Junior and senior members of the Elon University football team are in Costa Rica as a part of the Elon Commitment to its students achieving a global experience. Check in to elonphoenix.com to view updates of the program from its athletes on the overall experience! Be sure to also check out posts and updates on the team's social media accounts on Twitter and Instagram.

Connor Christiansen gives insight to some of the highs (and lows) from the journey.
 
Before we get to today, I need to tell you about yesterday. We had a wonderful day, and were capping the night off by relaxing around town playing competitive games of ping pong and foosball. We were getting ready to head back to the hotel when I went to grab my bag, but it was gone. My wallet, cellphone, ID, credit cards, cash, and souvenirs that I had just bought were all gone. I was more than upset. I went to bed mad at myself. And I woke up mad at everything and everyone.
 
I was not myself this morning. I reluctantly rolled out of bed, wanting only to be home. The last thing I wanted to do was go and work for hours in the scorching sun. I complained about my breakfast and sat by myself on the bus on the way to Uvita town, to Geoporter, and didn't say a word to anybody. We got to the project site and divided up into groups, I was with Brandon, RJ, and Petroni. We started off by sanding down the bodega, before our next project, which was building a doorway and adding a wall to the same bodega. Other jobs that my teammates worked on included digging a well, painting, building wooden plant beds, and building an outhouse.
 
We all worked very hard. Everyone was drenched in sweat, but in high spirits because we were helping good people. We finished up our work for the day and headed to a local restaurant for burgers and fries. The American meal was great, and a nice substitute for our normal meal of rice and beans. But I was still letting my situation get the best of me.
 
And then we went to Escuela La Flor de Bahia, a local school for kids from first to sixth grade. We walked into the school and saw all the young faces staring at us in excitement. They were making so much noise as they just wanted to bust out of their classrooms to come talk to us. They all got out and each student went in a line and did a cool handshake that all of us players caught on to quickly. The principal then started to take us on a tour, but that didn't last all that long, we weren't the best tourists because the majority of us were more interested in playing with the kids. We didn't speak the same language, but it didn't matter. I saw Ike and Dom getting chased down by a herd of kids, Dom slipped and fell, much to the delight of everyone (sorry, bro). Demetrius and I were throwing kids up into the air, as the others fought for who got to go next. The kids asked us for our autographs on pieces of paper. Professor Bravo told me that she witnessed one girl hi-five one of our guys and then she ran off yelling to her friends that she would never wash her hand again. These kids were amazing.
 
Then came my favorite moment of the day. I speak the English language and that's it. Trying to speak Spanish with these kids was difficult for me, and I imagine frustrating for them. A sixth grade boy walked over to me, chest out and chin up, with a cocky smile on his face and this is how the conversation went:
 
Pablo: "Hello, my name is Pablo."
 
I was so surprised to hear English.
 
Me: "Hello Pablo, my name is Connor, how old are you? "
 
Pablo: "I'm good, thanks!"
 
I knew he completely guessed on what I asked him. But I hi-fived him and turned around and couldn't contain my laughter. It was so innocent yet so perfect. In that moment of laughter I realized what really mattered. I can't let a lost phone and wallet ruin my day. This amazing experience was right in front of me and I couldn't afford to miss out because I was worried about things that really didn't matter in that moment. These kids, Pablo and his friends, are what this trip is all about. We all saw something today that made us realize how blessed we are to have everything we have, from simple air conditioning to a nice campus to call our school. Those kids didn't have that, but they were the happiest people I had ever met in my life.
 
This has been the best trip, with the best guys I know, and we have met some incredible people along the way. Thank you, Elon, for letting this dream come to fruition. Thank you, Pablo, for making me laugh. And thank you, God, for making Costa Rica.
 
Blessings, Connor
Pura Vida!
 
PS: I recovered my wallet and phone. So that's all okay. All that worry and frustration for nothing.
 
Also, I am 11-0 in pool and 2-0 in foosball. If anybody would like to come to Costa Rica to give me some competition I'd love it.