Costa Rica

This should serve as the final blog post for the trip to Costa Rica with Tayvon, Stephanie, Cameron, Jake, Janet, and Andrea.  I am currently reflecting sitting on the plane flying from San Jose to Atlanta where we’ll catch a plane to Richmond and then drive home late in the night (I finished sitting in Atlanta waiting for the delayed flight to Richmond).  As I think about the week we spent out of our element in a completely different corner of the world I can do nothing but smile.  What a pleasure it has been for me to share my passions of travel and exploration with a few of the students I love and care for deeply.  Over the past few years I have not found the time or ability to travel out of the country like I had in the years past, but when this opportunity arose, I couldn’t pass it up and what better way to travel than to share the experiences with others, especially those who can make a lasting impression on their peers. 

Costa Rica is a country situated in the middle of Central America, home to 6% of the world’s biodiversity and roughly the size of West Virginia.  While size is the only comparison that can be made with the state, Costa Rica is unique beyond any measure.  Costa Rica is a nation that can’t be compared with any other I have visited in my life, and I don’t expect to ever again come across a culture or group of people that will leave such a strong impression on me like this one had.  This might sound a bit pessimistic but I am open to suggestions for future travel; there is truly something special about this place.

In a previous blog where I documented my travels throughout Australia, I described a nation of people who were welcoming and hospitable like no other I had ever come across.  I should go back to edit because EVERYONE we encountered in Costa Rica seemed to be there to help us in any way possible.  From Tony and Juan Carlos to the resort staffs and shop attendants, there was not a single Tico who was disingenuous.  Everyone had a smile on their face and greeted us with open arms.  For this reason alone, anyone could love Costa Rica, but there is just so much more it offered us so I won’t stop here.

A small country? Yes. But at no point did we feel like we had seen something again or experienced the same thing over and over.  Every corner of the country had something different to do and experience.  One minute we’re in the middle of a bustling city, and the next we’re traveling dirt roads to make it to the cloud forest on the edge of our seats looking over cliffs at the rainforest all the way to the Pacific coast.  I realize we only saw a small fraction of the country, doing a loop around the Arenal Volcano, and yeah, we never got to go scuba diving or surfing or feed crocodiles but like I’ve done with previous trips, I think of these experiences should be saved for the next time.  Trust me, every one traveling with me plans to come back.  Regardless of future plans, we still managed to accomplish a lot and experience things many people will never get a chance to even try during their entire life.  Eating exotic fruits for the first time, zip lining, sitting in a bus hugging the edge of a cliff at risk of breaking and turning into a land slide, learning to salsa dance, and drinking some of the finest coffee in the world are only a few of the experiences we had.  We did a lot.

Most Memorable Moment

On the last night in Costa Rica, during our final meeting, we went around the group, person to person, sharing what it was that we liked most about our week, an easy question for some but honestly I struggled until it hit me when I felt a rush of emotion throughout my body.  I could say traveling through clouds and rain on a wire overlooking surreal terrain was my most memorable memory or even facilitating student discussions to develop hypotheses about bats and the dispersal of seeds, or any of the scientific explorations that put me in my teaching element I love so much.  The truth is none of these experiences and memories were my favorite. 

We came to Costa Rica to immerse ourselves in a different culture and explore the vast biodiversity the country had to offer as we all developed our global perspective along with an appreciation for what lies beyond the boarders of Hampton, Virginia, the United States and even our continent.  The truth is we achieved this and I’m confident the students can pass on what they learned and use the anecdotes of the trip to spread a sense of ownership for our actions in the community and in the broad sense, on this planet.  Even this accomplishment, as important as it was for me to see in these students, was not the most memorable part of the trip. 

Truth be told, my favorite part of the entire trip was the few hours we spent at the traditional Costa Rican house.  Not what many of you reading this might expect me to say but something happened as a result of our experiences there.  Growing up, some of my most memorable times were spent in the kitchen with my mother cooking up whatever was on the menu for the day.  We could accomplish anything together under her tutelage, lamb burgers to baked fish, buckeye cookies to apple crisp, and breakfast sandwiches for dinner to new inventions that just seemed to pop up in our heads.  The results of our hard work and sometimes mess were always shared as a family with dad and Kevin.  I cherish and love my family and will always value the time I spend with them.    

The experiences shredding veggies, dicing peppers, making tortillas, draining plantains, and stirring goodies in the frying pan brought me right back to the times in the kitchen with my mother.  This time I wasn’t experiencing this with her; instead my family had grown, now to include- Tayvon, Stephanie, Cameron, Jake, Janet, and Andrea.  We shared the experiences of making a meal together and sharing the outcomes as a family on a veranda overlooking a flowing river, and to the soothing sounds of birds and rainfall hitting the broad leaves of tropical trees.  I haven’t experienced a family moment in the kitchen or at the dinner table quite like this before.  So when asked the question about my favorite moment of the trip, I chose a moment that gave me the greatest sense of joy- being with family and sharing a meal with those I care about.  What was even better about sharing this meal was I didn’t have to clear the table or do the dishes!

Pura Vida

I don’t know if a week was enough to develop a full understanding of what is meant in the Costa Rican culture and language by pura vida.  What is meant by “pure life,” the literal translation into English?  It is not just said by Ticos but it is something they cherish and hold dear in their culture as a reminder of what unites them as a people.  I don’t claim to know its exact meaning, nor do I claim there is only one definition but I found myself trying to find examples of pura vida throughout the week in the actions of myself as well as my students.

