It is crazy to think it has already been a full two weeks here in Costa Rica. Reflecting on my time, I have grown significantly as a student, observer, and traveler. Within the past few years, I have always told myself to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. I firmly believe that we must force ourselves out of our own comfort zones to grow in any aspect of life.
As a student who has never pursued a social or natural research project, I can confirm that this week has been full of surprises. It is not the easiest task to conduct your first social survey in a completely new environment and in a language that you aren’t proficient in. While Anna and I faced challenges and times where you wanted to stop surveying altogether- I am so grateful that we continued to pursue our project in the face of a challenge. Anna brought such a positive attitude and light to surveying and made our research a bit more fun!
During our first official day to conduct research, the natural science groups stayed in La Selva while the social science groups ventured into town. For me, stepping off the bus for the first time into town was slightly overwhelming. Cars and motorcycles zoomed down the streets, stray dogs pleaded for pets, and vendors stood in the street. This was a pure and authentic, view into the lives of many Costa Ricans. Once Anna and I finalized our survey in a hotel lobby, the fear and anxiety of walking up to locals and asking to survey them formed a pit at the bottom of my stomach. Without any prior experience conducting surveys, we were faced with the challenge of doing it in Spanish. This is what Professor Libby called, “sink or swim,” in one of our classroom discussions. Every group in our course was faced with a hurdle and had the choice to swim or sink. The first survey respondent Anna and I collected was a man waiting in line at a local coffe shop, he answered the survey questions without much hesitation and a smile on his face. As the morning went by, we collected three surveys in Sarapiqui. Although It wasn’t a huge amount, Anna and I were jumping with joy.
I noticed that after each person I talk with, it becomes easier and easier to approach someone. The following time in town we knocked out close to 15 surveys within an hour or two and exceeded our overall goal of 20 surveys in Sarapiqui! These local encounters taught me a lot about the culture of Costa Rica and the paradox between “Pura Vida” and the side that is not seen by tourists.
I believe many Costa Ricans live up to their culture and appreciation for the environment and enjoyment of life, however, my time in town has shown me the other side of the coin. Many people living in Sarapiqui work extremely hard to make an income and support themselves and their families. The town lacked many amenities that are common in the United States such as air conditioning, traffic lights, and indoor facilities. It was raw and beautiful to see how vastly different their lives are from my own. I see how many live within the “pura vida” mentality, but there are many people that are hustling to get by. Seeing this contrast made Anna and I aware of our privilege and lifestyle in the United States.
While the framework of our project did not include venturing into the jungle among snakes and other reptiles, I believe we faced our own challenge of approaching a stranger and asking for a favor.
During my time in Tortuguero and La Selva Station, I have noticed a change in my mentality. While there will always be more items I can check off my To-Do list, I think it is equally important to sit back and enjoy where I am. Our group has traveled across the country and seen so many biodiverse species and ecosystems. While it is important to utilize my time here, I believe that it is also equally important to enjoy the journey of it. Letting go of aspects I cannot control has been something that I have learned these past few days.
Adding on to this, in the past 24 hours in Tortuguero, I have had a few self-realization moments. First, this trip has taught me how to go with the flow and adjust when things do not go as planned. There have been times when the itinerary changes or weather disrupts the plans, and it has shown me to be open to change and not spend my energy focusing on things I do not have control over. Also, seeing the different animals and ecosystems here has really changed my perspective. Wetlands are a niche ecosystem that support various kinds of marine life and ecology. Growing up in the Chicago area, I have never been in such close proximity to wetlands before our 6am Sunday boat tour. While I was fighting exhaustion and an empty stomach, the beauty and surrealness of nature fascinated me. Something that is a home to all kinds of life must be preserved and protected.
Aside from my personal growth this week I have also learned a lot about my group. First of all, I never knew how intense a game of Euchre can be for Midwesterners. It is safe to say that I have never spent more time watching or playing a card game than I have in the past two weeks. Second, I love learning about the various upbringings and lives of students outside of this course. Our group’s interests are so diverse, and collectively, I think it strengthens our class. We have all probably passed each other on the sidewalk in Bloomington before without a clue we would travel around Costa Rica together! Lastly, I love how helpful and caring everyone is in our group. Every student genuinely wants to support and help each other as we navigate new environments and challenges together.
I am very interested in how my project will come along and the different places we visit this upcoming week. As always, I am grateful to Prof. Libby, Prof. Wasserman, and Eric for their guidance and support. Only one more week to go!
– Julia
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