¡Hola Familias! These are your “LDD’s” speaking, Quinn and Rama! Today’s theme of the day was environmental justice. We started our morning with a toucan sighting in a tree near our house! We had a delicious breakfast of rice and beans, bread, eggs, and fruit. After breakfast, we went for a hike to the ancient aqueducts built in 800 BC. On this hike, we saw two more toucans and a snake. We then walked to the soccer fields and while some of us played, the rest of us went for a walk around town with Memo. We got the chance to explore new parts of town, shop, see fruit growing on trees like bananas and avocados, and we fed horses! We all met back at the house for a lunch of empanadas which were so delicious!

After downtime, we had a guest speaker who talked to us about environmental justice and how ecotourism can harm the land and people of  Costa Rica and other countries. We had the opportunity to engage in a debate that modeled a hotel wishing to expand on a Costa Rican coast vs. the local community it would affect. This debate created valuable conversations and shed light on important current issues facing Costa Rica. During our downtime, it started raining and so I (Quinn) braided lots of people’s hair so we could all match!

We started making our first phone calls today! Due to limited time, only some were able to make their calls. So an exciting message to families, stay close to your phone, and if you haven’t already, expect a call all the way from Costa Rica tomorrow!

From Quinn, hi to my family and friends, I miss you and love you so much!!! Dad, I have been keeping Oreos close at all times! Mom, you would love the cats that are here! Can’t wait to talk to you soon, 143 <3

From Rama, hello to mi familia & amigos, I miss you guys, can’t wait to tell you all about the trip, see you soon!

See all the pictures of today’s adventures here.