On June 23 a team of 10 participants and two faculty embarked on an adventure to Costa Rica. While there, students will be attending the Monte Verde Institute in Monte Verde, Costa Rica — The Cloud City. Participants will be gaining college credit for Spanish language study, and some for literature credits while they study stories written by Costa Rican writers.
The Adventurers Include,
Faculty of Spanish and Department Chair of Languages – Margarita Casas
Dean of Arts, Social Science, and Humanities – Meg Roland
Those participating in the program – Andrew Hedges, Danae Fouts, Haden McConnell, Jason Pfahler, Josh Robles, Faye Thygeson, Noah Aynes, Riley Bond, Sarah Rose Larson, and LBCC Physical Sciences Faculty – Ralph Tadday.
Lead by their Monte Verde Institute Coordinator – Paola Rojas
The Beginning
The team started out with a Red Eye flight out of PDX on June 23 arriving in San Jose, Costa Rica around 10:30 AM on June 24. After passing customs and some changing into shorts for the 74° temperature, the team met up with their coordinator from the Institute Paola Rojas. Rojas is working with the team throughout their stay ensuring everything goes smoothly and everyone has what they need.
Peacocks roam free around Sr y Sra Ese in Alajuela, Costa Rica while the team eats lunch on June 23.
Rojas and the team headed to lunch and then to the University of Peace tucked into the hills of San Jose. There the team was given a tour of the grounds and met with Ariela Fernandez, M.A. who serves as the Secretary of the Council Director at UP. Fernandez gave an excellent presentation and answered questions about peacebuilding, conflict throughout the world, and the history of peace in demilitarized Costa Rica.
Ariela Fernandez, M.A. serves as the Secretary of the Council Director at University for Peace in San Jose. On June 23 Fernandez shared with the team what peacebuilding means, the impact it can have, as well as how the University equips students with a master’s degree designed to use. their skill set in peacebuilding throughout the world.
Upon leaving UP the team headed to their hotel for the night in San Jose where many took naps before a three-course dinner hosted by Rojas at the hotel. During dinner Rojas went over the schedule, what to expect, and safety while in Costa Rica. The team was left to rest up for an early breakfast and tour of the market in San Jose.
Other Key Players
Oriana Mulate and Beth Lyons also played key roles in planning and organizing the study abroad trip to Costa Rica though they were unable to travel with the team.
10 participants and 2 faculty prepare to embark on the first ever Linn-Benton Community College study abroad trip to Costa Rica. Everyone flew out of PDX together on aa red-eye flight June 23, 2023Ralph Tadday deflating soccer balls just before catching the flight to Costa Rica from the Portland Airport on June 22. Tadday customized them with the LBCC logo just before the trip. He hopes to use these in soccer games at the indoor arena while studying at the Monte Verde Institute.Friday June 23rd 2023 the study abroad team safely landed in San Jose, Costa Rica.Chickens at Sr y Sra Ese in Alajuela, Costa Rica.Peacocks roam free around Sr y Sra Ese in Alajuela, Costa Rica while the team eats lunch on June 23.Muscovy ducks rest on a stump by the pond at Sr y Sra Ese in Alajuela, Costa Rica during lunch omg June 23.Riley Bond and Noah Aynes posing after lunch at Sr y Sra Ese in Alajuela, Costa Rica.Robles and Pfahler ordered a sampler for lunch at Sr y Sra Ese in Alajuela, Costa Rica. A great way to try some local cuisine.After lunch, the team headed to the Universidad para la Paz (University for Peace) in Ciudad Colón San José, Costa Rica. The University for Peace features more than 1700 cranes donated by the Japanese people of Matsukawa town, delivered by Mr. Shinjiro KOMATSU, who is the Ambassador of the State of Japan in Costa Rica.The garden at Peace University has many monuments to peace. Here a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and “unity in diversity”.This dog was looking for his forever family at University for Peace. Until then he gets love and care on the university campus. The LBCC team was humorously encouraged to take him home. Everyone wished they could.Everyone on the team became certified peacebuilders through University for Peace before coming on this trip. Visiting the campus and learning more about the mission of UP was a great way to further their understanding of what peacebuilding is.The team asks questions of Ariela Fernandez during her presentation and tour of the University for Peace on June 23.Andrew Hedges touring the University for Peace in San Jose, Costa Rica on June 23.
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