Dec. 19, 2014
On Thursday, the group was on the road by 6 a.m. and off to Guapiles, a rural town about two hours to the East near the Pacific coast. We delivered a total of 470 shoes at one daycare and three schools on Thursday — the final shoe distribution day. At the first school we pulled up to at 10:30 a.m. a huge line awaited us as some people had been waiting since 7 a.m. In all, we handed out 1,263 shoes for the week! An incredible number to think about, but even more satisfying knowing we were able to connect with so many kids and make memories that will last forever.
Megan Huebner of women’s cross country and Gabby Nesi of the lacrosse team combined for today’s blog to talk about their favorite individual moments with several kids.
Today our morning started off bright and early with a sleepy two-hour bus ride to the rural area of Costa Rica and the small town of Guapiles. A little more than half way there we stopped for breakfast at an open-air restaurant, which covered us from the morning rain. A typical delicious breakfast was served: rice, beans, eggs, and plantains (hot sauce for extra flavor).
Our day consisted of visiting four different locations, as it was our last and final day of distributions. On our way there, there was no lack of beautiful sceneries with lush rain forests and raging rivers of water. As we arrived at each distribution, the numbers of eager children and family members stretched in long lines curled around the buildings. By the time we had finished the shoe distributions for the day, we had given away 470 for the day and a total of 1,263 shoes for the entire trip! The number of shoes given away was gratifying and the opportunity to be a part of an operation of that magnitude was humbling. However the main part of this trip that we think we will all remember the most will not be the number of shoes given away, but rather the small personalized moments with the individual kids.
The two of us mostly found ourselves near the shoe-decorating table (as Baker can only draw stick figures). We found this to be a very gratifying part of the whole process because of how personalized we were able to make each shoe. One of the school teachers at a site explained to us how the black generic shoes seemed to be cold and unwelcoming but once we added designs and their names in metallic colors, they became something the children could be proud of.
From flaming soccer balls to butterflies, our drawings started to become as unique as each child. There was one instance when a little boy lit up with excitement when I (Megan) asked if he wanted a Saprissa “S” on his shoe that symbolizes the beloved Costa Rican soccer team. Another boy screamed with joy when I (Gabby) was able to replicate the Spider Man he had on his shirt to his shoes, to complete a full “Spidey” outfit.
I (Megan) will always remember the look on one little girl’s face when I showed her the rose and name I had drawn on her shoes. She exclaimed “Que Lindo!!!” (How Cute!!!), and surprised me (Megan) with a hug and kiss on the cheek. The language barrier sometimes made it difficult for us to portray their desired image, however through moments like these we were able to see how we could break language barriers and instead communicate through smiles and joyful exclamations.
We definitely knew how to keep our energies high on the bus rides between each site with Baker’s speakers and Taylor’s eclectic variety of music. After today I know for a fact that we are all athletes and not singers, however this did not stop us from singing off key and belting out the high notes while making sure to dance in our seats. On the longer stretches of our trip, when the singing came to a stop and snoring started, we didn’t dare to go to sleep for a fear of missing a moment of the Costa Rican beauty right outside of our windows.
We went straight to dinner at a restaurant in Heredia where we were given numerous options — all including rice and beans! The night ended as it usually does with hysterical laughing as we played games and bonded with each other.
As our final distribution day came to an end, we were able to look back on the many individual moments that we shared with the kids that will stick with us forever. The beautiful children and people we met gave much more to us than we had given to them. We may have given them shoes but we are so thankful for the perspective and joy that they have brought into our lives.
This little girl shows off her beautiful Minnie Mouse picture.
Jake shows off his drawing template, which made it easier for children to say which picture they wanted drawn on their shoes.
CEDCAS and Enrique, who lives in Guapiles and is on the CEDCAS board and escorted from site to site on Thursday, have had a relationship of more than 20 years.
Gabby and Hannah color with some local children at a daycare.
A truck driver gets stuck as he tries to cross a bridge overflowing with water. It had poured earlier in the day. We were supposed to cross this bridge but our bus driver, Oscar, backed up and we took an alternate route on a smaller bridge. Our amazing student-athletes wanted to get out and help the driver push his truck. But our guide Chello squashed that idea quickly, citing even the great, strong Taylor wouldn’t be able to push that truck out.
As we pulled into the first school of the day around 10:30 a.m. we were greeted by a massive line of people, some of whom had been waiting since 7 a.m. More than 150 shoes were delivered at this location.
The line waiting for us was incredible.
Megan and a boy before he gets his feet washed.
Angelo was a really funny little boy, who looked sharp in this pair of Vanderbilt shades.
Jake and Baker play frisbee with a boy, who had never thrown a frisbee until Thursday.
Vanessa laughs and blows bubbles with several little girls at the last school of the day.
