Cyclones Serve in La Guaria, Piedras Blancas, Costa Rica

Upon embarking on this project, our team was unified in a goal to serve the community, challenge our own personal ideas and broaden our cultural awareness. While we were excited to engage in a service project that was built around collaboration alongside the community, we were surprised by the immense impact it left upon each and every one of us. Immediately upon our arrival Sunday evening, we were greeted with dancing and a distinctive sense of joy which remained throughout the entire week.

            The first morning, we jumped into action building a cement sports court. Everyone attacked difficult work with a cheerful attitude and a strong work ethic. That first day, the main takeaway was we were all surprised by how hard the community worked alongside us – from kids as young as seven to members as old as 78. This immediately set the tone within our groups and fostered a profound sense of respect and community. These relationships were deepened through our homestays - our team was split among eight different homes – each giving our team members a special ability to bond in a very short amount of time. Of all our experiences on this trip, we agree that this was one of the most impactful components. The community showed genuine curiosity about our culture and lifestyles in America. Our conversations served to grow a sense of trust and belonging that allowed our team members to discuss important sociopolitical and cultural differences that broadened our perspectives in a way that couldn’t have been done at Iowa State.

            We were blessed with good weather, which allowed us to complete the court in two and a half days. By the third day, our collaboration with the community had evolved into an effort that surpassed our language barrier, and coupled with our grit and determination, provided a seamless work environment that felt incredibly special. Because we finished the court early, we were able to do additional projects in the community: Mowing the soccer field, additional concrete work at the local school and tarping a greenhouse were all projects we completed before the weather turned sour.

            Alongside our bond with the community, a special aspect of this trip was our team’s unity in everything we did. In each person, small transformations occurred that drew us closer together, despite the fact that most of us played different sports and came from differing backgrounds. The team walked away from the experience with several different takeaways. First, that “richness” is a matter of cultural perspective – we were constantly amazed at the community’s joyfulness despite being in the midst of what many Americans would consider “poverty.” They emphasized many times that their wealth came from the abundance of Costa Rican nature, faith and community. Geylin (pronounced Haley, one of the community leaders) told us that money was a superficial thing; if we became terminally ill like so many in this world, it didn’t matter how much money we had. Secondly, we pondered the differences between providing and sharing. Providing for someone can often be impersonal or transactional affair, whereas sharing involves significant self-sacrifice and an invitation to enter in to that person’s life. We all felt that the community shared rather than provided for us.

Lastly, as we began our departure process for the U.S., we remembered the words that Sofia, our Courts for Kids guide, and team leader told us: creating an environment that replicates what we experienced in Costa Rica will not be easy. However, graciously giving our time, attention and energy to invite those around us into a personal relationship can ultimately be a powerful culture-changing experience.

As a team, this is what we experienced at Costa Rica and most certainly what we want to cultivate at Iowa State University. In an effort to step into something that was personally challenging and others-oriented, we were blessed in ways we never could have imagined. ~Lindsey Long and Zach Streuber, Iowa State Faculty Members

Thank you for all of this. It is an experience where two countries of different cultures exchanged ties and came together. I know that this group of athletes who joined our community are champions and showed that their heart is not made of money, but of love for humanity; the humility of each of them left traces in each one of us. They showed us that in our community we can work together and achieve a lot. I know that in our beloved La Guaria, they learned to dance, to make tortillas, they knew our culture and our food, and that fills us with pride. I also know that they have open doors in our families. The farewell still hurts. Thank you for contributing, not only with the court, but for everything you left. I know we have no way to pay for this happy project. And to you Sofia, thank you because you were the key to win this triumph and to Mr. Derek Nesland and his wife thank you for giving us the opportunity to have a multipurpose court, it is a dream for the community of La Guaria.  Always grateful for your trust in our project. Geylin María Rojas Vargas, Community Leader

Something I learned from the community is how to have fun in life. They were always laughing, smiling, and joking. With each other even in the blazing heat.(...) It is easy to be negative and complain about the bad, but they do not even see the bad, rather they focus on to good.(...) I think this trip has lit a spark in me: I feel inspired, so so happy, I have a better outlook and perspective on life. ~Mary Kate King, Iowa State student athlete

