Day 15: Our last day of Paradise

This morning we woke up to a comforting breakfast of eggs and gallo pinto. We loaded on the bus around 8 to head to INBioparque, a park located in the heart of San Jose dedicated to nature conservation and education. We walked about 10 yards into the park and instantly felt like we were back in the Veragua Rainforest, less the extreme humidity. As we walked along a concrete path, were surrounded by tall trees filled with singing birds and insects. Complete with a small lake, a swamp, a butterfly garden, an insect house, a volcano room, and a dry and wet forest, walking through the park felt like a brief recap of our whole trip. We finished our tour of the park with lunch and, of course, a quick whip around the gift shop.

     Our next stop was El Museo de los Ninos, the Children's Museum. Housed in an old prison that looks more like a castle, the museum provides numerous interactive learning environments for kids of all ages (or, you know, adults who like to act like kids.) When we entered the building, you could see the eyes widen and feel the excitement build. There were wide, colorful ribbons hanging from the ceiling and bright, flashing lights pointing us to the fun. The group quickly split up and started rushing around the museum, trying on funny masks, standing on earthquake simulators, and posing on shadow walls. Needless to say, the children's museum brought out the inner child and learner in every one of us.

     After another bumpy bus ride, we arrived at Moravia to do some last minute shopping. The street was lined with crowded, sweaty shops filled with colorful clothing and wooden trinkets. We spent about an hour wondering in and out of doorways, searching for the best deals and coolest gifts. From scorpion necklaces to framed Blue Morphos, this street had anything and just about everything Costa Rica.

     Our last stop for dinner was the mall. Yes, you read that correctly, the mall. Adrian arranged for us to stop at a near-by fashion center so some of us could satisfy those intense cravings for ice cream or Starbucks you only get when traveling. While some of us practically ran to see if Forever 21 in Costa Rica had more to offer, others of us strolled the mall with milkshakes or Frappuccinos. 

     

     There is a bitter-sweet feeling in the air as we organize our passports and roll our clothes into plastic bags. Many of us are asking ourselves numerous questions. How am I going to remember all that I learned? How am I going to take home all that I have learned and  apply it  to my everyday life? How am I going to make this experience come to life in my classroom? We have done and seen so much in the past two weeks, it is hard process it all right now. Its been quite the adventure, but all good things must come to an end. This experience has changed many of our lives forever. The Costa Ricans have a way of life that is so simple and pure, and it has left a deep impression on all of us. Hasta luego, Costa Rica, and Pura Vida!!

Day 14: Montessori y Mercado

Today started with an early breakfast buffet of fruits, Gallo de Pinto, scrambled eggs, bacon, waffles and an incredible maple syrup that had a kind of citrus flavor. It was so good! We hopped on the bus and headed for the Home Two Montessori school. We met the owner and principal, Alejandra, who introduced us to the school and explained the ideas behind the Montessori program. They are actually one of the few training centers in Central America, focusing on learning through play and exploration. The school admits children as soon as they begin walking, and continues through first grade.

Gabe at Montessori before meeting the children. Only picture taken, silly Gabe!

The older students had a field trip, but we were able to help in the younger children's classrooms. The students' diverse ethnic backgrounds mirror the biodiversity found in Costa Rica, coming from Venezuela, the Nicaragua, the United States, India, Korea, China, Japan, and of course, Costa Rica. The teachers spoke to the children in both English and Spanish, creating a bilingual atmosphere. After three fun-filled hours, we bid the students and teachers good-bye and headed to El Patio de Balmoral. The menu selection included a variety of American foods like chicken fingers and veggie wraps along with typical Costa Rican fare like ceviche and Sandwich Tico, made of a pastrami-type lunch meat, fried cheese slices, mashed black beans, lettuce, tomatoes and mustard.  The nearby candy store was a big hit, and we bought a lots of gummy frogs, crocodiles, spiders and sour candy to take home and/or eat on the plane ride home.

