"Ticos & Ticas" Do It Better

Traveling to Costa Rica was an amazing experience. It was wonderful to travel with my school because we didn't do the “usual tourist” attractions. I enjoyed every piece of Costa Rica. Being that this was my first international trip I was so excited to get there and had all intentions of capturing every moment.

In a week’s span we visited over 10 different locations and had the opportunity of speaking with so many locals that were passionate about their country. From the multiple farms/plantations, hotels, and markets we visited to learning about the culture of the country; It was such a remarkable time and I can't wait to go back.

(Video to the right is from the Tirimbina Biological Reserve Chocolate Tour)

Poster at the Tirimbina Biological Reserve 

I enjoyed learning about the Costa Rican history, their methods of sustainability, how they promote ecotourism, and the food; but what I enjoyed most were the locals. After speaking to many locals in multiple different cities and regions of the country, I learned that they all have one thing in common. They all love their country and work hard to preserve their culture and land.

The Costa Rican people a.k.a. “Ticos & Ticas” work tirelessly to protect their culture and way of living. They pride themselves in coexisting with the environment to keep Costa Rica beautiful and flourishing. I understand why “ticos” are called the happiest people in the world because that is genuinely what they are. Everyone we met was very pleasant to talk to. Our tour guide Miguel a.k.a. Miguelito was always in high spirits and continuously teaching us, the methods of how to live sustainable. The “ticos” are very motivating people. They strive to educate tourist on their country, how they can help benefit, and how to protect the land. They are very eager to show off the beauty of Costa Rica. 

This trip to Costa Rica not only taught me how to be sustainable and how to make sustainable decisions but also taught me how to care about my community. Since being back in the United States, I am actively trying to practice sustainability in multiple ways. I now look to purchase fair trade products, shop with-in my local community, and even shut off or unplug electronics when not in use to conserve energy. Costa Rica has taught me that it’s the little things that matter.

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~T.E.A.

Thinking. Learning and Living Sustainable

Upon descending from the steep hike of the Highland Fruit Tour on our second day in Costa Rica, it wasn't only witnessing the amazing views that truly left an impact on me. Jonathan, a local guide and entrepreneur, gave us a tour of the small town in which he lived as well as his inside account of what it means to be a part of the community in Los Santos. Jonathan, who owns his own brand of locally produced and eco-friendly gourmet Costa Rican coffee, began to stress the importance of sustainability in his world high up in Talamanca Mountains. The passion and belief in which he spoke of giving back to his community and creating a better world is not something easily forgotten and has created a lasting impact on my life. He discussed the efforts of the local farms that provide food to the town’s elementary school and his push to give tourists a hands on experience in helping the community. Witnessing one man doing so much to give back to his community is truly inspiring and something we should all take note of. The impact that it left on me was certainly enough to make me rethink how sustainable I live.

Highland Fruit Tour

            Out of all the excitement and ambition that Jonathan holds for himself, he doesn't expect everyone to start an eco-friendly business or to feed a whole school with local produce. Rather, he expects everyone to play their part on an individual level. Bettering ourselves in a way that betters our communities and environment is something that falls on the shoulders of the individual. Personally, I have worked on changing just a couple of my habits in order to become a more eco-friendly individual: Turning the light off when I leave the room, reusing my towel after showering, choosing the local option instead of the name brand, being conscious of my plate size to not waste food and recycling are all examples that everyone can do to better our environment.

Group picture with Jonathan!

            Fortunately, I was able to participate in this life changing opportunity in which I was able to see and learn what it means to be truly sustainable first hand. In Costa Rica, sustainability is more than just a practice, it is a way of life that the country would surely suffer without. Unfortunately, not everyone in the U.S. has the opportunity to learn the true importance of a sustainable society. The most important element in creating this sustainable community is in the education of its individuals. I believe it is time for our communities to learn from the practices that Costa Rica is showing the world. We all have the opportunity and resources to live responsibly and by following the lead of people like Jonathan, we can certainly raise the expectations we have for ourselves as a community. 

