Our group had another travel heavy day as we left the left Arenal on our way to Monteverde, one of Costa Rica's best known ecological treasures. We spent about 5 hours in the bus today winding our way around Lake Arenal and working our way through winding, mountain roads. As usual, our guides' experience shined as they allowed for several stretch breaks at popular snack spots. If your student was awake for this portion of the trip (most weren't), they were treated to panoramic views of the plains, one last glimpse of Arenal, and several close-ups of Costa Rica's wind-power infrastructure.
A german bakery visit made for a tasty stop outside Arenal
Once in Monteverde, our group visited a small school. The school partners with EF Tours and is accustomed to visitors, which was helpful as their precocious students kicked off conversations with our uncharacteristically shy 8th graders. After introductions and some questions, the students enjoyed less forced interactions as they danced and played soccer.
Dancing at fun during our school visit
Monteverde is far and away my favorite location we will visit on this tour. Its cloud forests are unique in the world as their combination of geology, climate, isolation, and local conservation have preserved a truly precious biological gem. The area is yet another example of local activism partnering with responsible tourism to profit a community while preserving its environment. The students are less likely than myself to be impressed by the orchids and the chance at a quetzal siting, but they will certainly come home with stories of ice cream, zip-lining, and horseback riding.
This evening we are in a rustic hotel just minutes away from the cloud forest. The students will have to do without AC tonight, but this region is cool at night and we hope to wear them out by stuffing them with s'mores then dancing in the "discoteca"!
Exploring the town of Santa Elena
Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day as we zip-line and horseback ride in the morning then hike the cloud forest in the afternoon. Lastly, I would like to publicly shout out Ms. Cuffee for putting together such a seamless, smooth, well-organized, educational, fun, and safe adventure for our students. This trip is running like clockwork thanks to her tireless efforts. It takes a special kind of person to put on a trip like this and she is shining!
This morning our students stepped out of their "cabinitas" to the ever-impressive site of Volcán Arenal. Although Arenal does not have the orange glow of lava it did just months ago, it's classic volcano shape and steadily steaming peak make it the distinguishing feature of this area. We were constantly reminded of the geological importance of Arenal as we enjoyed what our guides called a "water day". Although Ms. Cuffee's group (bus 1) had a slightly different order of events, we both enjoyed the same activities today: a waterfall hike, exploring the town of La Fortuna, Kayaking in Lake Arenal, and ending the day by relaxing in hot springs!
Prioritizing provisions
La Fortuna Cascada - our waterfall hike allowed students the opportunity to swim at the foot of the powerful La Fortuna Cascada (waterfall). Protected by the local community rather than a national park, this waterfall and its surrounding forrest is another example of small communities working to preserve their natural resources for economic gains. A small fee is charged to hike the ~500 steps to the waterfall's base and these funds support local schools, roads, and government. Our students were less interested in this than I'd hoped, but they did rock hopping, swimming in the river's frigid waters, and running from (or chasing) fish. We all survived the hike back to the bus and it was off to the next stop. I don't have any pictures of the waterfall, but will make sure to post video when we get back.
Touring La Fortuna
The Town of La Fortuna - After an eruption devastated the original town of Arenal in 1967, its citizens moved the town to the upwind side of the volcano and renamed the town in recognition of their "fortune" for surviving. Today, the town is the region's tourism center with countless opportunities for tours and adventures. Our students practiced their Spanish by learning (more) about coffee, buying ice cream, and picking up necessities at the supermarket and pizza shop.
Learning about the red-brown color of quality coffee... no more instant coffee for us!
Kayaking - A hearty lunch of beans, rice, and plantains proved invaluable as our group ventured across Lake Arenal. Lake Arenal was significantly expanded by the construction of a dam and provides a large portion of Costa Rica's energy needs. According to our guide Freddy, hydroelectric power provides 80% of the nation's electricity. Our 8th graders seemed rather nonplused at this incredible feat of civil engineering, but they did enjoy exploring the lake and taking every opportunity to tip their friends' boats.
This group went out before us, but you can imagine it's us, right?
Baldi Hot Springs - As if we weren't wet enough, our day ended at Baldi Hot Springs. When I first heard about this stop, I imagined a pristine swimming hole surrounded by jungle and protected by its inaccessibility. However, Baldi is more of a resort than a refuge. With a gift shop, several restaurants, and dozens of pools, this attraction is luxurious and comfortable; a perfect way to end our day in the water.
