It was a two-hour bus ride to Arenal. We had a potty stop about halfway there and got to see some large iguanas sunbathing in the trees. It was so cool.
We arrived at the Arenal National Park and started our hike up to the volcano. It was about 3K on a path through varying vegetation, which Tony explained beautifully. The kids had their journals and studied why the plants change at different points on a volcano. Abe, World Strides Program Leader in Training, showed us a termite nest and explained how termites are high in protein and taste like peanuts. He proceeded to put on on his tongue and eat it. Can you believe the students wanted to try one? It was like an episode of Survivor right in front of me. Nearly all of them put a little termite on their tongue, had a friend take a picture and then they ate it. Nobody said it tasted like peanuts. They said it tasted like nothing.
Towards the top there is a lava field that we hike. This is a challenge because they are a bunch of rocks and boulders, but the view is incredible! That's the reward of hiking to the top, right? The strangest part for me was actually HEARING the loud grumble of the volcano and seeing rocks and dust tumble down the side. Wow! This is an active volcano!
After we hiked back down Abe showed us a small snake curled up on a tree. It was poisonous so they made sure nobody got too close. Again, the kids just loved it.
After our volcano hike we went to the Baldi Hot Springs. Or, maybe it was heaven? We ate a delicious lunch there (remember the strawberries and the chocolate fountain?) then changed into our swimsuits. (Note: you can rent a locker for $5.) This place was beautiful with 25 different pools around with varying temperatures. One even had a couple of water slides. It was 2 hours of pure relaxation.
After that we had about 30 minutes to clean up in our beautiful, air-conditioned hotel room before loading the bus again to walk around town before dinner. This tourist town is called La Fortuna and we really enjoyed a little time to walk around and shop a little.
Dinner was at the hotel and then we sat out on the balcony, staring at the volcano hoping to see a little eruption. Nada.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Whitewater rafting!!
I wish I had more time to blog so that I could write immediately following an activity, but the rooms don't have internet access and we are just BUSY all time.
Let's see, Monday morning we had a lesson on water around the world with an emphasis on fresh water. The instructor at Sarapiqui gave a lesson on PH/acid and other elements in the water and then the students actually tested the water in the Sarapiqui River to see how healthy it is. They also collected living organisms and catagorized them as those that are pollution tolerant or not. Turns out the river is very healthy!
After lunch we went whitewater rafting. It is so fun! Some notes to myself: 1) Don't forget the students' signed waivers, 2) Keep student room keys in my room and SAFETY PIN my room key to my shorts, 3) Wear a bathing suit and wet shoes - EVERYTHING will be soaking wet, 4) Take up money in Oklahoma for those wanting to pitch in to buy a CD of photographs that their photographer takes. There is no way to take our own pictures while we're busy rowing, 5) Pozo Azul Adventures provides a towel to dry off with before boarding their bus back to the hotel.
In the evening we had a cooking class. Dona Hilda demonstrated how to make pataconas (fried plantains) and empanadas. It was great. Abe, one of our guides, found a couple of tree frogs and surprised the kids with them after we ate. One frog immediately jumped on a girl's head and of course everyone screamed. They loved it!
Let's see, Monday morning we had a lesson on water around the world with an emphasis on fresh water. The instructor at Sarapiqui gave a lesson on PH/acid and other elements in the water and then the students actually tested the water in the Sarapiqui River to see how healthy it is. They also collected living organisms and catagorized them as those that are pollution tolerant or not. Turns out the river is very healthy!
After lunch we went whitewater rafting. It is so fun! Some notes to myself: 1) Don't forget the students' signed waivers, 2) Keep student room keys in my room and SAFETY PIN my room key to my shorts, 3) Wear a bathing suit and wet shoes - EVERYTHING will be soaking wet, 4) Take up money in Oklahoma for those wanting to pitch in to buy a CD of photographs that their photographer takes. There is no way to take our own pictures while we're busy rowing, 5) Pozo Azul Adventures provides a towel to dry off with before boarding their bus back to the hotel.
In the evening we had a cooking class. Dona Hilda demonstrated how to make pataconas (fried plantains) and empanadas. It was great. Abe, one of our guides, found a couple of tree frogs and surprised the kids with them after we ate. One frog immediately jumped on a girl's head and of course everyone screamed. They loved it!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Bats Rule!
We learned a lot about bats from Willy's presentation and then we got to see two different species up close. I even got to touch one. It was so soft! I am now a big fan of bats. I would even like a bat house at home.
Everyone slept well and we woke up with the sun to birdwatch. Wouldn't you know today they just weren't hungry? We had some bananas out but they just wouldn't land. It's easy to spot hummingbirds, which is fun.
After breakfast the students collected their seeds and took them to the classroom where microscopes were set up for them. They identified the seeds from the local fruits and then went on a hike to see where those seeds are growing on nearby trees. The students learned a lot about what bats like to eat and why.
Then we went to the Sarapiqui river to collect water samples. We found out that the river we are going to whitewater raft on later is very healthy. No nitrates! Students also collect living organisms and identified them from the river. They are quite the Wildlife Biologists these first two days!
I'm here in the restaurant enjoying the breeze with other teachers. Many of the highschool students are taking a quick swim in the pool before lunch. It smells good!