The fun really began as we hit the local Mercado, which could be compared with a mini swap meet. The Mercado offered a plethora of items unique to Costa Rica. The tiny stalls burst with souvenir hammocks, bags, coffee cups, coffee, lighters, wall art, key chains, jewelry, and t-shirts, just to name a few. The cacophony of sounds, abundance of colors, and melange smells overwhelmed us; vendors calling out, "adelante" (come in), a rainbow of tropical colors and shades of wood finishes, and the smell of leather, wood, cigars, coffee, and burlap. We spent at least an hour and a half browsing, using our new found bartering skills, taught to us by our guide, Adrian, getting the best possible deals on souvenirs for friends, family and ourselves. Laden with our bargains, we returned to the hotel to figure out how to get our great deals home without exceeding the airline weight limits on our baggage. We then went to dinner at a small restaurant called "Matices,“ which felt similar to a local sports grill. The patrons barely noticed us as the Costa Rican soccer match, between Ireland and Costa Rica's National Team, blared from every television. Each time a team scored or blocked a goal the corresponding cheers and groans filled the restaurant. The game ended in a tie, which pleased the locals. Our menu choices consisted of familiar "Mexican" food with a Costa Rican twist. The burros, served fried, resembled what we know as chimichangas, and the "cheese fingers" were wrapped in a light, crust-like dough rather than breading. Regardless of the differences, all the food tasted great. Upon our return to the hotel, we received our schedule for the next day's activities and went our separate ways, many talking the time to call or contact home while sitting in the hallways as there is no Wi-Fi in our rooms. Others simply collapsed from exhaustion after the busy day. Many of us are having mixed feelings as we approach our last full day in Costa Rica. We are anxious to return home, but also love this country and all we are learning.

Day 13: Back to School

Today, we woke up at 7 a.m. and had breakfast as a group in the hotel restaurant at 7:30 a.m. Some of us went back to our rooms and proceeded to get ready for the day, while others continued to eat and lounge in the lobby.  

We met at the bus at 8:20 a.m. to head to the university. We visited Universidad Nacional and met some of the students. We played an ice breaker game that consisted of drawing an animal we could relate to on the back of our name tags. Later, we did other group activities, took a tour of the campus, and learned a lot about the history of UNA.

We walked back to the bus and headed to the primary public school. In Costa Rica, primary school is kindergarten through sixth grade. We ate lunch at the school in the cafeteria as a group before being welcomed with a lovely dance performance by some of the students. Some of us were even picked to join in on the fun and danced with them. The students then proceeded with their normal class schedule and our group broke off into small groups to observe and interact with the kids in the classrooms. It was amazing to witness education in a different setting. After the school visits we traveled back to hotel in the pouring rain. We concluded the day with relaxation, pizza and good laughs. Good night Heredia! 

Day 12:Sarchi

Our day started off with a refreshing opportunity to sleep in. After a week of non-stop excitement, sleep was treasured. However, excitement seems to follow us. At breakfast, a family of monkeys showed up and decided to swipe our pancakes. It gave us a laugh, but for some strange reason it didn't feel all that unnatural; Maybe because over the past week, we have slept with hand sized spiders and geckos that can squeak.

  
After attempting to eat our breakfast, we went back to our rooms to get our bags packed and our towel cards turned in, and say one last goodbye to the beautiful Punta Leona. We all met at the bus to load our things on top, and get the game plan for the day. We ate an early lunch and it was on the road again; back to the central valley.

It was a nice two and half hour bus ride through the winding country roads of Costa Rica. The clouds covered the tops of the mountains giving it a picture-perfect postcard look. It was also a good opportunity to get a sense for the rural parts of the country and the slow-paced lifestyle they live. We saw a man who was selling fruit outside his house and Carlos promptly slammed the bus to a halt, reversed, and Adrian got out to pick up this fruit, called “Nancy.” Strange name, but they were very yummy.

We continued on until we arrived in Sarchi. Here, we got to see the massive, colorful, mosaic Ox cart that is the symbol of Costa Rica. We snapped a group photo, and it started to rain, so we scurried back to the bus and headed to the store.

