This trip to Costa Rica is my first time out of the United States. Since I had never left the country before now, I can only compare Costa Rica to what I know from back home. The heat and humidity is like the weather in Florida, the hiking trails are like the ones in Brown County I walk with my mom, and our rooms remind me of the ones I stayed in as a camp counselor in Indiana. When I first got here, I was surprised at how much I felt like I never left the country. I knew that other countries aren’t as different from us as we think, but I thought the vibes would just be different somehow and I’d feel like I was in a new place. I didn’t feel like that until seeing the animals in La Selva. I’ll see a bug while walking to the dining hall and expect it to be something familiar like a June bug, but it’ll be something I’ve never seen before. It’s strange and a little scary to be in a place with a whole new set of wildlife, but it’s really cool to see animals that I had heard of as a kid that I’d never thought I’d see outside of a zoo. I had always wanted to see a red eyed tree frog, and we got to see multiple on our night hike. I feel like a mom taking horrible pictures of everything I see. Only the photos people send to me aren’t extremely blurry, so I will say this once: don’t judge me for my photo quality I’m living in the moment.

Unfortunately, I got sick on my fourth day here. Even though I was too sick to get up for anything other than water and to use the bathroom, I still saw some interesting bugs, like a caterpillar that looked like it had moss on it. Living in the middle of the rainforest means that you’ll never be separate from the wildlife which can be cool when there isn’t a bullet ant running around on your clothes. Most of the time the bugs don’t really bother me, but only if I think they’re cute. I’m fine with showering with a katydid in the bathroom if it doesn’t move too much, but I still can’t sleep without headphones on because I’m scared a spider will crawl into my ear. I think it’s easier for me to appreciate the insects and what they do for the environment more since I’ve been here. If I saw a creepy bug at home I’d probably kill it, but now I understand that they are very important to the environment and are dying out quickly, so I’ve left them alone.

At first, I was really scared of all the new animals here. We saw a puma in the first hour of us being here, and that made me worry about the dangerous things in the forest. I thought that seeing things like venomous snakes and big cats were rare, but we saw those before seeing common animals, so I thought everything was out to get me. Our tour guides helped me get over that a little bit. Our guide on the night hike told us stories about when he would go out into the forest by himself when he was a kid, and if a kid can survive out in the woods, I know I’ll be fine. I still get creeped out walking back to the river station at night or when there’s a loud noise somewhere, but I feel more comfortable out here than I used to.

The people I have met on this trip have also made it a lot more fun. It’s easier to adjust to a new place when there’s other people you can make jokes about it with. The days go by quickly when you spend them with people that are easy to talk to and have fun with. It’s been fun playing cards and eating together in La Selva, but I’m really excited to get out and go to the towns with them and do less school stuff. Everyone was also so kind and helpful when I was sick. My roommates brought me food from the dining halls when I wasn’t feeling well, and I always appreciated it, even if I wasn’t always able to eat it. Professor Libby also brought me Gatorade which freaked me out at first because when he knocked on my door, I thought he was my roommate, so I opened the door while wearing a sports bra and looking like a mess and got surprised with one of my professors. Also, people would ask how I was feeling when they saw me which was nice. It sucked to be sick, but I definitely got better quicker because of everyone helping me.

The staff at La Selva are great as well. I thought it would be harder to talk to them,  but even if someone only speaks Spanish they tend to know what I mean. Playing soccer with some of them on one of the first days was a lot of fun. I rarely ever play soccer so I wasn’t much help, but it was fun to run around and watch everyone play. The people from here were really good, and this one guy in a red shirt carried our team. Sometimes they would try and tell me where to go on the field, but I didn’t know enough about soccer to understand them. I also try to talk a little bit to the people in the dining hall, but I was asking them “cómo estás” which apparently is rude here because they only use usted, so sorry to them for accidentally being disrespectful. I’m glad I learned that before we left. It’s fun to look at wrappers and things and have all the words be in Spanish. Hopefully I get better at speaking it while I’m here, but right now I’m just realizing how much I don’t know. It doesn’t matter much since most people here speak English, but I would like to try and speak their language more while I’m here.
It’s crazy to me that we’ve been in La Selva for almost a week. The days have gone by so fast that it’s hard to remember them as anything other than a random blob of time. I’ll miss it when we leave because it’s very beautiful and I’ve never experienced a place like this, but I’m excited to see more of Costa Rica.

I have always dreamed about going to the rainforest. When I was little I always saw pictures of the bright dart frogs, the colorful beaked toucans, and the slithery snakes. It has been incredible being able to see them in person. I remember in high school I took AP environmental science and learned a lot about the world. It has been amazing seeing habitat fragmentation, biodiversity, and the interaction between humans and nature. But how did I get here? In high school I took a class that changed my life forever, AP environmental science (or APES for short). My teacher ignited my interest in planetary health. He make each person feel involved and included. This caused me to do some research of my own when looking into topics such as invasive species and carbon sinks. I knew I wanted to do a study abroad trip but which one? As soon as soon as I started reading about Costa Rica that this was the one for me.

The flights: This was a tough part for me because it felt like I had just gotten home and then I was off for another three weeks. I woke up early and my dad drove me to the airport. It was nice getting to spend just a few more minutes with him. As I arrived to the check in I immediately noticed the long line. I was not scared because I had arrived with plenty of time. But here is where disaster struck, the kiosks were not accepting my card. I tried for about 30 minutes at all of them but eventually had to give up and go wait for an attendant. This is where I started getting scared, the line was long and I didn’t have a lot of time before my flight. Luckily I was able to get my bag checked very quickly when I got to the front and then I raced towards security. Security went by very fast and I sped walked to my gate. Then I saw that I still had 15 minutes until boarding and I was relieved. After the first flight landed I got off and found my next flight. Luckily it was right next to my last one and it had three minutes until boarding. Getting onto that flight was easy but the facial recognition software was cool. Upon landing I had to go through custom which wasn’t great but it was super quick. Then I met up with everyone at the meeting location and we got on the bus to go to La Selva.

La Selva: When I first saw my room I was terrified. It did not have air conditioning and the weather is very hot and humid. We had screen windows which let in hot air. Luckily we had a fan that helped keep us cool. The first few night were rough because of the heat and humidity but i think I am used to it now. My favorite part so far has been seeing all the cool animals. My personal favorites have been the bright frogs but the leafcutter ants are also super cool. The first morning we were her we took a hike and saw multiple sloths which was amazing. I had been worried that it would be super hard to see everything because of the dense forest and camouflage. In my free time I began trying to explore a little more of La Selva. I found the library which is nice and recently discovered they have ice cream we can buy. So far I have had a great time seeing all the animals and being in nature.

Animals: We have seen a lot of cool animals on the different hikes. I have seen sloths, monkey, snakes, toucans, and many other things. I think it is super cool to think about how each of them have evolved to have different advantages and what helps them here. For example the howler monkey makes noises in order to distance itself from other groups while also letting other groups know that it is their territory. I have also enjoyed watching the golden orb spider because I remember learning about it when I was younger by watching Wild Kratts. It is amazing to see the things I only saw in books and in tv in real life.

