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Marcelo Arroyo, and Alexa Santana, along with all of the professors from the department organized the celebration of the holiday with an hour of history, contests, music, dancing, and food for students and faculty to enjoy. Students dressed in typical clothing from the region and gave short presentations on the region’s history and cultural traditions to their peers while Marcelo and professor Erica danced the “Punto Guanacasteco” and the “Caballito Nicoyano”.

Throughout the week of July 16th, Sámara Language school was the proud sponsor of both an International book and film fair, as well as a short story appreciation workshop (hosted by Diego Lasso). At each activity throughout the week the school raffled a CD from the very popular Puntamayo World Music collection. Many locals and students attended the showing of the cult film classic “Betty Blue”, which was particularly enjoyed by the staff currently studying French. In general, the most popular events were the used book sales and short story workshops, where Sámara residents and vistors alike were able to discuss current trends and replenish their libraries with contemporary literature, poetry and other texts from Latin America, Spain and translated international works.

Intercultura will be a part of the upcoming Discovery Channel travelogue program titled,
“Passport to Latin America. While at the school, the channel filmed Spanish, dance, and cooking classes given at Intercultura and even followed students and staff after classes to their favorite Salsa hot spot, Castro’s, in Barrio México, San José. When asked why the program chose to include Costa Rica in the travelogue, a representative from Discovery Channel said that they did so for the same reason many foreigners decide to visit, the friendly people who live here. Póas volcano, Parque Alajuela, San José, and, Guanacaste were some of the other places visited by the Discovery Channel in Costa Rica. Stay tuned, the program is scheduled to air towards the end of September this year!

In the middle of the city of flowers, (Heredia) a mysterious tower greets its neighbors and visitors. The tower lies serene and mature with the marks of time on its foundation,as it remains in the memory of each of its children who have untiringly marched for years in front of it, showing off their best music and clothing.

Gabriela's Friday Beach clean-ups. Every other Friday, after she gets off work, Gabriela from Intercultura's Sámara campus runs a beach clean-up with volunteers from our student body. So far students have cleaned not only the whole main strip of Sámara's beach, but also the main roads in the town.

Over the last weekend in March Costa Rican’s and their visitors had a chance to celebrate the 5th annual masquerade festival in the colonial community of Barva, Heredia.

Costa Rican society today stands out among many other modern societies because of the way it has been able to preserve its cultural traditions which have been celebrated in its small town communities for years. I observed an example of the preservation of our culture while attending a procession on Good Friday this past month in the beautiful community of San Joaquín de Flores, Heredia. However, before retelling my experiences I would like to quickly reflect on the history of this quaint town.

En este momento histórico que estamos viviendo, bastante convulsionado, globalizado, y en donde las tradiciones ticas, literalmente, luchan por no desaparecer ante tanta modernidad, indiferencia, discriminación y juicios de valor, es que sobrevive el “famoso” mercado central de la provincia herediana.

Just before Easter, a gentleman who prefers to be known only as "Jack" came to Intercultura to donate funds destined for community development in Sámara. His generous donation has helped put ideas for several projects into action, and we hope within the next couple months to see the evidence of his generosity all over Sámara. Projects include: Sámara public library building funds, fixed public trash containers to avoid dirty streets after the weekenders leave town, metallic signposts requesting cooperation in keeping Sámara clean and safe, payment for the policletas (bicycle police), materials for the volunteer fire brigade, a scholarship fund for art and English classes for local children, sleeping policeman, and much more. Thank you Jack for your help in keeping Sámara clean, safe, smart, and beautiful!

Recientemente, los administrativos, docentes y estudiantes del Campus de Heredia experimentamos un cambio en el área de Recepción: una remodelación.
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Gerry Thiemann owner and director of Conversa school in Cincinnati has sponsored a partial scholarship for four Ticos to study English in the US. In 2006 he sponsored a full scholarship for 1 Intercultura student (Andrea Cascante) to study for one month in Cincinnati. Andrea's time spent learning English in Cincinnati helped her land a new job at Costa Rica's international Juan Santamaría airport.

Q: Why did you decide to sponsor a scholarship again this year?
A: We wanted to discount our Intensive English classes to allow a 'study abroad' experience more accessible to Costa Ricans. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica and married a Tica so I have a lot of connections to this great country. This is one way to keep the connections strong.
Q: Why do you think a cross-cultural experience like this is important for someone studying English?
A: I learned Spanish in Costa Rica, becoming fluent in 9 months. I knew no Spanish when I started. I could have never achieved that level of fluency in the United States. In fact, there are many high school and university Spanish teachers in the States who really can not speak Spanish because they have never lived in a Spanish speaking country. The opportunity to be immersed in a country where English is the main language has obvious advantages. That is why our students learn English so quickly here.
Q: What do you hope this scholarship gives to the recipient?
A: A deeper understanding of English and American culture as well as friendships and memories to last a lifetime.

Las personas en las fotos son ex estudiantes nuestros, Richard y Jordan Weisman, padre y hijo en forma voluntaria ellos fueron a Santa Barbara de Santa Cruz Guanacaste, donde cocinar con energía solar es una realidad. En ese pueblo las mujeres cocinan de esta forma desde hace mucho tiempo y ellas mismas también construyen las cocinas. Jordan y Richard vinieron después de su trabajo voluntario a la escuela e hicieron la donación de la cocina a nosotros. También nos dieron el instructivo y un recetario para preparar comidas. Esto es maravilloso. Realmente ha sido la bella y útil sorpresa de principio del año.

A Hawkbill turtle was found by students on Sámara beach. After a day of tanning in the warm Samaran sun, the turtle decided to return on its own to the ocean to cool off and be with its friends.

Tuvimos un pequeño visitante puercoespín medio perdido en nuestro jardín, se refugió en el palito de limón, fue la atracción durante la mañana de los estudiantes y profesores.Finalmente fue llevado al refugio- zoo de Carrillo por unos amigos de la escuela.

Sámara’s administrative faculty, teachers, students and their Tica mothers had a wonderful dinner together while looking out onto the ocean in late January. The delicious feast included: cerdo a la parilla (prepared by Tyrone Jackson) tortillas, arroz con pollo, pastelitos de carne, ensalada de papa, arroz de maiz, empanadas, and for dessert, gratinado de frutas all of the later prepared by Intercultura mom's.

The school has done away with offering students and faculty coffee in Styrofoam cups and replaced the old non-environmentally friendly cups with real coffee mugs! This new way of drinking your morning cup of Joe really compliments the school-wide recycling program which was started by Intercultura's Heredia English Department, with the help of department director Barbara Miller and teacher Ashli Nelson in 2005. Remember to wash after you drink!Sámara also has a recycling program at the school, run by non-profit foundation CREAR, with all proceeds going to benefit the creative education program for local children and adolescents.

Charlie Geer es un joven y talentoso escritor y profesor de South Carolina. Charlie estuvo con nosotros en Samara por 4 semanas estudiando español y además recopilando material para su próximo libro. Su primer libro, Outbound: The Curious Secession of Latter-Day Charleston, ha ganado varios premios y dicen muchas personas que es un libro superchistoso e interesante. Vale la pena leerlo. Hablando de Charlie como persona Victor Estavonavich (Director departamento de Español Sámara) dijo, “Realmente es una persona maravillosa, curiosa y muy inteligente”. Esperemos lo mejor para Charlie en todos sus trabajos.