What can I say? Going to Costa Rica was amazing. Everything that we did, I will never forget. Many people see advertisements on TV about the poverty in different countries and say to themselves “that’s so sad, I want to help them.” However, many people do not actually do what they think. That is sad because by me actually going to the indigenous community really opened my eyes a lot. The activities we did along the way were so much fun. One day we hiked up a mountain to see the volcano, which was beautiful. Another day we traveled four hours to Limon and went to the beach. Later that night we all got together and thought of a way to pack the backpacks in an organized way. When we figured that out we started packing and it took us about an hour and a half. Packing those backpacks was fun because we all laughed and bonded. The next day we started delivering the backpacks. While handing them out to the local children we also interacted with them and had conversations in Spanish with them. We would ask them questions like “what is your name?”, “how old are you?”, “what do you like to do?”, things like that. Showing them the pictures we took with them and seeing their faces when they got the backpacks touched my heart in so many ways. One of the places we went to we got to play soccer with them and that was so much fun. They were willing to teach you how to play and we were able to see what they do in their free times. After that, one of the little boys brought us to his house and we got to look around. The house was made out of wood, with three bedrooms, and seven people living there. They had no air-conditioning, or electricity. It is definitely not your ordinary house. The amazing thing is you couldn’t tell they were unhappy, I always saw smiles on all their faces. It makes you think because even though they don’t have a lot they can be happy, so it makes you appreciate so much more in life. A scary part of where they live is that they live very far from the city and don’t have much around them. If they needed to get to a hospital, it would take them awhile which I think is bad and I wish a hospital could be built near them.
Another community we went to was the Yorkin tribe. The only way to get there is by an hour and a half canoe ride. As we were in the canoe we would have to get out every once in awhile to help push the boat out of the shallow parts. That was definitely an adventure. When we got there, we handed out the last of the backpacks to the kids and then they showed us the tourist spot they’re building. I was so impressed with them because the buildings have showers, bathrooms and beds. We got to eat lunch there and the food was so good. The people there were so welcoming and willing to show us how they live. It’s not everyday you are able to meet such kind and generous people.
I will never forget this wonderful experience. Knowing how they live and how little they have, makes me appreciate life and how much I have. It also makes want to help more people in need and possibly go on more trips with Mrs. Kingston because seeing the smiles on the kid’s faces is a smile I will never forget.
Chelsea Strickland
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