I would like to inform you that IECR is promoting the recycling of garbage produced by the Institute by the usage of special garbage cans for each type of garbage.
Our objective is to try to add this “garbage” to material to be recycled.In Costa Rica we are trying to reuse the garbage of the pineapple and oil palm trees which are produced in our country so as to convert them into raw material for house construction. This would result in important benefits because more than one and a half million of tons of pineapple waste are produced every year. So the production of boards would mean an important input to the national construction industry.
This technique which consists in using the waste of pineapples and palm trees is being developed by the Technological Institute of Costa Rica (ITCR). The products are boards which are similar to those used called “agglomerates”.
We invite you to support these and more initiatives like the mentioned one so as to protect our planet.
IECR and the students of the Troy University, Alabama, have just visited the national park Manuel Antonio located on the Central Pacific. During this trip we enjoyed nature at its best and made interesting and memorable experiences.
We started our trip using the new highway which had been inaugurated only some weeks ago and made our first stop at Orotina, where our students could appreciate many local fruits and handicraft articles. Then we continued our trip on the Coastal highway till Manuel Antonio beach.
After our check-in at the hotel we had a typical Costa Rican lunch followed by a visit of Manuel Antonio beach. The students rode horses on the beach what turned to be very relaxing for all of them! The tropical beach under a completely cloudless sky allowed us to appreciate the wonderful contrasts of the colors: theblue sky, the green vegetation, the white sand and the turquoise of the Pacific Sea.
From time to time we had the visit of some monkeys and iguanas which seemed to be very curious about the students.
The horse-riding tour was fabulous because the guide not only showed us how to ride a horse but he also explained us how to make a glass with a leaf and how to open a coconut without any tool. With the sunset we returned to the hotel in order to have a dinner with fish and Carribbean style vegetables. A delicious dinner! That night we visited a place with live music and the students had the opportunity to dance to Latin music.
Saturday morning started with a typical Costa Rican breakfast followed by the visit of the national park Manuel Antonio under the leadership of our guide Miguel Gamboa. He provided us with expert comments regarding the botany of this park and showed us hidden wild animals.
Some of the animals which attracted attention were the sloths, the iguanas, the two-colored chameleon, the invisible bird, the white-faced monkeys, the howlers, the morpho butterflies and many interesting insects. After this tour we enjoyed the beach of the national park which is one of the most beautiful places of this region. The day came to an end with a spectacular afternoon of an unforgettable summer day. As you can see, I am posting some photos of these nature`s wonders … so you can enjoy them too.
I like to inform you that on June 10th, the group of students of the Troy University visited the look-out Tiquicia.
This is a place located on the top of the mountains of the Western part of Escazù, about 6561.8 feet above sea-level. This is a spectacular place so as to appreciate a precious view all over the capital and a charming performance of folcloric dances of Costa Rica and the Carribbean region.
During our ride our guide provided us interesting information regarding the village of Escazú (where the lookout is located). The night was fabulous since we enjoyed a cloudless sky which allowed to observe the spectacle of millions of lights of the city.
By the way did you know that San Jose was the first city to be illuminated in whole Latin America? This was in the year 1888.
The night started by the sound of marimba music, which was the first “cultural ingredient”. Then our host explained to us the history of the place where we were.
In former times this place had been a sugar factory, which is called “trapiche”. The sugar canes were pressed by the help of oxes to obtain the sugar cane juice. Afterwards the juice had been cooked in huge bowls and then poured into big molds called tapas.The finished product is called tapa de dulce.This building is more than 100 years old and has been conserved in very good conditions, which made its visit even more attractive.
After this part, a typical Costa Rican dinner had been served which included a special beverage called “witches´ blood” consisting in a combination of different local red-colored fruits. It was interested to learn that the village of Escazu is known to be a place where a great number of witches had been living in former times. That´s why this beverage is called “witches blood”.
After dinner the dancing presentation started where we felt to have stepped back into former Colonian Costa Rica. The dancers used clothing like in former times, with beautiful colors which put special emphasis on that night. The dancing performance had been divided into two times: the first one focus on the colonial style and the second one focusing on the dances of the Carribbean side of Costa Rica with soca and carnival dances that invited all the spectators to dance.
I recommend you to visit this place because it ´s representative for the architecture, dances, music and gastronomic part of Costa Rica.As the end of the event came closer, most of the visitors seized the chance and danced to the Latin music and we said good-bye to the city lights … it had been a marvelous night and I hope you will have the chance to have one too in this special place …. Till soon!
