Immersion C – Leaves Pueblo Nuevo

August 5th, 2008. 5:58am, Pueblo Nuevo, Alajuela, Costa Rica

One by one and in pairs, sleepy-eyed figures emerge through the morning mist. They gather on the steps in front of the gymnasium and begin to chat in English and Spanish. They appear ready to work with full water bottles, mugs of coffee, work gloves and sunscreen. Once the local maestros de obra, or foremen, arrive, the gym is unlocked and the group gets to work like seasoned veterans. Some bring out wheelbarrows, shovels, pick axes and levels while others mix yellow, light blue and navy blue paint. Soon the sounds of work mix with conversations such as, “Would you rather be able to fly as fast as you can run, or hold your breath for 10 minutes?” The two large projects, painting the entire gymnasium and adding a drainage system to the central soccer field, look great and are nearly complete. As citizens of Pueblo Nuevo pass by, they consistently comment, “qué valiente,” how brave. By 10:30am, the day before its scheduled departure, Immersion C fulfilled its community service commitment.

The second week in the village seemed to fly by. Students were more comfortable with their homestays, their Spanish had improved and the projects were advancing rapidly. On our day off, we walked along scenic hills to the community’s water source, an underground reservoir protected by land the community has bought. To contribute, each of our students planted a tree. Our time in Pueblo Nuevo culminated last night during our fiesta de despedida, or going away party. Host families, members of the village council, local youth and many of our new friends came to help us celebrate. We hired a karaoke machine and DJ, ate local cuisine and danced the night away. Village members, our leaders and a few of our students addressed the party to exchange thanks for the entire experience. Music echoed off the surrounding hills until late into the night and we returned home tired and elated.

It was difficult to leave our temporary home. This morning we said our final, misty-eyed goodbyes and boarded the familiar “baby bus.” After the emotional departure, we set off as a group to the beautiful and lush cloud forest of Monteverde. On the way, we all enjoyed a picnic lunch devoid of rice and beans. The road was long and unpaved, but the destination was well worth the journey. Students were taken aback by the tranquility of the town founded by American Quakers in the 1950’s. After settling into the accommodations, some students relaxed and recharged their batteries. Others ventured out to explore the town’s coffee plantation, were they sampled various types of delicious homegrown coffee.

Today we are taking to the canopy of the cloud forest where we will explore via hanging bridges, zip lines and swings. Our group seems tighter than ever and some have already commented how much they miss Pueblo Nuevo!

Anna and Gabriel
Immersion C leaders