Sunriverites travel to Costa Rica for a cross-cultural holiday ture to locals and other nearby By Anita Lohman Sixteen Sunriverites enjoyed villages. After spending a Saturday a sunny break in Costa Rica last March with Overseas Ad- morning at the school, asking venture Travel (OAT). We not and answering questions of only saw all the tourist sights one another, playing games, (rugged volcanoes, rain forests, dancing with the children and exquisite tropical flowers and touring the school and farm, birds, beautiful Pacific beaches, we were invited to accompany white water rafting on the Sara- some children to their homes piqui River, outrigger canoe- for lunch where we enjoyed ing, encounters with capuchin the local cuisine prepared by and howler monkeys, caimans their parents. Many of the and poison dart frogs, mud foods we were served came baths, and zip lining in the from the family’s own vegetable Sunriverites visited the San Francisco Primary School in the Alajuela Province of Costa Rica. Pictured forest canopy); with the children are Valerie Wood, Bruce Stendal, Ken Arnold, Melodee Munckton, Pat Arnold, Pam we also spent a Stendal, Eric Saukkonen, Dennis Wood, John Lohman, Robert Hickman, Barbara Wymetalek, John day in the life Eckholt, Linda Saukkonen, Anita Lohman, Cheryl Storm, and Larry Wymetalek. of a rural primary school in accomplishments in their lives where we had traveled and what made us appreciate all the the village of more the special beauties of this we thought of their school. was very heart warming. San Francisco tropical paradise, and the joyful The cultural exchanges we The educational aspirations in the Province spirit of its people. enjoyed on this trip enriched of some of these children has of Alajuela. Information: www.oattravel. risen as a result of the efforts our understanding of the strugCultural excom or Anita Lohman, anita@ gles and accomplishments of of their school and community, changes are a Making empanadas with a Costa Rican family. chamberscable.com the people of Costa Rica. It as well as from their contacts vital part of with travelers like us. They OAT trips, and a portion of the profit from ev- and fruit gardens behind their enjoyed speaking some English ery trip goes to the Grand Cir- homes. The pride displayed by with us, as we enjoyed learning cle Foundation which supports the children and their parents some Spanish from them. They schools and villages around the in all the improvements and were curious about our careers, world. This enables travelers Real estate BRokeR G.R.I. President’s Circle to spend time in a school with the children and in the homes ExPERt, of their parents – experiences AttEntIvE Ligon’s Painting most tourists never have. PERsonAl For All Your Interior/Exterior Painting & Decks sERvICE MORRIS REAL ESTATE We saw firsthand the im& maintenance pact of the economic support the school has received in the form of new computer and muJohn Ligon 10% discount (541) 480-9300 • (541) 389-4123 Cell Phone: 541-419-8792 sic classrooms, sidewalks and for seniors jack@jackjohns.com • www.jackjohns.com Home Phone: 541-593-2698 landscaping, and an adjacent 16977 Jacinto Rd. Sunriver, OR 97707 Lic.# 142170 486 S.W. BLUFF DRIVE • BEND, OREGON 97702 micro organic farm constructed to teach children and villagers about organic farming methods. Much of the construction and landscaping is done by parents and local residents. We met the principal of San Francisco primary school, who is one of the local leaders identified by the foundation to suggest needed local projects, and who also acts as a consultant to other schools in the area. The school’s micro farm generates revenue for the village, and demonstrates the nutritional benefits of sustainable agricul-
Jack Johns
Living & Working in Sunriver
Email: fred.hornback.b1i9@statefarm.com
SUNRIVER SCENE • JULY 2012
WWW.SUNRIVEROWNERS.ORG
Page 33