Week four in Costa Rica has been packed with excitement. The recycling program at San Ambrosia is finally underway, Beach Open 2008 is complete and I also spent a couple days visiting Canas and Tiliran where a wind farm is located.
The week started at San Ambrosia labeling giant recycling bins for the recycle program which I helped organize. My ninth graders setup bins for paper, plastic, aluminum cans, glass, ¨frutas¨ - compost and miscellaneous items. After an impromptu speech I gave in English along with other explanations given by my students at an assembly the recycling program was kicked off. All the students seemed to be very involved, placing many items in the bins... including Styrofoam plates in the plastic bin, which I´m sure I´ll be sorting through this week. Overall, though, I think this program will be excellent for San Ambrosia and it will be something they can continue long after we return to the States.
On Thursday, I visited Canas with Harold, the English teacher I work with at San Ambriosia. I saw one of Harold´s adult English classes at a school in Canas. It was interesting to see all different types of people in his class ranging in age from 15 to 50. We stayed at a fire station where he is a volunteer. It was really a fun time climbing to the top of the tower and getting to put on all the fire fighting gear. I don´t know how they wear all that gear in 90 degree heat!
While in Canas, one of Harold´s students took Lauren and me to visit the wind farm. I was amazed at how large the windmills were, yet they didn´t seem to create any noise. I was literally standing about 40 feet from the windmill and could barely hear any sound coming from the massive structure.
I know some of the concerns with building a wind farm in Ashe County were the noise level and the eye sore the farm creates. However, I can assure you the wind farm doesn´t create much noise and in my opinion isn´t all that aesthetically unpleasing. Its great to see the clean energy that is being produced all over Costa Rica. My only question is why can´t the United States jump on board with renewable energy?
This past weekend we went on a beach tour of the Pacific Coast with Karla. She borrowed her uncle´s car and we visited three different beaches. All of which were absolutely beautiful!
Wind Farm
Recycling Project
Fire Station