Our eagle-eyed bus driver spotted this sloth friend!
Tomorrow we are on our way to Monteverde! This is our most remote destination, so please excuse lapses in communication, but know that we are having a wonderful time hiking the cloud forrest, horseback riding, and zip lining!
After successfully completing our first day of adventure in Costa Rica, our students and teachers are enjoying a few moments of free time at our hotels. Reflecting on the day, we've been busy! Today we visited a coffee plantation (thanks to Ms. Cuffee for the update), a volcano, and an iguana hotspot as we traveled from San Jose to La Fortuna, in the Arenal region. Although today was heavy on bus time, our tour guides mercifully broke the trip up with frequent stops for attractions and food.
Our view from the bus leaving San Jose
Flowers everywhere!
After a sample-heavy tour of the coffee plantation, our group made their way to Volcán Poás. Although Poás is a gorgeous national park known for its abundant hiking and wildlife, the real draw to this location is the opportunity to view the bubbling, sulfuric mud of an active volcano from way up high. Unfortunately, our group fell in to the roughly 70% of visitors whose hopes of seeing this site are dashed by the heavy cloud cover of the peak. In their typically resilient manner, the students took this setback in stride and used the opportunity to practice their "selfie" game.
This picture shows a pretty accurate look at our "view" from Poás
Our lunch offered the opportunity for students get a taste of typical "Tico" cuisine: rice, beans, fresh produce, the occasional meat, and abundant fresh fruit juice. Students filled up and we hit the road toward our destination, La Fortuna. Along the way, we made sure to fuel up on snacks at a popular road stop that features delicious ice cream and a guaranteed encounter with iguanas. Speaking with our guide, Freddy, I learned that this road stop is just one example of small communities capitalizing on their natural resources to draw tourists and dollars. Iguanas were once hunted for their meat in this area, but the practice quickly stopped with the arrival of revenue from curious tourists.
This scaled friend was viewed through the safety of a zoom lens
Tonight and tomorrow night, our group will be split across two hotels in the shadow of Volcán Arenal in the town La Fortuna. This town is a popular destination for travelers with an eye on adventure and geology. We'll learn all about this as tomorrow as we hike to a waterfall, kayak in Lake Arenal, tour the town of La Fortuna (with more ice cream!), and end our day relaxing in hot springs.
A road side waterfall, Cascada Angel, offered more selfie practice
Also, in case you are wondering, our students have been remarkable ambassadors! Their manners, curiosity, and worldliness have been on full display everywhere we go and I've already heard several compliments. Now that the shock of visiting a new country is wearing off, our goal as chaperones will be to push our students to step outside of their comfort zones even further and use their Spanish!
Arenal hides behind the clouds this evening, but we expect better views tomorrow
After the coffee plantation, we hopped back on the bus and headed to the Poas volcano. After a short hike, we made it to the crater's overlook. Unfortunately, there was too much fog/mist to actually see the crater, but there were some pretty cool photo ops.
After the crater, we made our way to lunch. It was delicious!!!
After lunch and on our way to Las Iguanas, we stopped at a waterfall for a group picture.
Once we got to Las Iguanas, we ate ice cream and carefully gazed at the freely roaming and fearless iguanas.
After iguanas and ice cream, it was time to make our way to the hotel. Once there, students immediately hopped into the pool, ate dinner, and swam again. They enjoyed copious amounts of free time before finally heading to bed.
Day three promises to be just as exciting and we can't wait!!! Waterfalls, hot springs, kayaks, and more!
Today started with 5:30am wake-up call, 6am breakfast, and we were in the road by 7:15am. We just left the Doka coffee plantation where the oldest wet mill in the country can be found. We learned all about the harvesting, drying, sorting, and selling of coffee beans. There was caffeine for ALL!!!
Did you know that Arabica beans required four hours of shade a day?!?!?! Me neither...
We are currently en route to the Poas volcano...stay tuned.
(This group pictured above won a race in which groups had to empty the bag of coffee beans and find three purple beans. Then, students had to give the three beans to the guide and return the remaining beans to the bag. I have never seen kids so excited to clean-up!!!)
After a long day of travel, both flights are safely in San Jose! Two flights, a long layover, and customs took their toll on students' energy levels, but there's nothing a late dinner can't cure. Don't worry, we'll start with more authentic local cuisine tomorrow.