We arrived at the store to see windows filled with brightly colored hammocks and big leather rocking chairs that looked specially made. The store was huge, crowded with everything a tourist would want to buy: T-shirts, bags, purses, hats, coffee cups, and jewelry. The store expanded into a courtyard in the back, and there we found artists busy at work, hand painting plates and ox wheels (for which they are famous). A tour guide at the store met us in the gazebo, located in the center of the courtyard. The gazebo not only provided much needed shelter from the rain, but also housed ox wheels that were crafted either out of wood or mosaic tiles. The tour guide explained the history of the ox wheel and why the store is famous. She then led us into the workshop, powered by a water wheel. She demonstrated how they use the motion of the wheel to power the saw. Then, she led us to the artists who were making the special plates and chairs. It was so neat to watch how meticulously they worked on each brush stroke. It was captivating.

Once we toured the artist’s studio, we headed to the shop, where we spent an hour trying to decide what we wanted to buy. It was a huge building, and choosing between every brand of coffee, purse, and t-shirt was difficult. Still, we completed our purchases and headed toward the bus.

We had a long bus ride back to the hotel. We left just in time for rush hour, but seeing the nightlife of Costa Rica and listening to the rain made the bus trip well worth it. We arrived at the hotel, settled in, and prepared for dinner. Mo really treated us well to a much needed fancy dinner at the hotel. We were stuffed after, which sent us straight to bed. 

Day 11: Freedom at Punta Leona

Today was a free day, which was actually pretty brave on Mo's part, considering she let 16 college students have total freedom at a beach resort in a foreign country. Most of us took some time to sleep in and relax a little bit before heading to breakfast at our leisure, and then walking down to Playa Mantas, the black sand beach. Laurie and Izzy had an eventful day, getting stung by jelly fish while swimming in the shallows. Izzy was stung just once, but Laurie was less fortunate: five stings in three minutes. Thankfully, both were okay after trips to first aid.


The rest of us had a lot of fun on our private beach, and also spent some time relaxing by the pool. From there, people took shuttles to Playa Blanca, the white sand beach, while others rested in their rooms. A few adventurous souls even rented a golf cart.  Later on in the day, some of us surprised Mo, Luis, and Kara by passing them at the bus stop with 6 people on the golf cart on our way to the white beach (they were unaware up until then that we even had a golf cart). They came to the beach with us and we had a few fun hours body-surfing in the water with Carlos and Adrian. Gabe got buried in the sand in the guise of a mermaid, and we relaxed and watched Beyoncé videos together under the shade of a tree. Olivia got a not-so-pleasant sunburn early in the day, which comically included tan lines both from holding her iPad and from her hotel wristband. Needless to say, she spent most of her day in the dark, watching countless episodes of Friends and The Big Bang Theory.

Most of the group  meet at the dining room for dinner and shared the adventures of the day. After a filling dinner, we all took it pretty easy and relaxed so we could prepare for the last part of our trip! 

 

Day 10: A Nice Volcanic Hike Followed By A Trip To Punta Leona

We had breakfast at 7:30 a.m., as per usual, but this time we got to watch a herd of horses run by in an almost single file line. There were so many beautiful horses and it was nice to take a break from seeing nothing but giant creepy bugs to seeing familiar animals. After breakfast, we packed into the bus and headed towards Arenal Volcano. Even though it was very early for most of us, it was still a very beautiful morning to hike up a volcanic trail. Once we arrived, we filled our bottles with water and started our hike. During the hike we kept trying to look for an orange and yellow orchid that had barely bloomed. Apparently it is supposed to look like a dancing ballerina if you turn it upside down, but unfortunately we did not find one. Once we reached the end of the trail, we saw a toucan off in the distance. 

We headed back to the resort and packed up our belongings before heading into La Fortuna to eat lunch. This restaurant could be described as the type of place you would go on your birthday or on a nice second date. The food options ranged from ceviche as an appetizer to grilled steak as your entrée. Once we finished our lunch, we piled into the bus and began what would be a 5 hour drive across Costa Rica’s countryside.

