Seen and Heard
Semana Santa
The Easter weekend here in Costa Rica was quite the event, with nearly the entire country grinding to a slow halt for one of the most revered religious holidays of the year. Let’s go over the events.
Monday through Wednesday are know as Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday. The next day is called Maundy (Holy) Thursday. Following these days we have Good Friday, which is normally a fast day, so only one meal permitted. On Holy Saturday, once the sun goes down, this is officially the beginning of Easter. Easter Sunday is the time when parties and feasts occur in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Here at Costa Rica Outward Bound, we had a small celebration of our own which included some secret family recipes of staff member Wendy. We enjoyed quite a spread as you can see below.
A full table of delicious foods!
And the cook herself, Wendy!
Wendy works hard while Jesus hardly works
Two Men, Two Beards and Lots of Miles
It feels like only yesterday (it was actually a week or so) that we were sitting here writing about our board member Laura Avila Bolanos and her cycling adventure around South America. No sooner did we press the ‘publish’ button on our blog did we meet two American gentlemen riding their bikes all the way from Canada down to Chile, spanning both North and South America. The two gentlemen, Bret and Ryan, have spent many months on the road, documenting their adventures meticulously.
Meeting some of our traveling staff in Guatemala, Bret and Ryan reunited with Costa Rica Outward Bound in Manuel Antonio and traveled up to our rain forest base in San Ramon de Tres Rios. Spending a couple days exploring the local features around the base as well as enjoying a few days off the bike was certainly a well earned treat for the traveling duo, whose ability to drink coffee and pull off some very serious beards is next to none. The pair of traveling cyclists will now be heading down to Panama, and then onto where ever the road takes them. Good luck Ryan and Bret!
Looking good gentlemen!
How the World Rafting Championship makes students cooler
Ezequiel Becerra / AFP – Getty Images
The 2011 World Rafting Championships were held in Costa Rica this year on the famous Pacuare River. Teams from 32 countries paddled the same rapids many of our students learn to guide rafts themselves. I could end this post right here and its title would already make sense, but let me explain just to make it clear.
The fact that our students get to experience the exciting world of whitewater rafting on a river deemed worthy of hosting the World Rafting Championships is equivalent to learning how to play soccer at Soccer City Stadium in South Africa (that’s where the FIFA World Cup took place, just as a reminder). So maybe the sport isn’t quite as popular, but needless to say, it does make our students way cooler.
The event consists of four different competition styles: the Head to Head, the Downriver, the Sprint, and most technical of all, the Slalom. All are injected with whitewater adrenaline, but by the time I made it to the river the only one remaining was the Slalom. Never have I seen such a higher density of athletes speaking foreign languages, inflatable rafts, and bulging forearm muscles in one place. The atmosphere was great, especially considering that I was watching directly from the river bank accompanied by the secondary team from Croatia – they explained the history of a sport sliding more and more into the mainstream, its significance to them as raft guides, and how judges score the complex maze of slalom gates. Below, the American team paddles through the middle section of the course (I learned that the man proudly waving the flag is the father of one of the members).
As I watched the representative teams from so many different countries impressively navigate their ways through the course, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the time spent on the river with previous Leadership Semester students on the same stunning river. We would joke about how we were waiting for dinosaurs to storm their way to the water’s edge because clearly this was Jurassic Park we were paddling through (naturally, anyone who didn’t play along would be the first victim).
The Leadership Semester students scout a rapid on the Pacuare River
If you’re interested in following the current Leadership students’ adventure here in Costa Rica, including their training on the river, be sure to check out the regularly posted course updates. Also keep in mind that our brand new Tropical Challenge Semester course offers the same guide training on the same river.The Leadership students were on the Pacuare not to learn how to avoid Hollywood reptile encounters, however; they were on the Pacuare to learn to how to apply their Whitewater Rescue Technician (WRT) training and guide the boat through some less-than-taciturn rapids. Upon wishing my countrymen good luck in the upcoming heat, they admitted their jealousy — the American team admitted that they were jealous of the Costa Rica Outward Bound students for getting to develop their guiding skills on such an amazing river.
And you thought your last trip was hard…
It’s always interesting to learn about an adventure that makes one quickly realize there is a lot to learn about suffering and adventure. Such was the case for some of the Outward Bound staff as they visited a local art exhibit featuring photos, stories and equipment from a cycling trip that circumnavigated South America. Spanning from May of 2009 all the way to December of 2010, Costa Rica Outward Bound board member LAURA ÁVILA BOLAÑOS and her traveling companion WAGNER CALDERÓN RIZO traveled by bicycle around the continent of South America, encountering enough peoples and locations to fill a lifetime of memories. Capturing these images was done with great skill, and can all be viewed here.