This morning when helping the boys pack their bags, I came across Cameron’s carryon bag, a waterproof shoulder bag he had carried around everywhere we went.  I opened it up to make sure he didn’t have anything that could be confiscated in airport security.  When I opened the bag, the smell overpowered my olfactory system; it was awful.  So I dumped it out to find what had died inside.  What I found ended up not surprising me, having known Cameron for a few years.  He had used the bag as a trashcan for the duration of the trip.  Cheez-It crumbs, empty boxes and other food litter filled the bag, causing the fetid smell.  Cameron had been carrying his bag not because there were things in it of importance but simply because he had a bag and used it time to time to store clothes (which were always wet) and a few personal items but mainly to keep his trash in one place.  I’m sure Juan Carlos would be happy knowing Cameron didn’t contribute to the mess of the bus at the end of each day.  I’m not writing this to tease Cameron but to show how he had exemplified pura vida in a way some may not realize.  Cameron doesn’t care what others think of him, rather, he thinks independently, and choses to do what he does because it is right for him at that particular moment.  Yeah, this was a bit gross but I commend Cameron for shrugging off the small things in life to help him focus on what really matters, his happiness.

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A quick story about Cameron before moving on:  This morning when inspecting the boys room prior to departing and checking out, I came across a photocopy of Cameron’s passport on the floor.  Cameron had apparently found the copy in his rotting bag wet, discolored, and smelly. 

 

He raised the alarm with Janet, telling her, “I don’t know what to do, my passport is ruined.”

 

She responded, “Where’s the rest of your passport?”

 

“I don’t know, I must have lost it.” Cameron expressed without emotion or concern for the fact he would need this important document to leave the country.  Cameron did express his interest in staying but to ruin his passport to stay could never cross his mind.

 

Janet reminded him this is the reason why Mr. Hetrick collected the passports upon arrival in Costa Rica.

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Stephanie exemplified pura vida on a number of occasions on the trip.  A quiet, kind, and very intelligent young lady, Stephanie has always been one to make the most of situations, and having the ability to make friends wherever she goes.  She befriended a number of other girls on the bus and always found something positive to do with her time.  Humming and singing, the group could always count on Stephanie to provide a bit of entertainment, even singing “Mad World,” a song from one of my favorite movies.  Always smiling, Stephanie can brighten up anyone’s day and frequently reminds me to be happy, even when I become frustrated (particularly with other people). 

Tayvon exemplified pura vida as well throughout the trip.  A shy young man at first, but his wit and jokes cannot be competed with!  I love his sense of humor and his ability to keep up with my sarcasm; man is he quick!  When the group was going zip lining, Tayvon decided after putting on his harness and helmet that he didn’t want to participate.  I spoke to him to make sure he wouldn’t regret the decision later and he was confident this was a good choice for him.  He had decided on his own his fear of heights would not allow him to participate.  To this day he has not had a regret about this decision even partaking in conversations with the rest of the group about their experiences.  He was enthusiastic to hear about our time when we arrived back and didn’t feel like he was left out.  Tayvon’s ability to recognize his own limitations allows him to realize his potential and stay focused on specific achievable goals.  This is a respectable trait and certainly exemplifies pura vida- being able to recognize one’s own reality.

Now Jake.  Jake is an all around talented young man capable of achieving anything he puts his mind to.  I had the pleasure of watching Jake grow up over the past year, seeing him mature into a more self reliant young man, being able to recognize areas for improvement in his learning and life.  This week, Jake was the first of all the students on the trip (among all 3 schools) to reach out to others and start making new friends.  There is no doubt he set a trend and helped others get out of their comfort zone to approach other students and start networking.  His confidence is very apparent and potential unending.  Jake will be able to exemplify pura vida if he lives up to the expectations he sets for himself   and those who care about him. 

For me, pura vida means accepting reality and being honest and open about my thoughts and feelings without compromising objectivity, as you may have seen in this blog.  There is no escaping the truth; life is good regardless of circumstance and predicament.  Keeping positive and open minded will help me in my future endeavors as an educational leader and life long learner, open to all sorts of adventure and challenge.  I will never forget my experiences in Costa Rica and what I learned throughout the week, continually reminding myself of the Tico ways of the pura vida.

A Proud Teacher and Moving Forward

Tayvon, Stephanie, Cameron, and Jake make me so proud as their teacher and now family.  They have proved themselves to be respectful, patient, and virtuous young people, worthy of any opportunity that comes their way..  They have expressed interest in sharing their experiences to help their peers become more culturally competent and understanding of others to promote diversity and a broader global perspective for all to share.  The community of Hampton has an asset in each one of these students and should be pleased to know there are young people who are willing to step out of their comfort zone to experience a world beyond the confines of the peninsula in order to promote cohesive and unified community ideals.  I look forward to watching Jake and Cameron finish their final year at Andrews next year and Stephanie and Teyvon make the most of the opportunities in High School.  They will be successful and they will do what it takes to achieve whatever it is they set their minds to, I guarantee it. 

This trip to Costa Rica was one I had been looking forward to for a while and one I will remember for the rest of my life.  Since starting this post we have all talked about taking another trip next summer (we’re thinking Cuba) as a crew.  We will of course be open to more students joining so long as they are willing to have fun, try new things, and make the most of whatever happens along the way.  I would recommend any teacher out there to step out of their own comfort zone to provide an opportunity for students to explore the world.  I am always willing to share more information to teachers interested in such an opportunity and am happy to help anyone make it a reality.  Until our next trip, PURA VIDA!