Research Project: I knew I wanted to do something with insects. I had been watching the leafcutter and looking up how they work which caused me to choose something related to that. When we did the project speed-dating I found one other person who wanted to work with insects so that was perfect. We decided we wanted to focus on pesticide affect on part of the rainforest but we ran into a few problems. The formaldehyde levels are low at all of our locations so we need to pick a different variable to focus on. The hike between locations is super cool because it has a bridge over a stream of water with rocks. A lot of the views from the bridges look like something straight out of an Indiana Jones movie. I am hoping we are able to collect more data in order to find a correlation between the variables.

It has been super fun meeting new people on the trip. I met one other person on my flight and the others during the hikes. I have loved hiking and playing cards with people which makes me super excited for the rest of the trip. I think that exploring the other places is going to be a blast. I am most excited for the waterfall place because it sounds amazing and I cant wait to go swimming. My favorite things so far have been the people and the views. I’m so excited for the rest of this trip.

It’s no surprise to most people who know me that I was a bit apprehensive about this study abroad trip. After being incredibly excited when I found out the trip was happening, it all became slightly overwhelming when the reality set in: I was going to a foreign country for three weeks directly after the end of finals, and I was not prepared at all. Even after completing the long travel day to get to La Selva (which is consistently the part of traveling I dread the most), I was still concerned about my time here. It probably didn’t help that within 30 minutes of arriving, there were puma and bullet ant sightings, leaving me wondering if I was going to make it out of here alive. 

However, the next morning dawned bright and warm, and as I walked to breakfast, I couldn’t help but feel more optimistic about the beautiful sights and sounds around me. During our first guided hike, the forest felt so alive—we saw so many incredible plants and animals, including sloths, a toucan, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and an iguana (or a Costa Rican dinosaur as our tour guide liked to call it). Throughout my environmental science and biology classes in school, I have learned about the complex relationships between organisms which make up the thriving ecosystems seen around the world. However, seeing these relationships in person was another experience entirely! 

It is incredibly rewarding to get to learn from tour guides who are so knowledgeable and comfortable with the rain forest. The way they are able to spot an animal from 50 meters away is insanely impressive! One thing they said that really stuck out to me is the importance of listening for animals, not just trying to look for them. Ever since, I have tried to be more mindful of walking silently and listening for sounds in the forest, rather than talking. I honestly feel like this behavior change has led to more opportunities to notice the incredible animals of the rain forest. I feel really proud when I myself find an animal, rather than someone pointing it out to me. Once on a hike, Nick and I spotted two capuchin monkeys hanging out in the tree and just stopped what we were doing to watch them for several minutes. Eventually, to our dismay, we realized that we needed to keep moving otherwise we would miss dinner. 

Another thing that is so cool about being surrounded by nature is that every second is different, with different animals making a variety of sounds. For example, after the night hike, one of the other groups came up to my group sitting in the cafeteria and asked us if we saw the boa constrictor on the bridge. We were so surprised because when we had crossed the bridge five minutes prior, there wasn’t a snake in sight! We all rushed back to the bridge in an attempt to see the boa constrictor, but it wasn’t on the ground where they had just seen it. All of a sudden, someone spotted it further down on the cable of the bridge, and we all watched it slither onto a branch on its journey back into the forest. It is so interesting to me how much can change in such a short amount of time! 

Every day at the end of my journal entry, I have been writing down the coolest thing I saw that day. The entries range from the Belize Barrier Reef on my flight down to a Blue Morpho butterfly. However, the most amazing thing I have experienced so far actually happened on our night hike, which is funny to me because I was very nervous about it. At one point, our tour guide picked up a piece of rotting wood and told us to hold it in our hands and turn off all of our flashlights. When we did, we were left in the pitch black of the forest, but not for long. Suddenly, the wood in our hands began to glow a light blue color. My jaw dropped as he told us about the bioluminescent fungi growing on this piece of rotting wood. Apparently, this type of bioluminescence is fairly common in marine ecosystems, but not on land. I felt incredibly lucky to be able to experience this with the other members of my group and I will definitely be telling my friends and family back home about it! 

Most of our time here at La Selva has been spent working on our research project, which has been a daunting yet rewarding task. For our project, Nick and I are examining the relationship between canopy coverage and the biodiversity of butterflies by observing the Warszewiczia coccinea plant in three different settings and counting the number of different species we spot at these locations. It has been challenging to create a research proposal and begin collecting data in such a short time frame, but I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to conduct an observational study in Costa Rica, where I am able to see things that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. 

As expected from a study abroad trip, we are always broadening our experiences, whether that be listening to a lecture about primate research, watching a sloth sleep in a tree, or sprinting past the tarantula that lingers near the door to our room. I love that no matter where I am or what I am doing on this trip, I am always experiencing something new—and so is everyone else! I find myself looking forward to mealtimes because we all come together and share the incredible things we’ve seen. In just six short days, we’ve created a sense of community that would have taken months to develop in Bloomington, if at all. I am really excited to see what adventures the rest of this trip brings! 

Exploring new places has always held a special allure for me, driving my desire to maximize every opportunity to travel. While browsing through the programs listed on IU’s website, I stumbled upon Costa Rica’s offering. Immediately, I recognized how perfectly it aligned with my passion for linking planetary health to human health, all set against the backdrop of a tropical environment with warm, beautiful weather. I certainly had a numerous amount of expectations, and let me just say, I was quickly humbled the moment I stepped off the bus at La Selva. Greeted by a swarm of insects and oppressive humidity, it felt like I was being dropped off into a rigorous boot camp experience. Yet, little did I know, it quickly showed me the boundaries of my patience and my capacity to swiftly adjust to unforeseen challenges. 

Prior to this journey, I firmly believed I could only rest comfortably and function in air-conditioned rooms. La Selva quickly challenged that notion. Upon encountering the stiff beds and pillows, my sleep was far from ideal, yet I adapted with remarkable speed. I found myself repeatedly circling back to the concept of privilege and comfort. We were continuously in contact with nature, from howler monkeys and unique birds serving as our natural forest alarm clocks and an excessive amount of insects joining us in every corner, including the shower. As I type this, I’m currently swatting away tiny bugs flying around my face and legs while simultaneously feeling the sticky embrace of sweat from the relentless heat and humidity — talk about a true sensory overload. Initially, this sensation left me uneasy. Before Costa Rica, I would have undoubtedly labeled myself as someone who was utterly terrified of any insect, bug, or wildlife encounter. Whether it was spiders or rodents, my discomfort and fear were evident. Being constantly surrounded by these creatures challenged me mentally on a significant scale. From harmless geckos crawling on my bedroom walls to cobwebs decorating every corner of the room, and encountering various wild animals in the forest, it became clear that this change thrust me out of my comfort zone, compelling me to appreciate the natural world and overcome my fears. I questioned my ability to endure showers fluctuating between hot and cold water mid-shower, along with the constant presence of insects, hoping that each time I opened my bedroom or shower door, I wouldn’t be met with a massive praying mantis. Nevertheless, I embraced these challenges and even pushed myself further by attending the night hike, braving total darkness and encountering several species along the way. I eventually developed a deep appreciation for the beauty of creatures and wildlife. Witnessing our guides’ genuine enthusiasm and respect for Costa Rica’s wildlife was particularly moving, as I learned about their vital role in every aspect of our planet. I began to understand that not all insects are harmful and, in fact, many are beneficial to humans. Our site leaders served as exemplary role models, transforming what initially felt like a daunting and intimidating environment into a welcoming home. Initially, I believed this lifestyle and the conditions were an exaggerated representation of reality, but I quickly realized it was deeply rooted in the real world and that it was the reality. I’ve come to recognize the extent of my privilege throughout my life and now feel a profound sense of gratitude, a lesson I will carry with me forever. 

