Dia de Independencia Celebration

On Friday, we celebrated "Dia de Independencia" - "Independence Day" - in Costa Rica. The teachers (las profesoras) of CINCEL treated us to a special program filled with music (including the Costa Rican national anthem and various folk songs), traditional dancing provided by a local children's dance group and a traditional Costa Rican meal. What a great time we had! Today (Monday) was the actual holiday. At 4:30 a.m. we were awakened by incredibly LOUD fireworks and a marching band in the street in our neighborhood. There were no classes today so we walked to Mall San Pedro and had arroz con pollo at the Food Court. Classes resume on Tuesday. (Please click on pictures to enlarge.)

Pork tamales wrapped and cooked in banana leaves.

Some of our faculty (las profesoras) in traditional dress.

Two of the American missionaries' children in Tico (Costa Rican) costume.

The children's dance group.