August Scene - Flipbook - Page 23
Central Oregon hosts and Costa Rican visitors explore local sites
After months of planning
and anticipation, the Central Oregon members of the
Oregon-Costa Rica Partners
of the Americas Association
welcomed 11 guests from
Costa Rica.
Their visit is part of the
adult cultural exchange program in which Ticos (affectionate term for Costa Ricans)
stay in hosts’ homes for six
days and enjoy activities that
feature some of the best of
Central Oregon.
This year, guests and hosts
participated in several activities including making glass
coasters at The Creator Lab in
The Village at Sunriver, walking to Benham Falls, seeing the
parade and pow wow celebrating Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days
in Warm Springs, exploring
Smith Rock, enjoying a float
on a pontoon boat at Lake
Billy Chinook, and attending
the raptor show at the High
Desert Museum.
In February each year, Oregonians visit Costa Rica
during which they enjoy stays
in Partners’ homes and enjoy
planned activities.
These annual exchanges
began more than 40 years
ago and have run continu-
ously with cancellations only
during COVID.
Partners of the Americas is
an international organization
in which states are partnered
with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and
whose mission is “ … to connect people and organizations
across and within borders to
serve and change lives.”
A few local members
shared their experiences with
the program.
Cynthia Stubenrauch:
“Oregon-Costa Rica Partners creates community with
every visit.
My heart is filled by the
people who make this possible: Ticos and Oregonians
together serving each other.”
that crossed borders.
Having previously stayed
with one of them during my
own trip to Costa Rica two
years ago made the experience
even more special – it felt like
reconnecting with family.
Their warmth and appreciation made the visit unforgettable, and it was a privilege
to return the hospitality I
once received.”
to see.
I originally met Alfredo
when he came to Central
Oregon several years ago with
the exchange program and
a second time when I was
in Costa Rica a few years
+++++after that.
We reminisced, two longtime friends sharing as if we
were family. The bonds and
the caring are strong.”
Joan Landsberg: “At the
farewell party for our visitors,
I felt a warm arm around my
shoulders and heard a man
say, ‘Juanita, I was hoping to
see you.’ It was Alfredo, someone I was hoping I would get
Janet Coughlin: “It was
such fun to share Central
Oregon with the Ticos.
They were in such awe of
our geology and felt like they
were in a movie!
I constantly heard, ‘We
don't have this in Costa Rica!’
The other thing that struck
me was truly how great a team
we have here in Central Oregon. Everyone just jumps in to
help each other with whatever
activity is going on, and we all
seemed to work together while
having fun! What a joy!”
Learn how to more about
Oregon-Costa Rica Partners
If you would like information about Oregon-Costa Rica
Partners, contact Kasuna Duffey, director of membership, at
friendsofkasuna@gmail.com or
Lee Haroun, president of the
Oregon Chapter, at lcharoun@
gmail.com.
Kasuna Duffey: “Hosting two visitors from Costa
Rica for six days was a truly
meaningful experience.
They were incredibly kind,
gracious, and full of joy, and
they often told us they felt we
were like angels for welcoming
them into our homes.
Through this cultural exchange, we not only shared
Oregon with them, but also
built a genuine connection
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AUGUST 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
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