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