Days Seven and Eight... and Closing Reflections

Phaedra and Becky stayed with Uvania and her family this week. Uvania and Alonso, along with their three children Katherin, Alondra and Jefferson, welcomed us into their home the moment we arrived. This quiet family has a beautiful way of showing affection and making connections as much through actions as through words. With Uvania we shared recipes; she guided us through making tortillas and taught us how to make cheese (as she does every day to sell), and we introduced her to hummus using the chick peas she brought home from her school cooking job to fulfill her curiosity after we described it to her. The family enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed taste-testing their traditional foods and snacks. Alonso quickly realized our interest in the farm and the natural resources; he patiently let us milk the cow despite the painfully slow rate at which we managed to fill the bucket, and brought us leaves and flowers every day from the yard to explain what they were and how they are used. Though perhaps the most quiet of all the family members, Becky had Alonso talking up a storm with her impressive Spanish-speaking skills, and Phaedra had the entire family in hysterics as she drew blind portraits of each. The teens Katherin and Alondra, who observed us with curiosity, taught us the game "Tonto" with the playing cards we brought from New York, and 6-year-old Jefferson beckoned to us all day long to see the cows, chickens, his bicycle, el moto (his Dad's motorcycle), and all manner of items he wanted to share. We were struck with the wide array of knowledge he has and how dramatically it differs from ours. Five days isn't very long to try to make an authentic connection, but this morning as we hugged and said our goodbyes, it was clear that despite cultural and language differences, we had indeed done just that.

Jessie and Briar stayed with Digna, the matriarch of the Corella family, this week. The mother of eight children, Digna now has one child left at home, Maria Elena, and the two of them welcomed us with incredible kindness and generosity. As soon as we arrived at the house, we were greeted with open arms as 17-year-old Maria Elena quickly launched into friendly and animated conversation and Digna looked on with pride and instant maternal care. These two women amazed us with their open-heartedness and their huge devotion to each other. Maria Elena explained to us again and again how her mother was everything to her, and it clearly showed. Though it was not always easy to communicate with our limited Spanish skills, Maria Elena was particularly good at finding ways to get her ideas across, with dramatic gestures, silly voices, and careful language. She told us all about life as a teenager in rural Costa Rica, and how important it was to her not to have children at a young age, as she had seen many around her do. It quickly became clear to us that this girl was quite amazing, and, just like her dog Susie, was tough but also fiercely loving.

On our day together, Maria Elena took us along to run errands in Puerto Viejo, the closest city (or, as Maria Elena describes it more accurately, a "mini mini mini ciudad"). Jessie and Briar were excited to ride the bus (Maria Elena shook her head in disbelief as they took an autobus selfie), examine the stores and services of the town and wander the huge grocery store/department store where Maria Elena purchased the groceries her mother needed to prepare for the fiesta. When we returned home, we had a lovely nap and spotted a toucan in our yard! We both enjoyed spending time watching the amazing birdlife that was constantly outside our window. We also enjoyed a private concert from Maria Elena after the fiesta - her voice is absolutely amazing when she sings her beloved ranchero music, and her dramatic flair makes her quite the performer as well. We were so grateful to have spent time with Digna and Maria Elena and were very sad to say, "Hasta Facebook!" when it was time to go.

Helen and Jennifer stayed with Lorena, Edwin, Alejandro(18), and Morelia(13), as well as their menagerie of farm animals.  How amazing it was to wake up each morning to the sound of the roosters! Edwin woke up around 5am to milk the cows and feed the pigs, while Lorena got breakfast and coffee started for us.  Although we didn't have to report to our schools until 8am we almost always spent a couple of hours wandering around the farm, visiting with the animals, and taking note of the plants, flowers, and insects all around us.  After arriving back to the house after a full day's work we ate dinner together and chatted about what life was like living in the Linda Vista community. What a world of difference! Alejandro talked our ears off while his sister Morelia always stayed by his side, chuckling and hanging on his every word. We spent our nights playing dominoes and card games. The most comical parts of all were while we were worked through our linguistic kinks to understand one another. My jaw actually hurt from smiling and laughing so much.

On our last night in the homestay we had a going away party at Digna's house (Lorena's mom and Alejandro's/Morelia's grandmother). Maria Elena (Digna's daughter) spent the whole night dancing and teaching us gringas how to dance cumbia, bachata, salsa, and reggaeton.  We all sang and danced the night away.  Morelia and I confessed to each other how sad we were that it was our last night together and we imagined how great it would be if we were really sisters.

Just as a photo of a sunset never captures it's true beauty, there are no words that could come close to describing all of the magical moments we have had here in the Chilamate rainforest and the Linda Vista community.  A few nights ago I (Jennifer) was outside with our host family looking up at the starry sky and talking about how incredible it was that when we return to New York we will be looking up at the same moon, albeit thousands of miles apart.  Because of Lorena, Edwin, Alejandro, and Morelia we now know what it means to fully and unconditionally love family, neighbors, and strangers.  They welcomed us with open arms and cared for us like family.  There was never any judgement over language barriers, cultural differences, or ideas.  Our time together was filled with laughter and food cooked with love.  Our family made us feel truly loved in a home away from home. We will cherish the moments that we shared together and hope that we get the chance to meet again someday.  For now I am grateful that we can keep in touch via social media and continue to share bits and pieces of our lives with one another. ¡Pura Vida!

Closing Reflections on Global Education

In addition to the deeply personal transformations we have had, this experience has changed us professionally as well.  The authenticity and depth of global experiences (whether developed locally or abroad) have the power to instill in young children a sense of empathy, understanding, curiosity about others, and an appreciation for multiple perspectives.  

Children are never to young to connect with other kids across the globe.  They are naturally empathetic and it is our job to nurture and develop this skill within them. We already knew the importance of reaching children early when it comes to so many types of learning, and we now include global competency among them.  Imagine a Berkeley Carroll graduate who appreciates their own culture as well as others', who is not afraid of making mistakes, and has curiosity and motivation to connect across boundaries.