This morning I went for a run, but it ended up being more of a photoshoot because I kept stopping to take pictures of the beautiful scenery! Then, I had Spanish class with Luis, Gaby’s husband! We went over basic conversations like personal introductions and directions.
Read PostToday we had an orientation to Costa Rica. For breakfast, I had the traditional Gallo Pinto dish with eggs, rice, beans, and bread. I thought it was delicious!!
Read PostMaya Evans was the second winner of the uVolunteer Travel Scholarship for 2016. She was awarded a free trip including airfare to our program in Costa Rica.
During her trip she wrote a daily journal about her experiences and we will be sharing these journal entries with you over the next few weeks. We hope you enjoy them and that they give you an inside perspective of live as a volunteer in Costa Rica.
Read PostA major draw for volunteers to Costa Rica is the opportunity to sample delicious, hearty food, and there’s no better time to taste one of the country’s most famous exports than during the Chayote Fair
Read PostIf you’re lucky enough to be volunteering in Costa Rica over the Easter period, you’ll have the chance to experience one of the nation’s most important Christian festivals.
Read PostFio (the local coordinator in San Ramon) picked me and 2 other volunteers up at our language school on Friday and took us to San Ramon. The orientation to San Ramon and my project was what I had expected it to be, it was very good to be told what to expect from my days as well as the different things the town offers.
My project was teaching physical education in Escuela Belen. The school, which is not far from the dormitory, is from my understanding, one of the bigger schools in San Ramon. My schedule included 4 classes a day (2 mornings and 2 afternoons) 4 days a week. The school itself has no physical education teachers or materials for the classes. As a politics student, teaching an actual class was something completely different for me (although I do have experience with sports and teaching sport specific lessons,) teaching a general phys ed. class.
My first week was the hardest because I needed to get to know the kids and what they liked in their gym classes, but after that, I settled into a nice rhythm. The classes are held on a small concrete court about the size of a basketball court, and the classes are about 40 minutes to an hour long.
My experience with the kids is on I will never forget. At times, like all children, they can be difficult but for the most part, they are wonderful.
The teachers hang around during the class to help me out and keep the kids in line if they won’t listen, but the classes are run by me and the teachers and children treat me with a lot of respect. Since the kids only get one gym class a week I just try to make it as fun for them as possible by playing games like, sharks and minnows, doing relay races, duck goose (for the smaller ones) and LOTS of football.
Life in a new country was something I had to adjust too like I said before the language school helped me adjust but it was something that happened quickly for me. I found Costa Rica an incredibly easy place to live, especially in San Ramon. The people here are very friendly and the town is easy to get around. My weekends were for the most part always filled with travel.
In the 3 months I’ve spent here I have managed to see some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We had a 2-week break in July and I traveled to Nicaragua for a week and it was more than worth it.
My time in Costa Rica working for uVolunteer has been the best time of my life, and I do not say that lightly, the people that I’ve met and the places that I’ve been have been truly incredible. Working with kids and living in a new country has been life-changing for me. I have thought about this a lot and I really haven’t been able to think about anything negative to write. My only hope is that when or if someone else reads this it helps them choose to come here and not only learn about and help another country but learn about themselves as well.
When you volunteer in Costa Rica, you’ll discover just how much there is to see and do when you really get under the skin of this beautiful nation. At uVolunteer, everyone who comes to make a difference with us has the opportunity to experience the best the country has to offer.
Read PostWhen you volunteer in Costa Rica, you’ll want to take in as much of this compact country as possible in your free time. Home to lush jungles, rich culture and beautiful beaches, Costa Rica has so much to offer that it’s difficult to decide where to visit first, but one trip you won’t want to miss is heading to San Jose for a weekend.
Read PostIf you’re lucky enough to be volunteering abroad in Costa Rica this January you won’t want to miss out on one of the biggest celebrations in the national events calendar – Palmares Festival attracts around a million people, or a fifth of the country’s population, with its carnival atmosphere and promise of a good time to be had by all.
Read PostWhen you volunteer abroad in Costa Rica, you’ll have the opportunity to explore your host nation and enjoy its exotic environments – including a wealth of fantastic beaches where you can hone your surfing skills. Whether you’re new to the sport or a pro, Costa Rica’s year-round waves and warm waters make for the perfect surfing setting; experience the thrill of the waves and the wind in your hair during your volunteer trip.
Read PostIt’s a very common myth that those who travel must have a lot money. Here at uVolunteer, we all know that simply isn’t true: many of our volunteers here save wisely to afford reaching their destinations.
Read PostWhen you volunteer in Costa Rica, you’ll want to make the most of your trip by experiencing authentic culture and exploring the diverse environments this tiny country is so famous for. There are so many well-known natural attractions, landmarks and cultural hotspots to visit, however, that it’s easy to overlook the hidden hideaways that offer a rare glimpse of Costa Rica at its genuine best.
Read PostOur volunteers work hard. From digging nests for unhatched baby sea turtles to building homes for needy families in San Ramon, they know what it’s like to break a sweat and feel empowered while helping others.
But our volunteers are not working alone. We have a team of staff in place that are in daily contact with volunteers. Our coordinators will become your friends and managers of your placement abroad. Their jobs are very delicate ones, as they are involve dealing with all types of people from all over the world.
Read PostFresh pizza––with flaky, hand-made dough and piping hot toppings––is so much better than its frozen counterpart. That’s because it was made with intention. It wasn’t just made as quickly as possible to be sold for a profit. For the chef, making this pizza was as much fun as it will be to eat.
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