128Canopy Blog

Teacher from Guanacaste Wins the National Educators Award

The 2008 Mauro Fernando National Education Award went out this year to one of Liberia’s most outstanding citizens.  Miguel Fajardo was born and raised in the warm plains of Guanacaste and has dedicated 29 years of his life to education.

Fajardo is currently a Spanish teacher at the Liceo Laboratorio de Liberia, a local High School, and also works as a professor of Humanities and Pedagogy at the National University’s Liberia Campus.

The Mauro Fernando award is annually granted by the Ministry of Education to those educators that meet standards such as prestige, contribution to the community, research development, publications and other educational projects.

A representative from the Ministry of Education contacted Fajardo last week to inform him of the good news to which he humbly responded, “This is an award I receive in the name of Costa Rica’s 54,897 educators.  I am only but one symbol”.

When Fajardo is not in front of his classroom, he dedicates his free time to writing poetry and has completed three research projects which focused on the work of Guanacaste’s music composers.

Fajardo is not new to the receiving of special awards as he has been acknowledged several times before in other areas.  Fajardo has been acknowledged by the Young Creator Award given out by the Costa Rica Editorial, by the Alfonsina Storni Award in Argentina and the National Award for Cultural Promotion.

Fajardo will receive the 2008 Mauro Fernando Award in an official ceremony on Tuesday, December 2nd.

The Costa Rican National Gymnasium located at La Sabana Metropolitan Park in downtown San Jose, witnessed last night the inauguration of the First Central American and Caribbean Games of the Special Olympics.

Thousands of people were present to cheer and support these special athletes from the countries of Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Surinam, Venezuela and Costa Rica.  Attendees to the event included Costa Rica’s current president, Dr. Oscar Arias who sang the Costa Rican National Anthem on stage surrounded by a handful of athletes.

The inauguration started at 7pm and included dance and music from several Costa Rican artists.  Dance routines were presented by the National Dance Workshop, Monsenor Sanabria High School and a Hip Hop School.  An independent group of break dancers won the awe and cheers of the crowd with their contortions and dominion of difficult body poses.

Music was provided by the recent Latin American Idol runner up, Maria Jose Castillo who took the stage with a group of enthusiastic athletes.  Towards the end of the inauguration, gospel singers Master Key and the Hosanna Gospel Choir entertained the crowd as the Olympic flame made its way in the Gymnasium escorted by policemen and athletes.

The crowd cheered on as the 550 special athletes enthusiastically cheered and enjoyed the inauguration.  These athletes will be competing within the next five days in several disciplines such as field and track, swimming, gymnastics, cycling, weight lifting among others.

The Special Olympics was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver as a way to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit and respected members of society through sports training and competition.

Costa Rica’s Special Olympics athletes became an overnight sensation thanks to their outstanding performance in the 2007 World Summer Games in Shanghai.

I had to chuckle to myself.  I got up this morning jumped into my 4 wheel drive and headed on my way to the local fruit and vegetable market in Liberia.  I got stuck in a bumper to bumper traffic jam.  I wondered to myself what all the fuss was about.  Then, it dawned on me.  High tourist season has officially started! Yes, this is the start of absolutely perfect tropical weather on the Northwest Pacific Coast of Guanacaste.  I have traveled the globe quite extensively, and have yet to find luxury vacation spots as reasonable as it is here.  Brace yourselves, the dollars has increased in value, pushing close to 560 colonies to the U.S. Dollar.  Talk about a bargain for tropical paradise!  If you have ever considered Costa Rica for a travel destination, now is the time to book your vacation.  See you down here.  I’ll have a fresh papaya with your name on it.

Brad’s Top Ten Reasons to Live in Costa Rica

• State Income Mortgage Loans Now Available and Costa Rica’s Credit Rating was just upgraded by Standard & Poor.
• Property values stable. Increasing and property registrars are accurate.
• Labor Cost $8.00 a day… Quarters on the dollar for construction, auto mechanics, maids, servants, and any labor intensive business.
• U.S. Friendly - American communities, dual residency encouraged.
• American Investors welcomed - Special programs available.
• Costa Rica’s currency has depreciated consistently by 12% to 14% per year against the U.S. dollar. CD’s here pay 4.05% the total is a nice return of 16% to 18% per year.
• Beach Condos for as low as $45K, inland homes in the $100K, and low rentals.
• Total respect for Americans, locals are friendly and ready to serve Americans.
• Lifestyle-Perfect tropical whether, beaches, volcano’s, cliffs, mountains, valley’s, jungles, surfing, boating, fishing, and wildlife galore.

I look forward to seeing you here in beautiful Costa Rica.  I would also like to meet you, just ask around for the “Loco Gringo with the Hat” and they will point you in my direction.
Bradley Owen Smith-Author   http://www.LiveLikeAKingCR.com