Tonight we arrived at our hotel in San Jose for a needed rest.

We said farewell to our CATIE friends and companions, enjoyed a sweet desserts and settled in before our early morning to journey home.

We arrived with one hour to shop at the market. A mix of craftsman and vendors selling souvenirs and articles to remember your Costa Rican journey. Clothing, jewelry, wood products and toys. Bartering with vendors is expected!

We enjoyed this musical tune!

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We traveled from Cahutia north along the Carribean shore and then headed west over the mountains to San Jose. After about 3 hours of driving we stopped by Braulio Carrillo National Park. We walked the rainforest on a narrated tour.

30 minutes of activity is pura vida! Team members walked along the Carribean coast on the black and white sands beach just after sunrise.

Our team moved into the classroom where the teachers shared with us their philosophies and experiences about the program. It was obvious their passion for the children and their role at the center was not hampered by the lack of resources available for the program. The parents looked very young and we learned that 50% of the mothers were teens. We learned a lot of social issues the staff were dealing with was very similar to what we see and hear about back home.

We traveled by bus to learn about the CENCINAI, an early childhood education program that focuses on children at risk. Outside the center parents were bringing their children to the center for lunch. All the children were wearing the crisp, blue center uniforms as they approached the school hand in hand with their parent. Upon entering the center parents and children were served a lunch of rice, black beans, watermelon and a blackberry fruit drink. Staff supported the parents in providing support while they ate with their children.

After another winding bus ride up the mountain we visited the home of Dona Miriam, a 93 years young native midwife. We learned her life story. She married at age 14 and gave birth at age 15 to the first of 19 children serving as her own midwife. She has delivered over 2000 babies in her community Tres Equis and the surrounding area.

Lunch was at a restaurant up in the mountains with a fabulous view. We were served plate lunches of pork, beef or chicken along with white rice, beans, chaoti squash, yucca, green salad with tomato with cilantro dressing. Hand made white corn tortillas were served from a basket. Pineapple and mango juices were enjoyed. We sampled a very sweet dessert made from sweetened condensed milk, powered milk and sugar. We ended the lunch with more great coffee to enjoy the view and conversation.

After breakfast we gathered to learn more about our host CATIE who’s mission is to increase human well-being and reduce poverty in rural areas through education, research and technical cooperation, promoting sustainable management of competitive agriculture and resources. Many groups come to the campus for research and study. Masters and Ph.d programs are available through a coordinated effort with other universities

We learned about the Costa Rican health care system from Rebecca Turecky from Texas with ties to Rockville, Indiana, and now living in Costa Rica. She is passionate about her profession as a certified midwife with her own practice.

After a welcomed rest, our day began with a beautiful sunrise at CATIE. Several took an early morning walk to experience the wildlife and beauty of the grounds. Most of us were awakened by the early morning unfamiliar songs of birds.

Breakfast in the CATIE cafeteria included fresh fruit plate including papaya, pineapple and watermelon, beans and rice seasoned with cilantro, scrambled eggs, pancakes with syrup, crusty white bread, fruit juices and fantastic coffee.