Discomfort didn’t solely stem from environmental factors but also from habit. I’m someone who becomes extremely accustomed to my usual lifestyle, making change slightly challenging, especially in new environments. Waking up at 6 am every morning would have seemed absurd not just months ago, but even years ago; yet now, I do so without hesitation. At La Selva, we were fully immersed in the heart of Costa Rica, culturally and environmentally. Immediately, we were exposed to the Costa Rican cuisine, hospitality, and the local community. To reach our breakfast, we embarked on a half-mile walk through the forest from our dormitories to the cafeteria. While I wouldn’t label myself as a picky eater, I did tend to gravitate towards familiar foods on a daily basis. However, being served three meals a day from an authentic Costa Rican menu has been a blessing in disguise. It has encouraged me to step out of my culinary comfort zone and try dishes I might not have otherwise had the chance to experience. In doing so, I’ve not only expanded my palate but also gained valuable insights into myself. All of this underscores the profound discomfort I initially experienced, which ultimately pushed me to adapt. With each passing day, I become more aware of the privilege afforded to me by these experiences, as they have fundamentally reshaped my perception of the remarkable planet we inhabit.

Throughout the week, engaging in multiple discussions regarding biodiversity, it was a truly eye-opening and transformative experience for me. Witnessing firsthand the complex web of interconnected species and the delicate balance of nature opened my eyes to the beauty and fragility of our planet. Interacting with local experts and our tour guides further enhanced my understanding of the importance of conservation efforts and sustainable practices. It also revealed the devastating impact of human actions on biodiversity. The rapid spread of fast fashion and overconsumption has led to a global crisis, pushing many species to the brink of extinction. It’s disheartening to witness how our relentless pursuit of material wealth and instant gratification is contributing to the destruction of the very ecosystems that sustain us—a reality I’m guilty of perpetuating through my purchases. Witnessing firsthand the fragile balance between human activity and the natural world left an indelible mark on me, sparking a newfound commitment to environmental care. Each passing day reinforces my gratitude for the profound experiences that shaped my perception of our shared planet. This past week in La Selva has allowed me to gain a sincere understanding of appreciation, affirming the idea that change can be good.

Signing up for this class, I had no idea what to expect. I had heard Dr Wasserman talk about it a few times in the classes that I had taken with him but I didn’t really consider it until I took HUBI 200 with him in the fall. After hearing him and Libby talking about Costa Rica and their policies in regards to conservation, I decided to look into the class in the beginning of the winter and I ended up applying for the class. Not only did it sound like a cool class, I would also be exploring a new country in the tropics that wasn’t Cambodia, and I felt like I was also going to be exploring it in an organic way since we weren’t really staying in too many touristy spots. The drive to the station was really pretty and the drive through the mountain pass was jaw dropping, it definitely felt like I was in a new world.

A lot of people like to call the Amazon a green hell because of how green and dangerous it is, and even though we’re not in the Amazon, the forests here are a lot greener than what you’d see in nature books or docs; the only connection I can find here to hell is that it’s definitely as hot as hell. At La Selva, we went through the usual safety talk about the snakes and such and about what rooming and food would look like and then we ended up walking to our rooms: all I can say was, damn. I hadn’t gone to the gym in a bit since I rarely went last semester and the walk to the River Station with my 45 pound suitcase felt so taxing on me, especially the part when we had to carry our luggage up the makeshift stairs to the River Station. The station was nice, I liked how it was in the forest but I just wish that there was AC instead of a fan since the air here just feels so still, wet, and heavy and it doesn’t help that we got here in time for the start of the wet season. I think we were the first school to get to the River Station but we do have a resident tarantula, some bullet ants, and a lot of other bugs and critters as our neighbors. Going to bed that night I could really hear the diversity in life outside of my window, which I thought would prevent me from sleeping but I have been sleeping extremely easily from all the project work we are doing. 

The project has been our main focus this first week, with us starting out on it immediately during our first full day here and we’ve moved fast through this process; I had never done so much background research and made a presentation in only a day and a half. Now we are staring data collection and what my partner and I are doing is looking at the amount of different species of butterflies that land on a specific flower and if that changes depending on the environment around the flower. It’s been interesting and it has taught me more about the wild than any lecture of documentary could teach me. The first lesson that it taught me was that nature and beauty are honestly everywhere. Everywhere I’ve looked I’ve seen some sort of cool butterfly, insect, lizard, and even a mammal if I’m really lucky. It’s honestly helped me become more in tune with my surroundings and its also helped me with just getting used to living out in the jungle. The second lesson is kinda tied but it’s that to not take the little things for granted (literally). Coming here I was more interested in animals like the monkeys, cats, snakes, and birds that I’d be seeing everywhere but after doing some research on butterflies and their impact, it’s made me realize that we honestly do take bugs like butterflies for granted and even if we don’t we just focus on them being pollinators and call it a day. So now I just spend my days looking at only butterflies for research but it’s nothing too bad, it’s just a test of my patience. But even though I’m mainly focused on butterflies at the moment, that still doesn’t mean I’m not looking out for the other little things in the forest; whether it be snakes, frogs, and even mushrooms I am always on the lookout for something cool to take a picture of to show my friends and family.

While our projects have been the majority of the work that has consumed our days, that doesn’t mean that we don’t get any free time on the trip. One of the more fun things I did was play soccer with some of the other AIs, professors, staff, and my classmates and I got to meet some new people like an AI named Sari who has been one of the coolest people I’ve met so far at the station. I’ve also been trying to find the missing ping pong table but it seems as though no one knows where it went; if they did then I’d definitely try and set up a ping pong match. If it isn’t sports, I’ve also been keeping busy near the library because of the air conditioning and also because of the little hammock spot next to Erick’s office that feels especially nice during big rains. The food is also a big part of being here and after a week of being here I already have a list of some of my favorites throughout the week, but I’m wondering if the food we get during the farm tours will be able to top some of my favorites. Finally, the people I’m here with are also a big part of why I’m enjoying this trip. Whether it’s playing cards or just talking during meals, it’s been fun to get to know people and to at least know that I’m not suffering through this humidity alone. This trip has been fun overall and I don’t regret signing up for it and I know my enjoyment of it will grow after we leave La Selva because we’ll be able to get a rapid fire tour of the rest of the country. Maybe I’ll be able to make a top 10 list of the food I’ve had…but who knows.

