Proctor en Monteverde: Reflections Through a Single Photo

At the midpoint of their term abroad in Monteverde, Costa Rica, this group of intrepid Proctor 10th graders pauses to consider what they have learned during their time living with Tico host families, through place-based learning at The Cloud Forest School, and simply from daily interactions that shape their experience of the culture and community. Asked to find one photo of an object or scene that has made a significant impact on them, Ellie '28, Hayes '28, Hans '28, Sierra '28, and Justin '28 share what they chose, and why. 

Ellie ’28

I took this photo (see below) when my host family and I went to watch the sunset on a hilltop. A friend of my host dad owns the spot we watched from, so we got special access to this place. From up on the hill, I could see all of Monteverde. This view included the beautiful cloud forest that surrounds part of Monteverde. Our group took a trip into this forest a few weeks ago. We hiked in and stayed at San Gerardo Field Station and Research Center. Being in the forest and learning about it from our guide allowed me to gather a deeper understanding of its importance and meaning to both Costa Rica’s ecosystem and the community of Monteverde. The forest is essential to life in Monteverde, bringing tourism and business to the town and boosting its economy. Most people here rely on it for their income. The forest is also very important to Costa Rica’s ecosystem, and The Children's Eternal Rainforest is the largest protected private forest in the country. 

When I took this picture, it was after a day of spending time with my host family at the house of some of their friends. This sunset watching was a special moment, and many of their friends and family showed up to watch together. This display of community was very special to witness and be a part of, showing Monteverde's tendency to be home to some of the closest-knit people I have ever met. 

My daily life here is simple, but very special. At home, my host family loves to have friends and family over, cook together, and all work to make each other feel happy and loved. In town, it is very easy to see how close the community is. Everybody knows one another and always says hi in passing or stops to chat. It’s a very nice thing to witness, and I hope to see more in the second half of my stay here in Monteverde.

Hayes ’08

Throughout my time in Costa Rica, the one constant has been coffee. From the pot in my house to the thermos all the way in San Gerardo, coffee is everywhere. While on this trip, coffee has become a huge part of my immersion into the culture and making this community feel like home, as well as making it a great classroom. Even in our actual classroom, there is a thermos of coffee for the students. Coffee has also become a significant part of my life with my host family. I have a cup every morning and most afternoons, which is a lot different than back in the States. 

My host father works with coffee plantations, which lets him bring beans back home, making the coffee I have while home unbelievable. When I say I didn't like coffee before this trip, I mean I couldn't stand it. However, during this trip, I've found that I love it, showing how much this trip can change you and your thought process. If I see coffee here or when I am back in the States, it will make me think about how much this trip has positively affected me. 

Coffee also plays a big role in Costa Rica's history, making it a very popular drink here and a large part of the economy through trade, both overseas and domestically. In history, we talked about the effects of European settlement in Costa Rica and how coffee was a large contributor to the creation of an independent Costa Rica. Coffee is a symbol of Costa Rica, and this trip would be very different without it. 

Sierra ’28

A staple of Costa Rican life is delicious homemade food. In my host family’s house, we have a fridge, freezer, rice cooker, and stove. The stove is the center of our house. It sits right in the kitchen/living room, next to our only table and chairs. If you walk into our house, you will most likely see people laughing in the kitchen, cooking on the stove. Looking back, I’ve already had so many good times around the stove.

My first real bonding experience with my host family happened when we made pancakes together. We blasted music and danced around the kitchen, laughing about the weird pancake shapes. Cooking on the stove is harder than I thought. I cook with one all the time at home, but many dishes here are passed down through generations. They rely on instinct more than exact measurements. My attempt at a traditional tortilla made from corn flour and water was… less than optimal.

One of my favorite memories around the stove was the night before I left for the San Gerardo research station over the Semana Santa holiday. My host grandmother had just finished preparing tamales mudos, a traditional tamale with a simple corn dough exterior and bean filling. My host family used Google Translate to explain it to me. Google told me they were “silent tamales.” When I tried one, my mom and grandma asked me how it was—but I didn’t respond because they were silent tamales. After asking me five times, I typed in the translator: “Good, but why are you talking?” 

Apparently, the “silent” part of the tamale refers to the simplistic ingredients, a nod to the respectful mourning after the crucifixion of Jesus. They are prepared to celebrate his return as part of a lively family gathering on Semana Santa.

Moments like that quickly grew into running jokes, especially with my host sister’s spontaneous sense of humor. We’ve tried all kinds of new recipes on the stove like “barbudos“ (English translation: bearded green beans), which are green beans cooked in a fried egg, sort of like an omelet. Another time, we made “huevos rancheros” (English translation: cowboy eggs). We drew cowboy faces on the eggs before cooking them into scrambled eggs.

The important part about the stove isn’t the ability to cook food, it’s the comforting atmosphere. It’s where games are played, stories are told, and jokes are made. Even when I don’t understand every word, I understand the universal language of laughter. 

Hans ’28

My view of Costa Rica has changed a lot, mostly after the trip to the Children's Eternal Rainforest in San Gerardo. It really taught me to appreciate the world we live in and to open my eyes and observe. This has also helped me in living with my host family and really helped to build a connection with them, even with a language barrier, resulting in limited communication. By trying to open my eyes, move more slowly, and observe everything, I'm really starting to appreciate Costa Rica even more, not just the nature but the culture and town. 

Another thing we were asked to do in San Gerardo was to ask the “why” behind everything. Especially in nature, where there is a reason for everything, asking why everything is the way it is can provoke thought about pretty much everything in nature. By slowing down, observing, and really thinking deeply about the why, I’m really appreciating this wonderful journey and excited to continue observing the world and trying to figure out the mysteries behind the colors of plants, the shapes of leaves, and much more.

Overall, this photo represents how, when walking in the forest, if you're walking mindlessly, the forest turns into a blur of green. By slowing down, we can see the beauty of the forest with its shapes and colors, and then by slowing down and walking thoughtfully, you can wonder why things are how they are with all of the different shapes and sizes.

Justin ’28

Classroom Beyond Walls

This flower (see below) is a picture that I took while on a run one night during sunset. It helps to show that this experience of learning in Costa Rica goes far beyond the classroom, and that I have also seen so much outside of the class. While learning a lot in the classroom, there are some things that simply can't be taught in a classroom, like this flower, one of the 20 or more species that I have seen so far. In San Gerardo every second I looked up and saw something unique like nothing I've seen near home. The colors stand out and it is so interesting to see the differences between the plants.

Immersion

So far things like this flower have helped me to notice and understand the small details of my daily life that I hadn't noticed before, like how my Spanish has grown through everyday interactions just with my host family. The more time I take to slow down, learn, and appreciate what’s around me, I realize how special this trip is, along with noticing how much I’ve changed so far. Getting to see and experience new things every day, while expanding my understanding of a different language and pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone.

A Deeper Connection
 

Through times like slowing down to really look at this flower, I’ve realized that the culture in Costa Rica is a lot different than in the United States. Here it is okay to be patient and take time to recognize details and just relax. Another thing that is very different here is the Costa Rican people's appreciation for the nature that is around them. Many rely on this for their jobs, whether in agriculture or tourism, and the people have much more appreciation for what the world has given them here than the average person in the States. This connection shows me that understanding a place takes more than just learning it, but it is more based around forming relationships with the people and the culture. 

Read More Student Reflections from Proctor en Monteverde