This morning we woke up and met in the lobby not knowing what the day would look like.  Last night, after seeing the effects of excessive storms on the Rio Sarapiqui for myself along with the news of communities evacuating for shelter, fear of further flooding and the chances of being stranded started to dwell on Tony and us.  A meeting was held to discuss the options for today.  We would either be getting on the bus at 0700 and driving out of our way to reach San Jose, skipping bird watching at 0600 to make it to the capital to have dinner and do our final souvenir shopping.  This option would only be used if the word got back from the transportation department that the route to the city was closed or blocked.  Otherwise, we would be leaving at the normal time of 0900 and taking the quickest route to town.  Tony would notify us when we met at 0600 for the bird watching hike this morning.

We awoke this morning at 0530 with our bags packed last night incase we had to leave in an emergency due to flooding.  At no point were we scared or feared the worst.  We were confident in our guide Tony and his ability to assess the threat and make the appropriate choice.  He is the first hero of this post. 

His diligence when solve problems throughout the trip as well as his ability to communicate clearly with the adults and keeping students in the loop when necessary has made this trip run smooth.  His ability to connect with students with his jokes, stories, and games has allowed him to build report with the kids as well as the adults. 

I was one of a few adults to meet with Tony at 0600 (can’t imagine with all the early mornings why they would even consider sleeping in) on a morning like the ones prior- wet, rainy, overcast, humid, and chilly.  Didn’t bother me, rather I know people who are reading this who live in Hampton are jealous of the 20-25C temperatures here in Costa Rica; go figure, the weather here, near the equator, would be much more pleasant than on the east coast of the United States.  Tony had made a few calls and determined the road to San Jose was open; the block in the road caused by flooding and a landslide was just north of the intersection where we would turn off- the opposite direction of our travels.  This was good news but we found out after breakfast we would have to travel an alternate route through the mountains due to a block in the main road. 

We left the resort at 0830 in case we ran into traffic (other buses attempting to get back to San Jose with their passengers).  The students and I had no idea what was in store for the following few hours.  The road we would take would be the path of an adventure we would never forget and one I will continually remind my students of when discussing the pure power of weather and water.  On the road leading south to the mountain road we would take to San Jose we looked east to see the flooded river coming meters from dwellings for miles along the bank.  It was obvious to us just how serious torrential rains impact the local communities. 

I could tell we made it to the mountain road when the curves and turns started to become regular.  Looking out the window there was evidence of landslides all over the place.  We had seen a mound of rock and mud covering the roadway to our previous location only a few days prior but this was something else.  Every single turn we made took us by mud and rubble on the sides of the road, sometimes even covering whole lanes.  A few times we had passed construction crews using large lifts and equipment to remove the land from the roadway.  They were directing traffic around what looked like a tumor sticking out of the road, coming from the large cavity on the mountainside.  Workers seemed to be working hard to surgically remove the mass of earth from the pass but I can’t imagine how long these people would be working to remove ALL the earth on the pass.

Juan Carlos is the second hero of this post and what I would consider a super hero.  His powers are driving and he is one of the best at what he does.  The multi-ton tour bus had managed to get out of a few sticky situations and close calls throughout the trip but nothing compared to the precision and calm needed by Juan Carlos as it did on this day.  Coming inches from the edge of the road and oncoming cars as we carefully moved around obstacles, the bus seemed to handle like a 250cc motorcycle- nimble and aggressive when needed.  Looking over the edge of the cliff as we drove up the mountain may not have been the most soothing feeling in the world and I certainly wouldn’t have felt comfortable on a bus with a driver I didn’t know but Juan Carlos had proven his ninja driving skills time and time again. 

Keeping our minds of the driving, leaving it to our hero, we could take in the scenery, passing waterfalls, gorges, huge trees, cloud covered landscapes, and Ticos going about their business on the mountainside.  We made it to the top of the mountain and turned right to head downhill on a shallow decline through the clouds heading southeast.  A few kilometers into the cloud something magical happened.  It was as if we were starring in a movie- the camera focusing on our heads resting against the glass, panning out to show the cloud disappearing in the reflection of the window to reveal a blue sky so refreshing and vibrant it could only be on the big screen to believe. 

We hadn’t seen blue sky in three days; not that we were complaining or disappointed by the rain because we weren’t, in fact we were pretty content with the weather, knowing it was out of our control and we were traveling during the wet season.  Pura vida. It was a refreshing site to see the blue sky and the bright white clouds at elevations they wouldn’t be able to conceal the beauty of the landscape.  We had made it to coffee country.  The rainforests were special but there was something about the regularity of the green crops in lines, neatly organized along the sides of the valley- so much different than the high entropy of the rainforest.  Plus it was coffee, how could I complain!

Coffee is grown in Costa Rica at elevations between 1200-1700 meters above sea level in the West Valley.  The quality ranges from the very best (at high altitudes) to some of the lowest quality.  Surprisingly many Costa Ricans prefer the lower quality not only because it is cheaper but because they don’t drink coffee like the rest of the world, preferring either a lot of milk or sugar seemingly using coffee as flavor in their drink.  Costa Rican law dictates only Arabica beans be grown and harvested to prevent heavy competition with Brazil’s Robusta variety.  No machines are used to harvest the crop either.  Farms typically use seasonal immigrant workers particularly from Nicaragua and Panama, and have a workforce comprised of roughly 10% of the pickers from local areas.  Pickers earn $2 by the basket of hand picked ripe fruits, and experienced pickers can make up to $40 or $50 per day.