We made a few pit stops along the way for restroom breaks and site seeing. We stopped at a bridge in San Carlos, Alajuela where, walking on a platform beside the bridge, we could feel the likeness of a minor earthquake as cars drove across the actual bridge. The next bridge we stopped at was above the Tarcoles River which is the most polluted river in Costa Rica, with crocodiles dotting the waters in abundance. Twenty-three crocodiles swimming 30 meters below us was quite the sight. As we approached La Punta Leona we saw the black sand beach of the Pacific Ocean. As we pulled into the parking lot of our rooms, we were greeted by Luis Vega! It was fantastic to see a familiar face, and as soon as we got situated we were able to have dinner with him and then head off to our rooms for a good night's sleep.

Day 9: From Ziplining to Moonshining!

We woke up early for a 7:30 AM breakfast before heading to
Ecoglide (Zip-lining Adventure) where we met our guides Andres, Ronald, Oscar, and Alonso. They helped us suit up and gave us a quick rundown of how zip-lining works. Flying on the wires allowed us to see some of the most beautiful sights of La Fortuna's country side. Midway through the zip-lining course, we did the Tarzan Swing! If you're wondering, it's exactly what it sounds like: a straight, 40' - 50' drop then swinging back and forth  like Tarzan! After we finished the zip-lining course, we returned to Los Lagos resort.

We got our things together and hit the streets of La Fortuna to grab lunch and do some shopping. The majority of us ate at Restaurante La Parada, which sold a lot of American food. This makes sense, as La Fortuna is the number two tourist attraction in Costa Rica. There were plenty of items to choose from for those who wanted to shop; everything ranging from floral print dresses, to backpacks and fanny packs, to beach towels and pocket knives.

After our free time ended, we went to the orphanage a few blocks away. It was amazing, the kids were so great! There were so many children and they were all so friendly and welcoming. We gave them coloring books, crayons, stickers, bubbles, toys, and so much more. They absolutely loved the giant punch balloons and even when they popped, the kids laughed contagiously, enjoying every moment. One little boy walked around slapping stickers on all of us saying, "peace be with you." All of the kids were so precious and gave us a burst of energy as we played with them all around the house. The Tias (the women who run the orphanage) thanked us for all we did; as we got on the bus to leave, the children were yelling, "I love you"...Cue the tears.




From the orphanage, we drove to Don Juan's Finca Educativa (Educative Farm). Upon our arrival at the organic farm, we could see the storm clouds rolling in. Our guide, Jack Danny, introduced himself and began the tour. Jack talked about how the farm only uses "healthy fertilizer," which is actually dry manure, molasses and no pesticides. Since it was physically safe to handle the fertilizer, we spread two wheelbarrows full on the recently planted crops. After we finished spreading the fertilizer, we took a tour of the actual farmland where crops are grown. The land was marked off in geometric shapes so the students who come to the farm can learn how agriculture and crop rotation work, while also developing math skills. After the crop tour was over, we went to the "Chocolate House" where Chocolate the Cow, two pigs, and the biodigestor are housed. After the Chocolate House, we went to the "Troja" where the firewood and the sugar cane press are kept. Jack showed us how sugar cane is pressed to make a very sweet juice. Finally, Jack showed us the final product of the sugar cane... moonshine! We were allowed to have a taste and we came to a consensus that it tastes like good gasoline. We helped prepare dinner and got to meet Don Juan, the man who makes the Educative Farm possible. We asked Don Juan if he likes chocolate and apparently he does! Our dinner consisted of fresh Tilapia raised on the farm, ceviche, salad, yucca chips, and of course, rice and beans along with a coconut-like popsicle for dessert. With our stomachs full, we returned to Los Lagos for a good night's rest.

Day 8: Hola Arenal!

Today was our eighth day in Costa Rica, and we woke up around 6:20 a.m. to pack and get ready for breakfast at 7 a.m. Our breakfast was eggs with ham and onions, pineapples and fresh bread. Parting from Las Tortugas was a bittersweet feeling for our group; although we were leaving the beautiful Caribbean coast and the Leatherback turtles, getting a change of scenery was exciting. We loaded our bags onto the boat at 7:30 a.m. and headed to our bus for our next adventure. On the boat ride, we saw Howler monkeys and Kingfishers. 