Pura Vida!

-Billy Carroll

SustainaBulldogs

Our group had an amazing time exploring, learning, and bonding with each other as we climbed up mountains, rafted through rivers, traipsed across farms, and let’s not forget enduring those long bus rides! After being back from our trip for an entire semester now, it is easy for our memories to fade and to forget the sustainability practices that we observed and learned while in Costa Rica. However, it is important to keep these ideas in mind and spread the word on the benefits of being sustainable.

Being sustainable gives back to the environment and supports the land that provides for us, but it also enhances the natural beauty of the area. We observed countless beautiful views, in dark and light, sunshine and rain that derived from the community caring for nature. The people of Costa Rica were passionate about preserving their land and planting many of their own fruits and vegetables. At Don Juan, we explored the farm and sampled their organic produce in juices while admiring the lushness of the gardens. In Costa Rica, families and communities work together to sustain themselves and help one another. Bryant students, staff, and faculty can do the same, as we are one community that can help each other, as well as our environment.

We noticed many simple ways that encourage eco-friendly behavior. Often times, actions that seem small can truly make a difference, such as recycling paper and plastic instead of throwing them away, composting food waste, buying local products and supporting local farms. These behaviors are taught in the Costa Rican culture through their education systems to instill this importance of sustainability at a young age, and it is something that other countries, including the United States, could consider. After visiting several coffee plantations, we had the opportunity to plant coffee trees to harvest in the future!

Ultimately, we learned how sustainable practices add to a country's beauty, small changes can yield big results, and knowledge is key in making a difference. We are now ambassadors of sustainability, and it is our prerogative to pass on the knowledge that we learned in Costa Rica. We are a team of sustainable bulldogs! Pura Vida!

Keep up to date on the latest sustainability news and events on social media:

Twitter: @SustainBryant

Facebook: Sustainability at Bryant

Email: sustainability@bryant.edu

To learn more, visit: http://www.bryant.edu/about/sustainability/

Author: Bridgette Kosek

Follow me on Twitter! @BridgetteKosek

Stay up to date with all of our activities by following @BryantMKT421 on Twitter!

PuRa ViDa!

When I look back on this trip all I can do is smile. 
I think about all of the amazing information we learned, the people we met, the laughs we had and the friendships we made. 
From the start of this trip I was impressed with Costa Rica's sustainability efforts, especially by how excited everyone we met was to share their knowledge about sustainability.

Krysia and I with a local farmer's son

I had no idea what sustainability was or what an impact being sustainable can have on our world. Sustainability is something that people are becoming more aware of and educated on however, there is still much to learn and to be taught. 

I focused on the ecotourism aspect of Costa Rica during our trip and it changed my ideas of travel completely. I read that "The development of sustainable tourism must be seen as the balanced interaction between the use of our natural and cultural resources, the improvement of the quality of life among the local communities, and the economic success of the industry" (CST, 1997). This is something we did during our trip and by traveling this way I grew both intellectually and individually. I learned how ecotourism gives you a unique and unforgettable travel experience.

Jonathan and  my amazing team!

I will always remember the pure joy on Jonathan's face as he passionately educated us about his sustainability efforts and how we can be more sustainable. Every person we met and spoke to in Costa Rica lit up when they told us about sustainability because it was something they believe in.
 

I will never forget the millions of bright stars on the beach of Tortuguero or the rush of plunging under water white water rafting or Miguel's lack of weather forecasting abilities.This trip was an amazing experience which I feel so fortunate to have been a part of. We learned not only about sustainability but about how to salsa and how coffee is made and we made life long friends a long the way. 

The best group of ecotourists from Bryant University!

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. 
PS check out my teams project on Prezi about ecotourism: 
https://prezi.com/fy89cjorddwo/ecotourism/

Pura Vida! 

Emily McLaughlin