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"I
was very impressed with the professional
manner in which the school was run. Both
the teachers and directors were very accomodating
in tailoring a program to fit my specific
skills and needs....The classes were demanding
and interesting, and after class, having
fun with the cultural activities was the
high point of my day!...My experiences with
both the school and the family were exceptional."
-- Tracy Hicks, BA Sociology / Psychology
After classes and
on weekends we offer a wide selection of
activities, conducted in Spanish. Students
should check the notice boards in reception
daily for times, sign-up sheets and specific
information. We encourage all students to
participate in as many activities as possible,
as you will find they greatly enhance your
understanding of, and connection to, the
culture.
Students interested in volunteering may
participate our non-profit Fundación
CREAR program for local children. Volunteer
work in a variety of areas, including teaching,
assistant teaching, library coordination,
or any of the many creative projects CREAR
undertakes. For more information see http://www.asociacioncrear.org
These include:
LATIN
DANCE CLASSES:You have
the opportunity to participate in classes
where you will learn salsa, merengue, cumbia
and marcado, the most popular dances in
Costa Rica. This enables you to go out to
discos and dances with confidence and interact
on a fun social level with Ticos.
COSTA
RICAN COOKING CLASS:
Once a week we teach students
how to make typical Costa Rican dishes,
a nice skill to take home and share with
friends and family!
LECTURES:
We hold periodic talks and informal gatherings
which cover a diverse range of subjects
and inform students about topics such as
the ecology and environment of Costa Rica,
Latin-American literature, politics, women's
studies and other socially and culturally
related themes.
FILM
NIGHT:
Once a week we show a film in Spanish, an
entertaining and practical way to practice
the language.
INTERCAMBIOS:
Students may sign up in the school for one
on one 'cultural exchanges', where Spanish
students meet with Tico English students
at the school to practice conversation skills
(in both languages) in a relaxed atmosphere,
and to make new friends from the local community
"FIESTAS
PATRONALES":
 These
local celebrations are held in all Costa
Rican cities and villages every year, usually
over a weekend. They are advertised throughout
the country and are an excellent source
of cultural entertainment. You can watch
bullfights "Tico" style, where
the bull is not harmed in any way, participate
in traditional games and try out a variety
of local fare.
NEW CLASSES:
 Clase de Yoga: 4 days per week, Sámara campus only
Clase de Poi (fire-dancing): monthly, Sámara campus only.
Clases Variadas, include: African dance, hula hoop, self-defense, turbo jam, and other...
CULTURAL FESTIVALS in the Sámara Area
As part of their exposure to Costa Rican culture, we highly encourage students to plan their stay so as to coincide with one of the yearly cultural celebrations held in or close to Playa Sámara. Independence Day in September, Encounter of Cultures Day/Guanacaste Celebration Festival in October, and the Pica de Leña Fiesta in November provide some of the regions highlights.
Fiestas de San Blas. These “fiestas” honour Nicoya’s Patron Saint, San Blas, with music, concerts, folkloric dance presentations, equestrian procession, bullfights, rodeo, typical foods and drink, variety of cultural activities. Held in the Cananga fairgrounds, Nicoya.
Fiestas de Santa Cruz. These regional fiestas are among the most famous in Costa Rica, with a full week of rodeo, bullfights, concerts, typical food and drink, parades, horse-shows and more. Held in Santa Cruz, approx. 50mins drive from Sámara.
Cultural Week in Nicoya y Celebration of the Annexation of Guanacaste: This festival celebrates Guanacaste’s union with the rest of Costa Rica with music, concerts, folkloric dance presentations, equestrian procession, bullfights, rodeo, typical foods and drink, variety of cultural activities. Celebrations held in Sámara and Nicoya.
Fiesta de la Virgen de los Angeles. This festival commemorates the Virgin of Los Angeles, famous for her miracle cures, with music, concerts, folkloric dance presentations, an equestrian procession, bullfights, rodeo, typical foods and drink, and a variety of cultural activities. Held in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Nicoya.
Numerous National and International Surf Competitions, hosted by local and national sponsors. Competitions are held at Sámara and other nearby beaches, and include music, food, beverages and activities. Contact us for specific dates.
Independence Day: The most important national holiday celebrates Costa Rica’s independence from Spain in 1821. The festival includes processions in Nicoya, civic celebrations in the central plaza, typical foods, music, folkloric dancing, and more. Held in Sámara and Nicoya.
Vuelta de la Soledad. Mountain Bike Endurance Race, 75kms. Participants include national and international cyclists in pro, elite, general and amateur categories. Concert and awards ceremony in the evening. Contact us for exact dates. Held in Sámara and surroundings.
Encounter of Cultures Day and the Guanacaste Celebration Festival: This combination of national and regional festivals is one of the year’s most lively and popular events. Designed to honour and celebrate the mixture of ethnicities and cultures that contribute to Costa Rican society, this festival holds Latin dance presentations and competitions; traditional comic-folkloric poetry competitions; folkloric dance presentations, civic acts, music, concerts, arts and crafts, typical foods and drink, and more. Held in Playa Sámara.
Fiesta de la Pica de Leña. This traditional woodcutters’ celebration involves a parade of typical oxcarts, marimba concerts, typical foods, live music, optional stayovers in local lodgings organized for the festival. It is a wonderful way to become involved in a true “fiesta de pueblo” and get to know the locals and share in their traditions. Held in Nicoya.
Celebración de la Yegüita. As Nicoya’s most famous legend, “la yegüita” festivals are an exciting event in this colonial city. They involve religious and civic parades; mass at the Catholic Church; typical foods in the ‘Casa de la virgen’ known as the “Cofradía;” arts and crafts, and more. Held in Nicoya.
GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY:
Intercultura supports several area environmental, social and development projects, offering logistical assistance, materials, scholarships and/or monetary donations to the following non-profit organizations:
- Torito Public school
- Sámara Public school
- CREAR Assosiation: supplementary & creative education for local schoolchildren
- Oxford University Conservation Expedition to Costa Rica
- Heredia Public School
- Carrillo Wild Animal Refuge Centre
- Heredia Domestic Animal Shelter
- Heredia State Orphanage
- Sámara Pacific School
- Sámara Sports Associations
- Heredia Homeless Groups
- Nicoya Environmental & Sustainable Farming Project
- Turtle Refuge Project
- Alajuela Clinic & Hospital
- Children's Hospital Teletón
- Sámara Community Development Association
- Heredia Emergency & Medical Relief
- Heredia & Sámara Police Force
- Drug Rehabilitation Project for Young People CREA, Heredia
For beach activities, please
see the link http://samarabeach.com/whattodo.htm |
