Spanish teachers and students in levels three, four and five were given a unique opportunity to spend their spring break, March 21-28, exploring Costa Rica. There, students
were exposed to breathtaking views, exquisite foods and life-long stories.
The small Central American country, nestled in between Nicaragua and Panama, with both Caribbean and Pacific coasts is one of the most up and coming countries of the area. Its
main industries being tourism and agriculture, Homestead students got to enjoy landscapes that most Americans can’t even dream of in order to learn about the beautiful country and practicetheir Spanish in real-life situations.
Ava Anderson-Perry, senior, thought Costa Rica was one of the coolest experiences of her life and had trouble picking just one favorite memory.
“If I had to pick, my favorite part of the trip was probably when we swam in La Fortuna waterfall. It was beautiful and the water was amazing. But I will also always remember the white-water rafting and getting to see all the wildlife from along the river,” Anderson-Perry said.
Spanish teacher Lara Khmelevsky spent a lot of time planning the trip and worked to make sure it was an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
“I planned the trip because we hadn’t done it in a really long time here at Homestead and I thought we should try. I picked Costa Rica because I thought it would be more fun than museums and cathedrals in Europe. I think the kids had a good time in all the activities,” Khmelevsky said.
However the trip was not all butterflies and rainbows, although both were seen.
For Sofia Espinosa, junior, the trip was not all smooth sailing.
“First there was a bat in my hotel room. Then, on the last day I got food poisoning, and spent a miserable couple hours on the plane. Then we got stuck in Dallas because the airline wouldn’t let us sick kids on the plane. Eventually though, we made it home with many stories to share. Overall, it was so much fun and I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Espinosa said.