I feel that the best way to describe Costa Rica, and La Selva, so far would be eye-opening. I am from Indiana, but the heat and humidity is nothing compared to La Selva. I think its just because here I am up all hours of daylight, since the sunrises so early and sets so early. Comparatively at home, I never am up around sunrise, especially during the summer months. However, within only four days I am already adapting pretty well to it. My learning ability definitely is better in the air conditioned rooms and Bloomington, but I am getting through it. The longer I stay here, the more I get used to the humidity, and it helps to not choose a research project that makes you be out in the forest!

The food here is really starting to grow on me. Before coming on this trip, I was very close-minded and very picky. While I am still picky, I have opened my horizons to always try new things. I do feel so much healthier in the last week than I do at home. I am not sure if it is the organic and non-processed foods or the portion sizes, but I never feel disgustingly bloated or sleepy after eating. Maybe I’m actually getting all the nutrients I need, or maybe I’m just not overstuffing myself. With all of that being said though, I would do unspeakable things for a Chick-Fil-A spicy chicken sandwich right now. Don’t let me fool you.

The La Selva staff is also amazing. There is a little bit of a language barrier, but most people understand my Spanglish. I’ve always heard of southern hospitality, but never thought that continued out of the states. Everyone is so welcoming and makes sure that the visitors are having a pleasant time. The guides are very knowledgeable about the species and have an amazing eye for finding the smallest things in the forest.

My one key take away from this first week is how grateful I am to be able to experience the rainforest, but also how America differs. This has inspired me to travel to the national parks in the states to see what we can offer the world. I can see all of the things I take for granted, such as air conditioning, sleeping with the window open, and not having the fear of tarantulas at 2 in the morning on the way to the bathroom. I have become much more vigilant with my surroundings here, but that allows me to connect better with nature. My favorite experience this week was the night hike. I was so nervous beforehand, worried about large snakes and spiders and everything else that could sneak up on me. However our guide took a small group of us and randomly urged us to turn off all of our lights. We were all so terrified, but complied. There was bioluminescent fungi growing on dead tree bark, and it might have been the coolest thing I have ever experienced. We all stood there, in the complete darkness of the forest so stunned by it. Having no lights, besides the natural tree bark, made me connect with nature even more than ever. I could hear every little thing in the forest, and I do not think I will ever be able to recreate something so magical.

This beauty however comes at a price. Our living quarters are in the middle of an active rainforest preserve, so you cannot choose where nature ends and begins. There are a set of bathrooms I refuse to use because of the tarantula who set his home nearby and the praying mantis (which can apparently fly) have set up quarters under the sink. The frogs, spiders, and bugs that roam freely in our rooms has made sleeping a little uncomfortable, but each night I am more exhausted after the day and just pass out.

I feel that our group is extremely lucky in terms of spotting things. Within the first hour of being here Eric, Leah and I saw a puma at the end of the bridge, which is very out of character. They are hardly seen and we spotted it an hour in! I have countless great pictures of monkeys, tucans, and sloths, that I thought would be harder to spot. I ended up being nose-to-nose with a coati today, and it was so interesting. I haven’t been that close to a wild animal in so long (not counting Bloomington squirrels), and it was awesome to experience the details of it without the use of a telescope.

I have also had the luxury to meet new people from across the globe. Today, I spent the majority of my day talking to a man originally from Britian but moved to Peru maybe fifty some years ago. It was eye opening to hear experiences from Southern America. In my life, I only hear of people travel to Europe or fun little beach Caribbean Islands, and not unique places like the rainforest. He offered lots of keen advice, and made me feel like I was back home talking to my grandpa.

Overall, this experience has been extremely different for me. This is my first taste of being outside of the country, and everything is a learning curve. Especially being in the rainforest as our first pit-stop. I am very excited for the pineapple, banana, and chocolate farms early next week. The pineapple here is so good I am worried I’ll never look at fruit the same back home in the States. I am liking La Selva, but I am ready to say goodbye and go to Tortuguero and Monteverde to see more of Costa Rica rather than just the rainforest.

Until Next Week!

Genevieve

Important moments split history into before and after. I can’t remember where I first heard this, but it has stuck with me for a very long time. I usually think of this in the context of world history, but I realized that it applies to my own life too. I will forever remember the times before coming to Costa Rica as just that. And my time here isn’t even over! I have had experiences that changed my perspective on climate change, academics, my social practices, my diet choices, international travel, and many more things.

I am a person that easily falls into habits. A lot of the things that I do, I do only because I have done them for a long time. This trip has been a chance for me to question some of these rituals and reconsider decisions I made in the past. I wouldn’t say it is a big part of my personality, but my environmental impact is something that is important to me and it has been since middle school. Many of the practices I have now to help minimize my footprint, I started doing at that age (being vegetarian, biking, composting). However, I have changed so much since then, and this trip gave me the chance reconsider, and a perfect environment to do so. It was easy to forget that this was a class and not just a nature immersion experience, but I learned a lot about climate change on a larger scale than I have before. But how am I going to take this knowledge and reflect it in my actions?

For one, this was my first experience with international travel with hopefully many more to come. This experience has showed me the full spectrum of what that can look like. From the buggy bathrooms to the pool side bars, I have experienced the full spectrum of tourism. In the future, as I explore other parts of the world, I will be aware of the impact my tourism has on local communities as well as ecosystems and be able to choose my trips responsibly.

Also, as I said in our final reflection, this trip has encouraged me to test out new practices at home. I am a creature of habit, but that can be an advantage as much as anything else. I want to take cold showers, eat more consistently, and learn more about my local ecosystem. I made a deep connection to this place because of how much I learned and I think I could connect even more with nature back home if I sought to learn more about it.

Another big change I plan on making is with my diet. I haven’t eaten meat in any form for 7 years and it is another one of those things that has just become a habit. I haven’t considered if it still makes sense for me in a long time. During this trip, I saw thing that have made me consider reverting back to my meat eating ways but with an asterisk. One of the things I observed in all the time we spent in various places around Costa Rica, is just how universal a desire for conservation is needed in order to be successful. Some of the research groups were doing surveys within Costa Rican communities and almost every person they talked to had biodiversity and the environment in the forefront of their minds. On top of this, they way they showed this support wasn’t passive, we went to places like the organic pineapple farm and the banana plantation. The people their were going out of their way to be environmentally conscious, making the jobs more difficult for the sake of the planet. It made me realize that my choice to be vegetarian is more of a removal from the problem than a solution. I do believe that there are sustainable, environmentally friendly ways to produce meat, but my actions in no way reflect that belief. My plan when I get back home, is to support the places and people that are doing it right, not just frown on those that are doing it wrong. Otherwise, I’m not encouraging the kind of change I want to see like the Costa Ricans have been doing for decades.

