“Come in with an open mind and you will be rewarded with experiences and friends that you’ll remember forever.”

-Paul Murray, Excel at Amherst College leader, 2011

“Enjoy every single day of the trip and learn as much as you can in this friendly environment. Be open to interacting with others because it will allow you to create long lasting friendships! The staff is also cool!”

-Moises Estrada, Excel at Amherst College, 2011

“Make sure to pack exactly how Putney tells you to. They do a fantastic job telling you what you need. If anything, bring an extra headlamp because those come in handy. You also need to go in with an open mind. There can be quite a bit of culture shock in the beginning. While that is completely normal, being open-minded will help you get through it.”

 -Jason Rubinstein, Community Service Costa Rica 2010, Tanzania 2011

“1. Be open minded to all kinds of life, cultures, and people.

2. When traveling to your respective country on a Putney program, become aware of the    country’s history, political, and social issues

3. Be a traveler, not a tourist!”

-Lindsey Weiss, Global Awareness in Action El Salvador, 2008

Troy in Silencio, Costa Rica

Associate Director Troy Shaheen recently returned from a programming trip to the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. Read on as he recounts his visit to confirm the details of our Foundations Costa Rica program for 7th and 8th grade students and delves into the history of collaboration between Putney and this friendly community.

Last week I had the great pleasure of returning to Silencio de Tilaran, Costa Rica, having spent the summer here as one of the co-leaders of our Foundations Costa Rica program in 2011. I have wonderful memories of our summer in this small community of dairy farmers, and this programming visit was something I had been looking forward to for some time.

Silencio de Tilaran, Costa Rica

Silencio is a tight-knit community of about 30 houses linked by one dirt road, in the verdant mountain pastures that overlook Lake Arenal.  The history of the town is one forged in disaster and renewal; the town center forming in collective response to an earthquake in 1973 that destroyed the homes of the isolated farming families in the area. With all shelter, infrastructure, and order destroyed, one wealthy patrón donated a central plot of land and divided it among the handful of families who had lost their houses. Those families labored together and built a community from the rubble of the quake. No longer on their own out in the hills, they lived side by side in an environment of collaboration and mutual dependence. The community gradually advanced in infrastructure and economy, developing its pastures into efficient milk farms and acquiring running water, electricity, sanitation, government, a church, and a soccer field.

The primary school in Silencio, built by Putney programs from the ground up beginning in 1999.

Putney began sending students to Silencio in 1999 with the explicit goal of building a primary school. After several summers of tireless work from both Putney students and Silencio townspeople, the project was completed and now serves as a model primary school in the area. Each morning, smartly-dressed Silenciano students set out from their homes and make their way down the dusty road toward the school. Each member of the community is educated there before entering high school in a nearby city. We spent this past summer laying the foundation for an outdoor communal salón that connects to the back of the school. When finished, it will be used for community meetings, graduation ceremonies, and school performances.

Members of the local government enjoy a lighter moment in the outdoor classroom that Putney is currently working to complete.

I spent my visit catching up with friends in the community, playing soccer in the plaza, and discussing our plans for the coming summer in meetings local government officials. Don Edgar, the professor of the school, brought along a photo album documenting the history of collaboration between Putney and Silencio. Together, we leafed through years and years of meaningful projects, vibrant fiestas, and tearful goodbyes. I even spotted a photo of Yeison, last summer’s maestro de obras, as a young boy in his school uniform! The meeting was a powerful one. Many community members shared memories of particularly hardworking or comical Putney students. They told me of the many who have since returned to visit Silencio with their parents, spouses, or children. I was struck by how accustomed they had become to our presence each summer and how much more they knew about the narrative of Putney in Costa Rica than I did.

My return to Silencio gave me a new perspective on the history of sharing that has enriched this community and a much larger network of Putney students. I am thrilled to be involved in this ongoing partnership between Putney and Silencio and look forward to the new bonds our group will forge this summer.

Putney's first group in Silencio in 1999.

The names of the first Putney group in Silencio.

Paul Murray, Excel at Amherst College staff

Paul Murray, a leader and Video Production instructor on our Excel at Amherst College program last summer, will be returning for 2012! Check out our interview with Paul, including some great advice for incoming students. Click here to read Paul’s bio.

You’re one of quite a few 2011 Excel at Amherst College staff members returning for the 2012 summer. What was it about the experience that made you want to return?

It truly was an experience that is hard to put into words. The combination of the Putney educational model based on “experiential” learning, the staff camaraderie and the students enthusiasm for all that the program has to offer, blends to create a unique and fun community.

How would you describe the Putney Excel at Amherst College community?

It’s a community that thrives and insists on the concept of mutual respect. From the “Putney Barn” (home office) to the students (whatever their background), respect for other’s strengths, skills, and weaknesses provides a rich environment for learning and growth on many levels.

