Hi everyone! I am Cade, and I’m a senior in the BSN program. I am spending a week in Costa Rica to learn more about the community and Costa Rican culture. Today we went to the town of El Cocal and visited the primary school. At the school we provided education to kids in kindergarten, 4th grade, and 5th grade. The education included topics about nutrition, safety using social media, drugs and smoking, and exercising. During the education we provided different activities to engage the kids listening and put the education into perspective. To simulate using alcohol they wore goggles covered in plastic wrap blurring their vision and making it hard for them to see. To simulate respiratory distress from smoking we also had the kids cover their nose and breathe from a straw. I really enjoyed interacting with the kids and seeing them engaged in the activities. It was so eye opening seeing the appreciation and excitement they had from us visiting. Additionally, the local doctor was there to provide information related to healthcare and resources available to the community.
After visiting the school we had lunch served to us by the local coordinator, Giovanni. He was welcoming and happy to have us visit the community. He provided insight to struggles faced by members of the community and how the community has improved. Under his supervision, the town has seen a heightened sense of community, increased space for outdoor activities, and more wellness promotion. We also walked around and received a tour of the main road that cuts through the town. Here we were able to see where members of the community live and view the surroundings. This provided a lot of insight to their daily lives and what they have available. One thing that stuck out to me is the strong sense of community in this area between all the citizens.
El Cocal is somewhat isolated from the town of Quepos. We had to take a ferry over a river to reach the community.
