The Coffee Source Meeting with Kids Share Workshops

Friday, Oct. 7th

Day 8: The Coffee Source Meeting with Kids Share Workshops

After a refreshing hike Friday morning, Lorena, Sister Schools president, and I traveled to San Jose to meet with Arnoldo Leiva, manager of The Coffee Source. The reason for this meeting was to discuss how Kids Share Workshops (KSW) could facilitate a week long visit with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR) Source Employees in Costa Rica with Arnoldo’s coffee community members. Arnoldo was introduced to me through Winston Rost, GMCR Farmer Relations Manager in Waterbury, Vermont.

Our meeting went very well as I tried to navigate the jigsaw puzzle I was visualizing with The Coffee Source connection, GMCR, KSW and Partners of the Americas (Sister Schools).  Arnoldo explained to me that he was to bring 13 of his community members to Waterbury, Vermont, November 17. He asked if I would join them at GMCR, share my program and discuss how it could fit into their time with the employees. Arnoldo seemed to like the idea of Kids Share Workshops helping to bring community children together with the adults, through cross cultural sharing, during a short visit. Additionally, Lorena explained that Sister Schools & Partners of the Americas volunteers could assist in facilitating this cross cultural connection.

Lorena and Arnoldo made a connection with Escuela Santa Cecilia located in San Pedro de Poás, the province of Alajuela. We also recently discovered another GMCR source, Escuela El Socorro, Piedades Sur de San Ramón, which is called a unidocente because there is only one teacher with 12 students. Lorena will try to organize other unidocente schools to join us, allowing up to 40 students to participate in the program with GMCR employees.

I explained to Arnoldo what I was visualizing with GMCR for the week. I understood that we are to visit a handful of communities. Some if not all I would give a 1-2 hour program with the employees and youth. A recent example of this was in Oregon at the Bienestar Community School. Adults and children enjoyed a 1.5 hour program painting and decorating recycled containers from their newly created tissue art. The activity was so much fun, and it can be used on many different objects to create beautiful pieces of work. It also brought us all together and created a special friendship. Later I was to receive beautiful thank you cards from all the children!

In addition to creating art I hope to organize in a couple of community’s environmental exploration, where the children take the adults on an adventure, approved by me but a surprise to the adults. That activity would have to be carefully considered depending on the adults endurance. One such surprise was recently in Guatemala when I announced to the children that we will play on a zip line and draw the rainforest in our newly made journals from recycled material.

Bringing adults and children together through playful, fun activities like these are thrilling for me! Wish us luck as we work with this idea for the first time in Costa Rica! I am excited to bring smiles and fun to not only the children’s faces but the adults who may have never been to this beautiful country!

About Arnoldo Leiva, quoted from National Coffee Association’s Website

“As General Manager of The Coffee Source, Inc., in San José, Costa Rica, Arnoldo Leiva is not only responsible for all aspects of sourcing green coffees from Latin American countries and exporting them to Europe, the United States and Asia, he also manages the import and sales division for the U.S. market.  Mr. Leiva is also active with several coffee associations both in Costa Rica and the United States and is currently President of the Specialty Coffee Association of Costa Rica and Sintercafe and sits on the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s International Relations Council representing Costa Rica. Mr. Leiva received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the Universidad Autónoma de C.A. in San José and an MBA from the National University of San Diego.”

Visiting Pan-American & Sistema Educativo San Isidro Labrador Schools

A special note from Kristina, Program Director:

“I am obviously home from my site investigation, adventure in Costa Rica. Each week  I am sharing each day’s exciting development as to not overwhelm you with the entire three week journey! What we have coordinated thus far with Sister Schools (Partners of the Americas is: three schools in Costa Rica connecting with two schools in Oregon and hopefully one school in Vermont for the 2012 KSW program. As I am writing this blog I am sitting in the back seat of my car in front of the public library in Montpelier, VT before meeting a friend for dinner. My followers and volunteers mean a lot to me!”-Kristina, Dedicated Program Director

Wednesday & Thursday-October, 5 & 6

Day 6: Pan-America School in San Antonio de Belen, Heredia

Lorena wanted me to see an upscale school in Heredia to have a clearer panorama of elementary education in Costa Rica. I was greeted by Caroline Magnus, Early Childhood Coordinator. Caroline  gave me a quick tour of the school. Many of the students at Pan-America School come from upper class families. The facility was very friendly. The students are so used to teachers from the U.S. they did not notice me while I passed through the hallways. Children here receive one of the best educations Costa Rica has to offer.