We're off! The first flight left from Dulles early this morning and is currently enjoying their layover in Miami, while the second flight is successfully through security and waiting at the gate. So far students are having a great time taking selfies, eating airport snacks (all healthy, of course), and trying to mask their excitement.
The first flight should arrive in San Jose this afternoon with enough time to relax at the hotel and enjoy a leisurely dinner. The later flight gets in to San Jose after 8 pm so we'll have just enough time to eat dinner and get straight to bed.
I'll try to post an update once we are all safely in San Jose, but please know that internet connections are unreliable when traveling with 85 cellphone-toting adolescents.
Thank you to all our families for arriving to the airport on time! Things are off to a smooth start!
I'll leave you with a few pictures of happy children waiting for their flight...
Friday, March 25, 2016
Pura Vida! Please check your email for the latest updates from Ms. Cuffee. Her email is copied below, but you'll need her email to see the room assignment attachment. See you at the airport!
BUENAS TARDES,
AHHHHHHH!!!! Can you believe that we take off in less than 60 hours?!?!?!?!
Here is today's emails:
1) Boarding tickets and confirmation numbers have NOT been issued to students. Please note that students will check in at the kiosks and/or desks of their respective airlines on Monday. That is where boarding passes will be printed and distributed. (Do not attempt to check in online.) Student travelers are responsible for holding on to their own boarding passes. Remember that both airlines have fees for checked bags. Mr. Rottman and I will have the various confirmation numbers for you at check-in. (I will be imposing a fee for anyone who asks me why they haven't received a boarding pass or confirmation number yet. Just kidding...maybe.)
2) DO NOT exchange American dollars for Costa Rican colónes here in the US. The airport's rates are too high...and MORE importantly, the American dollar is ACCEPTED in Costa Rica. When travelers pay in Costa Rica, they will receive change in colónes. Our tour guides will discuss the exchange rates with them in a fun and meaningful way upon our arrival. (However, if you have money to spare, I will gladly accept it! :O))
3) PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, know which flight your child is on and arrive to Dulles THREE HOURS prior to departure. What does that mean? This means that travelers on the 6am American Airlines flight need to be at the airport at 3AM. You will will meet and check-in with me at the ticketing counter. This also means that travelers on the 12pm United Airlines flight needs to be at the airport at 9AM. You all will meet and check-in with Mr. Rottman at the ticketing counter. Do not check-in online or prior to your arrival at the airport on Monday. (This, like the dress-code, is NON-negotiable. Ms. Cuffee, unfortunately, cannot entertain any issues there may be with the set arrival times.)
4) If you haven't already done so, place a piece of duct tape on the back cover of your child's passport and write their name on it. This makes the collection and distribution of passports more efficient while we are traveling.
5) Srta. Cuffee's cellphone number is 301.503.3604. Mr. Rottman's number is 405.761.0354. These numbers is for emergencies only. (We still love talking to you all!!!)
6) I am happy to announce that although there is some gratuity that has yet to be paid, ALL documents have FINALLY been submitted as of 4:18pm TODAY!!! (Whew...that was close.) So you may be asking yourself what that means. I will tell you what that means. That means that the roommate assignments are attached to this email. WOOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!! Enjoy!!! Please, please, please, please, please, please, do NOT email and ask for changes. ABSOLUTELY NO CHANGES WILL BE MADE AT THIS JUNCTURE. Once we land in San Jose, I will entertain suggestions, but as of right now, I will ignore all requests, complaints, emails, phone calls, etc. related to roommate changes. (As the group leader, I will also ignore all requests, complaints, emails, and phone calls directed to Mr. Rottman about roommate changes.)
Welcome to the official Alice Deal Costa Rica 2016 blog! This blog will keep parents informed of our adventures as we travel to San Jose, Arenal, Monteverde, and the Central Pacific Coast! While most of this blog will be written by Mr. Rottman, we hope to have several students and teachers as guest authors. Our goal is to update every day, but it is likely we will miss a day or two due to internet scarcity.
EF Tour's map of our adventure
We are officially just two weeks away from our departure to beautiful Costa Rica! Thank you to those who joined us for the information session last week. We truly appreciate your support and thoughtful questions as we share essential planning and departure logistics.
Ms. Cuffee leads the final trip meeting
So excited that you just can't wait to get started? Check out our video from last year's trip:
Please check your email for full details about buses, flights, and departure details. Until we start posting for the trip itself, I will leave you with Ms. Cuffee's famously detailed and helpful FAQ:
Costa Rica FAQs
1.What
should I wear?