Can you talk a little bit about the relationships your forged with students and other staff?

You participated in a Community Service Tanzania program with Putney in 2005, can you tell us a little bit about your experience?

I wanted to do something different. Most kids in my high school were leaving to go on their Senior Week trips. I, however, embarked on a life-changing experience. I made new friends, learned some Swahili, and learned a lot about myself.

Working with local people on a project that benefits a community is one of the best feelings in the world. Admittedly, I got addicted to it on this trip. I gained self confidence and I learned to be more open-minded.

Tristan, left, during his Kilimanjaro summit with Community Service Tanzania leader Lee Rosberg

Tell us a little bit about your decision to stay in Tanzania following the program and summit Mount Kilimanjaro with your leader.

I remember it all very well. We were on a group walk during the program with the rest of the Community Service Tanzania students. Lee, one of our leaders, mentioned in passing that he was going to climb Kilimanjaro afterwards and kind of jokingly asked if anyone would like to join him. I told him I would love to! He seemed surprised but was excited to have a companion on the trip.

I had to work out a lot of the details with my parents, but everything went perfectly smooth and a week after the program ended I was going on another great adventure.

What was the ascent like? How did it feel to successfully reach the summit?

I did not know much at the time about Kilimanjaro, apart from it being the tallest mountain in Africa. Lee was very knowledgeable, however. Among many things, he explained that there are six zones. We started in Cultivated Areas then hiked through Rain Forest, Heath, Moorland, Alpine Desert and finally the Summit. My favorite part was the Moorland and the trees that had been shaped by the strong winds.

We woke up around two in the morning on the day we were to summit. The plan was to get to the top just before sunrise using flashlights. As we got higher up I started to feel the onset of altitude sickness. The classic headache and nausea set in. I remember sitting down for a minute thinking I was not going to make it. Our guide came up to me and just smiled and held out his hand to lift me up. That was all it took to get me back on track.

I have tried many times, to no avail, to explain to friends and family what it was like to see the sunrise at the summit. No words or pictures will ever do it justice. You really have to experience it for yourself.

What are you up to these days? Can you connect the dots between that summer and today?

After that trip I went to college at Drexel University and majored in International Business. After that I applied and was accepted into the Peace Corps in Ecuador. I am currently working in Ecuador and will be done with my two years in August.

I can definitely connect the dots between the Tanzania trip and where and who I am today. I would not be the same person I am today had I not gone on the trip. Writing this is bringing back a whole lot of great memories.

I hope to make it back to Mlangarini, the village where we worked, to see the tree I planted before we left. I told the people I would come back some day and that is a promise I intend to keep.

Do you have any advice for students about to embark on their first Putney program this summer?

Be open-minded and try new things. This is the best time to break out of your shell and find out who you really are.

I almost did not drink the goat’s blood that was offered to me. It’s a Massai cultural tradition, and there was no pressure from them to try it. I was grossed out by it at first, but eventually I gave it a shot and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I am glad I have that memory instead of not trying it and wondering, what if I did try it?

And remember, HAVE FUN! You will remember the trip for the rest of your life.

Which seminars did you take this summer with Excel at Amherst College? What did you get out of these courses? I took Architecture and Fashion Design. These courses taught me to be a better designer.  I learned new themes and techniques like elevations in architecture and croquis plus alterations in Fashion. The seminars really helped me focus my passions.

Moises works with fabrics in his Fashion and Design seminar.

How would you describe the staff? What sort of activities did you do? My teachers were great. I wouldn’t change anything about them or the way that they taught. It was clear that they loved what they were doing and that they truly were sharing their passion with us. They were always helping me out and encouraging me to alter certain things to make the outcome better. I put on a fashion show for Fashion and Design and I designed a final residency for a specific place which was great because we were able to showcase it at the final night!

What do you remember about the community throughout the summer? How would you describe your fellow students? What I remember the most was the first night. We went bowling and I was able to interact with a lot of students. The students here are very diverse, fun, kind and very, very social. The sense of community made me want to stay much longer after the program ended.

Moises presents his work at the Excel fashion show.

Can you describe a particular activity, excursion, or moment that has stuck with you throughout the school year? I think the excursion to Montreal, Canada, has stuck with me the most because it made me feel very independent. We were there during a Canadian celebration day and it was great to see part of their culture as well. Also, seeing Montreal Jazz concert was pretty interesting. I enjoyed every minute of it.

We here at the Putney barn have caught wind of your exciting plans to study Architecture and Fashion in college next year. Can you tell us a little bit about that? Being that it is my last year in high school, I have been researching colleges that offer great programs in Architecture and Fashion Design. I have been accepted so far to Savannah College of Art and Design, Otis College of Art and Design, California College of Arts, and Sacramento State. I have received great scholarship offers and I plan on attending California College of the Arts in the fall!

