During the February half-term break 2024, a group of 12 students and two staff members took part in an incredible joint Spanish/Biology trip to Costa Rica. Their busy schedule included a wildlife refuge, coffee plantation, reforestation programme, rainforest walk, zip wire activity, various volunteering opportunities and lots, lots more – wow! On their return, we asked some of the participants some questions about their adventures:

 

 

Q: What was your favourite experience during the trip and why?

PDB: The trip was incredible and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not only were all the activities brilliant but the people over there, the food and just the experience of being in such an amazing country halfway across the world with friends is something I’ll never forget. It’s difficult to choose a favourite experience as I enjoyed them all,  but I did really enjoy the zip lines and giant Tarzan swing because I really like adrenaline rush activities, and it was so fun doing it over forests hundreds of feet above trees – amazing views.I 

PM: On the first day we volunteered in an animal shelter and I hand-fed a monkey. It was just the most amazing experience, and not something you could do anywhere else. It was wonderful to see how the locals were taking care of the animals and natural world.

MK:  It is difficult  to pinpoint  a particular ‘favourite part’ of the trip, as I can honestly say that (somehow) the itinerary for each day managed to get better, and better and better throughout the entire trip. We fed sloths, explored the rainforest, zip lined through the beautiful landscape, planted trees and even spent a day on the beach! This is only a small glimpse of the immense fun we were so lucky to have experienced. On a whole, some of the most memorable experiences which I have taken away from the trip are the fond, new memories we created as a group every day. Beautiful simplicities such as sharing quintessential, home cooked dishes for lunch with locals, drinking out of coconuts from the trees above us and playing on the beach, are just some of the core memories and takeaways from our special adventure. 

 

 

Q: What did you find most challenging and why?

PDB: I found speaking and understanding Spanish over there the most difficult (as I don’t take Spanish GCSE) but I did learn lots of new words and phrases.

PM: We went on a zipline tour and at the end was a giant bungee jump-esque swing where you were dropped over a cliff and caught by a rope. I was absolutely terrified before and almost pulled out of it, but it ended up being one of my favourite moments of the whole trip!

MK: Personally, the most challenging part of the trip (apart from the immense amount of travel and six-hour time difference!) would have to be our morning at the Monteverde Extremo Park, at which we all had to ‘face our fears’ and launch ourselves (quite literally ‘head-first’ at times) through the rainforest and mountainous range of Costa Rica. These zip-lines were at times as long as 1.3km! The finale to this experience was the most terrifying yet exhilarating thing I’ve ever done in my life! It was named the ‘Tarzan Swing’ and (whilst still attached – don’t worry!) we were practically dropped 50m in the air, almost like a bungee jump into the forest. While in the moment this daunting challenge seemed wildly outfacing, the incredible sensation of adrenaline that filled us all afterwards was a feeling which I know none of us will  ever forget! 

 

 

Q: What would you say was your biggest take away from this trip, what did you learn?

PDB:  I learnt many facts about the country itself and its cultures, but also a lot of biology facts.

PM: I learnt that I really enjoy sharing a room with people and how vital it is that we take care of our environment. The Costa Ricans were so environmentally conscious it made me think about my own impact on the world. I also learned that you can never have too much sun cream!

MK: I would argue that the biggest take away from this unforgettable and life changing trip would be that – I can do it! I can do things I would never have thought I could accomplish, not in a million years. I can do things that, had they  been presented to me even a year ago, I wouldn’t have been able to do. I can be on the other side of the world from my family and friends and still have the most incredible time. I can immerse myself in the language and thrive in another culture so different from the one I know, and that I am comfortable with. Costa Rica helped us all to break boundaries we didn’t know we would have to break. It allowed us all to try new things and fully step out of our comfort zones. For that, I will never let the joyful memories of this trip leave me, and never let the life skills I discovered leave me either!

 

 

Q: Anything else you’d like to add?

PM: It was an incredible, once in a lifetime trip that I would recommend to anyone, and thank you to Mrs Pilling and Mrs Blasco for organizing it. 

MK: I would like to take this opportunity to also thank our two incredibly fun and caring teachers; Mrs Blasco and Mrs Pilling, for all they did for us throughout the week. You made it a blast!