Meaning, "Life's good, cool dude."Which is how you're supposed to respond in Costa Rica when asked "como estas?"It's also a direct parallel to the way I've seen that life is lived down here.The people are friendly, relaxed, and layed back.They enjoy the beauty of the beaches are forests around them, and take care of these places in return.There's so much adventure to be had and nature to appreciate here, how can they afford not to?

While I expected that sort of slow pace and the nature, Costa Rica is not exactly how I imagined it.It is very much a "developing" country.I had heard of all of the eco-villages and communities found around the country-places where rich Americans come to retire or own second homes-so I imagined Costa Rica as touristy, resorty, upscale.From what I've seen, though, that is not so.The town of Bahia de Ballena, where our hotel is located, has a population of only 850.The local elementary school, which goes through 6th grade, is as far as the majority of the children here make it through the education system.Electricity was installed in the year 2000.Hotels tout signs advertising hot water and air conditioning (both of which our hotel lacks.)And I know this is far more developed and advanced than many, many other places.We can still walk to a grocery store, post office, or restaurant to get things we need.These are luxuries which we'll soon be losing.

As policymakers ponder how to get students to complete college, some parents and researchers suggest a counterintuitive strategy: Encourage students to take time off school after graduation.

The concept of a gap or bridge year-usually involving six months to a year of travel, service learning, or other experiential programs-appears to be taking hold in the United States after decades of use in Europe and Australia. Moreover, new research suggests time off may help students become more motivated to complete a degree after they come home.

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