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Although, I will not be teaching at this school because it does not fit the profile Kids Share Workshops seeks to facilitate, I felt this was a valuable connection for me. Perhaps Pan-American School will be interested in including less fortunate educational communities for a possible afternoon workshop? Bringing children together from vastly different economic backgrounds could show children at a young age the value of sharing lives through compassion.

Day 7:  Sistema Educativo San Isidor Labrador, Heredia

Upon entering this school we were greeted by a friendly faculty and quiet school. The children were in the classrooms. The administrator Cecilia Solis kindly gave us a tour of the school. Our first stop was a beautiful mural painting that was created by a famous Costa Rican Artist.  It’s vibrant colors and depiction of well known birds was very inviting for any age. As we began to walk through the small, well laid out school I began to see more beautiful mural art by students and visiting artists.

The classrooms were on two floors with a very nice garden out front. The landscaping of this small area was warm and inviting with a sitting patio under a large tree.  We noticed hidden, small vegetable gardens which were beginning to sprout.

When I was introduced to the students in every classroom, they were very friendly and well behaved! Lorena and I commented on this school having very well disciplined children.

Finally, I gave a presentation to the faculty. They enjoyed learning about KSW and showed a lot of interest in the enrichment program. I am working to coordinate this school with Sister Schools (Partners of the Americas) to cross culturally share with a sister school in Oregon for next winter. The art and English teacher will be able to assist me. They requested this program be taught during the school hours. Wish us luck!

Ps. You can see Don Ruff, the Chapter President in Oregon visiting this school after I had left. I was fortunate enough to have an afternoon with Don before leaving the next day to Vermont. Thank you Don for doing a wonderful job with connections!

Raquel’s Artist Casa in Grecia

Artists Family in Grecia

Tuesday-October, 4

After saying goodbye to Escuela Peters, we began our hiking journey to the town of Sarchi. Along the way I was struck by the lush landscape of coffee, sugar cane, bamboo and tropical trees on the hill sides. I also noticed beautiful Oxcart designs on the bridges and buildings which are painted by local artists and I was told only found in Sarchi.

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Approximately 2 miles later we arrived in the down town of Sarchi. After looking at a local artist/tourist shop and finding some unique gifts, we took a taxi from Sarchi to Grecia where Raquel’s family lived. When arriving at her parent’s home I was greeted by her father Ismael and Rosemary. Rosemary had prepared a nice lunch of pasta and sauce, bread and salad. We also had a wonderful custard and plantain desert. Rosemary had three art students at her home who were learning to draw landscapes.  I really enjoyed watching the students develop their paintings using watercolor and images of landscapes during my visit.

Next Rosemary and Raquel took me into a room filled with incredible artwork! I was struck by the enormous talent of the mother and daughter team. Raquel made paintings that were in pieces and could be rearranged to make different paintings. She also used piece of wood which she painted stories and attached in interesting ways. Her art work made me want to discover the stories behind them. Her mother Rosemary painted on larger canvases and had a wonderful sense of design using many geometric shapes. Her style was so warm and her depiction of woman very unique. Both of them often painted cups of coffee with their figures. I am super excited to work with them next winter! Before I left both Rosemary and Raquel gave me artwork. Raquel also gave me a book she had illustrated, Dientes de leche for children.

The program is to evoke in each child a unique ability they may not know they have. By touching on the arts, literacy and exploration through technology, I can only imagine the awesome creativity we will be bringing to this rural coffee community school through Kids Share Workshops and Sister Schools!

“The schools I have visited on this site investigation are being considered based on volunteer support, desire for cultural connections and home stay accommodations. All schools will be supported by Sister Schools through Partners of the Americas.” 

Kristina Applegate Lutes, Program Director & Founder

Escuela Peters in San Juan de Sarchi

Tuesday-October, 4

Day 5: Escuela Peters in San Juan de Sarchi de Alajuea

Early Tuesday morning Lorena drove me to San Jose to meet with Raquel Mara Vega, an incredibly talented artist! Raquel received me at the bus station. We had to take three buses which became a one hour journey to Gracia & Sarchi. I enjoyed my conversations with Raquel and was very impressed with her interests in life. She explained to me that as a hobby she was studying law but her true passion was art. She also mentioned having a degree in Sociology. Raquel is 27.