We arrived at the bus, created a human chain to unload and reload our luggage, and headed to Arenal. Once we settled in, a lot of people did micro-teaches (miniature lessons about Costa Rican topics). Afterwards, we did the turtle research bullet point activity and proceeded through the city to river rafting. Arriving at the rafting site, we met our tour guide, Walter, at our bus and walked to a picnic table to enjoy a homemade lunch. We made tacos with a variety of toppings and then the majority of our group went white water rafting for about two hours. 

Upon return, our group loaded into the bus again and headed to Arenal. We arrived at Los Lagos Hotel Spa & Resort and ate our first American dinner of the trip in the hotel restaurant. After settling in to our rooms, we were free to explore for the rest of the night. A group of us went to the hot springs at the resort. Much to our surprise, it was not a natural hot spring, but rather a very large jacuzzi. We relaxed in the warmed water and laughed the night away before retiring for the night. Good night Arenal! 

Day 7: Turtle Talk

Today was the last full day living in the wild before we move on to the good life.  We woke up to the sounds of howler monkeys and cicadas in the hot, humid air of the Caribbean coast feeling a little stuffed up.  Since we didn't go to sleep until well after midnight, we woke up at 8 a.m. for a nice, healthy meal of scrambled eggs and bread with jam at 9.  After breakfast, we had about an hour of relaxation.  Some people walked on the beach while others utilized the hammocks that were in the perfect spot for shade and a little breeze.  

By 10, we were sitting in the outdoor classroom learning about turtles with Stamie. Some interesting facts we learned included that turtles have been around for more than 100 million years, we can tell their age through skeletochronology (using the scleral ossicle, an eye bone, we can determine their age by counting the number of rings on the bone), they have brains the size and weight of an American quarter, and there are 5 of the 7 types of sea turtles living around Costa Rica. We were all fascinated by everything we learned about sea turtles in her presentation. In pairs, we walked around the center looking at posters and researching a topic for a micro-teach that we would present later on. We were able to relax again and have a very light lunch of rice, beans, and salad.

For our service project, we helped pull weeds and vines encroaching on the beach from the jungle. This process prevented roots from invading the baby turtle nests. Shortly after we finished, we took a break and tried fresh coconut water, then got ready for a boat ride to see animals in the trees and along the sides of the river. We saw birds (trogon, kingfisher, vultures, egret), a caiman, monkeys (howler monkey and spider monkey), fresh water turtles, a basilisk lizard (also known as the Jesus Christ lizard because it walks on water), an iguana, and a sloth.  We sat watching the spider monkeys jumping from tree to tree for a while. We were all amazed at how far they could jump!

As soon as we returned to the camp, we went to watch hatchlings being released to sea. For about 15 minutes we watched them make little tracks on the way to their new home.  At the turtle presentation, we had learned that only 1 in 1,000 turtles survive to adulthood, and when they are ready to lay their eggs, they always find their way back to the beach where they were born. It was amazing to think, while watching them make their way, that in 20-30 years they will be returning to lay their own eggs, should they survive.

Once all of the babies had been pulled away by the waves, we rested and journaled before dinner. We had chicken, mashed potatoes, salad, and fried plantains. Everyone was happy to see the mashed potatoes because it was something other than beans and rice.

For the turtle patrol, we were again split into 2 groups based on our room numbers. The even numbered rooms went patrolling 8-10 and the odd rooms went 10-12. The first group didn't find any turtles, but the second group was able to witness a leatherback turtle dig her nest and lay her eggs, and take her measurements. When all the eggs were laid and the turtle was burying the nest, the group and our guides moved on to the hatchery to bury the eggs. Two people had the chance to bury eggs. In total there were 89 fertile eggs and 17 infertile eggs. After an exhausting but fulfilling day we went to sleep with the knowledge that the next days would bring just as much or more joy.

