Meet Julia!

Turtle Paradise

After a 20 minute boat ride through the Canales de Tortuga, we arrived at the Pacuare Turtle Reserve, a scientific station situated right on an amazing beach. Staffed by mostly volunteers, it featured rustic cabins, mainly vegetarian food, and no electricity. Right out back was pure Costa Rican jungla, where we would later see the likes of eyelash pit vipers, blue herons, a array of frogs, and howler monkeys.

As one of the most important nesting sites for the endangered Leatherback Sea Turtles, the residential staff is vigilant and dedicated. We were excited to learn what exactly was involved in turtle salvation. Though nest excavation and miles-long treks along the beach at ungodly hours, we got to know these incredible creatures in a way most people will never experience. There is no footage of the adults (they come onto the beach in the dark and you may not shine any white light in their direction), but here is look at one of the babies making his way out into the world:



Now just imagine that cute little tortugita blown up to a length of 4 feet and you'd have mama leatherback, whom we met later on that night. These creatures are amazing and have been around for millions of years - it really was like seeing a dinosaur. There are many at sea dangers for babies and adults alike, but the turtle station is doing a lot to make sure poachers and wild animals don't eat the eggs or hatchlings before they have a chance to make it into the ocean.

When we weren't saving turtles, we played in the water and dozed on the beach. It was quite relaxing and a terrific end to a really intense, really diverse, really fantastic Costa Rican adventure.

On the Caribbean Coast

Hello parents,

As a reminder, the group is returning on Friday evening to Newark International Airport. Below you will find the return flight information for your convenience.

Continental Airlines 26 Jun 2009
Depart San Jose (SJO) Airport at 1:45 PM on Flight 1761.
Arrive Newark (EWR) Airport at 9:00 PM.

Parents are asked to meet their sons and daughters at the airport. No transportation back to Dalton will be provided. Let either Michael Malloy or Ross Wehner of World Leadership School (303-679-3412) know if you have any questions.

I also wanted to add that the group is now on its way this morning to the Pacuare Nature Reserve on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. After a 3-hour bus ride and a 20-minute boat ride across a mangrove lagoon, the students will arrive at the science station. The station is right on a white sand beach that is lined with palm trees. This beach receives thousands of Leatherback and Green turtles each year, who come here to lay their eggs in the middle of the night before resuming their year-round migrations around the Caribbean and Atlantic oceans. The volunteers' job is to help scientific researchers assemble data about nesting events and also protect the eggs so that as many hatch as possible.

Ross

Off to Pacuare!

Tonight is our last night in Santa Maria de Dota. We have finished a pila, painted an aula and los pasamanos, visited the coffee plant, and are almost ready to say goodbye to our Costa Rican family and friends. We sat in a circulo this afternoon with Marilyn, a director at the Colegio, and many students, sharing our mutual appreciation for this experience. It was nice to think about all we have learned here, as well as what we have given back. Now its off to Save the Turtles at the Pacuare Turtle Reserve. We won't have internet, nor a whole lot of electricity, so the next time you see or hear from us will be at the airport! Please come pick us up as Dalton is NOT providing return transportation. Wish us buen viaje - we'll be having a blast on la playa!

Fresh Roasted Coffee Smells SOOOOO Good!

A lot of popular US cafes (including Starbucks and Peete's Coffee) sell coffee that comes from right here in the Dota-Tarrazu region of Costa Rica. The majority of people in Santa Maria de Dota have some sort of stake in the coffee business. The Coopedota is a coffee cooperative and the plant where they sort, dry, roast, and ship the beans is right here in town. We took a tour today and learned about the process of making a great high quality coffee. Here it's all done with an eye toward growing organic and recycling as much of the materials and waste as possible. We even got to try our hand at making espressos and capuccinos. Check out this fresh roast:



If you're lucky, we might be bringing you some back! For more information visit www.coopedota.com

Monday into Tuesday

Hola! This is Rosie and Krista. After a week in Santa Maria, we've become accustomed to the traditional Costa Rican way of life. Yesterday morning we worked hard to finish painting the handrails and benches so they would be finished today. After we went home for lunch, Pablo held a class discussing leadership styles and communication skills. After that, we had the afternoon off. The boys went to play ultimate frisbee on the field and the girls split up. Some went to play with puppes at Phoebe and Talia's house, and others spent the afternoon with new Tico friends. After that Maya and Eva came over to our house. The "cousins" (our homestay mothers are sisters) watched Bajo La Misma Luna and ate homemade empanadas. We're up early this morning eating fresh fruit and cereal, ready for our final day of work.

Conozcan a La Familia de Sasha y Alexa