When we see someone they look you in the eye and say hello. The community shows in many ways how much they care for you. When talking with them, they are present in the conversation. They listen because they care. (...) The people around you and the love you share is something that has infinite value, Pura Vida to me made me realize in this world so many people base happiness off of money.  ~Corinne Guist, Iowa State student athlete

I want to shift my focus to be less selfish and self-centered to more giving and thoughtful to others’ needs. I am someshat fearful to go home because we are stepping back into a way of life that is self-focused and superficial and money driven. The community members are so much happier. Why? Because they focus on love and each other more than their own personal gains. (...) One thing I would want to continue  with this team we created is to stay connected like the community. I will make the effort to bring us together. Pura vida. ~Morgan Kane, Iowa State student athlete

As I have learned on this trip that there is more to life than fixation on my sport and that certain things really are truly not the end of the world at all. My outlook on life has developed into a more family oriented, compassionate, view that has brought me to realize that relationships and memories or experiences are truly what matters most in life, not my success in my sport or the accomplishments that I achieve because at the end of the day, if your family and friends are non-existent, you really have nothing of true and meaningful value. Lauren McConnell, Iowa State student athlete

This trip opened my eyes to how big this world really is and how many people live different lives than us. (...) There are so many good people and good things we don't hear about. This trip taught me that even though they live different lives in different cultures, great people exist and are ready to act in positive ways. Different doesn't necessarily mean bad, we just have to be open and willing to find the good in people’s differences. Sadie Baich, Iowa State student athlete

Every night my roommate and I would return home to spend time with our host mom and her two little kids. Seeing how happy we made the kids just by spending time with them also make me so happy. We formed a connection we will remember for the rest of our lives. Georgia Wimmer, Iowa State student athlete

I feel like this trip has had an impact that will last forever inside me. It taught me how much people can mean to you in a short period of time. It taught me to be grateful for all the little things I may have back home, and one of many more things it taught me is a smile can go a long way when meeting or looking at someone. Cade Schmidt, Iowa State student athlete

I found myself routinely pausing whatever I was doing to appreciate everything around me- the people, the nature, the emotions, and the impacts. I was experiencing pure joy and wanted to soak everything in.   Ashley Bengtson, Iowa State student athlete

I also got along very well with the workers, they made me feel like I was family. They taught, laughed, and joked around with me while working in such dreadful weather. Corey Cabanban, Iowa State student athlete

Something I learned from the community is to always stay present in the moment. You may never know what kind of day or the battles people may be facing, because of their pure happiness and their constant smiling. This has taught me to live more in the moment and appreciate the joys I can experience rather than stressing about the past of future. And to always have a smile on my face. ~Rachel Wilke, Iowa State student athlete

In the community, it became clear to me that we have so many similarities with everyone and those similarities should be used to unite everyone. The differences are what make us special. What a boring world it would be if we were all the same. ~Makayla Maxwell, Iowa State student athlete

For me it was something very nice because we all put a grain of sand, we are all very grateful with many blessings: happy children and young people .... Very hard work but with many profits, thank you. Very brave young people and thanks to you. Berta Mora Fallas, Community Member

My experience with the project was fantastic🤩.. I never thought that it would be achieved. I believed it was unattainable because there are so many places in Costa Rica and that our town was chosen was something wonderful ... Apart from that, each of the people who came to be part of completing the court, had their own essence.That for me was great and making friends with them, will last a lifetime 💞.. . While we worked as a team all together, we also laughed, we had a great time and at the same time, we worked. I learned many things from them, they also have a very big and beautiful heart. I loved putting into practice the little I knew of English. This project was great, now every day we use the court, both children and teenagers and even adults with all the sports we can do 🏀⚽🏐🛹🤸🏽‍♀️🛼 ...Thank you very much to all the people who helped to get the project done. Everything was excellent, I loved everything♥️♥. Sahori Chavarría Aburto (Jaky), Community Member