  

Day 6: Habitats and Hatcheries

Today was a very interesting day, one that began with waking up in Veragua to the aray of different noises from all of the creatures roaming in the nearby forest. We were all given a little time to get ready for the day and walk over to breakfast. Today, we got to eat pancakes and they were delicious. It was so new to get to have something more American than the usual Costa Rican cuisine; it was a nice little change to mix up our meals.

After breakfast, we were able to experience what goes on with frog research at Veragua. We all went over to the lab located on the grounds, and learned about what Jose (the scientist/researcher in charge of the project) does in his work. Lined on the walls of the laboratory were various articles showing all of the amazing feats he has accomplished. It was beyond the word "amazing" to see what he has done. There were also pictures and actual creatures hung up on the walls, displaying what he has been able to see and do.

Jose showed us one of his current undertakings: artificial frogs used to determine the behaviors of their very real counterparts. It was so interesting to see how animals interact. After learning about the frogs, we found out that we would be helping build a habitat for the endangered Tiger Frog. From there, we all walked down through the rain forest to our work area. The forest, no matter how many times we go into it, is breathtaking. So many creatures, so many plants, just so much to see. There is really nothing to compare with these sights.

We got down to the area where we would be creating the frog habitats and broke off into teams. Jose explained that we needed particular plants to help shade the frog ponds. These kinds of plants, we were told, provide both shade and security for the frogs. Once the activity started, it proved to be harder and much muddier than the guides made it look. But, we all worked together to excavate the plants, using team work both to contribute to this research, and to bond. It was so much fun!

When we finished, we all hiked back up the rain forest trail and returned to our rooms to clean off, pack up to leave, and eat lunch together. Another amazing lunch to add to our list! Unfortunately, it was now our time to leave. We had to say goodbye to all of our guides and instructors; it was a sad moment. They were all so much fun to work with and learn from. The humility that beamed off of them was intoxicating and created a great learning environment. But the time to go came, and we all packed up the bus and moved on.

From there, we were on our way to Estacion las Tortugas. On the way, we were able to stop at a banana plantation and learn about the impacts those facilities have on Costa Rica. We came to understand that rainy seasons flood the plantations and ruin crops, so they built a dam to cut off the river flow. The plantations also hugely influenced the people because the pesticides that were sprayed on the crops can harm the health of the people nearby. It was very interesting to learn about this because we saw how close the people are to the plants and how much work they put into their livelihoods. As we walked away, we threw rocks into the river and saw how they beautifully skipped across to the far bank. It was a fantastic way to finish the excursion.

Now we were really on our way to Tortugas. We arrived at the side of the river, where a little boat was waiting for us. We all helped to unload the bus and load up the boat. After donning our life jackets we took off for our fun river adventure. We saw so many animals! Birds, lizards, monkeys, they were all so exciting, it was almost overwhelming. Arriving at las Tortugas it was such a shock to see how this little community lives. They all work together to obtain all of their every day necessities and want for nothing more. It was truly an inspirational sight.

Upon arrival, we were introduced to Flora, a kind hearted woman who explained all of the basics of the island. We learned about their work with the turtles and the dedication and love within the community. After her introduction, she explained that our schedule for the evening included a small break time, lunch, more free time, dinner, and at long last, our first turtle patrol. She explained that, for the turtle patrol, we would break up into two teams and then we would walk up and down two sections of the beach to see if any turtles had come up to deliver their eggs. For free time, most of us had fun exploring the beach or laying in the hammocks beneath the coconut trees. It was so relaxing, and we had a moment to experience what it might be like to live on this secluded island; truly a tranquil moment.

As a plus, the meals were muy delicioso! Every meal we've experienced has been good, but these were so homemade and tasty. We were all given a task, either to set up or clean up, and we were able to feel like part of the team. As the day moved on, we were given the opportunity to have a little down time for a nap before our late night turtle patrol.

