Costa Rica 2007

Dayton travelers have recently returned from a wonderful exchange to Turrialba, Costa Rica. The delegation had 20 members visiting a club that has 30 members. Every moment was planned with a variety of meaningful experiences. We encountered a most beautiful and fertile land with every-changing terrain. It is a politically stable and
prosperous country with a high literacy rate and a desire to protect the environment that far exceeds ours.
Turrialba not only manufactures major league baseballs but also provides hydroelectric power for Central America
and much of Mexico. Minimum wage is $1.35 an hour with gas costing $4.00 for the equivalent of a gallon of gasoline. A number of the host families did not have automobiles.
Holding umbrellas as a shield from the rain the ambassadors joined the crowds gathered along the streets of Turrialba to witness the helicopter bringing the “La Negritta” – a small statuette representing the Virgin Mary on a golden altar to visit the town. The procession passed streets adorned with flowers and garlands.
A gift of the latest award winning children’s books was presented to the school where one of the hosts was the principal. Bing Davis prints were given to the Turrialba group leaders along with a globe with a Wright Flyer to the President of the Club. At the closing session – calendar photos were carried by the ambassadors to describe where we live followed by a photo procession of flowers that grow in Dayton. Bill Patterson in Dayton did the breathtaking photography. Only the hydrangea was also grown in Turrialba.
The closing presentation in Spanish featured inventions and innovations from Dayton. In addition to Dayton’s famous inventions, innovations such as the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and the story of Kids Voting was shared. Kids voting posters were carried as the story of Costa Rica’s part in Dayton’s Kids Voting was shared. At the close of the program the Ambassadors released “Wright Bats” throughout the area. These were a hot item. (They were donated by the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park along with brochures on the park in Spanish.)