Costa Rica Return - DELAYED

Dear Parents,

Lightening storms in San Jose, Costa Rica, have led to a 3+ hour delay in this afternoon's departure from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). Consequently, the group has missed their connecting fight to SFO this evening. Because there is no other good option out of MIA tonight, the group will stay in Miami and return on the best available flight option  tomorrow, Sunday, June 11. Thus the group is now booked at WoodSpring Suites Doral Miami, a 3-star hotel, at or near the airport. The group should arrive there by about 6:30 pm PST if you’d like to check in with them. Here is the front desk number: +1 786-533-3636

Tomorrow’s flight itinerary is a long day in transit:  

Sunday, June 11: 

MIA to ORL — AA2124: 12:11 pm - 1:30 pm

ORL to PHX - AA 2118: 6:31 pm - 8:03 pm

PHX to SFO - AA 686: 8:29 - 10:32 pm

 

Please plan to meet and hug your children at American Airlines arrivals / baggage claim tomorrow at 10:32 pm. They will no doubt be tired.

Given this unfortunate travel delay, our re-entry day activities and the dinner celebration scheduled for tomorrow evening is cancelled. We’ll survey the students and possibly reschedule something for early in the fall when we return. But there is something important about revisiting experience when it is fresh in the heart and mind. So while I know you’ll do this anyway, I want to give you additional encouragement to engage with your children when they return around their Menlo Abroad experiences.  Ask your children what they learned, what they felt, and how they’ve grown. Ask them what changes for them now that they’re on the other side of the Costa Rica experience. Ask them to share any reflections they care to and may have written during their time in Cahuita. Transformation comes from reflecting on experience as much as from the experience itself, so the more your children can reflect and make meaning of what happened, the better. 

Thank you for trusting us with your children these three weeks and a special thank you to Justin, Ella, Lucia, and Randall: The trip would not have been possible without their competence, exuberance, skill, knowledge, and constant concern for your children!  And thanks to Joan Barada for all the help and support with medical needs.

While this trip is not ending the way we originally planned, and it has not ended yet, I look forward to it ending well — tomorrow at SFO.

We’ll see you there!

Peter Brown
Global Programs Director
History Instructor
Menlo School
650-330-2001 x2238