Hello SLA! Just wanted to give everyone an update of what is happening here in Costa Rica.  The kids are doing great!  After 2 days of traveling yesterday we had a hard work day.  We were assigned several projects around the school.

A group of us designed and installed a ceramic mosaic floor for the art room.  Let me tell you how into it and serious they were about it especially Bianca. Other students helped around the campus with painting chicken coops, repairing stairs and landscaping.

You can see how this experience is creating a change in them, it is quite wonderful to see.  Their Spanish is getting better and they are gaining confidence in their skills.  The homestays have been great, Ms. Gierke and I went around and dropped off each student to their new homes and got to know each host parent.  The homes are nothing like ours in the States and our kids have really adapted well to them.

These hills or mini mountains are killing us all.  We walk and walk and walk some more everyday.  I swear we all have lost weight and are toned! The kids have been saying Ms. Martin would be so proud of us and can this count as PE credit.

This has been a great experience for me as well.  I only knew one student on this trip, Taylor Valentine, and this has been a great opportunity to get to know all the other students on the trip!

Ok, we've got to go paint, we will try and keep you updated.  The kids say "Hola!"