Awesome Questions

Awesome questions for students. Kudos and Points to students who have contributed. I have so much to tell you but not a lot of time.

1. Earth University is a private 4 year University with 500 students from 24 countries. Professors are from 20 countries.

2. It is a massive place - very awesome; built 20 years ago with private funds (there is an endowment to help pay tuition in the U.S.)

3. Professors spend lots of time going to small commuties in tropical Central and South American and African countries. They recruit bright young people that may not have chance to go to a University.

4. Their goal is to teach them sustainable values and create leaders. It is truly amazing. I don't have time to write all about it here. The overall goal is for students to return to their communities and help them create small sustainable entrepeneur type companies.

5. For example one young man had discovered how much waste their was in the pineapple industry here (C.R. is the #1 country to export pineapple). But it is only the "best" that can be shipped fresh. He showed his community how they could take still good (but not best) pineapple, dry it (dried fruit which is popular) and dip it in chocolate. So far 4 small businesses have sprung up that do this.

6. The University students do NOT work. They are very serious about their studies and feel COMPLETELY honored that they would be here. Most are on full scholarship because they come from lower income communities.

Well I could go on and on but now for the primary and secondary schools. For reasons that are too hard to explain please public education has deteriorated somewhat here in C.R. But there are lots of dedicated teachers and students working in not so perfect conditions.

Here are some answers to your questions; thanks for sending them in Spanish!!!

1. They like soda - especially pepsi.
2. There is mandatory dress code for all Costa Rican students - dark blue pants and light blue shirts. Students in their last year (grade 11) wear brown pants and beige shirt.
3. They like to "hang out" at the "river" during their time out (makes sense you guys like to hang at beach):):):):).
4. They dont work (there are probably few places for them to work) and they consider school their main job.
5. They like to spend any money they have on jewelry. They are very stylish even though they have to wear a uniform (I'll bring back pics).
6. Out of 200 students I saw 3 with ipods. Only 1 with a cell phone.
7. To give you an idea of this school; their library had 2 rows of books; they did have an internet lab; and I will make arrangements for us to correspond to them.
8. Education is compulary only to grade 9 (but C.R. does have an incredible literacy rate of 96%).
9. I met 3 students who were in grade 10 and wanted to go onto University; two interested in tourist industry; and one in chemistry.
10. There are NO labs in the science area. They were studying density. STudents can join a science club where they have the money to do the experiments.

Have so much to share with you. Keep your fingers crossed I won't crash and burn on the zip line!

Assignment is in next blog.

Mrs. K