Laura and Wagner taking in the sites
Take a look at their awesome web site! Spanning over 13 countries and 17,602,462 kilometers, Laura and Wagner peddled their way through an adventure to remember. Ever since Wagner was a teenager, it had been a dream to accomplish a task like this. This dream to conquer South America combined with the need for a break from the regularities of daily life were the perfect motivations to put the day job on hold and take part in an adventure that would take over a year. As said by Laura and Wagner, life is not only for working, but for living also. And what better way to live than to experience an entire continent by bicycle!
Also take a look at the Con Bigotes epic bike ride!
Hope for the Urban Culture in San Jose: ChepeCletas
Change is always a difficult thing to be a part of, especially when it means a complete alteration of how a city approaches transportation. This change, however, is one that the local San Jose organization ChepeCletasintends to make – it’s also one that we here at Costa Rica Outward Bound are excited about. ChepeCletas, a hodgepodge of local slang terms Chepe (a San Jose native) and Cleta (bike), looks to simultaneously revitalize the urban culture of San Jose while creating initiatives that support low-emission transportation. What started as a small unknown grassroots organization, whose wheels are being turned by a handful of optimistic university students, has evolved into a much-needed movement that is gaining a lot of traction. Not only have they partnered with local restaurants that now offer significant discounts for arriving on bike, but their real bread and butter is a night tour dubbed “Nocturbano”.
The Nocturbano is a pretty simple idea, yet in many ways, foreign to locals. ChepeCletas leaders Ayal, Roberto and Mauricio stroll through parts of the downtown area highlighting interesting historical landmarks as a part of what they jokingly refer to as “wiki-tours” where audience knowledge in encouraged to be shared. Aside from giving two thumbs up to their overall philosophy, Costa Rica Outward Bounders Britten and Ryan were treated to a fun and informative look into the history of downtown San Jose. The objective of the evening is to inform the public of the rich cultural history of San Jose and thus spark an interest in rejuvenating the city by proving how it can be enjoyed safely at night (police chaperons on bicycles definitely help by adding security). Each tour ends at a different nearby café or restaurant as a way to promote conversation as well as local business. This time, Casa 927, a neo-classic house that doubles as an art gallery and café served as a great place to wrap things up.
After experiencing all the activities of the night, a quick look around at the attendees makes one realize that ChepeCletas is clearly turning some heads. This gentleman is Manuel Obregon Fans, the Minister of Culture and Youth here in Costa Rica.
And this woman is none other than Laura Chinchilla, the president of Costa Rica. Yeah, la presidente.
ChepeCletas is doing enormous work to illuminate ways that cities can be improved in positive and sustainable ways, which is always something to be admired. Now we just might have to figure out a way to incorporate them into our course itineraries.
The sights and sounds of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is certainly home to a very rich environment! Take a look at a video recently put together showing the sites and sounds around the rich coast, which turn any trip into an adventure!
The outdoors takes the national stage
In case you missed it, yesterday President Obama gave some inspiring, albeit slightly short-winded remarks about the America’s Great Outdoors initiative that he began 10 months ago. As an organization that supports environmental preservation, outdoor pursuits, and experiential learning in wilderness settings, we were excited to tune in for his comments about these subjects. Besides, it was the president discussing the outdoors as part of the national agenda; needless to say, we were listening. We love this kind of stuff.
Although we would have liked to hear more news about the initiative itself and its implications, we were still excited to hear that, despite current budgetary constrictions, the program will be receiving substantial funding. These dollars will be allocated towards things like National Park maintenance and will hopefully encourage people to explore the outdoors more. Two thumbs up, says Costa Rica Outward Bound!
The movement comes at a time when more and more people are beginning to question the merits of America’s education system (especially in the wake of recent eye-opening documentaries like “Waiting for Superman“). Many innovative approaches to learning have been emerging as a result. Some might even be able to help answer one of the questions President Obama posed:
“What can we do to break free from the routine and reconnect with the world around us? What can we do to get our kids off the couch and out the door?”
As creative outdoor education programs gain traction, perhaps they will offer a solution. Apparently, part of Obama’s request for the initiative included a listening tour, which revealed that younger people are looking for more outdoor job opportunities. Maybe if there exists some kind of incentive to “get kids off the couch and out the door” there would be a better response.
