Volunteer in Costa Rica

Project: Teaching English Samara

All week we had been trying to organize a boat to take some of us out on Sunday to the island in the outskirts of the bay for snorkeling and sunbathing and to take the rest of us fishing for snapper and to be honest anything I could get as I'm not the luckiest fisherman.

Unfortunately, this was proving to be quite expensive as we were being asked for $30 each so we agreed to plan a walk to the next beach along the coast: Carillo. But, on the Saturday night our host mother, Patricia invited us to the birthday party of her father, Don Cesar, which was to be celebrated in La Finca (countryside farm), at one of their properties in the hills above Samara. We immediately realized this was a great honor and accepted without question.

All week we had been trying to organize a boat to take some of us out on Sunday to the island in the outskirts of the bay for snorkeling and sunbathing and to take the rest of us fishing for snapper and to be honest anything I could get as I'm not the luckiest fisherman. Unfortunately, this was proving to be quite expensive as we were being asked for $30 each so we agreed to plan a walk to the next beach along the coast: Carillo. But, on the Saturday night our host mother, Patricia invited us to the birthday party of her father, Don Cesar, which was to be celebrated in La Finca (countryside farm), at one of their properties in the hills above Samara. We immediately realized this was a great honor and accepted without question.

After celebrating a friend's birthday on Saturday evening we emerged from our rooms to be welcomed by our chauffeur, Memo. Memo is the best friend of Alex, the host father; think Oliver Reed on a bad day trying to drive an open-top 4x4 Jeep up into the hills with six gringo's clinging onto the sides for dear life and you still won't come close to the fear, fun and madness of that journey. It took less than five minutes of 'driving' for us to realize that he was out of his mind. Fortunately for us, he decided he was bored of driving and wanted to join us in the back so he offered the wheel to one of our group and Caitlin accepted gleefully. Memo continued his approval of her driving by singing louder, spilling more beer and occasionally pulling Caitlin's pony tail every-so-often. Reaching a crossroads was always interesting; we weren't exactly on 'roads' so every path just looked like another trail to nowhere:

"Memo, which way?"
"La, la, la…Matalo!!!!…..errrr, esto…crero" (that one…I hope)

To our relief, we did arrive in one piece and we were greeted with some beautiful Ceviche (a Costa Rican fish specialty). After trying to dance with all the female volunteers and proposing marriage at least twice memo eventually admitted defeat and just encouraged us to sing with him:

"Te quiero!!!!!!…"

We were also given a guided tour of the land belonging to Don Cesar; it may sound simple now but this really was great experience. The way this gentleman spoke about his land - every plot allocated for different family members, every plant and its attributes and purpose - was mesmerizing.

Following some succulent BBQ'd meats and other delicacies a few of us jumped in the back of one of the jeeps and were driven up the helter-skelter path to the highest point reachable by car. The driving was typically breakneck but worthwhile…once we reached the highest plateau we were rewarded with a most spectacular view of three beached bays and their entire coves. Eagles soaring above us, hills behind us and the sea beyond us; absolutely perfectly peaceful and serene.

Further celebrations continued into the night at the family-owned hotel back in Samara - hard to put into words what occurred there - but suffice to say the life of one green, crunchy grasshopper-like creature was lost when it was ingested live and whole by someone who will remain nameless (it wasn't me, just for the record).

Aside from that immense day, my placement at school has been quite tough with classroom discipline decreasing. The main problem is probably sourced in the fact that we have become too much like friends, a figure of fun and we have not pinned down our relationship with them as a teacher, a figure of respect. Hopefully we can go into the next few weeks with a new regime in the classes, and not stand for any of the disobedience. Food for thought for my last few weeks, I wonder how it will pan out…

Other Volunteer Stories by Oliver Macaky
Part 1: Trip to Nosara
Part 2: Teaching at El Torrito
Part 3: Don Cesar's Birthday
Part 4: My Final Week in Samara


Please feel free to contact me with any questions about any aspect of uVolunteer's programs. uVolunteer will provide my email adderess if requested.
Age: 24, Country: England, Date: February 2007.

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