On June 9th, we enjoyed a City Tour and visit of the National Museum, which took place on occasion of the visit of the group of the Troy University.
Exploring the city resulted very interesting because San Jose characterizes by a great number of places of cultural interest. Indeed it is a capital which is experiencing an important transformation in the architectural as well as cultural field.
This is due to the plan of repopulating the city center and also because of the fact that the cultural and social development has been encouraged. It´s right here in this capital where important cultural events of the entire country are performed all year through.
There is a great variety of theatres, amongst which the most important one is the majestic National Theatre where renowned companies of the theatre, opera and dance scene from all over the world present their performances. Furthermore there are many cultural centers, for example the National Center of Culture (CENAC) and Former Customs Builidng (Antigua Aduana) with festivals, expositions and cultural events all year round.
1.Biological Reserve Hitoy CerereTeaching English to the children of the schools of the indigenous and agricultural communities which are located nearby the reserve
Conditions: intermediate Spanish.Minimum: 1 month
Specific Project: monitoring of the species of the wildlife. Minimum: 1 month
2.National Park Barbilla
Teaching English to the guides of the indigenous communities Nairi Awari y Bajo Chirripó
Minimum period: 1 month
Conditions: intermediate Spanish.
3.National Park CahuitaActivities:
ØMaintenance of the paths
ØWorks related to infrastructure
ØHandling out information to the visitors
4.Wildlife Refugee Gandoca-Manzanillo
Specific Project:Protections of the nestling of the baula sea turtle
Minimum period: 10 days
5.Wildlife Animal Rescue Centre (province Limon)
Activities:
ØTaking care of the animals (especially the babies)
ØFeeding animals
ØCleaning cages
ØForwarding information to visitorsThis center is the home of toucans, parrots, pizotes, mapaches, monkeys, venados and other wildlife species
Protection of the nestling of the baula turtle
Protection of the baula turtles when they lay eggs (night patrols, during the day: transference of the eggs to the vivarium, measurement and marking of the turtles, monitoring of the species), from Febr. to July
6.AREA OF CONSERVATION TEMPISQUE
a.Wildlife Refugee Camaronal
Protection of the nestling of the sea turtles
Minimum: 15 days
b.Reserve Cabo BlancoSpecific Project
Monitoring of the sea species pelícano pardo Conditions: must be biologist or biology student
Minimum: 1 month
Assistance in the Program of Environmental Education Actividades : Forwarding information to visitors, maintenance of trails, cleaning of the beaches
c.Wildlife Refugee Iguanita
FLORA and FAUNA
Mammals: mono congo, venado cola blanca. Reptiles: garrobo, iguana, variedad de serpientes. Birds: gavilán cangrejero, perico frenteanaranjado y yigüirro. Flora: jobo, indio desnudo, mangle piñuela, ron ron.
Activities: maintenance and cleaning of paths, environmental education in coordination with the community school
7.AREA OF CONSERVATION HUETAR NORTE
Wildlife Refugee Caño Negro
Program of Environmental Education:
Reforestation, recycling, cleaning of the rivers of the community, health campaigns, organic plantation
Specific Project: monitoring of the birds, especially the jabirú
Let me tell you that last weekend was great! Our friends of the Troy University enjoyed a two days`excursion to the national park Tortuguero.
This park is located on the Carribbean coast of Costa Rica and attracts thousands of visitors every year due to its rich variety of tropical flora and fauna.
Our trip started early on Saturday accompanied by a bilingual natural guide. Driving first past coffee plantations, we crossed the Braulio Carrillo national park where we could appreciate a precious cloud forest and beautiful waterfalls. Just after Braulio Carrillo we stopped for a typical Costa Rican breakfast, fruit juice, coffe, eggs and the popular “gallo pinto”.
Then we continued to a Banana plantation, where our guided explained us the process of growing and exporting that fruit. We later abandoned our bus and embarked on the most exciting part of this tour: the boat trip into the jungle of the Carribbean Canals. At that time we went to the museum of Tortuguero and the village of Tortuguero.Back at the hotel we relaxed before dinner which was served at 6.30 p.m.
After dinner, we had been offeredan optional activity, the “night tour”, which consisted of a boat trip to Tortugero national park and then walked along the beach to observe the nesting of the Giant Green See Turtle.