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As we traveled by buses I watched the country side transform to sugar cane and coffee farms. The hill sides became rich with vegetation. It was beautiful to see but I wondered about the rainforest and the species that used to live there? I was imagining beautiful tropical forests now transformed to lush farmland.

Raquel’s father Ismael was waiting for us at the bus stop to deliver us to a school in Sarchi. When we arrived at Escuela Peters the children rushed towards us. I was delighted and warmed by their reception. Many wanted me to take their picture. We were introduced by the principal and lead into her office, where I gave a brief presentation, followed by a tour through the classrooms and school. In each classroom, the children all smiled and loved the visit. Overall, we felt very welcome!

The kindergarten classroom was exciting! I noticed simple decorated masks and boxes decorated as horses that could be placed over one’s shoulders. The teacher saw me admiring the children’s work and insisted I put on one of the horse costumes. We all laughed because the horse was too small for me but the teacher insisted on its placement. I think it tore a little and I made a spectacle of myself!  Everyone laughed and then we made a group photo.

Raquel agreed to volunteer teach at this school with the assistance of  Sister Schools. Escuela Peters is currently not part of  Sister Schools and Partners of the Americas. 

Her strength in the arts, literacy, interest in working with children and good translation skills would be the perfect fit to work with Kids Share Workshops.  Her job would be coordinating with the Art and English teachers, days of the week, time of day and teacher volunteers. This would have to be organized before the program begins in late February. The school would be responsible for gathering a few simple art supplies and volunteer teacher support. One of the following Exploration projects would need to be determined, building a simple community garden or visiting a coffee or sugar farm.

I am thrilled to have Raquel’s assistance with this beautiful school in Sarchi. We will make a great team and I am sure we will all be inspired by her exceptional creativity!

Stay tuned for the next blog posting of Raquel’s artist home in Grecia!

Puntarenas La Playa

Sunday-October, 2

Day 3: Puntarenas La Playa (Please scroll down to see the slide show!)

Sunday was exciting because I was able to go to the beach in Puntarenas with Ana Gonzalez, a teacher at Senora de Lourdes Escuela. She also brought her husband Carlos and daughter Maria Jose. The drive through the country side after leaving San Jose was picturesque with lush mountains, coffee and sugar farms throughout the hill sides. We had wonderful conversations in Spanish and English!

Puntarenas was beautiful for me but I was told it was not the most beautiful beach to visit. However, it was only an hour and 20 minutes away from Barva, Heredia a frequent place to swim for native Costa Rican’s.  The sand was dark and a lot of drift wood washed ashore. We saw the Princess cruise ship docked on a long white dock. Many tourists got off to shop on the boardwalk. Vendors had some beautiful crafts and nice food for sale. To add to my mask collection of Central America, I bought one for only $6 which is a grumpy old man’s face made from a large bamboo tree.

Later we drove to a country club to change and swim at the beach. While driving in I saw a small iguana trying to get in as well! We walked along the shore before swimming and found interesting seeds with beautiful flowers coming out of them. Maria Jose, Ana and I swam for a long time. I did not want to get out of the very warm waters and relaxing waves.  The mountains on the distant islands made this a beautiful paradise!

Afterwards we swam at the country club where I was the only gringa. I felt very connected culturally with Ana’s family at Puntarenas La Playa! Before we drove home, Ana and her husband treated me to a wonderful dinner at a restaurant, overlooking an inlet where people were swimming. Ana shared an interesting fact with me that there is a strong Chinese’s influence in Costa Rica. On our way back to Brava I photographed a large ship which read CHINA in large letters on the side of the ship.

I felt this was a wonderful way for Ana and her family to cross culturally share with me on the weekend! 

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Student & Teacher Presentation

A special note from Kristina, Program Director:

“I am on the Island of Ometepe in Nicaragua writing to you.  Yesterday I toured the whole island on a motorcycle with a guide.  I stopped to swim in the natural springs which is supposed to rejuvenate me and make me younger. We were often stopped by a heard of water buffalo, saw many pigs, and lots of horses roaming freely.

Some roads were so rough we were riding over large rocks and through small rivers. The lake is rising above normal so I saw a lot of trees and docks submerged. The beauty of this island is breath taking. I highly recommend visiting. It was one of my biggest adventures ever!”

Day 4: Presentation at Escuela Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (Don’t forget to see the slide show below!)