The bus had arrived at the Doka Estate where we unloaded from the bus, stretched our legs and took a tour of the extensive farm and area.  We were taken through the entire process from picking to sugar fermentation to bean drying to roasting and grinding.  The estate is home to the oldest wet mill in the country and prides itself on having some of the highest quality product in the market.  And did they! The Espresso blend was my favorite!  At the end of the tour I would have been a fool, as pointed out by Janet, if I didn’t leave with a few bags, so I purchased a bag of ground Espresso beans and a Breakfast Blend to share with my family on our upcoming vacation. 

We ate lunch on a veranda overlooking the estate and the Western Valley, soaking in the good weather, cool breezes, and sharing stories of our travels, reminiscing about our trip, saddened it was our last lunch in Costa Rica. 

After stuffing our faces with a delicious lunch of fresh greens, pork, chicken, and of course rice and beans (surprisingly it doesn’t get old), we made our way through the gardens and came across the butterfly house.  I was reminded of a friend back home, Laura Joy, who has a fascination with the creatures.  I could see why.  There was something about these creatures that put a sense of peace and serenity in the air.  Maybe it was the way they gracefully moved in the air or their trusting nature to be able to attach themselves to your body or clothing without fear of crushing.  The garden was home to a variety of species, not only of butterflies but also plants and flowers. 

At the back of the house was a small enclosure with chrysalises ready to hatch.  In fact as we were standing there we got to see a butterfly immerge from the green enclosure to flutter its wings for the first time.  Quite the experience and proof Costa Rica has treasures, gems, and surprises around every corner of the small country. 

Time to get back on the bus and make it into the city.  We traveled through the main areas of town, even seeing a few stoplights for the first time in a week.  The town was cluttered and crowded with shops and homes; it was quite a different scene from what we were used to throughout the week but also refreshing to know we were back in “civilization.”

Our final planned stop was a large souvenir shop where we could spend the last of our Colones on trinkets to bring home.  Each of us made out with a few things we could share with our families and friends back home.  After we made our way deeper into the city for our final dinner.  Traditional, fresh, delicious, and filling are all ways to describe the meal consisting of rice, beans (did I even need to add this), hash, plantains, pork, beef, plantains, and rice pudding, all served on a plank covered with a banana leaf.  To drink many had Pepsi (their first soda in a while), while the rest of us sipped on Guanabana juice, a milky white slightly sweet juice that went so well with the meal and was incredibly refreshing.  The meal served as the last time we would all eat together as a group in Costa Rica and as the sun fell between the trees and mountains in the distance we knew it was time for us to be on our way back home the following day. 

We are truly going to miss this place.

We are going to miss the fresh always great cuisine of Costa Rica! Excellent meal in San Jose!

This morning after sleeping in until 0700, and breakfast at 0800, the students returned back to Tirimbina to conclude their investigations on bats.  The students were tasked with looking at their guano nets they had set up the previous day to determine if there were any seeds.  Students were given tweezers and a petri dish to collect their samples from the trap.  Tayvon and Stephanie worked together to collect a few seeds and some guano remnants that looked like seeds and Jake, disappointed to get his shoes muddy, worked with Cameron to check their trap.  Both groups were successful.  We broke down the traps and returned to the lab to identify the seeds using microscopes.  All students identified seeds in the Miconia and Ficus family of trees.  We were all excited to see the results we had worked so hard to obtain. 

 

After their identifccation, it was time to see what kind of plants these seeds came from so we headed back out into the field to study the various angiosperms in the garden.

 

We received some bad news just after our investigation from Tony.  This afternoon we will be having more free time than expected due to the flash flooding; we will not be going whit water rafting.  Rather, we will spend the time exploring the area and swimming in the pool.  The boys and Stephanie were content with the decision, considering they had never been rafting before.  I’ve only  had the opportunity once and don’t consider myself an expert to be able to carry my weight in turbulent water.  Great decision by Tony!  We could all use a bit of R&R as well.  

When I sat down tonight to put my thoughts together and write this, I couldn’t believe everything we had accomplished as a group and team.  Trekking 4 kilometers on an active volcano, traversing flooded bridges, narrowly missing landslides, making lunch for 40 people, developing hypotheses regarding the seed dispersal of fruit bats in the Costa Rican rain forests, and studying up close the various adaptations of bats which make them such successful ecological marvels were just the few things we had achieved in the short 15 hours since awakening.  Somehow we managed to eat well and plenty throughout the day to keep us nourished and energized. 

This morning was the earliest morning to date.  I slept through my alarm at 0500 and awoke just before 6, enough time to pack my bags, head downstairs, awaken the boys in their room, and make it to breakfast in time at 0630.  I could tell we were all tired and needed a couple more hours of rest.  Breakfast, of course, consisted of fresh fruit, rice and beans, eggs, and freshly squeezed fruit juice.  Coffee was in order for a few of us as well.  I’ll admit to having a few cups while posting last nights blog and writing to my dad to wish him a happy father’s day! 

The morning mission was to make it up to a lava field of Arenal Volcano, an active stratavolcano overlooking Arenal Lake.  The weather was still not cooperating but it is the rainy season; what can you do?  We put on our rain gear, for many others and me this was a Coleman poncho from Target (a brilliant purchase just before leaving on the trip), hopped off the bus and made our way to the trailhead to start the trek.  Keeping to the back of the group and taking our time to soak in everything we trekked 2 kilometers to reach a set of stairs which would lead us to the lava field. 

