Life After Costa Rica

Costa Rica really showed me that being sustainable really does make a difference. Here in America, it can be hard to see the sustainability measures people are taking. The second we landed in Costa Rica, they were already showing us to be sustainable with posters right in the airport.

Something as simple as food was extremely sustainable. Our first meal when we landed was served to us on a leaf. This was sustainable because instead of using so much water to wash all of our plates (we were a big group) all they had to do was throw out the leaf with the food on it. This is something we could bring to the United States. Something so small can make all the difference.
The organic juice, that we got every meal, was absolutely amazing. It was always fresh and always organic which is something I loved the most.


Getting to learn about the coffee farms, banana plantation, Don Juan Farm, and the Highland Fruit Tour and how they are sustainable with their practices was also life changing. I have never been to a coffee farm or a banana plantation and to see their practices and how it is all done sustainable was a shock that it wasn't a hardship for them to be sustainable, it was just life. The small changes I now notice in my life when I eat a banana I think "is this Dole?" and I go on and on about how bananas are grown. Or simply drinking a cup of coffee and wondering if this coffee was made sustainable like the tours we got to experience.

The hotels sustainable practices really hit home for me. At home, I would leave my once used towels on the ground and use a new towel every shower. Something as small as this is using so much energy and water when I can be using one towel a week  instead of seven. Also leaving the lights on when you're not in the room. A lot of times I will go downstairs for dinner or leave my dorm room and forget to turn off the light. I never really thought much about it till I came to Costa Rica and saw that they had signs that asked us to please reuse the towel and be sustainable and shut off the lights when not in use. One hotel even made us have our room key in the light switch in order to have the lights to even work. Small factors can go such a long way and these hotels really changed my mind about how I want to be sustainable at home and at school. Since I have been back I have really found myself:

•  unplugging things that aren't in use 
• turning of the lights when I'm not in need of them or leaving
• Reusing towels 
• Taking quick showers to not waste water

This class has taught me so much about being sustainable. I hope here at Bryant we can work and change some things that might not be extremely sustainable and make them a sustainable practice. Thank you Bryant Sustainability Marketing for the adventure of a life time in this life changing experience. 

PURA VIDA!

- Courtney Smith

@courtneyjane941

A Sustainable Future

 

 

Costa Rica was an eye opening experience for me and the results were life changing. Prior to the trip my knowledge of sustainability was narrow and limited to just recycling bins; now I can grasp a full understanding of not only the broad aspects of sustainability but the significant impacts it has.

 

 

 

It is important to fully understand the need for and impacts of sustainability practices, especially from a business perspective. Profit-driven businesses often lack sustainable practices. Learning about some of Costa Rica’s businesses and how they coup with the extra efforts despite the additional costs was inspiring to me. I also now make it a point to support local farmers and businesses that source locally, by not only providing them my business over competitors, but also promoting their sustainable efforts through social media.

Learning the importance of sustainable practices through our adventures has inspired me to make small daily changes as well, such as: shorter showers, wearing some clothes twice before washing to decrease load size, using natural light more often than electrical, never wasting food, carpooling, and just always being conscious of things that are on and not being used. Hopefully one day when I have a place of my own I can become even more sustainable and incorporate composting, personal gardening, sorted recycling, and who knows maybe even potential wind or sun powered energy.

I definitely miss the beach and the sun but the places we visited and the people we talked to have changed my perception of sustainability, teaching me lifelong values for a better tomorrow.  

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @BryantMKT421 to learn more about our adventures and how you can improve your sustainable practices and preserve our beautiful planet. Pura Vida! - Krysia Syska