Monday, Oct. 3rd

I returned to Barva and Senora de Lourdes School to give a presentation to the teachers and students. First I shared two cultures with the students before explaining the program to all the teachers. I invited the 5th grade students who I will be teaching with next winter for a presentation. They really enjoyed learning about Guatemala and Vermont and Kids Share Workshops. I think they enjoyed seeing similarities and difference with both cultures.

Each new year Kids Share Workshops reaches new communities, therefore more opportunities to cross culturally share. The program’s goal is to have fun while sharing lives. Additionally, I am organizing a program to reach rural coffee communities with the help of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and their employees next winter. I have a vision that if we keep finding creative ways to bridge cultures through the hearts and minds of children, the future for all of us will be brighter and happier.  Hurray!

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Kids Share Visits a School & Indigenous Family

A special note from Kristina, Program Director:

“I want to thank again my new friends at Partners of the Americas, Oregon and Costa Rica for making my site investigations incredible and  memorable! I am  looking forward to a prosperous partnership by continuing to build cross-cultural bridges together.”

Day 1 Site Investigation: Centro Educativo Bilingue Nuestra Senora de Lourdes in Barva, Heredia (Please see the slideshow at the bottom of this page.)

 Friday-September 30^th

After arriving early Friday morning, later that  day, Lorena brought me to one of the sister schools associated with Partners of the Americas-Costa Rica.

The Centro Educativo, Bilingue, Nuestra Senora de Lourdes in Barva, Heredia was lively with happy kids and staff! I was over whelmed by the warm reception, which consisted of many hugs, smiles and kisses. One of the teachers told me that their country was voted the  second happiest country in the world.  I believed it!

Senora de Lourdes School is a small private school, grades K-6. They offer karate, various sport activities, English, art and more! What I found wonderful and interesting, hence the name, all woman teachers run this school.

I learned a little about the school and we discussed how Kids Share Workshops could best fit into the curriculum. It was decided the best fit would be in the afternoons, three days a week. I was scheduled to return the following  Monday to give a presentation to the teachers and fifth grade students.

Kristina with Senora de Lourdes Teachers

Before leaving the school Ana, one of the teachers welcomed everyone to her home for a party in honor of our birthdays this month. She was very enthusiastic about our gathering to take place that night. However, we all decided Saturday would be the best night. All night long we had wonderful dishes brought out, lots of dancing and plenty of Sangria! I slept well that night.

Saturday-October, 1

Day 2: Reserva Indigena de Quitirrisi

On the second day Lorena and her 77 year old mother Tina, took me to a beautiful indigenous family in the mountains above San Jose, where the art of basket making was still being practiced. From the harvested grass, bat mobiles, bowls, hats, earrings, coasters and  bracelets were made!

They are located  in the city of Colon. I was blown away with how they lived on a very steep hill side. One of the buildings that was still attached to the main house, was actually falling down the mountain. They did have some basic amenities, like well water and a toilet that flushed. However, the family raised their own food and harvested the hill sides for vegetables, fruits, herbs and roots.

I learned how the grinding stone in the kitchen was for corn and coffee. The view from the kitchen faced beautiful vistas. I saw a variety of butterflies and birds at the kitchen window. Large vultures soared above. It was magical!

With a university group from San Jose Catalina, our host hiked with all of us down a steep trail, including Lorena’s mother Tina! We carefully made our way to a small flat area where a fire was warming a large cast iron pot.

Kattia, our guide explained the process of basket making by using a plant which grew all around the area we were sitting. She cut the long green leaves and taught us how to pull apart sections.

The leaves were soaked in the pot with dyes from root plants she also pulled from the ground. The next step was watching her make a beautiful hat! For almost two hours, we participated in the art of basket making, which is becoming a lost art for the Indigenous people living in Costa Rica. For everyone, this was muy lindo! (very nice!)

Lorena, her mother and I  decided to head back before the demonstration was complete to have an earlier lunch with Kattia’s mother. She prepared a wonderful dish of mashed potatoes, chicken, tortillas and desert of a Yucca sweetened with sugar and spices. It was muy bien!

Thank you for reading our first Costa Rica blog posting! Please share this with others.  I will be posting the next two days shortly.

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Kids Share Visits Costa Rica Partners

A special note from Kristina, Program Director:

“Check out the new header and background on our website! I am photographing a lot on my journey. The children are from Escuela Peters in Sarchi and the background was taken in a bus while I was traveling to the school in Costa Rica!”