On the way up, Tony stopped all of us to stand quietly in pouring rain to listen to the sounds of the forest.  I was so thrilled he did this to allow the students and I to make an unencumbered observation with one of our most critical senses.  The rain hitting leaves, mud, detritus, ponchos, and even a small salamander all had a characteristic sound adding to the melody of the forest.  The birds chirping provided the beat as the croaks of the frogs provided the vocals.  The experience was needed for all of us to truly appreciate a part of the world we had yet to see and hear.

The lava field was an obstacle course of sharp, jagged rock epitomizing entropy and randomness in the world.  Every step took hard concentration and fine motor skill to keep from twisting an ankle or falling over.  The view was just like every other in Costa Rica- stunning and endless.  Unfortunately we could not see everything we might have seen on a clear day, like the summit of the volcano, but we could easily make out the steep sides as well as Arenal Lake behind us.  A few photos later it was time to make the journey back. 

The trip back was wet, cold, and seemingly shorter than the one going up.  We were able to tell how close we were from the bus based on the different succession zones we were passing though.  The closer to the bus, the smaller the trees and plants became and the more we were rained on as a result.  The primary succession zone was full of bamboo and ferns, making up the plant life seen during the initial recovery of loss.

Back on the bus, this time dryer than yesterday, we set out to our next stop.  [Mrs. Carpenter- I will have you know Cameron was wearing appropriate clothing today and was plenty warm throughout our adventures!]  Our next stop would be a traditional Costa Rican house situated on a farm in a remote rural area of the country.  To get there, we had to traverse a bridge in the large bus we had been traveling in throughout the week.  Due to the rains and heavy storms, the bridge was close to becoming flooded and washed over with debris and turbid water.  Luckily our driver and hero of the day, Juan Carlos, was able to concentrate enough to safely get us across and up the hill to the house! 

When we arrived and exited the bus, we were received by the owners and workers of the farm with fresh fruit and refreshment for all to enjoy.  The owners went over a brief history of the house and explained how a president of Costa Rica had once owned and lived on the property.  His face is shown on the old 5 Colones note (currently worth less than a penny). 

We were directed to the bathrooms to wash up and then to an outdoor kitchen where each of us were given tasks.  Stephanie cut up peppers, Jake, Andrea, Tayvon, and Cameron shred up some fruit for a salad, while I removed plantains from oil to cool off.  After our tasks were complete, we moved on to making tortillas.  While everything was being cooked, the group headed down the hill to a small hut where we were greeted by a few of the farmers along with Costa and Rica, two bulls attached to a large spindle.  The farmers showed us how sugar was extracted from sugar cane and then how brown sugar was created (not the refined crap you get in the store, but the real deal)!  Graciously, they provided us samples, which tasted like molasses, not surprisingly.  Cameron and Jake did not need the extra sugar but I’m glad they had the chance to try something new!  I kid.  Pura vida!

Still pouring down rain, we quickly made it back to the main house to dry off and have the lunch that we so tirelessly prepared.  The adults went first filling our plates covered in banana leaf with a vegetable slaw, plantains, savory guava, pollo, and of course rice and beans.  To drink, the most refreshing juice I’ve had yet.  Do I know what was in it? Nope. Do I care? Nope. It was splendid.  All I can tell you is that it was orange/pink in color.  The lunch, the most amazing me we have had in Costa Rica.  I don’t say this because we had some part in its inception but because we all could taste how fresh and well planned out everything was.  Who knew guava could be a savory dish? The chicken, let me tell you- it fell right of the bone and the skin melted in our mouths along with he rice and beans to bring everything together.  The plantains were of course my favorite; my mom and dad could tell you this!

After lunch we could all peek up from our plates to see the view of the valley with rapids tearing away the banks with storm water heading to Arenal Lake.  As we gazed over the railings of the balcony, a few of the workers had turned us around as they sat down with a guitar and drums.  Pura vida is all I can say about it.  The mood was good and the spirits were high!  What an awesome opportunity to experience Costa Rican culture in the most hands-on way possible!  I would go back in a heartbeat!

Worried about the rainwater and storms slamming the area for the past few days, Tony discussed the chances of a longer drive to our next location, the rainforest lodge next to Tirimbina Wildlife Area, a privately preserved area of rainforest for research and ecotourism purposes.  He discussed Juan Carlos would be pushing forward on the regular route but we should expect a few delays due to landslides, flooded bridges, and crazy weather. 

Everything Tony had described was a reality on the trip.  We had to cross back over the bridge we took to get to the traditional house, but this time the water was higher and definitely moving quicker.  About an hour into the ride we came to a complete stop and waited as John Deere equipment removed mud and plant material from the roadside, caused by a small landslide. “Typical,” noted Tony when I spoke with him.

We arrived at Tirimbina a little over two hours after leaving the traditional house, not much longer than originally estimated.  The hotel consisted of a main hut, open to the elements, with a thatched roof, beautiful gardens and various circular huts home to 5-8 rooms.  The rooms, also open to the elements were very primitive but beautifully put together with a desk, rock tile floors, a ceiling fan, mirror, high ceilings, and double doors opening up to a wrap around porch shared by other guests.  It reminded me of a place I stayed at in South Africa with my family a while back. 

