Day 5

Day 5: Rafael Montenegro: Small town Community Leader; Tres Equis - Sunday, April 26

“Don Rafa” is the heart and soul of the rural village of Tres Equis, a warm-hearted leader who works tirelessly to help his community and make visitors feel at home

After breakfast we go deep into the forest on an early hike through an extensive trail system, which provides access to a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic habitats. After lunch we get on the road to the charming rural village of Tres Equis where we will meet Rafa and be introduced to our home stay families.

Home stays are stepping stones to learning about the country and culture you are visiting. Students and individuals stay with rural “Tico” (Costa Rican) families in their homes for several days or more. This unique experience not only exposes the student to a different lifestyle and culture, it allows individuals to practice and enhance their language skills and make new friends. All of our families go through a lengthy selection process and are approved by our local community contact, Raphael Montenegro, whose enthusiasm and hospitality are truly remarkable.

Important Themes:

- Life in a rural Costa Rican Village: what to expect

- Comparison with students’ home communities

- Cultural Values and traditions in Tres Equis

Overnight: Tres Equis Homestays

ORGANIZE Student Gathering

Reflection of the Day

On Day 5, we woke up at 5:30 in the morning to get a glimpse at the wonderous birds of Costa Rica. The sacrifice of sleep was well worth it. With our guide Andreas we were able to see an abundant number of beautiful species including the Black Ant Tanager, and an assortment of toucans. We then traveled to Tres Equis to stay with our Homestays for 3 days. My family was Kierner (5 year old boy), Mati (1 year old boy), Odel, (Mom) and our motorcycle loving dad.