“I miss you too. I tried to reply yesterday, but I didn't have service in my cabin. I had an AMAZING day yesterday. We went canyoning in which we repelled down waterfalls went zip lining walked across a swing bridge and did a Tarzan swing. I was also the first leader of the day and Anja said I did a great job. I'm apparently a silent yet effective leader. I was the only one who volunteered. At the canyoning I was the only one to volunteer to go first too. I lead everyone through all the activities. One repel the guides asked if we wanted to go upside down or without hands and I thought they were joking but that's what we did. I was surprised because I was the least afraid of that one and it was sooooo fun. The other day we also went on the longest zipline in Central America. I wasn't heavy enough so I had to go with Ayesha but it was still so cool and beautiful. Most of Costa Rica is a rain forest but more specifically it's a cloud forest which means the precipitation from the Pacific and Atlantic meet in the mountains in the middle which creates these clouds that are always here.”
After being in the country for six days, this was one of the text messages I sent my mom. I believe it perfectly conveys how I felt throughout the trip. Costa Rica was such a well rounded trip. From biology class in the Pacific Ocean, to the homestay in Orosi, to the fun touristy activities. I loved the experience of the whole country.
While traveling around the Rhode Island sized country for four weeks straight, we had so many different opportunities. In Monterrey, we went canyoning in La Roca Canyon, horseback riding in need deep mud to a waterfall, walked on hanging bridges in the cloud forest, swam in a natural hot spring, and milked cows at the family owned dairy farm, Finca Los Gatos. Dora, one of the staff members at Leaves and Lizards, taught us that even the smallest effort to communicate with them in Spanish or simply helping to bring our dishes to the kitchen could put a smile on someone’s face.
At El Zota field station, we played soccer with the locals the same day we studied the behavior of the monkeys in the trees above our cabin. We also saw dozens of frogs, animal prints, leaf cutter ants, monkeys, and a sloth on our hikes in the forest. We learned about the creatures in the forest, how to salsa on the dance floor, and that a game of futbol can bring happiness to so many different people.
We experienced first hand what the Pacuare River has to offer. White water rafting was a joy and I don’t know why anyone would allow a dam to be built on it. Our guides, who had been swimming in the river since they were kids, were very passionate about raising awareness about the issue and trying to stop the electric company from using it for their own business. It was nice to not have electricity for a weekend and just enjoy the fresh air and cool water.
The Orosi homestay was a once in a lifetime experience. We learned so much about the culture of the Costa Rican ticos. Kiana and I had so much fun playing Sorry, Uno, and Dominoes and watching soccer with our family. Maricel, Elias, Randall, Carlos, Estefani, and Steven were a welcoming family and we challenged ourselves to speak with them and share stories with them. Maricel would smile every time we asked if we could help make dinner or wash our dishes, but she usually ended up doing everything herself. While in Orosi, we helped with chores around an orphanage. We helped to build a fence, hydroponic garden, water tank shelf, sort through recyclables and laugh with the kids. Something as small as giving a little boy a cookie can brighten up his day.
We helped out with different field studies at Las Cruces Botanical Gardens. We helped to account for the invasive ginger species in a certain span, different leaves, squirrels, and fish species. Then, we set up our own transect lines. Each group created their own field study from the effect of water speed on fish to shade. My group looked at the effect of the trail in the forest and the slope on the plant growth. Las Cruces was a prime example of how hotels can be sustainable. They used rainwater, solar panels, water saving toilets, and so many other methods to be environmentally friendly.
The first time Alpha saw the Costa Rican water was on our way to Companario in Drake Bay. We got to swim in the clean, bright blue water, which you knew was salty from the sting in your eyes and how easily you could float. We studied the different types of dolphins found in the Pacific Ocean. We saw multiple pods of Bottlenose, many Spotted, and a single Rough-Toothed scouter dolphin. On the second day out on the boat, we saw a waterspout and got to jump in to swim in the tornado, but jellyfish also had the same idea. The next day we went snorkeling with reef sharks, hundreds of fish, and I was even a meter away from a sea turtle before it dove down. We did another transect line on the beach. I ended up doing my field report on the effect the position of natural resources, such as a tree, freshwater stream, and the ocean, have on where the hermit crabs go. The founder of Companario was very inspirational about conserving land for animals and creating corridors for animals that migrate. She learned so much since moving to Costa Rica 40 years ago and lives off the grid without any service.
Our last stop before traveling back to Santa Elena was at a beach resort, called Hotel Delfin. Adam taught us how to most of us how to surf. I was in the first group, so I was able to swim both days we were there. I stood up five times in the first half an hour and couldn’t wait for my second turn. We were only waist deep in the white waves, but it was still really fun. While I wasn’t bodysurfing in the waves I was swimming with Piper in the heat pool.
It was such a nice experience traveling in a group with only nine students. I had the opportunity to become closer with each of my peers and learn about each of them. Our Broadreach guides, Anja and Joe, always made sure we were well fed and were having fun. When we were all tired, we would stop and play a quick game like, Hot Toast or a hand slapping game, or we would play mind games, such as the ball game, apple or orange, and the picnic. I was proud of myself because throughout the trip I figured all of them out.
I gained so much from our Costa Rican experience. First, always ask if you can help. If it’s washing dishes or helping to carry something. Second, it doesn’t take much to make someone smile. Offering to help out or sharing a story can do just that. Third, you can make everything that is boring fun with just a little bit of enthusiasm.
