Where's my upcycled art ? Student Art sent to Costa Rica

 See who got your work or who made the work you were given:

 
And Part II: 

A final look at Costa Rica [all blog pics + in a quick format]...Pura Vida!

Return to San Jose for last night together!

Our farewell dinner was at dazzling greenhouse themed restaurant that grows its own organic foods. It was delicious and a perfect way to but the GOOD in goodbye.

The view from my magnificent room at Hotel Arenal Kioro a 5-star ecohotel !

Note my toes, which are included for scale and perspective (and as a source of envy). Every room in this hotel has a view of the volcano and you are encouraged to leave room sized window opened so you are greeted by the volcano in the morning.

At dinner the volcano erupted to cheers from all in attendance. It sounded like a loud clap of thunder, then lava spewed straight up like one large firework. After, the top edge was illuminated with a red lining (a la "a silver lining") that slowly dripped down the left face and disappeared into rock and smoke.  The nearly full moon and clear sky made the whole thing quite a show.








The hotel is a masterpiece of landscape architecture designed so that you do not see the other parts of the hotel or other rooms. You feel that it is just you and the volcano.

The hotel also has a natural hot spring, which has been reworked into 12 waterfalls and small pools--everyone can enjoy the hot spring with their own private hot pool.

Kathy (South Dakota) and Jen (California) in the hot springs after a day of hiking. It's a soothing 102 degrees.

Monkeys near the hotel !

Our Guide kindly filmed this...we were not brave enough to go one-handed!

Zip Line

Visted the Cloud Forest Near Arenal Volcano

I saw amazing wild life--eyelash viper, tarantula, and the rainforest canopy.

2 days As An Agra-Tourist Down on the Farm

Sorry to disappear on you, but I've just returned from my home stay with Don Fernando and Donna Lydia on a tilapia farm and dairy in the Guacimo area of Costa Rica. On the farm we planted trees as part of a reforestation project. We fed the fish and we played alot of Dominos (no TV on the farm, asleep by 9PM up by 5am...YIKES! I've never been more glad I'm a teacher and not a farmer). We also learned all about Biodigesters, something I never expected to learn about, EVER!!!!! All in all, it was an experience that helped me appreciate all the great opportunities and comforts I have every day, and to think about what I take for granted, as well as, ways I could waste less and conserve more.

Visited the Banana Fields and packing plant at Earth University

Earth supplies the 98% organic and certified rain forest friendly bananas sold at Whole Foods Market in the US. Their educational mission is what allows Earth to sell this product at a reasonable price. These bananas are not fully organic for 2 reasons (1) they would require additional fields of pineapple or other flowering fruits for cross polination, and (2) as an import good the US requires the stems of the banana be waxed and sealed (and the product the goverment requires in non-organic.

This is the "banana train" which carries the fruit from the fields to the packing area.

The 5AM nature hikes, OH MY....

This morning we saw Iguanas, Tucans, Howler monkeys, Dart Frogs, humming birds, the national bird of Costa Rica (a yellow thrush),Great kisedee, and many more birds.

At the school we saw a 2 toed sloth (looked like some students..).

A visit to a Tico (Costa Rican) School

Today we visited a Costa Rican High School. I learned that some educational truths are universal. For instance, the administrator always has a powerpoint with statistics about your school compared to other schools in your area. Teachers all have the same "don't you dare" teacher look used liberally when honored guests are visiting the classroom. Ipods, MP3 players, and cell phones are a distraction from instruction even in schools with extreme poverty and in developing countries. And last but not least when you are excited about teaching and learning students get exited about teaching and learning.

At this public school students where uniforms-light blue button shirts and blue navy blue pants or skirts. In your Senior year the class votes for a special shirt color for the year. At Colegio de Pocora there are more girls in the senior class this year than boys, so the shirts are PINK.  A heavy price to pay for living in a democracy one male student told me.

14 of the 26 Toyota Teachers in our official TITP shirts. The remaining teachers visited a tech high school.

This evening we had a party with the Costa Rican teacher at the botanical gardens. Great food and fun in a beautiful environment!!!

At the end of the party, a live band and costumed dancers performed for our group.


(L to R)  Me, Laurelia the art teacher from Colegio de Pocora, and Cat Fox TITP participant from Colorado.

Nature Air again and now we are at Earth University!

Where's my upcycled art (half way there!!!)

An afternoon at the Beach on a secluded island in the Gulfo Dulce

Planting for future Mangroves in the Gulfo de Dulce