After unloading our gear, the group headed over to the Education Center of Tirimbina where we met a few guides who sat us down for a lecture on...guess it...bats!  Yea I know they aren’t the most beautiful creatures in the world but they aren’t all blood suckers like you think they are.  In fact, of the 1116 species of bats in the world (consisting of ~21% of the known species of mammals), only 3 survive through hematophagy.  And yeah, all three exist in Costa Rica, along with 111 others too.  During this initial session, we discussed various adaptations of bats including echolocation, noseleafs, tragi, as well as their ears.  We also talked about their range of diets and a few misconceptions before getting into the fun science part!

After explaining the scientific method to students for the 5th or 6th time in their lives (and actually well done considering the model given was cyclical rather than linear; bravo), the students had to hypothesize about whether or not fruit eating bats dispersed seeds in open areas, as well as which types of plants were dispersed.  Each school was given the same task and were asked to present their work to the group.  I have to give it to Stephanie, Tayvon, Jake, and Cameron! They were not only the best group to present based on their knowledge, but also were the only group to rationalize their hypotheses in reason and logic rather than some bogus unfounded comment.  They had reasoned the bats would not disperse seeds in open areas due to the fact they were primary consumers and would need to account for their predators prowling these areas for a quick meal.  They also argued the plants would more than likely be shaded plants since pioneer plants tended to be out in the open, making the bat vulnerable to predation.  To test their hypotheses, they decided they would need to observe open areas to see if there was a presence of bats.  They would then need to observe areas around fruit trees to see if there was a population near by.  With this information, they could set up a device to catch the bats to determine if they were fruit eaters based on the adaptations discussed earlier in the lecture.  I was so proud of them and to have been their life science teacher.  Excellent work Gators! After the lecuture and presentations we headed outside to set up guano traps to be used overnight to collect droppings and to study the seeds dispersed by the bats.

Dinner was next after yet again a much needed shower.  Talapia, veggies, a salad, and of course...you guessed it...beans and rice.  No, we are not getting tire of it; well maybe the guys are since they have to share a room with each other, but I’m not going to go any further.  Again fresh fruit juice and plenty of water to rehydrate.   After dinner we made it back to the education center for our last few activities before bed.  We split the group into three; luckily we weren’t placed with the evil group (more on this later). 

At the first station, we were shown how bats were caught in the wild using a very fine net.  The next was my favorite.  We were able to have an up close and personal look at two different bat species, Carollia perspicillata, and Artebeus jamaisensis, both fruit bats and quite cute up close, pretty much alleviating any negative thoughts I once had about them.  I have had my fare share of bat encounters in the wild, particularly in Australia, but these little guys were nothing like the flying foxes in Oz, they were small, nimble, docile, and beautiful.

After the final rotation, which consisted of a short lecture summarizing what we had learned today, we made it back to the hotel lobby to have our nightly meeting about the following day.  It looks like with the rain and storms, we will not be rafting due to the flash flooding and safety risk; no problems here and I think a smart choice.  The conclusion of the meeting also provided me with some time to meet with Tony one on one regarding another school group we were traveling with.

I’m really not one to complain but those who know me know I will tell it how it is when things get out of hand or need to be addressed.  I wrote in another post about some obnoxious kids traveling along with us but tonight we got stuck with them in our building for the following two nights.  These 5 or 6 kids seem to be continuously unsupervised, loud, rude, and completely disrespectful of others.  I understand the adolescent behavior but why in the hell am I the one telling them to be quite, pay attention, and stop spraying OFF all over the place because of a few moths.  My goodness, the stuff is used as prevention not for extermination (I didn’t even bring any spray and to be honest have not had a single inclination to use any).  Tonight was my breaking point.  I didn’t address the issue with their clueless chaperones because they are the issue; they need to be accountable for the kids they bring, not me.

Of course I won’t end a blog on negativity but I thought it was worth mentioning to anyone considering bringing students along on a trip. Make sure you bring the right ones, like I did.  I can’t express how proud of the four I am and how lucky I am to be able to share days like today with them.  I thank them for setting a strong example for others and continuously being virtuous in their actions.  They deserve any and all opportunities that may arise from this trip, including high school credits. 

I’m still working on a video for zip and plan to post a short clip showing briefly what we experienced.  I took video today as well but am having a hard time uploading with shoddy Internet. Until next time I look forward to reading more of your comments and sharing them with everyone! Pura vida!

Traveling through the Costa Rican Cloud Forest on trail was one thing but flying sky high through clouds, fog, pellets of rain, and gusts of wind may take the cake when it comes to experiencing the flora and fauna of this great place.  Zip lining may have been the most amazing experience we shared as a crew since we stepped foot in Central America.  Again, the day started at the 0630 with breakfast but the early morning was worth waking to a clear day on the mountain overlooking the Pacific from a distance.  When we awoke at 0530 to get ready and pack our bags, the sun had already broken the horizon.  Bright and welcoming, the early morning light was a sign of a great day to come!

Eager to get on the wire and head down a mountain on a harness, we stuffed our faces with a great breakfast including eggs, hash browns, sausages, fresh pineapple, oranges, guava, and watermelon, and of course a few cups of coffee.  We would need this energy very soon after.  A short trip on the bus took us up the mountain to the location of a zip line course traversing valleys, through the canopy, and over endless lush vegetation.  Helmets, harnesses, and a brief safety lecture on hand signals, proper procedures, and general guidelines were provided before anyone hung on the wire.  “Be sure to keep this position going down the line but once you’re given the signal, open up your legs to slow down and prevent any injury,” was the most critical piece of information.  Luckily they had helmets to allow me to attach the GoPro!

