Coconuts and more...

Yesterday afternoon, after snack, we went to meet our home stay families. After spending a few minutes with them, we went back to Yamileth’s house for another delicious lunch. After enjoying time with some of her young relatives, we all happily drank water straight from a coconut, which is full of electrolytes that help prevent dehydration. Then, we played a leadership game on her front lawn. The game sorted us into different leadership/personality types, because World Leadership School is based upon the idea that everyone has the potential to be a strong leader. The four groups were artisans, guardians, conceptualists, and idealists. The activity made us more aware of who we are as a leader, but we were reminded that this is not a box that we are being put in, rather a way to look at ourselves.

After completing this thought-provoking activity, the group headed over to an ethno-botany class, taught by a local named Jaime, where we learned about and occasionally tasted many native plants, which could also be used as remedies for an assortment of ailments. Some of these plants included lipstick plants, a variety of very spicy basil, sour oranges, leaves that numb your tongue, and more coconuts! After this we had homemade chocolate banana ice cream (you can see the recipe for this here on the blog).

Last night was the first night we stayed with our home stay families. It ran smoothly for everyone, despite the language barrier. Many students played games like UNO, chicken feet (which is similar to dominos), and catch. In the morning, home stay students were picked up by the group, and walked to the Chilamate Eco-Lodge, got on a bus, and headed to a rigorous soccer practice and game with a non-profit soccer organization. Some of the soccer balls that we brought from NYC were donated to the organization. The sun was hot, but we ended with water and refreshing watermelon and bananas. After, we headed back to the classroom in the Eco-Lodge, where we did more exercises about our leadership styles. After being re-sorted into the four groups, we split up into four different groups, all with people of different styles. We held a competition between the four groups, to see who could build the tallest self-standing structure out of raw spaghetti, tape, and string. The structure had to hold a single marshmallow. The competition taught us about how different leadership styles work together in addition to the conflicts that come up.

After that, we headed to lunch at the Eco-Lodge, which was pasta with sauce, cheese, and garlic bread.

Soon we are headed out to go white water rafting, which is much anticipated!

¡Adios!

Sara Azcona-Miller J, Julia Harrison J, and Gabby Guarna J