X-Ray 4 (Monisha)
Looking back at our time in Playa Hermosa it really feels like it flew by. We becamer a family with the park rangers and even though Don Marco and Jonny, the volunteer, did not speak much English, we found a way to communicate with them, which was made easy by Don Marco’s animated way of expressing himself in Spanglish.
We were especially proud to finish the barrier on our last working day. During our time in Playa Hermosa we were also lucky enough to witness some breathtaking sunsets that I am sure we will not forget in a long time.
One of the unique aspects of this project was the direct contact we had with tourists visiting the beach and wildlife refuge. We were able to impart our knowledge and share our experiences with the people who keep the refuge going and spread awareness of the plight of the turtles.
Spending 19 days in Playa Hermosa made us aware of Costa Rica’s wider conservation issues and the need to protect and preserve the ecosystem. We felt privileged to be part of such efforts.
X-Ray 6: Huzy
The youth centre is all ready! It’s hard to imagine we built this turquoise beauty with our bare hands. When we got to work on our first day, there were just a few foundation structures. Then we slowly built it up under the watchful eye of our maestro, Don Rolando, who, by the way, had no designs of the building skectched out whatsoever. I guess when you’re that good you don’t need paper just imagination and a lot of confidence!!
We’re very proud of this building especially since, for some of us, it was our first time using a spade, hammer or saw!
Don Rolando threw a party for us to celebrate the completion of the youth centre. Lots of dsncing ensued and there were plenty of bodies being thrown around by the locals who were up for some serious salsa dancing.
Earlier in the day, we had lunch at the rangers station. Our hosts mums had cooked chicken for us and it was really special for us all to eat together with our families. This was followed by a speech from Don Rolando. Then we took turns to say our thanks and that was when got a bit emotional. Sometimes you don’t really need to understand the language to get the message.
All in all, it was a great project for X-Ray 6. We came in wanting to give back to the community but we ended up getting so much more from them in return. And we did all that with a beautiful backdrop provided by Mother Nature herself. This experience is something we won’t forget for a long time. After all this is the stuff that awesome memories are made of. With that we leave Miraflor with a sweet sorrow in our hearts.
Amazingly we are about to head into the third and final phase of what has been an awesome expedition. Tomorrow/this morning will see the announcement of the Zulu groups for third phase and we'll bring you those groups asap, along with an update on the eagerly anticipated Zulu games!!
