Blog Archives

Volunteering at Hogar de Vida

7/31/2017

Our relationship with Hogar de Vida – our neighboring children’s home in Atenas – continues to provide our students with unforgettable opportunities to interact with children of all ages who give so much back to us through their joy.

Each week, Daisy, Vianney and staff from all departments accompany volunteer students to help to feed, care for and, most importantly, play with infants, toddlers and children from Hogar.

It is impossible to say who enjoys these interactions more, the children or our students!

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Visiting Author Jose Leon Sanchez

7/26/2017

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In preparation for the students' visit to Isla San Lucas, the island site of a former Costa Rican prison, Daisy and Vianney arranged for Don Jose to speak with our students.

One of the most famous writers in Costa Rica, Jose Leon Sanchez is the author of Isla de Los Hombres Solos, which tells the story of his wrongful imprisonment on the island for 20 years, until he was finally exonerated of his charges.

Meeting the author – a man who had lived through the struggles of the prison – allowed the students to view their visit through a personal lens.

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Cultural Immersion at NSA

7/22/2017

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NSA is unique in its ability to combine Spanish language learning opportunities with an enriching and supportive Cultural Immersion program. Daisy and Vianney, our dedicated and passionate Spanish teachers and Cultural Immersion coordinators, have built a Spanish language program which meets grammatical learning objectives by preparing students with the vocabulary and background knowledge to participate in Immersion activities.

Our Experiential Education department mentors then engage our students in Immersion activities that serve both as a culmination of their weekly studies as well as one-of-a-kind cultural learning experiences.
Check out some of our recent Cultural Immersion activities!

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Exploring the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu

7/15/2017

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Our Peru trip culminated in a journey to the sacred Incan site of Machu Picchu. Early in the morning, students boarded a train which snaked its way along the Urubamba River to the town of Aguascalientes, where we hopped on buses for the winding road to Machu Picchu. We spent the day learning about the history and architecture of this bucket-list wonder of the world and UNESCO heritage site, before returning to the Sacred Valley. On our final day, the owner of our guiding company, Piero, and his family welcomed us into their home for a celebratory barbeque!

Thanks to students, staff, families, and the wonderful guides at Terra Explorer for helping to make this year’s International Aventura to Peru such an amazing experience!

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Peru Aventura: Trekking in the Ausangate Region of the Andes

7/14/2017

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After our unforgettable experience with the Amaru community, students and staff geared up for a five-day hike among the snowy peaks of the Andes Mountains.

With the towering Ausangate always visible, the students showed true grit and resilience as we challenged our minds and bodies in daily hikes over spectacular passes, at times reaching an altitude of over 16,000 feet above sea level.

The hike wasn’t all struggle, however, as our hosts and guides took amazing care of us, meeting us at each site with warm tents, warm smiles, and – most importantly – warm, delicious food!

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Peru International Aventura: Cusco & The Sacred Valley

7/13/2017

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After three days of intensive workshops in preparation for Peru, our community braved a red-eye flight to arrive at over 11,000 feet in Cusco - the ancient capital of the Incan Empire - to get physically and mentally acclimatized for the adventures to come. Our first days included an historical tour of the city, a mountain-bike ride through the stunning landscape surrounding the Sacred Valley, and a day of community service with the Amaru people.

This indigenous village welcomed us into their homes with music and smiles, explained their way of life revolving around farming and weaving of textiles, and worked side-by-side with our students as we tilled the soil using traditional tools in preparation for planting potatoes. The Amaru then prepared a hearty lunch of quinoa, potatoes and guinea pig – a traditional delicacy in Peru.