The social aspect of this trip was vital to the experience, however, it is not why I came. In my mind, the connections with people were always secondary to connections with the place we were in. I consider myself an introvert of social environments usually tire me out. This was true on occasion while in Costa Rica, but not nearly as often as I though. The people I got to know (which was pretty much everyone) became a safe place and a constant in an unfamiliar context. I think this made me realize an important thing about myself. I do like being alone sometimes that is what I need, but being with other people isn’t always draining, it can be helpful and comforting as well. This is something I have surely already witnessed, but it took this experience for me to formalize it into a cohesive idea.

This week was a very eye-opening learning experience, to say the least. From rounding out our time in Torteguero, to our days in Arenal, Palo Verde, and Monte Verde, we had the opportunity to see all kinds of “eco”tourist hubs, as well as places many tourists would never chose to set foot in. Throughout all these places, there could be no doubt which was the most environmentally friendly, and which was least.

Torteguero was a middle-man between sustainable ecotourism and just plain tourism. While there were undeniably sustainable practices implemented at Torteguero, there were also several practices that were less so. On the positive side, Torteguero used fans over air conditioning in all of their rooms and served locally sourced food for every meal. While both of these practices certainly help to reduce the ecological footprints of all visitors, there were other factors which had the opposite affect. As part of a wetland forest, the only method of transportation available around the park and between the hotels and cities was via gas-powered boat. Each boat held 20-30 people at a time and the boats were staggered throughout the day to reduce the impact on the local environment, the use of gas powered boats still undoubtedly results in negative impacts on the environment.

Arenal was where the line between ecotourism and tourism got its murkiest this week, to say the least. Our first activity upon arriving in Arenal was meeting with an Indigenous community, something I went into very excited about. However, I quickly realized this encounter was not what I, or the Indigenous community themselves, wanted it to be. The entire time we were there, it felt like we were watching a performance. Not only a performance, but a performance with unwilling actors. The translator was giving unreliable translations and encouraging them to change what they were saying when it did not align with what he wanted. The leader of the tribe we spoke with even said that some other members of their family and tribe were upset about them doing what they were doing and that they were on the outs with many members of their community because of it. They expressed that their only reason for doing it was to sell their goods. That it was difficult for them to make a profit selling their goods at the local markets but it was their primary source of income. Lands have been taken from Indigenous people across Costa Rica in order to develop more ecotourism attractions. Through the expansion of ecotourism, natives have been forced to sell their pride and their culture in order to make a living.

After our brief time with the Indigenous tribe, we parted for our hotel in Arenal. Stepping onto our hotel property felt like stepping into a gated community. Having spent nearly two whole weeks at La Selva, we had all become quite used to the overwhelming presence of bugs anywhere and everywhere we went. Yet as we crossed into the property of our hotel in Arenal, it felt like we hit a wall. Although uncomfortable at times, the bugs up to this point in our trip had come to serve as a symbol of our integration with nature for me. They came to be a source of comfort because I knew when I was around the bugs, I was around nature and in a place that truly cared about preserving the local ecology. When we arrived to Arenal, and there was not a single bug in sight, we all felt their absence. For most people, the absence of bugs is something to celebrate, not a sign of foreboding. But to us, the only thing it meant was that our pure living with nature had come to a halt. And for me, this was something very hard to come to terms with. The lack of bugs meant that the hotel was making their environment toxic to bugs; manicuring their land to make it more comfortable for tourists. Even more, this hotel was the only place we stayed the entire trip which had air conditioning. While staying in Arenal, especially after our extended time in La Selva, it was hard to be anything but hyper aware of how much larger our ecological footprint was.

In this way, for me at least, Palo Verde was almost like a breath of fresh air. There were a lot of mosquitoes, yes. And I quickly developed an irrational fear of contracting Chagas. However, life felt more natural again and that is a feeling I came to value a lot on this trip. I felt like we were once again living with nature, rather than in it. I think the biggest difference between Palo Verde and the previous places mentioned was the fact that Palo Verde is not typically an advertised tourist attraction in the same way Torteguero and Arenal are. The people going to Palo Verde are people who truly understand the importance of preserving the ecology there. By contrast, many tourists visiting places like Arenal and Torteguero are looking for a nice, relaxing getaway where they can feel completely comfortable and for most people, that unfortunately does not go hand in hand with bugs, lack of air conditioning, and other things that are definitively better for the environment.

Other than La Selva, I think Monte Verde was probably my favorite place we stayed during the trip. While there is no doubt that Monte Verde was still a tourist attraction, they seemed to have figured out ways to combine comfort and sustainability for their guests in a way that Arenal, and even Torteguero to a degree, had not. Being in the cloud forest, concerns with mosquitoes were already fairly diminished. However, we saw all types of beetles and various other bugs during our time here. We also again were able to stay in rooms without air conditioning, only fans. All the food served in the restaurant was grown on-site, or from local markets and farms if it was not something available on-site. One aspect of the place we stayed in Monte Verde that had me questioning the negative impacts of its existence was the fact that there were two families who lived in houses right next to the hotel itself. I can only imagine that having tourists constantly invading your space can come to be pretty overwhelming, but the hotel does provide a lot of services for those families to offset the harms.

As I write this, I am already back home in Indianapolis, comfortably sitting on my couch as Ted Lasso plays in the background, with the luxury to fully reflect on my time in Costa Rica. It’s hard to believe that just yesterday I was in Monte Verde with the entire group, all of us awake at 5:30 AM for a lovely breakfast that the staff were kind enough to prepare just for us. The cloud forest stretched for miles ahead, the sky clear as the sun began to warm the morning sky. I remember trying to breathe it in, live in the moment, and just appreciate it all – this entire trip was such a blessing, and I don’t want to forget any of it.

As I stared out into the cascading mountains that day, and looked around at all the lovely people I now have the privilege to call my friends, I was overwhelmed with a sense of purpose – to save all this, the nature that moves us to awe, and dedicate my time to combating the challenge of the century: climate change.

Just a few days before our last day in Costa Rica, we were at Palo Verde visiting yet another OTS research station. There, professor Wasserman gave us a rather pressing lecture on the nature of our current climate crisis, much of which stuck with me. As I learned, after being in El Niña for the past few years, we have finally entered El Niño, the warming phase of the oscillation periods. As professor Wasserman put it, El Niña had masked the real magnitude of climate change for the past few years, and finally we will feel it in El Niño. And as one of the directors of the research station had already told us, El Niño is already making itself visible, as the raining season was late by several weeks this year, and the rains are more scarce, heavier, and unpredictable. That, is a terrifying thought.

