Molly: Where are the sloths?

 Well, today was the last day folks. We knew this day would come but boy did it fly by quickly. I guess it is really true when people say time flies when you are having fun.

We started the day by getting to tour Earth University with our cool tour guide Niyi. He showed us a video about Earth and then took us on a tour of the Integrated Animal Production Farm. One of the main aspects of the farm was the biodigester. To sum up the main function and purpose of the biodigester is turn the animal manure into methane gas which powers a generator making electricity. The remaining liquid then goes through three lagoons with purifying plants making the water clean enough to return to the environment! How neat is that!! Seeing how passionate the students were for finding ways to make farming sustainable was extremely inspiring and re-lit the passion that I have for agriculture.

We then went to a farm where Earth students helped make it into what it is today. The farmer grew everything from medicinal plants to bananas and we were lucky enough to get to try some new plants. Some were very good and some VERY GROSS, in particular the one that smelled like dirty socks and rotting cheese...it tasted like that too but I'm glad I tried it. I think that's been one of the neatest parts about Costa Rica. Everyone here as really taken every opportunity to try new things, whether its eating termites or milking a cow, we have all embraced this once in a life time trip with open arms.

Through out the trip we all really wanted to see a sloth in it's natural habitat. Lucky for us we were able to see two and I'm sure passed by many more. Even though this became a joke of the trip I think it symbolized much more. When were were driving place to place, we all were looking together out the windows to see if we could see one. Thinking back on this past week, the words "Donde estan los perezosos? (Where are the sloths?)" will always remind me to look farther in the world and open my eyes to the different beauty that this world has to offer even if it is hard to find. It definitely wasn't hard to find the beauty here. Costa Rica not only showed us it's beauty in nature but more importantly the beauty of human kind. So thank you Costa Rica for 1) letting us all see a sloth in real life and 2) for reminding me and all of us to enjoy the beauty of the world.

"Be the seed of change." - Earth University

We'll be back soon Costa Rica,
Molly

Briana: Getting to the world and myself

Unfortunately, today we had to leave our families. It was one of the hardest things I had to do in my life. I did not realize how close I had gotten to my host family until I was there watching my host mother cry goodbye. 

Being in Pacayitas was one of the most influential experiences of my life. The people really inspired me to follow my own path and to be my self. I feel everyone is always rushing to compete and be successful in their filed, instead of actually taking the time to appreciate what they have.  My host cousin Maria reminded me that even when stories end, new stories begin.

Our new story began at the Veragua Rainforest. The Rainforest was really beautiful and filled with amazing creatures. Creatures from different species all over the world that I didn’t even know existed. We learned about verminous snakes, butterflies, plants, a variety of frogs and more. Something that really caught my interest was the frogs and how they have evolved over the years. Apparently 80% of frog species are active at night. Also, frogs secrete toxins as protection against predators. Different type of frog produce different type of toxins, that vary based on the frog.  In addition, we got to see the golden orb spider, whose incredibly strong web inspired material scientists to create the material used to make bulletproof vests. 

Lastly, I not only learned about the variety of farms, people, animals, insects, and plants but I learned a lot about myself and who I want to be. I learned that I am always rushing to get to the next step, never paying attention of what is going around me. I want to believe in myself and do what I what I want to do because its important to me.  Lastly, I want to get to know my own community, and one day give back to them, because they are part of the reason I’m here today.

Alyssa: Always Be Ready To Catch a Butterfly

Today started off bittersweet as we were off to see a new part of this beautiful country but had to leave the wonderful town of Pacayitas. We have really bonded with our Tico family this week and it was much harder to leave them then you might think. However, as we said its not Adios but Hasta Luego which means it is not good bye but see you later! We spent the rest of the day at the Veragua Rainforest in the province of Limon. We say a broad spectrum of all the flora and fauna Costa Rica gives a home to. We saw snakes, frogs, butterflies, and reptiles. Not to mention the beautiful site that always surrounds us here. When we were in the butterfly garden our guide showed us how to catch a butterfly by using your two fingers and grabbing all four wings. It became sort of a joke to walk around with your two fingers up so you were ready to catch a butterfly but as I thought about it, it was really much more than that. I feel confortable saying the one thing we will all take away from this experience is the many elements Costa Rica has to offer. As I thought about it more, we should always be ready to "catch a butterfly", literally and figuratively. Butterflies are beautifully painted creatures that fly around gracefully. If you aren't ready you might miss one. If we are not ready while we are here in Costa Rica we can miss so much so easily. Every view has been a beautiful beyond words and unfortunately no picture could do it justice. However, we had the incredible opportunity to be here in this country and catch a "butterfly" to take home with us. One of my butterflies to take home is the importance of family and community. We often live for ourselves but life is much happier when shared with other people you love. I challenge everyone to catch at least one butterfly everyday to take home with them and use it to improve their life and the lives of others around them.

