Planting flowers and memories!

Today is our second time traveling to Parque La Libertad to finish our garden we started last week! This morning for breakfast my Momma Tica made my roommate and I pan, frijoles, and fruta, and of course coffee! I was extremely full after! After breakfast my roommate and I walked to the bus stop to meet the group. I brought my tote bag that I bought at the Heredia market the day before.

Once arriving to Parque La Libertad our group was split into four little groups to divide up the work. I was the group leader of group number three (the best group). My group's assignment was to remove the grass and soften the dirt so flowers can be planted. I was extremely proud of my group for all of the hard work we did. When our part was complete there was not a single blade of grass on the ground and the dirt was the softest dirt ever!

Here is a picture of all of us after we finished the garden. I hope the garden will make the children and people who walk past it smile.

After completing our project we received a tour of Parque La Libertad.

The place was very beautiful and I appreciate their contributions to recycling. There was a building that used recycled bottle caps as decorations. We even got to tour the center for children and teenagers. The center is an amazing resource for lower income families to provide a fun and safe space for them. I wish I could have stayed there all day. To complete to tour we were shown an amazing piece of art made out of gasoline and oil barrels. The colors were so vibrant!

Look at our Super hero poses :)

After the tour it was time for lunch! We were all so hungry. I am vegetarian so my Momma Tica made me Veggie meatballs and rice. My lunch was delicious. Once lunch was complete it was time for us to take our bus back to Heredia. I love sitting by the window watching the city go past.

When we arrived to Heredia me and a few friends went to the mall to grab one of my favorite snacks ever, McDonald's fries. They were just what I needed!

I am so glad I was able to participate in this service learning activity. It gave me the opportunity to learn more about the Costa Rican community and it gave me the opportunity to learn more about my peers. We did not just plant flowers today, we planted memories as well!

Kindly,

Haley Mcknight