What sort of advice do you have for a student preparing to embark on a summer with Excel at Amherst College? I would say to enjoy every single day of the trip and learn as much as you can in this friendly environment. Be open to interacting with others because it will allow you to create long lasting friendships! The staff is also cool!

Special thanks to students Patrick T., Dan S., Cyndi B., and staff member Paul Murray for their accompaniment on guitar, ukulele, and voice!

Zoe Barbati, Excel at Amherst College 2011

Zoe Barbati participated in Putney’s Excel at Amherst College program in 2011. The program’s international community had a particularly positive impact on Zoe and it reignited her interest in the Spanish language. After a stellar summer at Amherst, she will be joining Putney once more on our Language Learning Costa Rica program in 2012. Read on as Zoe describes her experience at Amherst and gives advice to future students.

First off, can you tell us a little bit about your experience as a participant in Putney’s 2011 Excel at Amherst College program?

Having the opportunity to spend part of my summer on Excel Amherst was easily one of the best experiences I’ve had. I was eager to spend the three weeks away from my home in Pennsylvania, but I remember coming on the first day extremely nervous and thinking about everything that could possibly go wrong. However, as soon as I got there I felt at ease because everyone was so genial and welcoming. It was easy to make friends because everyone was in the same position, coming to Amherst from literally all over the world. I had no idea that people came to Excel Amherst internationally, so it was amazing to become friends with people from places like Spain, France, and Italy.

I really loved Excel Amherst because there was a perfect balance between free time and planned activity time. This was great because you never found yourself bored, but at the same time you weren’t being forced from place to place without any down time. Amherst is a beautiful college town and college campus, so it was awesome that we got to walk into town and get a meal or shop around in between our classes or in the evening. The classes were all really engaging and because you got to choose what classes you signed up for, you got to immerse yourself in something you were really interested in. I took psychology and video production which were two classes I never had time to take in school, but interested me immensely. On the weekends, we went away on excursions. These were also a lot of fun because we got to pick the trip we went on and what we did when we were there. I chose to go to Montreal for the first weekend and we all went to Boston for the second weekend.

Overall, I had an amazing experience with Excel at Amherst College and I cannot say enough about how much I loved my summer there.

What excursions or other experiences stood out as your favorites?

First of all, I really loved Montreal. It is a place I would probably never go with my family, so it was nice to get to see the city. I remember the first day we were there we walked into the Old City, and it happened to be Canada Day. There was a huge celebration that we accidentally stumbled upon and got to join in with.

I also did the soccer clinic – which I loved. It was really laid back and as long as you were willing to give the effort you could join in and play. I had signed up to keep up my fitness heading into my high school and club soccer seasons and it was great to have the opportunity to play soccer while at Amherst.

What was your social experience like? Can you talk a little bit about the diversity and community of the Excel at Amherst College program?

As I said before, I had no idea that such a significant portion of the people at Excel Amherst were international students. I would say about one third of the students came from outside of the U.S., coming from all over Europe, Asia, and South America. This was fantastic and provided for an amazing social experience. I can now say I have friends all over the world because of the people I met. My roommate was from the U.S., but the girl who was in the room next to us was from Spain so my roommate and I would visit her room every night and we’d all talk. Another thing that sticks out in my mind was during lunch one day, my friend and I were sitting in one of the TV rooms in the dining hall watching the Women’s World Cup, USA vs France. The room was crowded, mainly with people from a soccer camp that was also using the Amherst College campus. Just as the French National Team walked out onto the pitch for the game, three of the French boys burst into the room and starting singing La Marseillaise as loud as they could then left the room as quickly as they came, much to the bewilderment of all the people there. All of this made for amazing atmosphere and community at Excel. Everyday, you grew closer to all the other people there and at the end it was a very tearful goodbye because we all felt like one big family.

Do you still keep in touch with anyone from the summer?

Of course! There are a few people that I became really good friends with and I’m still in close touch with, and we have a facebook group for everyone who went on the program so we can all keep in touch with one another.

You’ll be joining us again this summer on Language Learning Costa Rica. What made you choose this particular program?

I’m very excited to go to Costa Rica this summer because I really want to improve my Spanish! Before Excel Amherst, I took Spanish and I was decent at it, but I had no interest in pursuing it past high school. During the program at Amherst however, I became friends with some of the students from Spain, and I would always talk to them (mostly in English, but bits and pieces in Spanish). That’s when language and specifically the Spanish language really began to fascinate me for the first time. I realized how amazing it would if, by the time I am an adult, I could speak fluent Spanish. I have made this my goal and going to Costa Rica is certainly a good start. The main reason I picked Costa Rica was that I wanted a program that really focused on improving my Spanish – something which seemed to be the basis of the Language Learning trips.

