Rara Avis is home to quetzals, toucans, green macaws, varied species of frogs, bats, monkeys, tarantulas, armadillos, olingos, jaguars, ocelots and over five hundred species of highland tropical plants. From Rara Avis, the interns travel to the Arenal Volcano, where red lava flows can be seen at night. They hike in the area and visit nearby hot-springs. During this primary program component, two interns are placed together in a rural village. The Global Routes in-country director meets with interns on a regular basis to provide support.
Interns develop a working rapport with their students and their mentor teacher.
They identify educational needs and ways in which they can be most helpful. As mentioned above, two interns live and teach in the same community, but each intern lives with a separate family. Living with a family in rural Costa Rica means giving up several of the comforts and conveniences to which you might be accustomed, such as electricity, indoor plumbing and familiar foods. You might find yourself washing clothes with water from a well, cooking over a fire and discussing politics and philosophy by candlelight. The experience can be frustrating, rewarding, challenging and amazing all at the same time.