3RD Week in Costa Rica
I just finished my 3rd week in Costa Rica. I have been so thankful for my time here and have experienced so much critical thinking and novel memories. Looking back at my time in Costa Rica, I have learned to understand and appreciate communities. Communities are everywhere, and sometimes I get too absorbed in my own little world to consider their presence. Furthermore, communities do not just consist of humans, but can exist in nature or at the intersect of both nature and humanity. The idea of communities including both the natural environment and humanity is further exemplified by witnessing Costa Rica firsthand. In Costa Rica, many people value nature and place immense importance on its conservation. In addition, at the core of this value lies apprehension that is healthy when navigating Costa Rica’s tropical rainforests. This mindset was shocking to me because I come from a country that has conquered nature in an overwhelming amount of area. For instance, during my time in college many trees were cut down to open up space for the oh so “necessary” Costco. I wish I could see more Americans adopt such a mindset because then Indiana might be covered in more forests.
I would like to use this space to bring attention to some of the Costa Rican communities I was able to meet and interact with. With the worsening effects of climate change, we are witnessing natural disasters that are more devastating and more frequent. While in Quepos, I witnessed a natural disaster firsthand at La Foresta Nature Resort. During the last full day at this resort, it started to rain midday. At first the rain wasn’t concerning because Costa Rica receives an ample amount of rain per year. However, as the day progressed, the rainfall got more intense and eventually even the Costa Rican staff were starting to get worried. I noticed the severity of the rainfall when dinner had to be cut short. This decision was made by our professors in fear that the roof might collapse because the roof was experiencing leaking at various spots. As we were leaving, I could see the sadness and disappointment on the staff’s face, and it made me worried thinking about the possible damage that might occur during the night hours. During the morning meeting, I was shocked to learn about the night events. Apparently, four members of our group had to be evacuated out of their rooms due to flooding. While the relocation could be thought of as an inconvenience, the real problem was the damage the resort sustained. Due to the flooding, the staff had to make a makeshift buffet in front of a random room. Tables were lined up single file for eating space, and one probably would have walked 40 feet to reach the final table. Throughout this entire ordeal, all of the staff had a smile on their face and were working relentlessly to fix their resort while still providing for their guests. The teamwork displayed by the staff demonstrated the closeness of their community. Despite a terrible ordeal, they all banded together to try to make the best of the situation. This entire event exemplified to me the power of community, and its ability to help individuals push through disaster with resilience.
Another community that had a profound impact not only on me, but the entire Indiana University group, was the Ngäbe Tribe. The Ngäbe tribe inhabits areas both in Panama and Costa Rica (Tella, 2018). My professors arranged a discussion with 6 representatives of the tribe. I learned many valuable lessons during this meeting. First, I learned about the unjust treatment of the Ngäbe tribe by the Costa Rican government. For instance, the Costa Rican government refuses to help fund the education system of the Ngäbe children. They will not support these indigenous schools because they do not follow the standard Spaniard curriculum and instead desire to teach classes regarding the Ngäbe native language and culture. During our discussion, one indigenous representative was begging for help in obtaining textbooks and the proper resources to ensure education for the Ngäbe children. Everyone deserves a right to education, and this education doesn’t need to model a standard forced upon others. The Ngäbe tribe should have the necessary funds to aid in teaching and preserving both their culture and language. Moreover, this is just one of the many problems affecting the Ngäbe tribe. The tribe experiences high rates of poverty and areas of their land are threatened by the Barro Blanco hydroelectric project. Since being filled in 2016, the Barro Blanco hydroelectricity plant has displaced countless indigenous people and has flooded large areas of their land (Kennedy, 2016; Grossman, 2018). The government has failed the Ngäbe tribe, but international awareness and donation may be another route to guarantee preservation of the Ngäbe tribe.
Another community that needs to be acknowledged is the natural community. My time in Costa Rica has given me the ability to witness a vast wealth of species in a single area. This immense biodiversity is present in all of the national parks and research stations that I have visited. The biodiversity in Costa Rica is a stark contrast to Indiana, where I rarely see animals outside the common deer and robin. Moreover, observing the biodiversity in Costa Rica has given me an appreciation for considering an animal’s impact on their own community. For instance, the sea turtles in Costa Rica are important ecosystem engineers that cause a chain reaction as their numbers drop below acceptable numbers. The natural community is like a puzzle and without certain puzzle pieces, the puzzle piece will never be complete. Natural communities, the puzzle, need certain species interactions, the puzzle pieces, in order to survive and maintain biodiversity.
The ability to be an observer silently witnessing various species in their natural environment has allowed for me to reconnect with nature. As of right now, I feel like a small blip in the world existing with the animals I have observed. With nature, sometimes you just have to be at the right place at the right time. I was fortunate to witness such an experience. While collecting data on a beach near Piro Research Statoin, I heard these beautiful squawks and looked into the sky. I was greeted with three majestic Scarlet Macaws soaring through the sky. I was amazed that such beautiful animals existed and marveled at their many colors. I also thought about how I was existing peacefully with these Macaws in their own natural community. This experience made me question some of the choices I make at home. Going back to the United States, I want to ensure that I am aware of the companies or corporations that directly and/or indirectly contribute to the eradication of the natural communities.
Works Cited
Grossman, D. (2018, March 6). Dam lies: Despite promises, an indigenous community’s land is flooded. Pulitzer Center. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/dam-lies-despite-promises-indigenous-communitys-land-flooded
Kennedy, J. (2016, April 8). Ngäbe communities facing evictions call for International Solidarity. Intercontinental Cry. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://intercontinentalcry.org/ngabe-communities-facing-evictions-call-international-solidarity/
Tella, S. (2018, July 25). The ngäbe-buglé: A home cut in two. Pulitzer Center. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/ngabe-bugle-home-cut-two
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