The course started with a “feeler” line to help prevent people from making it to the top of the mountain and then changing their minds about the experience.  Standing up on the platform as the attendant strapped a safety line to the wire and then the primary line to the inside of the roller provided each of us with a bit of reflection on what exactly might happen if something went wrong. SNAP! No, just kidding, of course nothing went wrong but we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t think about the consequences of putting our lives in the hands of a few sown together pieces of fabric connected to a carabineer, roller, and wire.  Such a simple contraption if you think about it but excitement can always arise from the simple things. Pura vida.

The attendant placed his hand on the wire to prevent the roller from slipping and tells you to sit lifting your legs into the air and crossing them to make the way down the line.  After a quick radio message from the guys at the end of the line, he says bye and releases his hand and you’re off!  After passing the “feeler” line, we made it to the gondola station where we waited to be escorted up the mountain on a 15 minute ride through the dense clouds, over giant trees, and through parts of the canopy to the top.  At the top we were greeted with a final drink of hot chocolate before hiking 100 meters to the first of 8 stages on the course.  A few flights of stairs brought us up to the top of the scaffolding where we waited our turns to get strapped in.  The first stage was quite intimidating.  Not only could we not see the other side of the line, but also the rain stated to pick up and the wind was gusty.  I was thinking, if they were going to let us do this in these conditions we should be okay. “Don’t worry Mr. Hetrick, you’ll go really slow ‘cause you’re a big guy,” I remember hearing during the “feeler” stage.  Ha.

I was the last to go in each stage to see the students take off and disappear in the clouds.  The radio signals told me everything was safe on the other side so I was both relieved and nervous as hell when it was my turn.  Everyone else was safe but it was up to me to make it 100%.  The first stage hid just how high off the ground we were as we couldn’t see through the dense clouds and our focus was on the landing zone which didn’t appear until there was only 30 or so meters left. I flew through the clouds at speeds I could only imagine were fast because if the others were going any faster, I don’t know how they would be able to handle the rain pellets hitting them in the face.  The physics was off and I ended up being the fasted zip liner there.  It’s a good thing I’m a biology teacher.

Everyone did a great job and there were no issues at all.  We made it down the mountain safely and without injury to either our bodies or spirits.  The only major issue was the fact Cameron and Stephanie did not come prepared with proper clothing for the day and ended up shivering for the last couple stages because of the torrential downpour and massive gusts of wind.  Poor Cameron was in a tshirt and shorts, which would never be suitable to zip line in Costa Rica.  He will be listening to our guide and I tomorrow on what to wear so this doesn’t happen again.  Minus the goose bumps and crossed arms for warmth, both had a blast and even talked about doing this again somewhere else. 

The scariest moment for me was the third to last stage where I spun around in the middle of the flight because of a strong crosswind.  I had to readjust my hands on the roller handles a few different times to reorient myself in the proper direction.  I felt a bit out of control but managed to correct the issue before arriving at the landing zone with my legs open and out.  The attendant laughed as he unclipped me from the line. I realized he could see me struggling “gracefully” the entire time.

Every single one of us were drenched from the weather; water in waterproof shoes, and saturated socks, pants, shirts, and underwear.  We were so wet the bus driver made us stand on the short ride back to prevent the seats from getting wet for our next trip.  Back at the hotel we took the 45 minutes allotted to us to shower, change, and pack up our things to go to lunch and then head to the Hot Springs for a relaxing swim. 

Tony surprised us with a pizza lunch around the corner from our hotel.  Treated to guava juice, garlic bread, supreme pizza, a house pizza, pig and fungus pizza, and of course the classic cheese.  After gorging ourselves with nourishment we headed to the bus which took us off the mountain back to sea level and then through the jungle and small towns to reach the man made lake, Arenal. 

The lake was developed to help provide the country with hydroelectric power and serves as the home to tourists, fisherman, and boaters.  Of course Costa Rican waterways wouldn’t be complete without the crocodile, which according to Tony has become a pest over the past few years.  I asked if they could be hunted for sustenance but Tony replied, “not only isn’t there a standing army in Costa Rica but hunting practices have been banned for conservational purposes; guns are not part of Costa Rican culture like they are in the United States.”  I found all of this interesting, particularly the part about no standing army.  Free education and medical treatment are byproducts of diverged funding from the military. 

We arrived to the lake on the other side of the hot springs and our hotel for the night.  Through dense precipitation, fog, and humidity, we circumnavigated the lake to reach the hot springs on the other side.  By hot springs, a resort with warm volcanic warmed water is what they meant.  I had been thinking of mud pits but this was a pleasant surprise.  The resort would be a great place to come and relax if spending vacation in Costa Rica but the two hours we spent there was enough to relax our muscles and enjoy being warm (Stephanie had been looking forward to this all day especially after it took my beanie, a hoodie, and Tony’s jacket to warm up).  The resort was made up of 5 or 6 different pools with varying degrees of temperature ranging from hot to super hot.  Waterfalls and slides littered the pools with excitement.  Many of us were content with going pool to pool to find the most ideal temperature and set up.

Dinner was served at the hotel and consisted of traditional Central American dishes and pleasant conversations with those at our tables.  Tayvon was so worn out he acturally fell asleep at the dinner table.  It wasn’t long after that we received our keys, headed to bed, and fell asleep.  Tomorrow consists of a trek through the Volcano National Park, learning how to make tortillas, and learning various skills of Costa Rican Ecologists. 

Be on the lookout for a video on the zip line experience soon!


Also, as you already know, I've been writing quickly and editing little. I will eventually go back and edit for grammar and spelling but with limited time on wifi, I need to make the most of it!

