Building bridges were one of the ways students in WeGo Global spent their summer. Whether they were friendships from across the world or building a suspension bridge to help the community of Sardinal, Costa Rica.

WeGo Global adviser Maggie Haas and social studies teacher Sandra Wilson accompanied the students.

“Each group that went did a little bit of the bridge. So the first group dug a hole and made the concrete supports and the second group dug the hole on the other side of the bridge. What our group did was we helped prep the metal side supports for it and finish filling in the hole,” Haas said.

Other people from the village helped. According to Haas, the villagers were frustrated at first that the bridge was being built but they began to help out when they realized that the different organizations helped to fund supplies for the bridge.

“My favorite memory about Costa Rica was after we finished building the bridge the locals invited us to come stay on their porch. They had an orange tree and we were all sitting around eating oranges and joking. It seems very simple but it was very fun,” senior Emily Roldan said.

Besides helping build the bridge, WeGo Global went sightseeing, zip-lined in Guachepelin and snorkeled.

“Costa Rica is such a beautiful place. It was very cool to connect with these people in Costa Rica even though it is a place far away. There was so much culture there and it was such a cool experience,” senior Kirsten Miller said.

According to Haas, the trip served as a way for students to step out of their comfort zone.

“Not everyone spoke Spanish. So it was good to be in a different culture that wasn’t their own. There were about 35 kids in total from other high schools. Students got to learn the countries food, language, and customs,” Hass said.

As students developed close relationships with one another, it was hard to say goodbye.

“I had reverse culture shock when I came back. It was a huge shock to me. For me, it was hard to come home. We were all crying, it was sad but it happens,” Roldan said.

Students noted the difference between the culture of America and Costa Rica.

“Although they do live a much more simple life (than in the United States) it is not so much about the electronics in Costa Rica, they are always busy doing something. It was so hard coming home because the people there are so kind and it was really great getting to know all of these people and getting to make lots of friends,” Miller said.