After weeks of working hand-in-hand with the community of Silencio, yesterday we said goodbye and gave thanks in an emotional fiesta de despedida (goodbye party). We invited nearly the entire town to spend the afternoon and the evening together eating good food, exchanging gifts of gratitude, and dancing!

Living and working in Silencio has been an important part of this program for the students. Through service, the students get to know a very different side of Costa Rica and visibly contribute to the development of this wonderful village. The people of Silencio have welcomed Putney students every year for almost 15 years and yesterday’s celebration was a testament to the great relationship we have with the community.

Here are a few photos from our despedida yesterday – we hope you get a sense of the great experience our students have had here and the warmth with which the community took us in!