We worked hard all week to extend a concrete patio and put up the first part of a concrete barrier on one side; we could clearly see the results of our hard work at the end of the week! We had Wednesday off for some touring around the area and a trip to the hot springs, which was awesome. We also got rained out of our work on part of one afternoon, and none of the students complained about having a little downtime at the house! We also had the chance to visit a coffee farm after finishing work one day, which was very pleasant. There was PLENTY of food, and we all enjoyed all of it! Our hosts were so gracious and generous with their hospitality. We especially liked all the local fruit and juice. We also had a great breakfast every day at the house.

Federico was a wonderful guide for the program; he knew all of the people we worked with, was clear in his directions to our group as we worked, and gave the students enough independence to make their contributions feel important. The one thing we liked the least...well, this is nobody's fault, but the narrow, windy roads sometimes made a few of us feel a little carsick! But Federico was an excellent driver. It was a great experience for everyone. We were very well-prepared with the guidebooks and with communications with Federico. Always, we met as a group after dinner to talk about the plans for the next day, and then Federico would confirm everything before we left the house in the morning. Our students really appreciated meeting the local families, and some even tried out their Spanish!

Kristin Benjamin
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica.
June, 2025

We were working directly with an active member of the church we were building benches for. We got feedback from families who fed us lunches and dinners that they appreciated the work we were doing. Federico was great! We were really grateful to have him all to ourselves! The information he shared our first night there about cultural differences and what to expect was very helpful. 

The free time was perfect! A couple hours to do our own thing each afternoon/evening was good to reflect on the day and refresh before having a meal with a local family. The extensive touring was very informative and fun without being rushed.

We loved the food, getting to learn more Spanish, learning new skills that were used to help the community, and getting to know so much about the country and valley. We are so grateful for this opportunity and all that Federico provided during our stay as well as how helpful Norma and Kimberly were in planning and preparing to go.

Lori Bane
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica.
March, 2025

“We got to do a significant amount of cultural immersion and exchange with the local community: understand their way of life and values, participate in their traditions (tamales on Christmas, for example), eat in family members' homes every day, and share our perspectives with them. We could see where our program fees would improve the local community (construction materials, families hosting us for meals, etc). We worked on a project that was right-sized for our small group of 2 people (building tables at a local community center) and were able to see the results at the end.

We had enough personal downtime to process our experiences within the community, especially with a small group of 2. Accommodations were good. There was enough space, and we enjoyed having coffee and snacks in the kitchen and trying local Costa Rican cooking. Some of the things we liked best were the cultural exchange and project work, a leisure trip to local hot springs, and our coordinator, Federico!

Federico was great. He spent a lot of time with us, communicating what to expect and soliciting our feedback on how to get the most out of our time in Orosi Valley. He did lots of translation. We also tried using our limited Spanish to interact and apps like Google Translate to carry on direct conversations.”

Keith Torluemke
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica.
November, 2024

“It was very rewarding to work with the community center and have an amazing time with the local families. It was an amazing experience for our family and sharing new experiences with my 4-year-old daughter. She already wants to do India next!

There was a great balance between seeing things and helping with projects. It was nice that Federico gave us late afternoons to rest and shower before dinner. Travelling with a 4-year-old made those rest times very important.

The best part of the week was Federico and the families! Federico was an amazing host, making us feel at home and so knowledgeable about local plants, wildlife, and customs. It was so great to have him as a translator with the families, and you can tell he has strong relationships with them. The families were so welcoming and authentic, and it was a highlight to get to know them. The food was SO GOOD, and it was really sweet of them to make vegetarian food for us. 

Thank you so much for building this program. You can see the good it has done in the community, and it was so educational for my family! The families were so welcoming, and it was amazing to cultivate such authentic connections after so short of a time (even with a language barrier). We will treasure the memories forever and hope to be lifelong friends with our coordinator.”

Amy Corp
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica.
November, 2024

“I was very lucky to have a great group of women working with me. You will be working on tasks you don't know how to do yet, but you pick things up very quickly. I can now say I can use a sander, drill into steel, and stain wood!
On our last day, several of the women who live in La Flor came together to give us coffee and pastries. I would've felt proud of our work either way, but seeing their smiles and recognizing the time they took out of their day to thank us for our work connected the work I did to the people it would affect. Sitting with them and feeling their gratitude was among my favorite moments of the program because I didn't need to understand each word they were saying to know how thankful they were. I truly feel I can say I know the culture and interacted with it.”

Eleanor Faems
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica.
August, 2024

“Costa Rica Orosi ValleyThe project at the community center and church was meaningful to the community, and therefore it was meaningful to us - we appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the restoration and beautification of these important structures. The visit to the school was also a highlight. My observation is that both my children and the Costa Rican children were impacted by the experience.
The opportunity to connect with members of the local community and experience a level of cultural immersion was the best part of the program. We met individuals and families of all ages and generations, each with their own interests, passions, and stories to tell. We gained exposure to the language, family life, typical homes and businesses, schools, church, farming, and so much more.
A highlight was visiting Paco's farm - it was beautiful, and we enjoyed bearing witness to the pride and joy he felt. My kids loved their time at the local elementary school, connecting with kids of all ages through play and comparing the US vs. Costa Rican way of life. They learned how much they had in common! And it was wonderful for all the kids to practice English/Spanish together.
We chose to participate as a family, and this was the perfect project for us - everyone had work to do that was appropriate for their age/skill level and allowed them to grow. We worked both individually and together, which was great. My daughter has already spread the word about Globe Aware to her friends and is interested in returning to this project with one or more of them. I haven't had a chance to think about which other programs interest me/us, but we are definitely interested in learning more and considering the options!”

Jennifer Maniscalco
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica.
July, 2024

“I really enjoyed helping out a local family and also worked on a project to sand and paint benches for the community center. I felt like these projects were meaningful and helpful to the community. There was plenty of free time, so I got to explore some of the community.

I definitely enjoyed the food and always got seconds if I wanted them, and the accommodations were amazing. I really enjoyed the setup of the lodge. I really enjoyed Federico and how he interacted with our group and got to know us.”

Tessa Omer
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica. March, 2024

“I know we really helped this family. In addition, we worked on a community project as well. I liked the location, the people, Federico, and the work. We so love our experiences with Globe Aware. They are meaningful, fun, and mind expanding!”

Sandy Reilly
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica. November, 2023