CRHS Spanish students were immersed in language and culture with a seven day trip to Costa Rica in early June. The experience included multiple tours, zip lining, a cooking class, hiking, dance class, and a night walking tour. In addition to traveling internationally, participants were encouraged to challenge themselves, whether it be crossing a suspension foot bridge, ziplining, or trying new foods. The student-travelers met new friends along the way from schools across the U.S. and shared a game of soccer.
CRHS Spanish teacher and trip coordinator Normaris Mendoza shared, "I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to explore Costa Rica with my students. This journey embodied so many things, we encountered experiences where we pushed our limits, faced our fears, supported each other, forged new friendships, and created lasting memories.". Mrs. Mendoza said she saw Costa Rica transform into a vibrant classroom, connecting her classroom instruction at CRHS to real-world experiences. This was accomplished in many ways, by visiting the Nicoya Peninsula, a backdrop in one of the novels students read, and making empanadas with the locals, an activity students had previously attempted in class. Since many of the students have their own farms, visiting a local farm hit close to home and this agricultural part of the trip was very informative.
Finally, Mrs. Mendoza stated that she "especially enjoyed seeing my students engage with locals and have conversations in Spanish! My aim for this trip was to foster personal growth in my students and deepen their appreciation for Latin culture and language, and I believe we achieved that. I am immensely grateful for the support from our administration, which made this enriching experience possible. ¡Pura Vida!".