Expectations are preconceived ideas you hold about something you have yet to experience, based on others’ experiences or your own in a similar territory. Coming into Costa Rica, I certainly had a number of expectations, all of which came from information online and stories from people I knew. I had never experienced the tropical forest, Latin America, nor studying abroad. Now, being two weeks into this program and with only one left, I’m able to say that my expectations have certainly been exceeded.
One area I had the least knowledge about going into the class was research. I had done your entry-level, high school science experiment, but never field work. I’m also interested in a variety of research topics, so it was difficult for me to choose one and go with it. As the trip grew closer, I couldn’t think of one, and didn’t know how I could choose one within less than a week of arriving. I expected to struggle, mull over many ideas, and look to others for inspiration. I also expected the field work to be somewhat of a grueling task, or perhaps that my inexperience would weigh me and my partner down in this process. However, these expectations were (and may I add, fortunately) not met. Although I didn’t anticipate the subject matter, my research idea came to me quite easily after grasping the equipment and time we were working with, and the field work revealed itself to be a tough but gratifying experience.
My research question is about the ability of three specific invasive plants to thrive in areas ranging from currently disturbed by humans, to those that haven’t been for many decades. This idea let me and my research partner, Roarke, explore significant amounts of La Selva and brought us to some pleasant discoveries. As we walked areas currently disturbed by humans, counting invasives and sweating buckets under the midday sun, the cutest, fluffy white dog came running over to us from its home, wagging its tail. Often on these walks, I’d see wildlife in the trees, too, like a howler monkey troop swinging up above. In the secondary forest, we walked an unpaved path that followed a small, calm river, which ended up being serene and peaceful despite the heat. While these anecdotes don’t have much to do with our research project in particular, we wouldn’t have experienced these things without performing research. It’s a magical reality of jungle life that I didn’t know I would get to experience. I feel as though I’ve become more in touch with nature, and it not only feels fulfilling to be studying it, but even just to get out there and experience its treasures. I really want to go back home with this feeling and learn about the nature of Indiana and the United States, maybe visit a national park or two (or more!), and just feed this desire to connect with nature. It’s something I haven’t really felt since I was a kid.
There were mornings, too, where I would resist getting up, searching for that last wink of sleep. But research calls, and I must get up, dreading a day of walking in the heat, dripping with sweat like I’ve never done before, and straining my eyes to look for these three plants amidst every other in sight. While these expectations were founded on personal experience, they are certainly an exaggeration of reality. Most of the time, peering closely at the jungle can offer some pleasant discoveries, like the fluttering path of an iridescent blue butterfly or a small lizard among the leaf litter. On the day Roarke and I ventured into the primary forest, it was feeling especially hard to get up, with those exaggerated expectations contrasting to the then current, pleasant reality of feeling clean (and quite sleepy) in my bed. But after getting up, applying dutiful layers of bug spray and sunscreen, and getting out on the trail, we stumbled upon one of the most beautiful spots I’ve seen–a shallow river, running through boulders furry with moss. The sunlight scattered in through the leaves, orange butterflies chased each other up into the air, and the running water below us moved smoothly by as we stood on the bridge. I certainly didn’t expect this when lying in bed an hour earlier.
Even in just the past day and a half, new experiences just keep coming. We left the field station on Saturday, spending two hours on what felt like a never-ending gravel road and another hour flying through the water on a boat. While this trip is mainly an academic experience, it was a pleasant evening when everyone hopped into the pool a while after arriving at the Evergreen Lodge here in Tortuguero yesterday.
When I say my expectations have been exceeded on this trip so far, I don’t say that lightly. The lush nature, the food, the professors, the classes, my peers, and the experience of being here are all so awesome and I really couldn’t have asked for anything better. I was afraid of some things going into this trip, such as lagging behind with my inexperience in research, being left out, or feeling stranded and becoming homesick. None of this has happened, and I’ve had so much fun learning and becoming more connected with nature.
It’s moments like these that make me appreciate how important it is to take chances, to get out of my comfort zone (or even just my bed). If you asked me last December if I expected to be in the jungle in Costa Rica this summer, I probably would have wondered why you were asking that. Of course, I had no idea this experience of a lifetime was coming up. Expectations are not to be relied on too heavily, as there’s always a reality waiting just around the corner, ready to blow you away. I’m not sure what I expect for this final week here, but I believe it will likely be a busy one, full of travel, friends, learning, and new, unforgettable memories.
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