Getting off the ground

Welcome to the trip blog for Alice Deal Middle School's Costa Rica trip for 2014. There are over 70 of us traveling on April 11 and 12 to Costa Rica (the number changes day-by-day if you can believe it) for a Spring Break tour. All of the students on the trip are Deal 8th graders who have taken Spanish their entire time at Deal. Joining them are most of our Spanish teachers, a couple of dad's, and two administrators. Yes, there are two of us - but mostly because we like Costa Rica so much. I will lead the blog writing, but there may be other authors posting, perhaps in English and Spanish, and even some students will get a chance to write. In addition, I'll keep you up-to-date with photos from Costa Rica, usually once but sometimes twice a day, so you can see what you are missing. So, let's set the stage . . . .

Our trip takes off right after the end of our DC CAS testing, which hits 8th graders the most. Needless to say, they are looking for a break from the Dealish intensity of it all. As there are so many of us, we will be on two separate flights - one that flies to Chicago (the gateway to San Jose) and the other that doesn't. The Chicago flight leaves Friday night and connects on Saturday morning; all of us arrive on Saturday at nearly the same time. And then the trip begins!

Your Vikings will be very glad to be out of the country for nine days. Unless you have made explicit arrangements, they will not be as communicative as you would like. Do not be disappointed in them, they are merely soaking up the culture and don't have much time to talk. The general outline of the trip is fly to San Jose, take a bus and the world's slowest boat (African Queen-style) to Tortuguero, then return and bus to Sarapiqui and Arenal and volcanoes, then more bus to the Pacific Coast and Puntarenas and then, finally, returning home from Costa Rica. A lot happens (of which I will keep you apprised) so stay tuned.

Here are some starter questions for you as you bid farewell to your children: Will they ever have too much rice and beans? (Yes.) Will they practice their Spanish? (Yes.) Will they be bored for very long at any time? (No.) Will they read the books you purchased for them? (Maybe, let me know which ones so I can ask them questions about it and report back.)  Will they spend the entire trip asking each other if they are receiving wifi? (Yes.) Are there any beautiful souvenirs that they will lug home? (Sadly, not many.) Will they groan in unison when I start to talk to them about the politics behind the banana plantations? (Undoubtedly, but I will persevere!) Will they have a good, safe time? (Yes, they will.)

I'll post some more trip information on other pages on this blog; feel free to comment as we go along. Hasta luego!