Students learning how to perform Swift Water Rescue
If America’s Great Outdoors initiative represents “a promise to future generations” we’re looking forward to playing a role, even if it means doing so from across borders.Many of our students take our courses because they provide opportunities to get certifications that can be used to improve their chances of getting outdoor jobs. Our Leadership Course, for example, offers up to 7 different outdoor certifications. Our other Semester Courses allow students to experience the outdoors while earning school credit. In fact, many of our alums have reported working in the outdoors, while others have simply gained appreciation for a new outdoor hobby.
Trying to make Dr. King proud
25 years after one of the most devastating moments in the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King, Jr. remains one of the most celebrated figures in modern American history. His assassination was a near-paralyzing blow to the entire movement, but his ideas and principles resounded too deeply with the social psyche for the legacy to be permanently erased. The champion of racial equality, Dr. King fought tirelessly for the removal of segregation in all of its wicked forms. In addition to his civil rights efforts, he was also a passionate proponent of helping others in the form of service, which he preached about as a minister as well as something he encouraged all of his followers to embrace.
Take a quick look at the philosophies of Kurt Hahn, founder of Outward Bound, you’ll notice the emphasis on community service and it becomes evident that he and MLK would have found some common ground had they ever met. In fact, it’s entirely conceivable to imagine the two sitting down for dinner, sharing ideas about how to have a positive impact simply be offering a helping hand. Hahn might start the conversation with insight such as,
“We are crew, not passengers. Students and teachers are strengthened by acts of consequential service to others, and one of an Expeditionary Learning school’s primary functions is to prepare students with the attitudes and skills to learn from and be of service to others.”
To which Mr. King might enthusiastically add,
“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve… You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
As interesting as this exchange seems as an illustration of both leaders’ points, we are more concerned with implementation. Every year, we craft courses that just might make Martin Luther King, Jr. proud – countless students have come to Costa Rica and spent an afternoon harvesting sugar cane, repairing houses, distributing food, teaching English, and providing safe drinking water. Promoting these cross-cultural service activities are, and always have been, a serious commitment of ours.
In fact, as more and more Girl Scouts gear up for a summer of adventure in Costa Rica, many of them will be dedicating their off-season solely to completing multiple service challenges. As a destination partner with our organization, they have done much to serve the communities that play a crucial role in our operations. See our students in action:
So whether you’re listening to the top MLK tribute songs or getting goosebumps from watching his speech videos, don’t hesitate to make even a small service contribution in his honor. We encourage you to try to make Dr. King proud.
Happy MLK Day from Costa Rica Outward Bound!
Top 5 Outdoor Videos of 2010
As an organization that is constantly outdoors (“Outward Bound” is definitely no misnomer), we thought it necessary to compile a list of our favorite outdoor videos from 2010. Although the criteria was only loosely based on material that sparked our imagination for new experiences, made our jaws drop, or was just too awesome to miss, there is certainly one common denominator: these people are clearly dedicated to following their passions and continually exploring their interests which deserves massive kudos as far as we’re concerned.
That being said, let’s start from the top.
1. Dark Side of the Lens – Mickey Smith, well-known surf photographer, put this short story together for the crew at Relentless Energy. In the words of the top rated comment on YouTube it is “One man’s passion in life PERFECTLY captured. What a stunning coalescence of words, thoughts, music, and images.” *Although the opening scenes are worthwhile, you might want to skip to 1:30 where the narration begins. Keep in mind, he EVEN writes the music.
2. Dream Result - Winner of the People’s Choice Award for Radical Reels at the oh-so-amazing Banff Mountain Film Festival, this documentary trailer will absolutely change the way you think about whitewater kayaking. We do our fair share of boofing (probably the strangest technical term ever) here in Costa Rica, but these guys are in a league of their own. We were going to select Tyler Bradt’s recent world record waterfall drop, but you’ll catch glimpses of it here anyway:
3. Wingsuit Base Jumping – The next time you get into a what always turns into a heated debate about which super power you would choose, cite this video because it proves that flying is no longer limited to Marvel Comics characters. “Moot point, dude, humans CAN fly.” But for real, “these guys are just buzzing the wall, like scraping their fingernails just about on ledges at 100 miles an hour.” Impossible not to watch.