Two posts and video coming later today when wifi is available to us. Off to the volcano!

Quite the day! Still searching for the meaning of pura vida but as our understanding grows, our appreciation for the Costa Rican culture becomes more resolute.  The day started with breakfast at 0630, and then on the bus headed to Monteverde’s Cloud Forest. 

Tony, our tour guide, and self-proclaimed “everyone’s big brother,” along with Juan Carlos, our bus driver, took us to a fruit stand at the side of the road.  He was emphatic about not needing more than a few dollars, claiming, “a little will buy a lot of fruit!” It did.  For about 3 dollars or roughly 1500 Colones, I purchased 4 very large passion fruits and a half-kilo of lychees.  They won’t last long.  Stephanie left with a lollypop, disinterested in the wild motley assortment of fruit, heading straight towards the candy.  She was a bit disappointed in the texture of the candy and the appendages of a bee embedded in the 15th lick.  She is quickly learning not to bother too much about what is out of her control; pura vida.  The rest of the group left with an assortment of fruit including wild plums and water apples.

Before heading deep into the Costa Rican forests, we were pleasantly surprised to stop at a black sand beach on the Pacific Ocean.  We had no idea we would even get to see the ocean, let alone roam a beach.  A few pictures and we were off on our mission to reach the Cloud Forest, an ecological phenomenon caused by the continental divide.  The eastern side, windy and humid, pushes the Caribbean Sea’s moisture up the mountain, causing condensation at the top and precipitation on the western half.  Claiming to be the first area of Costa Rica to be protected, we quickly understood the importance of sustaining such a treasure.  The journey took us up the sides of mountains, inches from cliff edges on our gigantic bus, around construction, and through small towns, eventually making it into the clouds, literally.  The weather reminded me of Seattle but the scenery was unlike anything we’d ever seen before. 

Monteverde, neighbored by the Tico town, Santa Elena, is home to many Quakers, whose families traveled from the United States in the 40s to escape the draft.  Quickly establishing their homes, and purchasing a large plot of land from a mining company, the Quakers decided to preserve a large portion of land, protecting it from clear-cutting and use.  The town center is made up of two buildings and as Tony put it, “so simple, so cute, so Quaker!” Between 1200-1800 meters above sea level sits the Monteverde Cloud Forest, open to the public to explore and meander through the very humid forest.  The temperature was cool, but everything was wet.

After a bit of community service, transporting surfacing material 400 meters deeper into the forest to help the Quakers with their quest, we set on an adventure to find the elusive waterfall at the end of the trail.  After a half hour hike paused briefly a few times by Tony stopping us to explain anastomosis, epiphytes, and the difference between lianas and vines, we made it to one of the most beautiful scenes I’ve ever encountered in nature- three short falls filling up pools of clear water echoing pleasant and soothing sounds anyone could take a nap to.  Truly magical.

The hike back seemed longer than the hike to get there but eventually the group made it to the main area where the students were promptly seated in a classroom for a short lecture on the Quaker property and sustainable efforts needed to maintain a stable and healthy ecosystem.  Back on the bus, we were all game for having some lunch, since it was already 1300. 

Lunch at the new hotel consisted of rice and beans, a staple for us during the week as well as the Ticos all around.  A nice salad and pasta was available as well, complemented by freshly squeezed apricot juice and a passion fruit dessert (I could live on passion fruit).  The group generally enjoyed the meal.

Time to get to our rooms.  None of us expected to be traveling a kilometer up the hill to reach one of the buildings in the resort where our group would be staying.  We stepped off the bus with our room assignments and key cards and headed into what reminded me of a ski lodge.  We opened our doors to find massive rooms, windows wide open, and a view we will never forget.  The rooms faced southwest; we peeked down the valleys and hills until our lines of sight hit the Pacific Ocean dozens of miles in the distance.  Through the clouds and condensation we could still make out the waterline and even boats in the distance.

After a short time getting settled in and showering (you have no idea how smelly and dirty we all were from our trek through the cloud forest) we made it back to the bus to head into town to visit two snake and frog exhibits.  The first exhibit was well planned and excellently presented to the students.  Once the short lecture concluded, the students were able to explore the many terrariums with every venomous snake and poisonous frog one could imagine might be roaming around in the humid Costa Rican forests.  The highlight had to be the glass frog, a newly discovered species, popularized in the past few days’ conversations by Jake who was keen on filling us all in on the discovery.  Its translucent eyes and greenish body was fascinating.

The second exhibit was neatly set up but poorly organized causing our group to run into another class group which was not well behaved or supervised.  We were a little disheartened by this but we were still able to make due by spotting the frogs in the dark enclosures with our flashlights after the rambunctious students were finished.  The last terrarium was many of our favorites; the infamous tree frog, a focus of our shirts, and a fascinating colorful creature popularized in NatGeo magazines and the Discovery Channel.  This was the first time many of us had seen not only one but many in person.  In fact one of the females was carrying her kin on her back as if to say, “hey guys, check this out, take our picture!”

Dinner back at the hotel was mediocre.  Much of the time was spent searching for Wi-Fi signals to post this blog and pictures from the day.  This post will be posted late but unfortunately the Wi-Fi at this hotel has not been readily available.  Signals tease my computer and iPad only to rub in my face that I cannot connect.  Tomorrow we look forward to zip lining down the mountain, through the canopy of the rainforest, and relaxing our bodies in the warm hot springs in the afternoon.  Another long day but one I guarantee we will not forget!