We know ’em. We love ’em. We learn from ’em. We laugh with ’em.

They are the Lopez’s.

Almost every CRROBS student that hikes through parts of Costa Rica’s jungle has been lucky enough to pass through the homestay (what is a homestay?) of this 20-person immediate family’s village in Piedras Blancas (just north of Brujo).

That’s right: we said “20”. Doña Flor and Don Hormidas raised 18 biological children, all born within two years of one another. Right now, CRROBS employs many of them as instructors, drivers, managers, chefs, and homestay hosts. We have a very unique and close relationship with this special family. See below for the full run-down.

Not only is this family unique because of its size and self-sufficient village, but they have taught our students – AND US – a lot about the quality of life. It is here that many realize how important their own families are – that people win out over material things. They learn that hard work pays off, especially after hours of helping cut sugar cane and squeezing it, milking cows, grinding corn, tilling the land, and making food from scratch. It’s an eye-opening view of how simple life can be. And it’s not all work. Hours of soccer with the local students, waterfall rappelling, swimming in the river (see below), and laughing around the kitchen table fill the time well.

There’s a reason students respond “homestays” when asked what their favorite part of the course was.

To watch a video that gives a panoramic view in the Lopez’s village of Piedras Blancas, go to our Video Tab on our Facebook page.