4. Ruben Lenten Kiteboarding – Making other kite-related sports look like a cute shy kitty in comparison, Ruben Lenten does things with a kite and a board that seem to have complete and total disregard for the laws of physics. The best part about the wipe outs: they bear a striking resemblance to the recent rash of birds falling from the sky. While there were a number of clips to choose from, this one had the most bearable soundtrack.
5. Crashed Ice – 2010 was a big year for the sport of crashed ice. And yes, I used the word sport intentionally because it combines elements of ice hockey, track and field, Nascar, and boxing. In fact, it’s kind of the ultimate sport. The clip features the highlights of the 2010 season, which saw huge growth. Odds are we’re not participating down here in Costa Rica any time soon, but either way, 50,000 people at the finals aint nothing to sneeze at.
What outdoor videos from 2010 caught your attention? What deserves to be mentioned? Feel free to let us know in the comments section as well as your general thoughts. And let us know if you find anything in the coming year!
Pura vida: the true meaning
Having lived in Costa Rica for a staggering four weeks, I’m going to be bold in honor of the coming year – I’m going to define what perhaps one of the most ubiquitous national expressions really stands for. But first, let’s review pura vida in its fundamental form.
Literally translated, it means “pure life.” In a way, this translation suffices but it only barely scratches the surface in terms of cultural significance, especially since the English equivalent sounds out of place in most contexts. Within the borders of Costa Rica, however, it’s almost inescapable. It can be used in response to an impressive variety of situations:
“What’s up, man?” – “Not much, pura vida.”
“How was your weekend?” – “It was pura vida!”
“Is Carlos cool, or is he kind of a loser?” – “No, he’s pura vida.”
“See you later!” – “Ok, pura vida.”
Basically, the point is that it’s like a linguistic MacGyver in that it somehow manages to be versatile in almost any situation and it makes you feel cool for “pulling” it when you have a lack of options.
While the conversational merits of the phrase are generally pretty easy to accept, the ways in which the words are deeply embedded into the Costa Rican lifestyle remain more ambiguous; but fear not, for here I attempt to crack the code.
While many readers were enjoying the Christmas comforts of candy canes and Santa Claus, I was trekking through remote rain forest highlands sharing the holidays with almost exclusively Costa Rican families. From all of them, I gleaned more about la pura vida which helped to polish its meaning.
Costa Rica is world-renowned for its diverse wildlife, a fact which does not go unnoticed by locals. People here are extremely proud of the animals that call this country home. Orlando Zamora Fallas, whose family I stayed with, on whether or not he supports hunting despite countless snake invasions: “That’s not really what we’re about. If I can provide for my family without killing, the animals deserve that respect.” This respect for wildlife is Pura Vida.
You would think that after years of living on a seriously remote farm, as beautiful as the land may be, you would prefer the amenities of city life. Not true of the Lopez children who spend a significant amount of time in San Jose, a populated metropolis capital city, as well as where they grew up in Piedras Blancas, a challenging hike from the nearest anything. “Que bonita la tierra” seemed to be a common, and more importantly, genuine observation. Santiago Parra, owner of Rancho Tinamu, doesn’t use any chemicals whatsoever to improve his harvest yields not because green living is trendy, but because they ruin the land and endanger his livestock. True appreciation of the land, even as it transcends generations, is Pura Vida.
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| Even the wood planks for the lodges are cut by hand at Rancho Tinamu |
Hormidas Lopez has a reputation around here for being lively despite his age. His progeny comprising at least half of our guides/instructors, I was not surprised to be greeted by a paradoxically youthful old Tico man sporting a wilted bucket hat, dirty polyester dress slacks, and a two-tooth grin with a gap that’s almost not big enough to let his spry spirit spill through. He was completely beside himself after dinner Christmas Eve as he watched his kids and grand kids play together affectionately in the living room. Even as a total stranger, I felt welcomed, which was needed being so far from home. It became obvious that the importance of family is most definitely Pura Vida.
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| Don Hormidas Lopez with his granddaughter in Piedras Blancas |
Sure, you can go to a picturesque beach resort and relax by the ocean or get a massage at the spa. Those things are great and they do have something in common with the laid back pace of certain parts of Costa Rica. But you can do that in any number of places across the world. The real pura vida can only be experienced by personally interacting with the people who created it.
All of the people I met along the trail play a crucial role in Costa Rica Outward Bound. Countless students have met them and countless students have enjoyed their hospitality and warmth. If you’re interested in learning more, as always, check out our website for information. I won’t even run the risk of sounding like so many other travel sites that boast the pura vida experience – come check it out and decide for yourself.
