The idea of raising your family in a different country and culture can be overwhelming to some parents. However, with a bi-lingual private school in the Costa Ballena area it is becoming a real possibility for many young families. Previously it was only an option to raise a family in a larger city like San Jose that had English speaking schools, amenities, and international communities. The beach towns were considered rural and had only small public schools and only taught in Spanish. People would think you were crazy to go live in the jungle to raise your children. Now that is all changing and especially in the Southern Zone and Costa Ballena.
We have a young daughter in pre-school here and another one that will be joining soon enough and consider it an opportunity, not a challenge to raise our family here. The community in the Dominical Area is multi-cultural and has people from all over the globe living here, so it is a microcosm of the World in one little corner of paradise. Also the incredible flora and fauna are a part of our everyday life and give the children a true appreciation for the environment and ecosystems in which we live. Not to mention all the outdoor activities there are to enjoy as a family.
The Escuela Verde is an eco-friendly private school located just South of Uvita and has recently been accredited by the Costa Rica government. Currently the curriculum goes up through 4th grade and the school plans to expand in the coming years. Their philosophy is to teach through experience in order to inspire the children to reach their maximum potential. This is achieved by exploration their surroundings, participating in the community, conserving the environment, learning to make individual decisions, and help build self esteem. After kindergarten half of the day is taught in Spanish and half in English. We are hoping the school becomes an option for high school when the time comes, but if not there are bi-lingual high schools in San Isidro about 45 minutes from Dominical.
We look forward to the coming years and watching our kids grow in a small town environment, while learning more than just what is taught in the classroom. So if you are considering raising your family in Costa Rica as an alternative to the norm, know it is a viable possibility. If you have questions about our experiences please feel free to contact me at Dominical Property.