On Sunday morning breakfast included plenty of tropical fruits, eggs, gallo pinto and fres brewed Costa Rican coffee. Our tour guide took us by boat to one of the most attractive sites in the region: national park Tortuguero where we explored the lagoons and hidden canals. There we appreciated tree towers nearly 50 metres tall covered with bromeliads, vines and orchids and an array of wildlife.
Then we returned to our lodge in order to prepare for the check out. After lunch we took a tour to the south of the park and then walked through the rainforest. We returned about 7 p.m.from this exciting jungle adventure where we learned a lot about the green seat turtle, the rainforest and its endangered mammals such as sloths, monkeys, agoutis, coatimundis and manatees. We also appreciated lots of kinds of birds, such as toucans, trogons, egrets, herons and anhingas, as well as crocodiles, turtles and countless colorful butterflies, including the precious blue morpho.
Today we have the pleasure to welcome the students of the Troy University, Alabama. The group is arriving right now at the airport and has been divided into two separate flights.
They will enjoy a 10 days` Study abroad program including a Spanish course, a weekend excursion to the national park Tortuguero, a visit of the National Museum, two cultural activities: Latin American dancing lessons and tropical fruits` session, a folkloric dance show and an excursion to the national park Manuel Antonio.
The destinations chosen are amongst the most spectacular ones of Costa Rica and we are sure that our students will enjoy a great language stay in our country.
After their arrival we will drive the students directly to their respective host families where they will enjoy their first day in a Costa Rican home and later at night have their first dinner.
Tomorrow morning very early we will meet at our institute to focus on our first destination: National park Tortuguero.
Welcome friends, enjoy your first day at the host families and see you tomorrow!
I like to inform you that the music group AEROSMITH will offer its awaited concert tonight.
This will be the second time this music group will be present on Costa Rican territory. Aerosmith was last performed 16 years ago."I love Costa Rica. It is great to be here. And of course I remember that big concert", said Steven Tyler, lead singer for Aerosmith.
Today`s concert is part of their US Summer Tour Cocked, Locked and ready to Rock which the band performed in other Latin American countries as well.
The concert will start with the participation of the Costa Rican band GANDHI, who will perform the first 45 minutes, during which we will count on the presence of the legendary Bernal Villegas (guitar) and the US musician Stevie Salas. The Bad Boys from Boston will start his awaited concert at 9 p.m. which is foreseen to be spectacular.
Tyler and crew will be performing at the Autódromo La Guacima in Alajuela.
Yesterday our friends of the Coastal Carolina University returned home to the US. After breakfast all students had to say good-bye to their host families who had offered their homes for the last three weeks.
Saying good-bye to someone who opened his home and heart and you might perhaps never see again has always been a difficult task … so it was for our students. All students arrived well in Carolina and we wish them all the best for their academic careers they are continuing after the summer break …
If you ever come back to Costa Rica do not miss to visit your Spanish school IECR and your host family!
As announced we visited the National Museum on Saturday morning – one of the best museum´s of San Jose.
On May 4, 1887, with Mr. Bernardo Soto as President of the Republic, the National Museum was created with the intention to provide the country with a public establishment to deposit, classify, and study natural and artistic products.
It covers areas like the natural history, the history of the coffee industry, anthropology & archaeology, mammology, ornithology, entomology, geology, natural herbarium and more.
Our visit was worthwhile and we recommend to count on several hours if you plan a visit. What is important to mention is that all explanations and signs are bilingual (Spanish and English) so that you can enjoy this great museum even if you do not master the Spanish language!
However, part of the students´ group of the Coastal Carolina University preferred to have a more “physical experience” this day. The wheather was great – sunny but not too hot so that the group could not only experience one of Costa Rica’s most adrenalin-packed activity: white water rafting.
Paddling down the Pacuare River did not only allow to experience a physical drill but also to enjoy the exuberant beauty and wildlife of this great rapids.
If you ever visit Costa Rica, do not miss one of the world´s best water rafting in this tropical paradise!
Today is the graduation of the students of the Coastal Carolina University who are participating in the Study Abroad Program 2010. After a brief speech of the two directors of IECR Instituto de Español Costa Rica in which they will thank for the participation and the efforts of the students during the intensive Spanish program, all students will receive a certificate of attendance. This certificate is a very important detail since it’s the proof required in order to receive the corresponding academic credits.
As every year our graduation ceremony finishes with snacks and juices and some students will take their last photos so as to carry some “visual” memories.
Tomorrow we will finish our three weeks´ program with a visit of the National Museum and some souvenir shops. Follow our blog tomorrow!
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