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Some of the most memorable moments of students’ time at The Bridge tend to come from Aventuras. These week-long trips to rural communities all across Costa Rica highlight everything The Bridge is about: service, community, cultural immersion, exercising positive values and hard work. The most recent Aventura was no exception.Last week, our students visited a secluded indigenous Bribri village in Costa Rica to collaborate with the community on a project at a local school, to share and understand language and culture and to learn and take part in Bribri traditions. Adventure trips at The Bridge are fantastic opportunities to break up routines and bond socially while students gain confidence, perspective, and lots of memories with their peers and staff at The Bridge. 
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Costa Rica? (eyes widen, jaw drops)... Why do we need to go to Costa Rica? Can’t we find a supportive gap community here in our home country? Sure, you certainly can. But what The Bridge offers is beyond what CAN be offered in the USA. Cultural immersion offers a fresh environment that exposes individuals to diverse ways of problem-solving and living. When young adults are struggling, it’s often because they’re trapped in ineffective patterns of behavior ingrained through repetition and environmental triggers. By immersing in a different culture, we are not merely given a new solution but are introduced to a myriad of alternatives, allowing us to see different approaches to life’s challenges and fostering hope through possibility. The new perspectives gained through cultural immersion can rejuvenate one’s ability to focus and engage more fully, ultimately paving the way for personal growth and self-discovery.  Unlike many nations, Costa Rica’s history as a peaceful nation has nurtured an environment centered on warmth, acceptance, and a welcoming spirit. This is embodied in Pura Vida: a carpe diem approach to life that prioritizes thriving over merely surviving. For students who come from backgrounds where they face constant judgment and high expectations, immersing themselves in Costa Rican culture can be a refreshing change. The emphasis on enjoying life and valuing personal connections helps them see that they are valued just as they are, reducing feelings of inadequacy and fostering a sense of belonging. The radical acceptance and joy inherent in Costa Rican culture make it a powerful antidote to the pressures found in other environments, offering young adults a transformative space to rejuvenate and embrace new futures.
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