Vacation!!!!

The school schedule (along with the seasons) here in Costa Rica runs opposite to the United States. We just finished our two week winter vacation. In the Tutoring Center we decided to take advantage of this homework-free time to do extra-curricular activities in the afternoons. The kids had tons of fun and it was a great way for the short-term teams to integrate in with the kids at the center.

We did cooking classes, thanks to a our new stove! It was the first time any of the kids had baked cookies. They loved it and did a great job with both the sugar cookies and oatmeal choco-chips.

Roger helping me put the cookies in the oven.


Everyone waiting for the cookies to come out.


The remnants



One day we painted animal puzzles Jeremy Janzen made for us in the wood shop, one of SI’s other sites in Los Guido. Puzzles are one of the favorite break activities in the Tutoring Center, so the kids were super excited to make their own puzzle to take home with them.


On the last day of vacations we had a play day in the Community Center next door to the Tutoring Center. Luis Diego and Cindy, our newest staff members helped lead a bunch of games with the kids, which was a blast. We also did Readers’ Theater with the book, Where the Wild Things Are, a favorite read in the Center. The kids thoroughly enjoyed making masks and playing the part of the monsters in the story. It was a great way to end the fun-filled two weeks.

Costa Rican version of "Snake in the Grass"


The team acted out the story the first, and the kids thought it was hilarious. They couldn't wait to do it on their own.


Catalina was in charge of giving the crown to Max during the storytime


Cynthia, Sharon, and Ana playing "Simon Says". Sharon didn't follow along all that well, but still had fun.