As I sit in 50°F San Francisco, with my daisy patterned blankets wrapped around me and the sky going dark, I look into my blue light computer screen at images that felt like a lifetime ago. Every year the sophomores at Convent and Stuart Hall embark on a trip to Costa Rica, and a little more than a week ago on Jan. 18 the class of 2027 got to do the same. After packing all day, I got on my LAX bound Delta flight late in the evening, before boarding another Delta plane, this one to Costa Rica. As I sat on the 5 hour plane ride, watching the movie Twilight, I couldn’t help but get so nervous and excited for the week ahead of me. I remember thinking how weird it was that even sitting on this flight, at this moment, I am currently making memories which will be engraved in my mind for a lifetime. I also knew one thing for sure, the anticipation to land was killing me.
On Sunday morning I felt the plane hit the ground, and a few scattered claps flew in the air from my classmates. I clutched my passport to my chest, lugged my suitcase out the airplane, went through immigration, reunited with the other flight group and at long last stepped foot in the humid and hot Costa Rica. After a 5 hour bus ride, some crocodile sights and smoothies, we finally arrived at our final destination, Villas Rio Mar in Dominical. The resort would become our home for the next 5 days, and all I could think about was how scared I was to get my roommate assignment. As I sat on the floor and crossed my fingers behind my back, I heard my name get called along with two other girls. I barely knew both of them, and was really anxious about the assignment, but I just hoped we would get along. The three of us rushed out of the air conditioned meeting room, to our cute little room up the Villa paths. It had AC which you could turn down to 17°, white walls crowned with painted green bamboo branches which sprouted out of the corners, and a long tan bathroom which had a full length mirror (thank god). There were three beds where we quickly placed our stuff, and finally had our first conversation as roommates, which I remember thinking went surprisingly well.
I woke up on Monday morning tired from having talked so late with my roommates, whom I was really starting to love. Today, I was going to ride horses and jump off a waterfall. I couldn’t wait. This would become one of my favorite days in the trip, because of how much I pushed myself, and because of how much fun I had doing it. I got picked immediately from the crowd to ride a brown gentle horse named Igor. I loved him, and I secretly kept kicking him so we could go a little faster. After our ride I found myself at the top of a pathway, which led us down to a beautifully cascading waterfall. The tendrils of water glided down the rocks with immense force. And, when I finally went to climb it, I could barely see anything, just white water pounding on my face from every direction. I clung onto the rope next to me and did my best to follow the guides bellowing commands, and when I finally reached the top I couldn’t wait to jump. I took one look at Mr. Farrell floating with his buoy at the bottom and clamped my hand on my nose and jumped. It was so fun that I did it a second time.
On my way back from the falls, after an amazing lunch, I decided I wanted to ride a horse again, I asked and Mr. Gordon so kindly lent me his horse, Jack Daniels. A horse which quite literally had whiskey in its veins. I had such a hard time staying on, because he kept wanting to gallop to the horizon and back. I loved his fiery spirit, especially when I was hanging on for dear life and clawing my legs onto his saddle. Later that day, I skipped our salsa lesson to go on the night hike, where I got far more scared than any time I was on Jack Daniels’s back. There were spiders bigger than I had ever seen before, and some of the most interesting wild creatures, poisonous, brightly colored, and deadly. It was terrifyingly fun.
Over the next few days, I got to see monkeys on the ecotour, surf waves into the sunset, watch a talent show, visit the kids in Silencio, play pool, ride lots of buses, watch a cultural dance, discover I love papaya, go white water rafting, go to a beautiful palm tree smattered beach, buy lots of smoothies, do yoga, jump in the ocean, eat coconuts, watch a salsa competition, go shopping and — last but not least — hang by the pool. Trust me, a lot can happen in a few days. I became close with so many new people and had so many new experiences, which came with memories which I will cherish forever. I am so grateful I got to experience Costa Rica and all that comes with it, the people, the food and the landscape. I can truly say I feel so much closer with my class and my school. Thinking back on the trip, I am so happy for all of the little moments, we did so much on this trip, and yet I remember a little snippet of time from every activity and new experience. Those snippets are what I will hold close to my heart for many years to come. I can’t believe I got to experience a little of what makes Costa Rica, Costa Rica. I hope to be back one day. Pura Vida.