July 8th, 2010 |
Published in
ISU Costa Rica | No comments
Today Alicia Jimenez from the Earth Charter Initative visited us at ULACIT. She led us to an interesting discussion concerning values and ethics. I really appreciated that, instead of giving a frontal-lesson, she really integrated us into her methods. With a lot of interactive activities she managed that we really got involved to the points that she wanted to demonstrate. We did an interesting activity about dilemmas we face every day and had to take individual choices. This way we recognized that our values help to design the society we are living in. Then we had to think about our own values, the values that are the base of our acting, before we had to create ethical principles in groups. It was really interesting and we learned a lot. Reflecting our own motivations that let us act – and discussing them with others – these reflective practice can help you define your own way of thinking and acting. It´s also important to keep in mind that there´s a difference between saying what values you have and acting confirm to them. I think that we really experienced the definition of education that the Earth Charter uses: Values cannot be taught, they are learned through action.
As it was Fanny’s birthday today, after learning a lot and experiencing a little earthquake, we went to a really nice bar in Tibas, listened to life-music and danced like crayz. It was a really a great day.
by Kerstin Schnoerch
July 7th, 2010 |
Published in
ISU Costa Rica | No comments
All the eager students were at the right place at the right time despite new surroundings and a jet lag, well for most of us. Class started 9am with Professor Milton Clarke who is a very colorful character and a lexicon of real life examples. I cannot imagine there being anyone better to introduce us to the great unknown of sustainable development and hopefully show us the light at the end of the tunnel. I think I am not exaggerating when I say that all of us felt inspired after the first lecture. He also set a guy in charge of the clock, to stop him if he is not able to do that himself. Thanks to the guy in charge of the time we were able to have a lunch break ;)
Then we took a quick Spanish test. No worries, the aim was just to get an understanding of our language level and divide us into 3 groups. Finally, the most awaited part of the day arrived – dancing class. Although quite shy in the beginning the hip-shaking dance moves melted the ice quickly and the room got hot hot hot. Great fun and everyone is already looking forward to the next class!
by Madli Merila
July 6th, 2010 |
Published in
ISU Costa Rica | No comments
And so it begins. Sixteen participants have flown thousands of miles across the globe, braved US airport security checks, and are now cosying up to spiders for the next month, all in the name of the INEX
Summer University course 2010; will it be worth it?
Yes, if our induction day is any indication. The generosity of the host families, tireless enthusiasm of the INEX team and meeting the other participants quickly convinced any doubters that this course would be well worth enduring much more.
After a brief introduction to the INEX Vision Tree and a warm welcome to the ULACIT university, Lorena San Roman, Vice Dean of the University of International Cooperation, gave an insightful keynote speech into sustainable development in Central America. We also heard from our sustainable tourism tour operator, Horizontes, and from our teachers for the course, though this session ended a little abruptly because of certain important Football match…
Perhaps the most useful part of the day was the cultural adaptations class by Eric Liljenstope from GlobalSolutions Group. A long-time Costa Rican resident, Eric explained everything from why Tican men thinking hissing at women is a compliment (my personal views are to the contrary) to why the average number of times Puerto Rican couples
touch each other across a coffee table is every twenty seconds whereas in this situation in Britain couples refrain from any physical contact at all! Surely the British experiment was performed in an old person’s tea rooms.
The journey home at the end of the day was less fun, with a ten-minute bus journey taking two hours due to the incessant rain and crowded buses, but it’s all part of hustle and bustle of life in San Jose Rain, car horns, and disappearing pavements will soon become a normal part of our day.
Overall, a brilliant start to what is surely going to be a fantastic program, and I can’t wait to get started properly!
Pura vida!
by Harriet Jackson
July 5th, 2010 |
Published in
ISU Costa Rica, Latin America, Summer University | 1 comment
…over the Flickr Photostream!
Bring San José, Limon’s Caribbean plains, Cahuita beach, Arenal Vulcano to your home :)
