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Personal Reflection/Anecdote

of Independence to the present day. On the second day, we traveled to Limón Province and gave two
concerts, one at an elementary school and one at EARTH University (Escuela de Agricultura de la Región
Tropical Húmeda—Agricultural School of the Humid Tropical Region). At both locations we shared the
stages with student groups. On the third day, four participating choirs gave a community concert in Iglesia
La Soledad, a historical church in San José. For the final gala concert, all ten participating choirs traveled
to Barva, in Heredia Province, to perform at a convention center (Centro de Convenciones De Lo Alto).

Lesson #1: Networking Across Cultures
Participating in the Festival was an outstanding opportunity for cultural networking. In addition to
facilitating friendships with several Costa Rican chamber choirs, the Festival brought the Vancouver group
into contact with dancers, musicians, and storytellers from Ecuador, Guatemala, Israel, Paraguay, Puerto
Rico, Rwanda, and Zambia. We got to know our fellow musicians well. Some of the stories from Israel and
Africa were very sad. To our surprise, one choral group was composed entirely of medical practitioners.
We exchanged ideas and enjoyed each other’s company. Particularly warming was the welcome from the
school children as they shared their country projects with us and begged to be in photos. At each concert
venue, the hospitality of the host group was gracious and memorable and included plates of tropical fruit
and cups of delicious Costa Rican coffee.
But we were not together by mere chance. There was a purpose to our being in Costa Rica at the same
time: music-making in the cause of world peace. Peace featured in every aspect of the Festival, from the
banners and our souvenir scarves to the programs. Government officials and representatives of the Costa
Rican music community gave speeches on peace at the inaugural concert. In Limón Province, VMC and
the Puerto Rican group joined forces to lead a Parade for Peace, ending in spontaneous song inside the
parish church. At the elementary school, the children shared their peace projects, and the staff spoke on
peace education and equity initiatives in the schools.

Recommendation #1:

DKG exists in 17 countries and thus the Society provides an outstanding opportunity for members
to get to know those from a different country, culture, and language. This acquaintance can be virtual
or even in person. But, the most meaningful way to meet up is
when there is a joint purpose for our meeting—when the various
individuals, committees, or even whole state organizations are
working on the same project, task, or idea.

Lesson #2: Discovering a Different School System
There were several teachers in the Vancouver group, and our
highlight was the concert at the elementary school. We could hear
the children cheering as our bus arrived. We were welcomed by
dancers in traditional costumes, and we entered the gym through
a reception line of the smallest children. First on the program
was the student dance troupe. Then a student ensemble sang,
accompanied by a teacher. VMC presented four songs from our
repertoire. At the end we heard ¡Otra! ¡Otra! [a Spanish way to

Dinner on the go: A Costa Rican request an encore. Literally = Another (song)] , and so we sang
colibrí snaps an insect in flight. Photo a fifth piece.
courtesy of choir member Charlie After school was dismissed, the principal led us on an
Zhang. extensive tour of the school. We admired the new gym, the

Collegial Exchange · 19