Posted on February 12, 2020
14 adventurous Milford students create lasting memories from a week of artistic collaboration with Costa Rican teens.
Amistades Sin Fronteras (Friendships without borders) is a catalog of photography and short reflections from each student on their experiences in Playa Sámara. Click the link to see the entire catalog on line.
Group members celebrate after a successful visit to Parque Nacional Volcan Tenorio
Congrats to Milford High School students for their successful visit to Costa Rica in January, 2020. This was a new place for all; new sights and sounds, new kinds of food, new adventures and most importantly, new friends. Students had the opportunity to experience some of the wonders of Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast through ocean kaying, dolphin watching, snorkeling, horseback riding and hiking. The highlight of the experience though, was the week-long collaboration with Costa Rican teens facilitated by the non-profit youth organization Asociation CREAR located in Playa Samara. Milford students forged relationships with their Costa Rican friends through conversation and by exploring and photographing the area surrounding Playa Samara together. The combined group found their deepest connections through what they love the most; playing, dancing and creating.
An impromptu game of futbol playa on Playa Izquierda
Milford students, including two varsity soccer players, discovered that soccer (“futbol” in Costa Rica) is played on a whole different level than in the US, especially on the beach! After a long hike to a dramatic lookout over the Pacific, a few Costa Rican participants roughed out a field of play on Playa Izquierda, a small remote beach near Playa Samara. After some well fought play (and a shutout), the US team conceded victory to their friends from Playa Samara.
The combined group also held an impromptu dance party after learning how to make empanadas over an open fire at Asociation CREAR. The group found a shared love for music and taught each other some new moves.
The week culminated with a beautiful display of photography and individual presentations by all 42 student participants (14 from Milford High School and 23 from Asociation CREAR). After several rounds of arm wrestling, students shared their favorite experiences from the week and expressed gratitude for learning each other’s stories and for making new friends.