Then we met in our groups to take on the challenge. Half of the group tromped up and down the first part of the beach and were lucky enough to come across an astounding turtle laying her eggs. To experience a love being brought into the world is phenomenal, and really put into perspective what we were trying to do for these creatures and the world. It was a moment that none present will forget. The other half of our group was able to walk on the second half of the beach, bordering poacher territory. To be able to be that close to the area and feel the impact of trying to save these beautiful creatures was empowering. It was another moment of epiphany: understanding the difference we were making for these animals. As we finished our patrol and returned to our starting point, the lights of our home base offered a feeling of home. It brought us together to feel that family spirit and we were able to fall asleep both accomplished and excited.

Day 5: Frogs, butterflies and snakes OH MY!

We were sitting on the front porch of the Center, enjoying a beautiful view of the grounds, and watching the brisk morning fog rolling in. It was 5:30 in the morning, and most of us were using this view to wake up our exhausted bodies. It wasn’t a dreaded exhaustion, but a refreshing tiredness that only comes with knowing you have had an experience of a lifetime. To be honest, we didn’t want to leave. We enjoyed the warm and homey feeling that was brought to us by Margherita and the small, quaint town of Montserrat. After eating a yummy, traditional, Costa Rican breakfast, we packed up our things, loaded the Dinosaur (Margherita’s SUV) with our luggage, and walked down to the school.

            The one-room schoolhouse is perched on a green, grassy hill, with a worn out swing-set, and a classic metal slide. It was a humble place, with a large “mom and pop” porch, and a colorful "Bienviendos" on the door. The children were bashful, smiling as they found their desks. I can’t imagine sixteen Americans staring at me either! The children had a surprise, they had written and crafted a story book for us, and presented it. Such a precious moment. After we said our good byes, we loaded the bus, and off we drove, leaving the chilly cloud forest, to enter the hot and humid lowlands, something we weren't used to.

            The bus ride was quiet, everyone was able to catch up on their sleep and process all the knowledge we had gained. Adrian noticed that we had been deprived of our American junk food, so he made a stop at a grocery store to buy us some cookies and banana chips that satisfied our cravings. We kept driving until we left the high-altitude, and began to see the true rain forest.

      The bus came to a stop at a chain-link fence, and behind that fence, were nine precious children smiling at us in brightly colored outfits. They had a whole presentation set up, with rows of seats like a theater, and a small CD player in the corner. We introduced ourselves first, they in English, and we in Spanish. They danced for us, and then toward the end of the dance, pulled us up to dance with them. The kids really wanted to play soccer, so we split into two groups and played for awhile. After, we enjoyed a fruit snack, and gave out presents to the kids. It was sad to leave them after all the fun we had, but we had a whole adventure waiting for us at the Veragua Rain Forest Park.

             We arrived at the park, got our room assignments, and settled in. Later, we hiked down to the restaurant to have a late lunch. We ate, and immediately got on the tram that took us through the canopy and down to a trail leading to a balcony that overlooked a massive waterfall. Of course, we stopped to take many selfies and group pictures. Once we filled up our memory cards, we hiked back to the tram, and returned to the main area. Our guide then took us through the snake, frog, and butterfly exhibits. All the animals we saw and learned about were found within the perimeter of the park. It was quite frightening to know that most of them were poisonous or venomous! Even more exciting than seeing them, was meeting the scientists that were in charge of the exhibits and seeing the research they were conducting. It was so amazing to hear about the accomplishments they have made, and at such a young age. It was inspiring to all of us, especially since most of them don’t have college degrees. It shows how being immersed, and experiencing the subjects your interested in can be more valuable than sitting behind a desk. It is also encouraging to know that you are not defined as an expert solely by a college degree.

            After being humbled by these scientists, we got to help them out in the lab. Julian, the butterfly expert at the park, let us release butterflies into the garden. It was incredible to hold a Blue Morpho and see its aqua colored wings flutter away into the garden. For many of us, this was our favorite part of the day. Once we released the butterflies, we helped Julian hang some cocoons in his lab. It was a tedious process, done by weaving a needle into the silk of the cocoons, then hanging it in his butterfly cabinets where they would become the beautiful butterflies of Costa Rica.  We finished up our work, exited the gardens, and headed to dinner! Phew, what a day!