Just landed at BWI.

Done with customs getting bags

We have landed

But still have to make it through immigration.

We have landed

But still have to make it through immigration.

Made the plane on time

Paid crazy expensive amounts of money for airport food. All present on the airplane. Ready to go.
Mrs Berman-Dry

Nevermind.

We have been assured we will be reimbursed by world leadership school because we did indeed pay. No one needs to pay. Thanks parents. We are ticketed and going through security.
Alecia

Airport fees

Parents, despite being assured that we have paid departure tax three separate times by three separate people we are being asked to pay them. Marilyn has fronted her card to all. $30 per person. Please please bring $30 per child to the airport in cash to give Senora Buse. She used her own personal credit card.
Alecia

On the bus to the airport

We are on our way from the rainforest to the airport right now. On schedule.

Fun in the river

Day seven

This morning we woke up, knowing today is our last day here in Costa Rica. I arrived at breakfast late due to my exhaustion from the activities the day before. The food here is amazing, and I was sad realizing it would be my last breakfast here. After pancakes and eggs, we went of to working on the school, today being our last day. We got a LOT done! We finished painting the entire playground, painting some other school equipment, and covering cracks on the wall with cement. The kids here are great, and I actually got to know a few of them! A few that I know right from the top of my head are Samantha and Walter. There was one more girl, but I forgot her name. They helped complete our project. Talking to them was really nice, because they were extremely friendly and hilarious! I'm going to miss them. After completing the project, we came back to hang out until it was time to go white water rafting. When it was time to go white water rafting, we walked to the place, and took a bus to where we would get in our rafts and start the journey through the river. I was in a raft with Peyton, Kristin, Suhasini, Kayla, and Mrs. Berman-dry. The man who was guiding us was named Charlie. He was really nice and funny! Let me just say, it was the best part of the trip! Peyton and I sat in the front, but we all were soaking wet when it was over. We had a lot of orders we had to follow, but I think we did really good overall. We began singing songs from the top of our heads, and honestly I'm surprised I don't have a sore throat! It was so much fun! It was definitely something I'll never forget. It rained while we were on our raft, so it was freezing cold when we were done. Afterwards, we took off our helmet, life vest, and returned our paddles. Then we ate watermelon and pineapples while looking at the pictures the photographer took. You may or may not have heard of him, but Pablo came running back to us while we were eating fruits. I love that dog! We walked back to the retreat in the rain. Believe it or not, but for once we were all cold! We returned and changed into clothes to relax for the night. I had my last dinner in Costa Rica today. I can't believe the week has gone by so fast! I'm really going to miss it here. See ya tomorrow America!
-Angela

Day 7

Today we all woke up in our room, me waking up especially early because i'm still not used to the time differnce.  We got to breakfast super late due to everybody else waking up late.  We all knew it was our last day in paradise and knew we had to pack to get ready to leave.  Soon, it was lunch time and we all said to each other that this lunch was going to be our last lunch in Costa Rica.  We all became very sad but decided to make the best of it.  Kristin, Suhasini, Angela, and I went to the souvenir shop together just to take a look.  We had a lot of free time before the best and last adventure of the trip which was white water rafting.  Soon it was time to leave for the best adventure yet.  We all walked to the white water rafting place and got comfortable.  We walked to an edge (cliff like) with our clothes on and jumped off into the rapids.  Then we swam over to our boats and hopped in.  I was in a yellow raft with Angela, Kristin, Suhasini, Kayla, Mrs. Berman-Dry, and our guide, Charlie.  Angela and I sat in the front of the raft with Kristin and Suhasini behind us and then Mrs. Berman-Dry and Kayla then Charlie.  We were all paddling and making a team effort and were soon off into the rapids.  We dropped and spun around and got soaked.  We had a blast.  Soon we were bored in the calm water so we decided to drop a beat.  We sang and sang as we paddled along and just kept a positive attitude even though it was raining very hard and we were all cold and wet in the raft.  Sadly the rafting had to come to an end sooner or later.  We all hopped out of the boat and walked carefully up to a sheltered area and enjoyed some fresh watermelon and pineapple.  Then we raced back to the lodge and took some nice COLD showers.  Then we walked down to dinner in our rain jackets.  Now we are off to go to a closing candle ceremony at 7:00.  I am packing and getting ready to come home.  I dont want to come home.  I really want to stay here forever,  Can I move here?  See you all tomorrow at the aitport.  I'm gonna miss this place.

---Peyton

Final work day

Some Messy painters!

Look what we did!

Work Day Three More Pics

Selfie with wheelbarrow

Work day three

Day 6

I woke up and Kristin, Peyton, Angela, Suhasini, and I went to go eat breakfast. We had a 2 hour free time. Then we got ready for the amaze race. The adventure race was a race where we ran through the community and did different activities at different houses. The activities were, salsa dancing, a water activity, cooking tortillas, milking a cow, and interviewing a lady from the community. After that, another lady from the community cooked us a delicious lunch. Along the way a really cute dog, who we named Pablo, followed us along the race and through lunch. After, we came back and we had free time for 2 hours. 2 hours later we had anchor where we talk about our day. Then we had dinner at 6:30. After dinner we went on a night hike. We got back and had free time until lights out at 10. Then we went to bed.

- Kayla 

Adventure race challenges

What do you think each challenge was? There were six! (Masking tape included)

Birthday party

Day 5

We started the day off with a great breakfast in the eating area.  The pancakes were truly amazing.  Next, we played a game that brings out everyone's leadership. Basically, one teammate was blindfolded and other people had to navigate each other through the obstacle course. We had to get 20 people across in thirty minutes. After the landmine game, we prepared to go on the adventure of ziplining.  There were ten different stations of ziplines. We went over a big, roaring river.  After ziplining, we went back to our camp. After a great lunch of spaghetti, we went to visit an herbal botanist. He showed many different plants of costa rica and their uses. We even got tattoos made from leaves! Don't worry, they weren't permanent! The botanist showed us a plant that closed when you touched it. We thought this was fascinating! That night, it was Taylor and Christian's fourteenth birthday! We had so much fun; there was a band, a pinata, and great birthday cake. It was Costa Rican celebration, and we loved it. We ended the day with ANCHOR. anchor is something that we use to reflect over the day. We share any appreciations, news, concerns, hopes, obscurities, and readings. We are having so much fun, but awfully sad that this trip is coming to an end. The people, food, and places are all amazing. See you guys on Wednesday!
-Taylor and Christian

P.S- Sorry we didn't post this last night, the wifi wasn't working!

This morning we woke up at five because we still haven't gotten used to this time zone. Then we ate breakfast because the food here is so amazing I just can't even. American food is so bad compared to Costa Rican food! But honestly, I am really craving pizza right now. Then we went ziplining through the canopy, which was awesome. There were nine ziplines for us to go on, and it took two hours to complete it all. I got stuck on some of them, just like almost everyone else. Then we came back to our eco retreat and had lunch, which was pasta. Then we had free time. During this time we basically just swing on the hammocks and explore. After our free time, we went to a Ethno-botanist and he made us eat weird leaves that fizz in your mouth. I wish America was this cool. He also gave us a ton of leaves, fruits, and plants to eat. Some of them were really good, and some of them we spit out. Angela, Suhasini, and I used seeds to mark the red liquid on our palms, and using a plant that had powdery stuff, we got tattoos and put them all over our faces. It was so fun! Then we came back to our lodge and took cold showers. We just hung out until dinner time which is so good. I love talking to the kids here because it is fun to speak Spanish. So far I haven't gotten a mosquito bite! Let's just hope it stays that way.

-Kristin 

Last but not least!

Zip line extras

Zip line group 2