Everyone slept well and we woke up with the sun to birdwatch. Wouldn't you know today they just weren't hungry? We had some bananas out but they just wouldn't land. It's easy to spot hummingbirds, which is fun.
After breakfast the students collected their seeds and took them to the classroom where microscopes were set up for them. They identified the seeds from the local fruits and then went on a hike to see where those seeds are growing on nearby trees. The students learned a lot about what bats like to eat and why.
Then we went to the Sarapiqui river to collect water samples. We found out that the river we are going to whitewater raft on later is very healthy. No nitrates! Students also collect living organisms and identified them from the river. They are quite the Wildlife Biologists these first two days!
I'm here in the restaurant enjoying the breeze with other teachers. Many of the highschool students are taking a quick swim in the pool before lunch. It smells good!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Afternoon in Sarapiqui
After breakfast we loaded the bus and drove 2 hours to Sarapiqui. We took a hike through Tirimbina to look for flowers and birds of certain colors. There was a contest between two teams of students to see how many different species could be found with their "team" colors. We were red and gray and we saw a lot of red foliage and even a tiny red frog. All of us took a longer hike through the rain forest which included crossing a bridge over the Sarapiqui River. That was very exciting! It was VERY humid. My clothes were half wet just from sweat and humidity. My bandana came in very handy. Don't forget the bugspray!
We ate lunch then rested for a short while before gathering together for a lesson on scientific discovery. An excellent teacher talked to the kids about forming a hypothesis about what bats eat and how to test their hypothesis. Then he showed them how to set up a seed trap to see if the bats leave any clues overnight about what they eat.
We are having a lesson on birds right now. The journal that World Strides provides is colorful and informative. I need to remind myself to ask for these to be sent around April 15 so I can show them to the kids before the stress of finals comes around. We are going to birdwatch at 5:30 tomorrow morning! I guess that's the best time to see birds! We all have World Strides binoculars for better viewing.
I am blogging from the restaurant of our hotel. It's free wifi out here but it is not available in the room. We stay here for two nights and there is no air conditioning. I wonder what the price difference is between a standard room (what we have) and a deluxe room is (I believe the kind with air-conditioning). It's just sooo humid.
We ate lunch then rested for a short while before gathering together for a lesson on scientific discovery. An excellent teacher talked to the kids about forming a hypothesis about what bats eat and how to test their hypothesis. Then he showed them how to set up a seed trap to see if the bats leave any clues overnight about what they eat.
We are having a lesson on birds right now. The journal that World Strides provides is colorful and informative. I need to remind myself to ask for these to be sent around April 15 so I can show them to the kids before the stress of finals comes around. We are going to birdwatch at 5:30 tomorrow morning! I guess that's the best time to see birds! We all have World Strides binoculars for better viewing.
I am blogging from the restaurant of our hotel. It's free wifi out here but it is not available in the room. We stay here for two nights and there is no air conditioning. I wonder what the price difference is between a standard room (what we have) and a deluxe room is (I believe the kind with air-conditioning). It's just sooo humid.
First Morning in San José
The flights were fantastic: 1 hour to Houston and 3 1/2 hours from Houston to San Jose. Customs was a breeze. I'll want to make sure to go over the immigration forms with the kids before we leave just so they will be able to fill them out by themselves on the plane.
Right when we walked out with our baggage there were many people holding up signs for various companies. Someone spotted our lime green World Strides tags or the tags around our necks and directed us towards the bus. From there, Toni took over. He was taking roll and getting everybody's bags loaded. Once on the bus, he stood up and welcomed everybody and gave a quick overview of what we were going to do once we arrive at the hotel. It was so nice to see someone take charge!
At the hotel they handed us our room key, we took our bags to the room, then we got together for a late dinner, a buffet set up just for World Strides travelers. The food was fabulous and so was our room. There was a kitchen, 2 bedrooms and air-conditioning (have to tell the kids how to set the air-conditioner using celsius). It would have been great to have internet access in the room and have everyone contact their contacts with my computer, but I understand there is a charge. I may just want to go ahead and have them charge the room just so everyone will be able to call home or send a message (Magic Jack). If not, well, there is free wifi in the restaurant in the morning and everyone can call home very early in the morning!
I'll have pictures and video up as soon as I can manage it!
Right when we walked out with our baggage there were many people holding up signs for various companies. Someone spotted our lime green World Strides tags or the tags around our necks and directed us towards the bus. From there, Toni took over. He was taking roll and getting everybody's bags loaded. Once on the bus, he stood up and welcomed everybody and gave a quick overview of what we were going to do once we arrive at the hotel. It was so nice to see someone take charge!
At the hotel they handed us our room key, we took our bags to the room, then we got together for a late dinner, a buffet set up just for World Strides travelers. The food was fabulous and so was our room. There was a kitchen, 2 bedrooms and air-conditioning (have to tell the kids how to set the air-conditioner using celsius). It would have been great to have internet access in the room and have everyone contact their contacts with my computer, but I understand there is a charge. I may just want to go ahead and have them charge the room just so everyone will be able to call home or send a message (Magic Jack). If not, well, there is free wifi in the restaurant in the morning and everyone can call home very early in the morning!
I'll have pictures and video up as soon as I can manage it!
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