What are your hopes for the summer?

This summer I really want to improve my conversational Spanish. The Spanish we learn at school is typically very “textbook” and formal. I know a lot of vocabulary words and grammatical concepts, but it’s still hard for me to have a conversation in Spanish with people. I am also really excited to learn more practical Spanish and informal Spanish. 

Do you have any advice for future Excel at Amherst College students?

I would say the best thing you can do is be as open and friendly as possible. There are so many amazing and interesting people there, so try to make friends with as many of them of as you can. Don’t be nervous and remember almost everyone comes to the program not knowing a single person, just like you probably will. Also, get involved with as many activities and excursions as you can because there are so many things there that you would maybe never get to do regularly. Last of all, never be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

Jason in Santa Lucia, Costa Rica

We recently had the great pleasure of catching up with Jason Rubinstein, a 2010 Community Service Costa Rica and 2011 Community Service Tanzania alum. Jason returned this year with his parents to the Costa Rican village in which his program lived and worked. Read on as we interview Jason about his summer in Costa Rica, his return visit with his family, and his exciting new adventure at The University of Michigan next year!

We here at the Putney Barn were recently informed of your return to Santa Lucia, the village you lived and worked in as a member of our 2010 Community Service Costa Rica program. Can you first tell us a little bit about your program?

Our program in Santa Lucia was fantastic. It was the first time Putney had gone to this specific village and we had no idea what to expect. Likewise, the villagers had no idea what to expect either. It was amazing! Our work in the village consisted of painting the local church, sanding and painting walls, a little bit of cement work, and teaching English. Each day after work, there would be a local soccer game. I loved playing in these games even though I’m not very good!

We also took many trips to local fincas (farms) that the villagers wanted to show us. And of course, we had the wonderful excursions: white water rafting, living in an eco-lodge near Arenal Volcano, and zip-lining. The meals (rice and beans) were fantastic, and even the cold shower wasn’t too bad! It was an amazing experience!

We also were lucky enough to have two of the most amazing leaders ever. Jesus Ruiz and Fiona Littlejohn-Carillo are two of the most intelligent and friendly people I have ever met. They are truly like siblings to me.

Jason, right, and fellow Community Service Costa Rica 2010 students

Tell us about your recent visit. How did it feel to be back in Santa Lucia?

I would first like to thank Putney’s local coordinator, Martiza, for making the visit possible! She is a remarkable person and helped us immensely!

At first it was really strange to be back in the village without my group. For the first time, everyone was focusing on me! When I stepped out of the car, the people in the village immediately screamed and ran over to hug me. It had been about two years since I had been there and they greeted me as if I never left. It was really awesome knowing that they still consider me part of their community. It was especially nice to see Doña Enid (our cook), Don Hugo (our maestro de obras) and Lillian who secretly helped me to do my laundry. Please don’t tell my leaders!

It was also interesting to see my parents’ reactions to the village. Before the visit, they only knew about Santa Lucia from my pictures and my stories from the program. They initially seemed a little bit surprised at how different the lifestyle and living accommodations were, but soon realized how welcoming the community was. They immediately realized why I trusted and cared for these people so much.

Jason and Maritza, our local contact, with both of their families

What sort of memories did your visit conjure up?

While looking at the church that we worked on, I started remembering how much work it was. Don Hugo taught Georgia Goodman, Linzy Rakestraw, and me how to mix cement and, to be honest, it wasn’t easy!

Walking around the village, I remembered playing soccer with locals. Even though I was probably the worst one on the field, I remembered all the support I got from my peers and the community members. I remembered sleeping under my mosquito net. I remember the howler monkeys, the bugs, and the nature. All good memories.

Jason and fellow Community Service Costa Rica students at work on the church

What are you up to these days? How have your experiences with Putney influenced your outlook on things today?

I am on the verge of finishing my senior year at Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois. Next year I will be attending the University of Michigan and will be studying Pre-Med/Vet Sciences. If there is one thing my Putney trips to Costa Rica and Tanzania taught me, it is to be appreciative of what I have. Whether it be a fantastic education system, or even just a warm shower, Putney has taught me to relish the little things in life. I am forever grateful for this lesson.

Jason and Maritza

Do you have any advice for Putney students anxious to embark on their first program this summer?

Make sure to pack exactly how Putney tells you to. They do a fantastic job telling you what you need. If anything, bring an extra headlamp because those come in handy. You also need to go in with an open mind. There can be quite a bit of culture shock in the beginning. While that is completely normal, being open-minded will help you get through it. Putney trips can be life changing, and with an open mind everything will be more fun! I highly recommend the Costa Rica and Tanzania trips!

Santa Lucia, Costa Rica, 2010

Santa Lucia, Costa Rica, 2012