Further into the lecture, another unsettling fact. One of the key things we need to watch as this climate crisis continues is the carbon dioxide concentration within the air, as measured in parts per million (ppm). A million particles in the air is a lot, and it apparently does not take a terrible amount of carbon dioxide to set the planet off. Professor Wasserman has been coming to Costa Rica for a couple of decades now, and he mentioned that around when he first came/began research, the carbon dioxide concentration in the air was 390 ppm. Then, about six years ago, when he first taught this course, the carbon dioxide concentration had increased to 402-405 ppm. And now, it’s 425 ppm already. 450 ppm is apparently the tipping point. Within Professor Wasserman’s lifetime we’ve already increased so much, I can’t help but think we are dangerously close to this tipping point. It’s not a point of no return, but it will certainly be a different world where we’d be inundated with even more natural disasters and human migration due to climate, making addressing climate change that much harder.

Following the lecture, Professor Libby took over and we began our 6 Degrees discussion, which pressed further into a conceptual future of what would happen to the world at each degree increase. A single degree does not sound like much, but genuinely what can happen is terrifying. I was tasked with reading about 3 degrees, and one quote really stuck with me. As the reading stated, “the places that will experience the worst wipeout will be exactly those where today life flourishes in its most glorious abundance and diversity (page 177, Lunas).” I remember looking around after reading that, in shock and fear as I realized the beautiful, biodiversity tropical world I had the privilege to exist within would be the first place to go away. All the motmots, damselflies, howler monkeys, agoutis, more…gone? It broke my heart to think all this biodiversity would be the first to go; it would be a tragedy of the biggest proportions.

Given the lectures, and knowing how multifaceted and complex the issue of Climate Change is, I felt a slight sense of defeat. But then I remembered Trin and I’s research project, where we had the opportunity to meet and speak with locals on their values, and their hopes for conservation and environmental recovery in the future. We were able to sit down and speak with two Costa Ricans in-depth at the beginning of our study, and one theme from both of their conversations stuck with me, and that is this: the power of doing our part. In fact, we also heard the same story from others – like from our tour guide for the early morning bird tour in La Selva. At the end of our tour, he told us a story of a tiny hummingbird; the world was burning all around, and nothing but flames in sight. But, the little hummingbird was not hopeless – instead, he carried water, putting it onto the flames, doing his little part to put it out. The effort seems futile but it is not; in fact, his effort is a display of resilience. Fighting till the end is all we can do, and even though I am small and it all seems overwhelming at times, I am determined to do my part and fight forward. And if we each did that, together, who knows what we could accomplish?

Another little anecdote I wanted to share from Trin and I’s research. Again, we had the chance to go into town in Sarapiqui and speak with the locals, and I’d say one of our most memorable interactions was with a gentleman named Melvin. We had spoken to him briefly on our first day in town, but on the second day we were able to really have a conversation with him. He is a disabled man, who doesn’t have either of his legs, and he appears to be homeless. But what was clear was his fervor for life, kindness, and positivity. Despite everything, he told us how hopeful he was for the world to turn things around, and how blessed he was to be alive. He was by far the most positive person we talked to, and it makes a difference – he appeared to be one of the happiest people, too. I think optimism is a huge component to combating the climate crisis; if we slide into defeatism, we would only solidify the fate we so fear.

Also, Trin and I learned in our surveys that in general Costa Rican’s significantly rated themselves as having much higher hope than Americans. Even though Trin and I didn’t get to explore the nuances of this result, I have an inkling that this hope really matters – and going forward I know I’ll keep carrying hope in my heart, as it is the only thing that makes a solution possible at all.

As I come to the end of this blog post, I must mention that there is still so much more I learned from this experience. So much, and it is clear to me that this experience has changed me, and made me into a better person. Even with all the dreading facts about climate change, I am hopeful, and you bet I will not go out without a fight.

Thank you so much to the professors, they made this experience such an informative and meaningful one. And thank you to all the friends I made throughout this trip – sharing with them the passion to make this world better only makes me more hopeful for the future.

I can cry right now, I am just so grateful for everything.

Also, on a more personal note – shoutout to Trin for being an absolutely INCREDIBLE research partner and friend! And thank you to Kieran for being such a life force for the group and being a wonderful dance teacher. And much love to Miyako for always being so kind to save a seat for me, whether it be on a boat, a bus, or at a dinner table. And thank you to Lauren and Julia for running with me, it was so much fun running on the trails together at La Selva!  And Edwin, too, for answering all of our curious questions about mathematics, physics, and the nature of the universe. You all mean so much to me, and I appreciate you so much you don’t even know – thank you for being such fabulous human beings :)) <3

Thank you, Costa Rica, and once again, pura vida :)))

Marinna

In my last post, I discussed expectations versus reality, and how our expectations are almost always different from reality. I ended with my expectations for the remaining week: “a busy one, full of travel, friends, learning, and new, unforgettable memories.” Now, I would say I predicted correctly, but only if I wanted to give you the most bland and vague idea of my last week here. It ended up being so much more, and I’d like to share some of the most meaningful things that happened.

On the academic side of things, this week was actually pretty stressful. I did not expect the final project to be moved up a few days, which led to 2x the normal amount of stress while also switching locations every 2-3 days. However Roarke and I pulled our project together and ended it on a strong note. Although it took up the entire evening, hearing everyone’s research presentations was interesting. Of course we all knew the general idea of each other’s projects, but it was cool to see the results of it and the variety of things we all researched. Our project on invasive plant populations found that time since the land was disturbed by humans didn’t necessarily predict the amount of invasive plants located there, but that there were more invasives found where humans more recently operated. This means that especially in conservation efforts, human intervention is necessary to curb the negative effects invasive plants have on native biodiversity, or these plants will continue to compete with and reduce native populations, taking over.

Additionally, we had a few more class activities in between travels. We did a ‘6 degrees’ activity, where we essentially discussed the impacts of global temperatures rising each degree Celsius up to 6. For me, this activity put into perspective how fragile the conditions of our existence are. As of now, there is balance. But should temperatures rise, glaciers melt, ocean conditions change, a series of chain reactions could start that, at that point, we could simply not stop. The world’s climate as we know it would look drastically different–as different as an iceless Antarctica and the tropics as dry as a desert. As long as we keep this balance we can avoid it. It will take a lot of work and change that may make us uncomfortable, but it will be unquestionably worth it.

Now, this may or may not be a hot take, but this last week was probably my favorite of the entire trip. Not only did we get to travel around and see so many different places, but there were so many experiences during that time that I will treasure forever. I wrote last time about how I was feeling a connection with and a desire to learn about nature that I hadn’t had since I was a kid. I really felt it again this week. At the Arenal Volcano, we hiked up a large hill to get a good view of the volcano, and there were large fragments of volcanic rock scattered about. I got to climb around

them and stand on top of them. When I was four years old, I went to Mount Rainier National Park, and climbed around on the boulders there. Of course, I was four, so my parents were a little reserved and I didn’t get to do it as much as I wanted to. So now, fourteen years later and with more experience in the physical world, I was brought back to this moment and felt as I did then and a little bit giddy. Now, if I felt like that there, I felt even more so at the La Fortuna waterfall. Walking barefoot over the boulders scattered about, I had so much fun and went a little wild climbing everything and moving about. It was so beautiful and I felt as though it was in this kind of place I belonged, this was the kind of thing I’m meant to do. It was hard to leave. I’d like to go home and continue to chase and find this feeling, more connected and comfortable with the natural environment and always seeking out fun. I hope to revisit the west coast of the U.S. as well, perhaps back to Mount Rainier, and do more of what little-me didn’t get to do. I’m reminded that although I’m an adult, I’m still the same person. I’m grateful I was able to find that feeling again through this trip.