Amanda: An Educational Experience

To be honest, I was pretty apprehensive about this day. Our first spot for the day was the elementary school. We had some activities planned for the kids, and then played games after. I thought our lesson plan was going to be a disaster because not a lot of us know English, but it turned out to be awesome!

Briana and I were group leaders for the Purple Team. The lesson plan was pretty fun, but I thought that getting to run around and play games with the kids was even better. It reminded me of last summer when I was a camp counselor for a bunch of crazy eight year old girls. The language barrier didn’t matter as much; we were all just kids being kids, playing around outside. Even thought I’m terrible at soccer, I still had a blast.

In the afternoon, we visited the high school and they gave us a presentation. Even though it wasn’t as interactive, it was nice to see the effort and time they put in to show us a bit of Pacayitas. It made me feel very welcomed. Kevin also rocked the flute playing, which I thought was super awesome because he taught himself how to play the flute because they don't offer music classes at the school.

The last thing that we did was meet with the school board. I thought it was really interesting to hear about their education system. I found myself especially interested in what the community valued in a quality education system. I thought it was very cool and even innovative how they are trying to go for more student-centered education. However, I was shocked when I heard that while the elementary school has a 100% graduation rate, the high school drops significantly to almost 50%, mostly due to economic reasons. It made me wonder how this happens, and is something I’d be interested in learning more about. Another thing I found fascinating was how important education is to the community, but the farmers in the community want to pass down their family businesses. I wonder how they will confront that issue in the future. Despite a few issues, Pacayitas seems to have a quality education system where students are motivated to learn.

Recently, education and its implications has become is an intriguing and relevant theme in my life, so I am delighted that today I got to really focus in and see what’s going on here with the Pacayitas education system. It makes me wonder what really matters in an education. What is important to teach our children? What makes them the happiest?

Heather: Con Gusto

Dear Costa Rica,

I can’t even begin to express my fascination and adoration for not only how beautiful the view of the country is, but even more so how beautiful the soul of the community is. Each and every person that I have met is incredibly welcoming and so concerned for the experience I am having. And each person we have met this week is inspiringly motivated, hard-working and intelligent. I completely understand now why the consistent attitude throughout is one of patience and full of eager happiness. I feel like I’ve been captured in the magical bubble that I don’t want to pop by going back to the States. The common theme I’ve been noticing amongst all us students is everything is better in Costa Rica.

We went to the sugar plantation, the butterfly farm and the dairy farm. I really loved the love story between Ediberto and Maritza. Both came from sugar families and he lived in Mollejones up on the hillside. And she lived on the farm below. So he moved to be with her and still hikes up the steep hillside to visit his family.

Out in the field, he gave us the opportunity to dig. In the heat of the day, it didn’t take much to work up a sweat and become tired. Afterward, he showed us the process of getting the sugar water out of the sugarcane plant. There was so much physical energy exerted into making their product. While making the tapa de dulce (almost like a brown sugar cake except that it has the consistency of clay), we did it in the heat of the fire. And they moved quickly, artfully and gracefully. 

I have never been more impressed with anyone in my entire life than the people I have met and come to learn about in Pacayitas. I am so grateful and honored to have been able to share in their culture and having such loving open arms to welcome me.

