No Snow in Costa Rica
This winter I was
fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit Costa Rica. We departed from
Providence, RI in January, leaving the brisk and difficult winter in New
England behind. A group of 21, we arrived in Costa Rica in high spirits,
excited to be able to begin our new journey together.
For
me this trip was an attribute to what some call the “travel bug”, an eager
person of any age looking to travel, see different parts of the world and have
new expirences. In the last few years, I have had the opportunity to visit
Italy, London, parts of Canada, and much of the US. This trip was affirming my
interest in what lies south of our borders.
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| Jake in a hammock at the market |
When
we arrived in San Jose we immediately began to partake in cultural activities.
We attended an open market, ate a delicious lunch on banana leaves, and
enjoyed, first hand, San Jose commuting traffic. I say enjoyed because this is
when we were acquainted with who would be our tour guide. His name is
Miguelito!
The
People We Met
Miguel was my
first introduction to Costa Rica and in my opinion the finest introduction
there could be. (Really, Costa Rica should have this man in commercials and on
billboards) Throughout the trip, Miguel had a genuine interest in making our trip
to his country the best it could be. He changed our schedule, added events and
stops, and always accommodated our needs. At the end of the trip he offered to
donate a pair of shoes I was planning to through out to a member of his
community. Also, little did we know, he is an ecological expert, always
teaching us about the beautiful ecology that Costa Rica and it’s people work to
protect.
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| Miguelito teaching Salsa! |
He
also is very intelligent and eager to teach Costa Rica beyond what we see as
tourists. At such moments of the trip, I found the most meaning. Miguel took us
to the national cemetery, which is divided between social classes. He described
the history and civil war between Cartago and San Jose, slavery in Costa Rica,
and the quasi-American (USA) attempts at conquest of the Latin American region
as a whole. We were lucky as a group to
have such a guide that allowed us to enjoy so many great experiences!
Experiences
In just over a
week, we travelled across the country, toured through farms and plantations,
and bathed in both the Sarapiqui river and the volcanically warmed thermal
baths of Arenal. We enjoyed a fruit tour and a coffee tour, in the beautiful
town of Los Santos. We learned the sustainable practices of farmers throughout
Costa Rica. For example, local schools
cafeterias in Los Santos are supported by the local farmers. Then, we
travelled hours on land and canal to the Carribean side of Costa Rica to
Tortuguero. A town entirely supported on eco-tourism.
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| Morning in Toruguero |
Takaways
There were
things about this trip that made a lasting impact on my outlook many things.
For one, I have been inspired to keep a constant filter on sustainable issue. Since
I’ve returned to the states I’ve been more conscious to how I consume and where
it comes from. Also, this trip reminded me of how wonderful it is to meet new
people, both in Costa Rica and from Bryant University. Ironically, one of the
most enjoyable parts of the trip was when we were stuck (literally not moving)
for almost two hours on the road. Without wi-fi, all of us students just began
to talk, play cards, and get to know each other more deeply than we would have
otherwise. And the greatest take way I received from this trip is the power of
removing oneself from their comfort zone. One of the greatest hindrances to progression
and in this case, sustainable living is when a person gets comfortable in their
situation. When removes themself to learn the ways of others, and is open to
these ways, they can apply them to their life and improve the lives of
themselves and their community.
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| It was an amazing and unforgettable experience |
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