Saying good-bye to our new friends at Finca Esperanza Verde (FEV) was sad. The staff made our stay so memorable and wonderful. After a delightful breakfast of fresh banana bread and jam with a slice of French toast, the staff gathered to say good-bye to our group.
Last Breakfast at FEV
Next we gathered our things and were off to visit a rural, primary school on our way to San Ramon. The truck was parked and we hiked up a steep dirt path to the top of the hill to the school. It was muddy, full of ruts and the path the children take each and every day to their school.
When we arrived, we were greeted by the community leader, the teacher, as well as several students and their families. Again, it was their summer break, but they took time out of their day to greet us.
The children were so sweet and well-behaved. The classroom, while barren in comparison to U.S. classrooms, had many of the same characteristics of classrooms around the world.
I noticed immediately that they weren’t enough desks for all of the children and many of the desks were broken, with the seat intact but the writing desk was long gone. I asked about help for this school, specifically, and my donation was guided to the Sister Communities of San Ramon, website www.san-ramon.org which has helped build 6 rural primary schools in San Ramon, as well as supporting healthcare, water projects, environment preservation, etc.
After a delightful morning, we were ready for the hike down, grabbing a fresh orange for nourishment. Back in the trucks, we’re off for San Ramon to meet our guest host families and become acquainted in the community.
Fork Lore 