1. Please feel free to use these Costa Rica specific slides when creating your Meeting Power Point

2. COSTA RICA
¡PURA VIDA!

3. ¿Dónde está Costa Rica? Central America
• Between Nicaragua (to the north) and Panama (to the south)
Caribbean Sea (to the northeast) and the Pacific Ocean (to the southwest)

4. Costa Rica 1/4 the size of the state of Minnesota • Seven provinces
• Tropical rainforest cover about 7% of the world's surface and provide 50% of the world's biodiversity.

5. Experience the capital
San José
National Theater
Excellent museums
Many restaurants
Temperate climate

6. Experience the Volcanoes
Arenal (left)
Dormant until 1968
Poás
Can go to the rim of the crater (below)
Irazú
Highest active volcano in Costa Rica
Barva, Miravalles, Tenorio, Turrialba

7. Costa Rica - Volcanoes Arenal Poás Irazú
abacón Hot Springs below Arenal

8. Experience the Tropical Forests
Costa Rica has 5% of world’s flora & fauna
10,000 types of plants
2000 types of trees
1000 types of orchids
25% has been set aside as protected land;
national parks, wildlife refuges, forest reserves

9. Experience the National Parks
Thrilling Hanging Bridges
Breathtaking Zip Lines (optional activity)

10. Experience the Agriculture
Coffee and bananas
Most important exports
Other items:
Tropical fruits
Tropical flowers
Macademia nuts
Wood

11. Experience the exotic Fruits!
La guanabana (right)
El pejibaye (bottom right)
El chayote (below)

12. Experience the…
MONKEYS!

13. Experience the…
BIRDS!

14. Experience the Wildlife
Frogs!
Butterflies!
Turtles!
Sloths!

15. Experience Los Ticos Family Friends Tourists Extended family!
Close knit!
Friends
Social!
Friendly!
Tourists
Welcomed!

16. Experience the…
Sports
Art
School
Host Families!

17. Experience your Familia Tica

18. Our Family Stay Coordinators
Marcela and Michael
They work closely with the teachers in their community.
Michael and Marcela visit the schools, the teachers and the host families in their homes.
Michael and Marcela work with the teachers and the host families to make the matches.
They send L&F the list of host families 3-4 weeks before the group departs for Costa Rica.
Michael and Marcela are on call during the family stay, checking in with host families and the L&F teacher and students.
We want students AND host families to have a positive experience!

19. Host Families Apply to host a student Provide references
Are well known by their teachers and community
Are visited by our Family Stay Coordinators
Understand the benefit of creating international friendships!
Host only ONE student at a time - a UNIQUE experience for each Language & Friendship traveler!

20. Host Families - During the stay
SPEAK the language!
LIVE the culture!
OBSERVE the little things in their daily life!
IMMERSE yourself in the daily life of your FAMILIA TICA!
¡PURA VIDA!

21. Costa Rica The Experience of a Lifetime!