Please note that the weather will
be nice. It will be warm and we will spend a majority of our time outside. With
that being said, this is a school trip, so ALL clothes must comply with the
dress code. (For girls, stores like Marshalls, Ross, TJMaxx, etc. will have
capris, lightweight pants, and longer shorts. I went there over the weekend and
saw a plethora of options. It might be beneficial to purchase a few pair
low-priced jeans and cut them at that knee to avoid dress code issues. Long gym
shorts are an option as well. No leggings, biker shorts, etc.) The golden rule
is: If you wouldn’t wear it to school, do not bring it on the trip. No crop
tops, strappy tanks, no mono-kinis, bikinis without a cover-up, etc. Cover-ups
should not be the see-thru crocheted type.) Please let me know if
questions/concerns still linger on this issue.
2.What
should I pack?
Please check the packing list document
attached to the email you received. I would suggest a light wind-breaker/hooded
sweatshirt as it might get chilly at night and the buses have working AC.
3.What
if I am a picky eater?
Food is served buffet style and comes with
a plethora of options including salad bars, meats, veggies, pastas, etc. If you
cannot find anything you like, do not hesitate to tell a chaperone.
4.How
will I get to the airport?
All students should arrive to the airport
no later than 3 hours before the flight. We are traveling internationally with
a very large group. It is imperative that all students arrive on time so that
there is plenty of time to check bags, get through security and arrive at the
gate. All parents/students are responsible for getting themselves to the
airport. Please plan accordingly and contact Sra. Thompson or Srta. Cuffee if
there is a change of plans or a delay in your arrival time.
5.Are
seats on the flight assigned?
Seats on the flight will be automatically
assigned as students check in at the airport. These seats are not permanent.
Once we have securely gotten all students and staff on the flights, students
will be permitted to swap seats. We will enforce a “girls next to girls” and
“boys next to boys” policy.
6.Do
boys and girls share rooming assignments?
Absolutely not! Students are separated into
quads and triples during the trip. Boys are not permitted in girls’ rooms nor
are girls permitted in boys’ rooms.
7.What
if I get sick?
If you are feeling sick, please tell a
chaperone immediately.
8.What
type of currency is used in Costa Rica?
Colones are the currency used in Costa Rica, but the US dollar
is accepted as well. There is no need to exchange money ahead of time. Please
note that when paying with US currency, change will be given in colones. The approximate
exchange rate 1 US dollar = 500 colones.
9.What
if I didn’t sign up for an activity and decide that I want to?
Last min sign-ups will be permitted. So
please do not worry if you did not sign up in advance. The sooner you tell
Srta. Cuffee or Mr. Rottman the more likely we can find a way to accommodate
you. This works in the opposite direction as well. If you no longer want to
participate in activity please let Mr. Rottman and/or Srta. Cuffee know as
well. The tour guides and tour directors need to relay this information to the
companies and businesses ahead of time.
10.Can I
bring my phone, camera, or other electronic devices?
Absolutely! Please note that on the bus, a
kindle, nook, or cell phone may be a source of entertainment. However, please
also note that we are travelling and chaperones will not be responsible for
holding onto your belongings. There aren’t any ports on the bus for you to
charge your devices. Apps like “Find my iPhone” may not work effectively in
Costa Rica nor can the trip be derailed to find missing items.With that being said, if you have an
international plan or want to take pictures and upload them to your social
media accounts, you are more than welcome to do so!
11.How
much money should I give my child? How much money should I take with me? What
if I run out of money?
Although we cannot advise on how much money
to bring, as each family is different, most students spend their money on
snacks and treats throughout the day. Please remember that they enjoy three
structured meals each day. All meals are buffet style and students can eat
until they are content. Many students will purchase t-shirts and other small
trinkets. As discussed at the meetings, it might be best to setup a separate
account attached to a debit card. If a students runs out of money, they can
turn to Sra. Thompson or Srta. Cuffee for assistance.
12.Will
my child get lost? The group is so large, how will you know that you have
everyone accounted for?
Each bus leader, chaperone, tour guide, and
bus driver has a list of the students and their bus and rooming assignments.
Bus assignments WILL NOT change during the trip. Also, students share a bus
with their roommates, so there will be a buddy system in place. Prior to
leaving one location and moving to another, a head count will be performed.