Costa Rica

 Friday-September 30^th

Introduction to Costa Rica and Home Stay: (Please see the slideshow at the bottom of this page.)

On the 30th of September at 2:00 am, I arrived in Costa Rica. I was very delayed, after leaving at 8:00 am on the 29th  from Portland, Oregon. Exhausted but excited I was welcomed by Lorena Frias and her family in their beautiful home in the mountains of San Rafael, Heredia, Costa Rica.

Their gardens consisted of herbs, vegetables and beautiful native flowers. I saw corn growing and fruit trees. Limes were in season. Flocks of parrots flew around and many colorful birds I did not recognize. Three very cute cocker spaniels resided on the property and watched out for us. Another home on the property was Lorena’s sister, Gabriella (Gabby), a wonderful artist who uses coffee in her paintings and found objects and her two sons and husband.

Lorena’s parents were very welcoming and good to me. Her mother Tina’s passion is to care for her family and make sure everyone is well feed. The weather was super nice during the day and cooler and rainy in the afternoons and at night. The Friday before I was to leave for Ometepe, Nicaragua I made two large pots of chili for futbol night! The entire family and some friends joined us at Gabby’s house and we had a wonderful time watching Costa Rica play soccer with Brazil. At the end everyone surprised me with a happy birthday song in Spanish and cake with cupcakes. I was so surprised and very moved.

Lorena has been a Partner of the Americas member for 12 years. She has been teaching English for many years. I really enjoy learning from Lorena as she often talks in both English and Spanish.

When volunteers work with Partners of the Americas chapter members in either North or Latin America, home stays, meals and transportation is covered. Additionally, careful coordination with community members is organized. This is what makes Partners of the Americas successful and wonderful for volunteers. Lorena had put an impressive itinerary together for me, which proved to be very successful! Not only did I visit five schools in five days, I also visited beautiful locations, hiked and learned about the Indigenous Costa Ricans.

Please see the next blog posting to visit our first school in Barva!

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Kids Share Visits Oregon Partners

(Please Scroll down to see an incredible slide show!)

Words can not fully express the incredible experience I had in Portland, Oregon these past three days. This was the most full-filling site investigation I have ever experienced! I was able to do some incredible site seeing in this breathtaking state and visit three schools, thanks to my new partners.

I was invited  to join Partners Oregon-Costa Rica this past summer by  Don Ruff, president. He and his wife agreed to host me in their home for three days. Don introduced me to Marilyn McDonald, a supporting chapter member and retired school teacher, who showed me we can indeed be limitless if we have a passion for kids!

Marilyn took me to three different schools. The first was to visit Lisa McDonald, principle at the Wilkes School and her daughter in law. Next we visited Marilyn’s son Travis McDonald at the Trout Dale Elementary School, where we discussed training and teaching Kids Share at the same time I am in Costa Rica next winter. Travis seemed very interested in leading the enrichment program with his students. And lastly we visited the Bienestar Housing Community School  in Hillsboro, Oregon.

I was told upon arriving to Oregon that the Bienestar After School Program, which is a migrant community from Latin America, was hoping I would not only give a presentation and teach the children how to create tissue art then apply it to recycled material, for gift ideas and fundraising. I was unprepared for this sudden schedule changed but excited and up for the challenge! Marilyn and I manage to walk into a local hardware store the day before I was to teach and receive almost $300 worth of art supplies to teach. Without hesitation one of the Ace  managers gave us everything we needed! The children and volunteer adults loved the 2 hour workshop which did result in decorating a watch box and small vase. The children marveled as I poured Elmore’s glue all over the palm of my hand and rubbed it on the recycled containers. I then applied the tissue art and even showed them how to make tissue art flowers. It was super fun and useful for these kids to learn. Beinestar has a strong need to teach kids how to create fundraising crafts.

I could go on and on; telling you how exciting the last three days was in this very first blog posting, but I feel the slideshow below will show you just that. I am up late putting this all together before I head to Costa Rica tomorrow, very early. But before I leave this beautiful and friendly state, I want to THANK Don Ruff, his wife, the teachers, volunteers, principles and especially Marilyn McDonald who took me to all the schools, mentored me and volunteered many hours with me.  I am off to a wonderful start with my new friends and partners at Partners of the Americas!

Please follow me to Costa Rica, Oregon’s sister country, where I will be posting the next site investigation!

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