On our last day of school for the 2015-2016 school year (Friday, June 10) we had a pool party to kick off the summer and celebrate with friends. As most of us were sleeping that night, a group of 18 Monarchs were on their way to participate in Trinity Hall’s first international trip to Costa Rica. This brave group of travelers gathered at the school several hours before dawn to start their adventurous eight-day journey.
In partnership with World Leadership School, our students traveled with faculty trip leaders Melissa Fairchild, Anne-Sophie Delaunay-Lehman, and Dana Lenneper to Puerto Jiménez and the Osa Peninsula in Southern Costa Rica (via San Jose) along the Pacific coastline. Over eight days and seven nights, the students were immersed in the local culture, language, and physical environment, while engaging in adventure, service, and leadership development opportunities.
According to the World Leadership School, the program is organized around the principle of “disconnect, decenter and re-envision. Students disconnect from technology; they are challenged by immersive experiences that challenge and decenter them; and finally students re-envision themselves and their place in the world by understanding the perspectives of local students and community leaders.”
The well-organized trip was bookended by two long days of travel, but the girls made the most of their time while there.
“The most memorable experience from the trip was probably spending time with and getting to know the children of the Dos Brazos community. It was so much fun to play and hang out with them and see how they live. It was also amazing to see how happy they were with their lives, even though (compared to the way we live here in America) they had so little. It definitely gave me a new perspective on and appreciation for my life!” – Brigid Clifford, TH’18.
“My most memorable experience was definitely sitting on the beach in the Osa Peninsula. Its beauty was so breathtaking and the last thing I wanted to do was leave. I will certainly remember Costa Rica as one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.” – Gillian Thorp, TH’19
“The trip to Costa Rica planted a seed, a curiosity about the world and other cultures that will continue to grow in the Trinity Hall community. I think it helped our students to see the difference between need and want. They were very moved by the generous spirit of the children in the Dos Brazos community. I think it made an impact on their hearts as they made one on the Costa Rican community with their ongoing open mindedness and kindness. I thank the World Leadership School for the work they do, for giving our students the opportunity to get out of their comfort zones and appreciating the differences as well as what we have in common. Pura Vida!” – Anne-Sophie Delaunay-Lehman
“The most memorable part of the trip for me was interacting with the community, especially with the children and my host mother. Although we were only there for a short period of time, I feel like I really bonded with my host mom and I was able to get to know a few of the kids through games and activities. Even though we are from different cultures, speak different languages, and lead totally different lives, we are still connected by the simple fact of our humanity. Our connection was obvious as we shared laughs, hugs, food, and even tears when it came time to leave. I know I will never forget the people I met in Dos Brazos.” – McKayla Quinn-Steineke, TH’18