13.How
will students be supervised during outings in the various locations?
Depending on the location, students may/may
not be permitted to travel in unsupervised groups. If this is the case, they
will have check-in times and locations. In other locations, students will be
divided up among the chaperones and will be instructed to stay with that
chaperone until they return to the bus.
14.Is
there a curfew? Are there room checks and wake up calls?
Yes, yes, and yes. Curfews will change
depending on the following day’s activities. On days with early morning planned
activities, students will be asked to go to their rooms earlier. Behavior also
plays a role in curfew. Depending on the size, layout, and vacancies in the
hotels, students may be instructed to go to their rooms by a certain time but have
plenty of free-time in their room prior to “lights out”. Room checks will be
performed every night by chaperones. Once room checks have been completed,
students may not, short of an emergency, leave their rooms. Wake-up calls will
be done each morning about an hour prior to breakfast. Students will have
plenty of time to get up, shower, get dressed and enjoy breakfast, if they
chose to, and be ready for the day’s adventure.
15.Will there be Wifi?
Yes, some of the hotels will have Wifi,
however it is shared amongst all guests and the signal will more than likely be
quite weak. While students will attempt to take advantage of the Wifi, students
should not expect to have Wifi access during the trip.
16.Is
there assigned seating on the bus?
No, there will not be assigned seating on
the bus unless a student’s behavior dictates a seat change. Each bus will have
a leader who is in charge of bus’ seating.
17.Should
my child pack snacks?
Yes, snacks are encouraged. Packing snacks
is not mandatory as students will purchased things during the day, but a few
snacks packed in their checked bag(s) may prove beneficial.
18.What
should I tell my child to avoid?
Contraband! Not only will pipes, pocket
knives, and drug paraphernalia be sold in stores, but other items that should
never be in the hands of minors will be accessible to your children. Please
note that any child who purchases, carries, or is seen/caught with these
unmentionables will be reprimanded and serious consequences will follow. Not
only are these items harmful, but they are against Alice Deal School Policy and
will cause hold-ups and delays at security checkpoints.
19.Should
I pack sunscreen?
Absolutely! We will spend a majority of our
time outside exploring cities, climbing volcanoes, canoeing, horse-backing
riding, and enjoying the beach. Please protect your skin!
20.What
about dirty clothes, swimsuits, and wet clothing?
Bringing a trash bag(s) might be helpful
here. Students will not have access to washers and dryers and will not want to
mix their dirty clothes, which might start to smell, with clean items. Also, we
will visit the hot springs and the beach early in our tour. Wet bathing suits
and clean clothes do not mix.
21.Should
I bring bug-repellent?
Yes, bug repellent will be useful during
the trip. Please remember to put your bug spray, sunscreen, shampoo,
conditioner, lotion, etc. in your checked bag.
22.Should
I put an international plan on my child’s phone? How often should I check in
with them?
If you chose to invest in an international
plan for your child, please feel free to do so but it is not necessary. While I
understand that this will be the first time most of these students are
travelling without their parents, there is not need to call them constantly to
check up. Students will have very busy days filled with interactive activities.
Also, international plans can be quite pricey. If you need to get in touch with
your child, for any reason, do not hesitate to contact Srta. Cuffee or Sra.
Thompson. We will be providing our personal cell phone numbers closer to the
trip’s departure.
23.How
will I know what my child is up to?
Mr. Rottman and I are going to attempt
blogging. We will take pictures each day and post them to a blog. The blog’s
info will be sent out prior to the trip’s departure.
24.What
if my child gets homesick?
While it is possible for students to get
homesick, they will be completely ok. If they need to check in with you, they
are more than capable of doing so. Friends and Alice Deal staff will be
available to aid them if they need someone to talk to.
25.Will
my child have to hold on to their passport?
No, passport will be collected once
students make it through immigration/security in Costa Rica. They will not see
their passports again until we arrive in the United States.
26.What
can I do to assist my child?
Please place a piece of masking tape on the
back of your child’s passport with their first and last name.
27.What
if I have a question that hasn’t been answered here?
While we have tried to cover the basics,
please send any questions/concerns to dealspanishclass@gmail.com.
Another FAQs document may go out if valuable questions/concerns arise and
haven’t already been answered.
28.How
do I get in touch with Srta. Cuffee or Mr. Rottman?
Mr. Rottman and I will be giving out our
personal cellphone numbers for parents. Please limit communication to
emergencies only.
