop at the souvenir store.  I purchased a few things for family and friends and a shirt that had a dove and “
Costa Rica. Peace.  No army since 1948” on it.  Shaina, Cate, and I found Maurice or “Maureen” a nice dress that was a little too expensive and proceeded to look around only to find some nice wooden xylophones.  After we managed to scratch out a simple tune, we departed and arrived at our destination.   

     It was absolutely amazing!  Even though I have done it before in Puerto Vallarta, this time was actually better.  After getting a quick demonstration from the kind and friendly crew, we started trekking up the stairs to the first zip line.  They started out very short but got longer as we got farther.  Towards the middle of  the tour we got the chance to swing on a rope over the wildlife.  We got hooked up and they shoved each of us into the trees like Tarzan!  I guess I can cross “swinging through the rainforest” off my to-do-list.  I did earn my share of battle scars.  On the second line, I forgot to lift my legs at the end and hit my ankles on the ledge, earning me a small, bloody cut that has already dried up.  Lovely, huh?  Then towards the end, I was racing Noel so I got the camera and taped him going down the line; however, with only one hand on the pulley, I lost my balance and started to spin.  Then in the middle of the line, for what reason I do not know, started to break with my free, left hand.  But I put my hand a little to far back and accidentally put my wrist on the line which gave me a burn that hurt like the devil.  Thank God for band-aids.  The last line was absolutely unbelievable!  It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.  Lush green hills covered with blankets of trees spanned the surrounding area.  Clouds lurked floating just above your heads and a dome shaped hill with one, bare, lone tree popped out in the middle.  I felt like I was in a dream. 

     We headed down the 750 meter zip line and went out for food.  There we met Carmela, the local dog who was absolutely adorable.  She guided us to the restaurant where I ordered a delicious salad followed by the cassada: beans, rice, cheese, eggs, vegetables, and tortillas.  We waved goodbye to Carmela and left as a canopy worker ran to the bus and handed one of the women a flower through the window.  Que romantico! 

     We took a three hour drive back to the hotel, during which Noel was tossed everywhere including on my shoulder where I made faces at him while he slept.  Cate took lots of flattering pictures of Jennifer and Ivy sleeping. 

     We ended the night with a wonderful dinner of lots of meat (great! I’m a vegetarian!) joined by a wonderful mariachi band.  After I defeated Shaina hands down in a dragon drawing competition and had an interest conversation with a Rotarian named Peter about great 80’s movies, we headed back to our hotel rooms where we discovered a trail of ants in Jennifer’s room. (thanks for the gumdrop war, Noel!) We got a worker to spray some Raid on them which scared Ivy and Shaina out of room out of fear of dying in their sleep of inhaling toxic fumes.  I headed to my ant-free, fresh-smelling, and gumdrop-less room to get a good night’s rest for the next day.