Con amor,
Heather

Ashley: Pura Vida

Costa Rica,

Stepping off the bus onto one of the most beautiful pieces of property I’ve ever seen, I was welcomed by Alex, Fabian’s grandpa, and another worker. Surrounded by rolling hills, flourishing plants, and a beautiful dirt road, lies Los Laurels dairy farm in Mollejones. Personally, I knew nothing about dairy cows before this visit. Now, I can say I’ve learned so much in such a little time of being on the farm…and I even milked a cow for the very first time!! Alex, who owns the farm, was one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met. He explained every process from planting food for the cows, to how they breed them and their entire milking process. Throughout this tour I kept hearing the word “sustainable.” As we know, sustainable farming is a hot topic in the United States. Here in Costa Rica, farmers use their resources to their full advantage. For example, the pineapple tops and the waste from the sugar cane are used for feed for the cows. After watching this entire process, I was more than impressed at how extremely dedicated Alex is to make his farm sustainable. This entire trip I’ve been so impressed with the pride Costa Ricans have about their country and sustaining it to the best of their abilities.

While walking home from Fabian’s, Maria (a local girl from Pacayitas) asked us about what our favorite thing about Costa Rica is. We went on to tell her that everyone here is so nice and extremely welcoming, unlike in the United States (to be honest). As a community, everyone in Pacayitas works together. Maria was so thankful that we thought that and she told us in her best English that she loves Costa Rica because everyone here is always happy no matter how much money they have. When she said this I got the chills and could only think about how I wish people in the United States were more connected. No matter what financial situation someone is in, they always make the best of what they have.

Walking into our family’s home, I have never seen such a simple place. The walls are white, there’s one picture on the wall, and there are only a few pieces of furniture in each room. The simplicity of their lives is amazing. After living with our family for a few days, I’ve come to appreciate simplicity more than ever. In the United States we are always looking for more to gain for ourselves. Everyone is focused on their own lives and we don’t leave time to appreciate what is around them. After viewing the lives of the ticos, I realized the importance of “together-ness” in the community. While walking on the street, everyone waves and yells “Pura vida!” or “Hola!” whether you know them or not. This community is welcoming with open arms to any visitors. One day I hope that American’s can become more welcoming and proud of their country. I really wish that everyone in America could go on this exact trip and have the eye-opening experience that we’ve experienced. This entire trip I have never felt like a typical tourist. My host family and our guides have made us feel like true family. I’ll be forever grateful for this amazing experience…gracias ticos!!!

Christine: Part of who they are

Today was our second full day in Costa Rica and it was just a busy as the first one. We spent the day in Mollejones, a small town that is about four kilometers away from Pacayitas. We visited a jalapeño farm as well as a passion fruit plantation, Then later we visited the school. We had the opportunity to talk with a group of people who run a tourism group out of Mollejones. It was towards the end of a very long day, and trying to understand everyone's Spanish can get very exhausting, so please bear with me, I think most of my interpretation is correct...

First, they told us about their organization and what they do. When they were finished, we all had the opportunity to ask questions, and I thought that their answers were so interesting. I only wrote down their answers and I forget the specific questions that were asked, but I'll summarize the basic ideas: 

An important theme seemed to be how tourism is really important in their culture. Bringing tourists in to Mollejones helps them to appreciate what they have and the beauty around them, because no everyone has that. It is also a kind of positive reinforcement. The more tourists come to visit, the more motivated the people in the community are to keep Mollejones and Costa Rica clean and beautiful. And then that brings more tourists. You people can see the success that people have in the tourism industry and it inspires them and makes them optimistic about the future. Our guide Alex was able to explain simply, but really well, how the tourism we were experiencing is different from the tourism that is typical of a lot of other places in Costa Rica, especially on the west coast. He said that this kind of tourism in genuine. People are encouraged to not make changes to the way they live their lives, and just to help people to learn about what it really means to be a Costa Rican. An important goal of this type of tourism is to share and preserve the culture of these places. He said that places like Mollejones and other towns in the Turrialba region are inspiring others to expand their ecotourism efforts as a way to conserve and share their culture. 

I think  that everything that this group represents is really inspiring. They are all so passionate about helping their community and conserving the environment, and also the intersection of those two goals and how they can affect each other. Everyone always calls Costa Rica a developing country, and they are developing in many different way, but also in many ways they are much more advanced than the United States could ever be. Costa Ricans, especially local Costa Ricans, have such a deep understanding and connection with the land and their sense of place, that they understand that we are responsible for taking care of it if we want it to continue to be useful to us. I think that's something that a lot of Americans don’t understand, and also something that is difficult to teach, but Costa Ricans, they just know it and it's just part of who they are.