However, what really made the last week so meaningful to me was the people. Whether it was dinners together at the Lomas del Volcan hotel, swimming and taking pictures at La Fortuna, bumping around on the car ride at Palo Verde, or late night shenanigans at Monteverde, it was genuinely these small moments that meant the most to me. There’s something about traveling for three weeks with a group of people of similar interests that leads to the best time ever. I am not stretching the truth when I say I’m so happy to have met and made connections with every single person on our trip. I was able to learn a lot from them too. I’m excited to head back to Bloomington in the fall, and I hope to hang out with these wonderful people and continue the friendships I’ve made.

Overall, I’m so happy to have had this experience. I’ve learned so much and have gained more of an appreciation for the natural world, down to the smallest creatures in it. Thank you to everyone, including the professors and the TA, for making this trip such an unforgettable experience.

Love,

      Miyako

As I am home again from Costa Rica and as I am sitting in my bed, writing this blog post far too close to its deadline, I can’t help but wonder what was the point of it all. I went and came back and now, sitting here in my sealed off house without a sign of insect life in my room, it feels like I’ve gone back to square one. Like the entire trip was just a fever dream of new experiences, friends, sounds, sights, smells, and I am sat here trying to make sense of it all. Change is a fickle thing. I have physically changed locations, moving from hereto Costa Rica for three weeks, sure, but it goes deeper than that. The unpredictability of change is something that we humans constantly try to control by exerting more and more predictability especially on the natural world. We dam rivers, seed rain with silver to drop their rains where we want, create unchanging paths through the forest, and snap nature into place for us to view with our own discretion in zoos, museums, and personal insect specimen boards. And through this trip I have seen so many examples of how humans have made nature more predictable for a variety of purposes. From La Selva and Palo Verde constructing paths and light traps and piers to better access nature for study, to Tortuguero almost inviting monkeys into their space and marketing them as part of the experience, to Lomas del Volcan abolishing nature almost completely, reducing it to a garden of artificial, unchanging biodiversity, wherever humans go, we bring our own unchanging microclimate.

Ironically enough, by spreading so far and ensuring comfort wherever we go, this worldwide culture of human comfort has ensured our fate will be one of uncontrollable change. Climate change. We use energy to affix nature. Nature will fight and crawl and hide to stay in its constantly adapting and changing state, so to overpower it we exert just as much energy as it does to fight us. If it is too hot, we spend energy to cool it down, if our carefully placed gardens are attacked, we fight back with pesticides manufactured with help from fossil fuels, if we cannot access somewhere, yes we can, it just depends how much energy we want to exert getting there. And with this consumption, we have inundated the atmosphere with CO2, and the climate will change, and all we can do is hope that the change will be mitigatable, since we cannot stop it. 

This is all very interesting since the past week has been so full of change and unpredictability for us personally, and I think it has made me feel so incredibly alive. We went to four different locations in just a week, and adapting to each one has made us all develop so much as a group and as humans. Tortuguero and lomas del volcan fall in similar categories for me, since they both functioned more as relaxation points in our journey. For me that sudden shift to socializing time from research time was something I could not adapt to very well. The change got the better of me and I felt so foreign in the environment that I just was completely out of it mentally. After those vacation spots we were rocketed directly into the fire again with Palo Verde, mosquito and bug capital of Costa Rica apparently. We were forced to adapt when the mosquitos literally covered the ceilings of the bathrooms and swarmed as soon as you went to shower or use the bathroom. We learned to use mosquito nets and wear long sleeves (Sadly I had none), and learned that mosquitoes in fact can bite straight through your pants if they feel like it. We learned to adapt to

the lack of laundry services through the trip, bonding together over how hopeless it was to stay good smelling and clean in these kinds of situations. Finally in Monteverde, the cloud forest felt desolate compared to the lowland rainforests I had been used to, since on those hanging bridges it was almost absolute silence. Almost no bird calls and only a couple patches of incessant cicadas, so I took even more time to focus on the smallest things on the trail. Even the course design has been throwing assignments and projects at us like nothing, forcing us to confront and adapt to the constantly changing landscape of the program. With the mounting stress and need to reach deadlines, it was hard not to proportionally speed up, to take shortcuts and panic. However, instead of exerting more energy, and falling into the same trap we have as a society of desperately fighting against change, my brain did the exact opposite, and started to slow down.

Throughout this entire trip I have been forced to move slower, not faster, by change, to really take in what had changed around me in order to react accordingly, and I think it is what I have primarily taken from this trip. Instead of walking the same pace and speeding up my eyes and brain to scan for new threats on unfamiliar trails, I have walked slower, taking in my surroundings at a sustainable speed that won’t give me a migraine by midday. Instead of speeding through all the statistics and letting Eric just give us the results, I asked him to explain and slowly came to an understanding of what our data actually meant. And at the end of it all, on the final day, we took our time saying goodbye. We didn’t let go until it felt like it was time,

and if that meant staying up the whole night, being as close as we possibly could to each other, looking at the stars for hours, then so be it. The more we took our time and slowed down, the more werecognized just what we had accomplished and experienced, and especially who we had met on this program. I frankly broke down at our final reflection, and I let the tears come as much as they needed to, slowly falling down my face until I was ready to continue on. As individuals and as a society, we need to recognize the importance of taking the long route and taking things slow. We aren’t going to be saved from the climate crisis by some silver bullet, we aren’t going to solve world hunger with one innovation, and we aren’t going to be truly sustainable until we sit down, take it easy, and understand the entire picture of how we exist on this planet.

It’s far-fetched, I know, and sometimes quick action is necessary, surely we need quick action to ensure we don’t destroy our planet more, but that action needs to be thought through. We cannot just jump onto the next big trend and assume it will fix it all. I don’t want my food magically delivered to my door when I want it. I don’t want a house perfectly climate controlled to 63 degrees fahrenheit. I want all the ups and downs of shopping for an ingredient that might be out of stock, or the joy of getting to wear my comfy sweater and socks when it’s cold out. I will take my “Pura Vida” and savor it, exploring every possible aspect until it is time to finally let go. I can’t imagine any better way to truly live. 

-Kieran

Climate change is an undeniable reality that demands our attention and action. To better comprehend its impact, our professors created an activity that envisioned the world’s future with temperature increases ranging from one degree to a staggering six degrees celsius. Through this hypothetical exploration, we gained a deeper understanding of the potential consequences and the urgency to address this global crisis.

