"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.

A Pura Vida life is a life for me!

Pura Vida.

A simple Spanish phrase that translates to Pure Life, has great meaning.

In Costa Rica, Pura Vida is more than a way to say hello, but how are you and how is your life going? Not only is it a greeting between Costa Ricans but it is their way of life. Some of the most important takeaways from our visit to the different areas of Costa Rica was noticing how the locals treat their environment, interact within their communities and place an emphasis on sustainability. It's no wonder why Costa Rica ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world!

I can honestly say this trip has had an impact on the way that I think about sustainability and I am currently working towards having a "Pura Vida."

After having the opportunity to interact with locals, whether it be at Don Juan farm in Arena or La Quinta Inn in Sarapiqui, I began to apply changes to my lifestyle to be more sustainable and eco-friendly towards my environment. Below are some examples as to how I have done so:

 Our trip has helped me realize how important it is to give back to the community to help maintain small, local shops and farmers. In addition, I have been more mindful when it comes to recycling waste and reducing the amount of plastic I use throughout my daily life. While these are small changes, they are a start. By incorporating these changes into my life, I hope to influence others to do the same and therefore begin reducing our combined ecological footprint to help create a better environment that can be sustained for future generations.

Just like the Costa Ricans, I hope that someday we too will be able to say "Pura Vida" to everyone we encounter throughout our daily lives.

-Tayla Benoit (@TaylaBenoit)