Please feel free to use these Costa Rica

Please feel free to use these Costa Rica specific slides when creating your Meeting Power Point

COSTA RICA ¡PURA VIDA!

¿Dónde está Costa Rica? • Central America • Between Nicaragua (to the north) and Panama (to the south) • Caribbean Sea (to the northeast) and the Pacific Ocean (to the southwest)

Costa Rica • 1/4 the size of the state of Minnesota • Seven provinces • Tropical rainforest cover about 7% of the world's surface and provide 50% of the world's biodiversity.

Experience the capital San José • • National Theater Excellent museums Many restaurants Temperate climate

Experience the Volcanoes • Arenal (left) – Dormant until 1968 • Poás – Can go to the rim of the crater (below) • Irazú – Highest active volcano in Costa Rica • Barva, Miravalles, Tenorio, Turrialba

Costa Rica - Volcanoes Arenal Poás Irazú abacón Hot Springs below Arenal

Experience the Tropical Forests • Costa Rica has 5% of world’s flora & fauna • 10, 000 types of plants • 2000 types of trees • 1000 types of orchids • 25% has been set aside as protected land; – national parks, wildlife refuges, forest reserves

Experience the National Parks Breathtaking Zip Lines (optional activity) Thrilling Hanging Bridges

Experience the Agriculture • Coffee and bananas – Most important exports • Other items: – – Tropical fruits Tropical flowers Macademia nuts Wood

Experience the exotic Fruits! • La guanabana (right) • El pejibaye (bottom right) • El chayote (below)

Experience the… MONKEYS!

Experience the… BIRDS!

Experience the Wildlife Frogs! Butterflies! Turtles! Sloths!

Experience Los Ticos • Family – Extended family! – Close knit! • Friends – Social! – Friendly! • Tourists – Welcomed!

Experience the… Sports Art School Host Families!

Experience your Familia Tica

Our Family Stay Coordinators Marcela and Michael • They work closely with the teachers in their community. • Michael and Marcela visit the schools, the teachers and the host families in their homes. • Michael and Marcela work with the teachers and the host families to make the matches. • They send L&F the list of host families 3 -4 weeks before the group departs for Costa Rica. • Michael and Marcela are on call during the family stay, checking in with host families and the L&F teacher and students. We want students AND host families to have a positive experience!

Host Families • Host only ONE student at a time - a UNIQUE experience for each Language & Friendship traveler! • Apply to host a student • Provide references • Are well known by their teachers and community • Are visited by our Family Stay Coordinators • Understand the benefit of creating international friendships!

Host Families - During the stay • SPEAK the language! • LIVE the culture! • OBSERVE the little things in their daily life! • IMMERSE yourself in the daily life of your FAMILIA TICA! ¡PURA VIDA!

Costa Rica The Experience of a Lifetime!