Costa Rica = amazing!

The second week I was here I went to a volcano, called barvara or something like that and it was incredible! It was really cold, and rainy, but so gorgeous. Thats all I have now, but soon I will upload more.

Livin´ the life

I love it here. Everything is incredible. The people and culture, the views, the warmth, the best thing ever!!
My family is incredible too! Theres a mami and a papi, and 3 sisters and 2 brothers. One of the brothers lives on his own, but the rest live in the house. Everyone is so welcoming and nice and undertanding of my lack of spanish and try to help me.
Everything is amazing.

My Host Family

I recently received my host family information. They are the Rodríguez family and live in San Antonio de Belen. This family is a welcome family, which means that I will only be staying with them for my first month there. This family lives in a 7 bedroom 3.5 bathroom house with 11 people in it. There is the mother and father, their two sons and two daughters. The kids are in their 30's and they have kids too. There are four grandkids living in the house too. The 11th person is the husband of one of the daughters. I am very excited to meet this family, as well as my other.

Sponsors

Jerry Michael Enrichment Program

Ted Joehanson
Sue Radley

Dot Porter

Joe and Anne Lazaro

Matt Crossman

Debbie Pixley

Betsey and Paul Bates

Lonnie and Kathy Morton

Gloria and Bob Delsandro

Randy and Ginny Farnham

Alan and Penny Lazaro

Carlene Michael

Brenton and Gillian Creelman

Rick and Amy Donahue

The Arc

Morgan York

Emily Lane

Hugh and Sue Martin

Hillary and Al Creighton

Geno and Laura Lazaro

Carry Cameron

Dick and Ginny Fitts

Marianne Imber

Bill and Anne Russell

Bill Alcorn

Bob and Judy Butler

Harvey and Pamela Geiger

Alfred Osgood

Vinalhaven Fuel

Steve Rosen and Alice Bissell

Catherine Stevenson

Pizza Pitt

Patience and Patrick Trainor

VFW Auxiliary

Annie and Perry Boyden

Kevin and Jen Desmond

Kirk and Palmer

Denis and Torry Pratt

Betsey Swears

Paula and Ray Farmer

Charlotte Goodhue

Mike Farnham

VFW

Linda and Burke Lynch

Fisherman's Friend

Anonymous

Costa Rican Journey

My name is Catherine Haley and I am from an island 15 miles off the coast of Maine called Vinalhaven. I am a junior at Vinalhaven School. I became interested in going abroad in February 2008, but finally got everything in order in the summer 2009; I applied to go to Costa Rica in February 2010. I am going through the program AFS (American Field Service), an international student exchange program.  

In Costa Rica, I will be going to a regular high school, and living with a host family and experiencing the life of an average teenager. I have always been really interested in traveling and learning about different culture. I love the spanish language, and Costa Rica seemed to have a great culture, fun people, and be an amazing place to learn spanish. From this experience I want to gain a better knowledge of the world and who I am as a person.  

As a junior, I keep myself very busy by school, working, homework, working, social life, working, and a little sleep crammed in there somewhere. I have participated in the French Club, Rowing Team and Softball Club, Book Club, and Yearbook Committee. I also took part in a local production called Pippin. My family, friends, music, and learning new things are my life. I feel that it's very important for people to fully understand different cultures and for everyone to not be so judgmental.  

I have raised enough money for this great experience of a lifetime! I needed to raise $5500 and I had no idea how to accomplish that, so I had a fundraiser. I had a goal that night to raise $500 dollars, and with all of the donations and community support, I raised will over $1000. So my next plan was to send out letters that I wrote asking for donations, or to just make them aware of what my plan was. I received a huge response and raised all I needed for my tuition, my school uniform, and my study visa, all I have left is money for expenses while I am there. From all of the support of my community and part time residents, I have came up with the funding and I am so incredibly thankful for everything. If I didn't live in such a supportive community, I would not have raised the funds and be able to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity! Thank you everyone so so so much!  

Catherine 

p.s. - I am leaving on February 10 and will return on July 13. I will also let you know when I receive my host family information.