Part of my assignment was to focus on the impact of the global temperature rising from four degrees to five degrees celsius. Our article listed many consequences of this single degree rise in global temperature including: remaining ice sheets are completely eliminated from both poles, rain forests have burned up and disappeared, rising sea levels have submerged coastal cities and are creeping more inland, humans are herded into shrinking “zones of habitability,” inlands see temperatures if 10 degrees more than what is seen today, higher altitudes in the north see an increase in rainfall while everywhere faces drought, deserts appear everywhere, and in the worst affected regions, 40% of all available water is lost. This activity showcased just how large of an effect a seemingly small change could have on the global scale.

Not only does temperature dictate what the world looks like at a global scale, but it also dictates what ecosystem is prevalent in the area. Slight changes in average temperature and humidity in a region dictate what ecosystem will be able to thrive in that environment including what types of plants, animals, insects, and fungi will be prevalent. Little shifts in the combination of the two, temperature and humidity, can determine whether a region is a desert or a rainforest.

We were able to witness this firsthand as we traveled through Costa Rica. Our journey began at the La Selva Biological Research Station where we were immersed in the biodiversity of the rainforest. The air was humid, the vegetation dense, and the sights and sounds of tropical creatures filled our realities. It was a delicate balance of life where every organism played a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem’s harmony.

As we journeyed towards Tortuguero, the ecosystem underwent a shift. The coastal wetlands surrounded us, showcasing an entirely different portfolio of flora and fauna. The proximity to the ocean and the changing temperature and humidity patterns painted a new landscape for us. It was a vivid reminder of how slight alterations in climate conditions can shape the ecosystem.

Arriving in La Fortuna, the rise in elevation and the volcanic activity significantly affected the surrounding environment. The lush rainforest gave way to a landscape defined by the geological forces at play as we saw the side of the volcano that had been covered in lava years ago.

Our next stop in Palo Verde revealed yet another transformation. The plains and wetlands of the region showcased a unique ecosystem adapted to harsh conditions. We saw how a small mishap of the tilapia fish escaping their farm upstream led to an explosion in the crocodile population.

Finally, we reached Monteverde. The cooler temperatures gave way to a new type of ecosystem, the cloud forest. We saw different animals be more prevalent in each of these different ecosystems based on their ecosystem make up. For example, we were told of the abundance of Kuwaits that came onto the grounds of the farm we stayed at.

Beyond the changes witnessed in the ecosystems, our journey also revealed how seemingly small changes in our lives can have a significant impact. Our decision to participate in a three-week study abroad program in Costa Rica was one such change that opened our eyes to the urgency of environmental conservation. Through immersion in different ecosystems, we discovered practical ways to reduce our ecological footprint.

At the end of our trip, we gathered to reflect upon our experiences and contemplate the lessons learned. Composting food waste and conserving water emerged as simple yet impactful practices we could adopt in our daily lives. I have always been uncomfortable wasting food and I’ve always been interested in the idea of composting my food waste. La Selva taught me its as easy as having two to three bins that each collect a different waste. Only being able to take cold showers forced me into taking quick showers that reduced my water waste. I realized the importance of conserving water in Palo Verde where even laundry was a luxury because of the scarcity of water. We recognized that even our individual actions, when multiplied, can contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change.

Beyond the serious, I also noticed how little changes affected the group’s morale and dynamics throughout the trip. As we said goodbye to some of our classmates at Monteverde, I realized how dearly their presence was missed on the bus ride to the airport. I missed hearing Biz’s laugh, Trin’s tunes, and Edwin’s one-liners. It made me realize just how much each individual can play a role in everything they do without even realizing it.

Little Change, Big Effect – these words embody both the challenges and the opportunities we face in the face of climate change. Small changes can have profound effects and it’s important to remember that we can cause positive change as well. It is up to us to ensure that the ripple of change we create today leads to a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow. I will forever be grateful to have gone on this trip; it changed my life.

This week was a big travel week so we were crisscrossing all over Costa Rica. We started off the week at Tortuguero, headed to La Fortuna, bussed to Palo Verde, and finished the week off in beautiful Monteverde. This week taught me the importance of Dramamine. We were also rapid-fire exposed to wildly different ways of living. We went straight from the plush, air-conditioned rooms of La Fortuna to Palo Verde where we were sleeping in mosquito nets with two of the wimpiest fans I’ve ever seen.

It taught me the limits of my patience and the ability to adapt quickly to whatever is being thrown at me. I started off this trip firmly believing that I could only sleep in air-conditioned rooms set to, at the highest, 68 degrees. La Selva quickly reframed that belief and Palo Verde pushed it even further. The moment I hit those rock-hard beds with the pillows coincidentally also made of rocks I was out in minutes. In both situations, after the initial shock, everyone slowly regained their spirits and positivity, taking it in stride. I think that those two places taught me the most about my limits and myself out of all of the beautiful spots we visited. Dr. Wasserman mentioned early on in the info sessions that he wanted to push us out of our comfort zones—not too far, but enough to make us learn and grow. When I first heard that I definitely wondered what I was getting myself into. But I am incredibly grateful to have had him leading this trip because I came on this trip to learn and grow as a person, not be comfortable.

In many of our discussions on ecotourism this past week, I kept coming back to this idea of comfortability. The main difference between the places we visited was the level at which they valued comfort over the environment they were in. I found that the most comfortable, the most plush, and high-scale places we went to were the most separated from their environments. This is incredibly noticeable in a place like Costa Rica because the environment is why these hotels and establishments exist. We started off our trip in La Selva Biological Station dropped into the middle of Costa Rica, culturally and environmentally. We were immediately engrossed in Costa Rican food, hospitality, the people, and of course the gorgeous rainforest. In order to get to our rice and bean breakfast, we had to trek a literal half mile (we calculated it) from our dorms to the cafeteria through wild rainforest.

We were in constant contact with nature; from the howler monkeys outside our dorms at 4 am to the many bugs that accompanied us in our shower. Initially, it was a complete overload of senses that I wasn’t entirely at ease with. As time went on, I came to love it. At one point I caught myself saving a tiny bug from the small river in my shower and thought “What have I become”. I loved seeing all the beautiful moths in the shower, the weird giant toads at night, the sounds of the forest waking up in the morning, the ever-present threat of the fer de lance, and the incredibly kind and engaging staff.

In reflection, I believe that a part of my heart will always be there. As a side note, I am literally tearing up while I am writing don’t look at me. Starting there forced me to completely flip my world upside down in terms of what I thought I was capable of. I didn’t think I could even begin to identify the plethora of birds—I ended up completing a research project on their identification. I didn’t think I could handle cold showers—I ended up loving them. I didn’t think I could handle the heat but I made it through and went days without air conditioning. Getting up at 4:45 am would have been absurd to me a couple of months ago but I did it. All of this is to say that I was initially incredibly uncomfortable in ways that forced me to change.

As we visited more places across Costa Rica, I realized that isn’t always the case. Ecotourism is grounded in the idea of bringing people to experience a beautiful natural space while living in harmony with it. That was absolutely the case at La Selva but not always elsewhere. The place where this struck me the hardest was La Fortuna, next to the beautiful volcano with sweeping views of the city. It had comfortable queen beds, air conditioning, incredible views, and even a jacuzzi. But I found myself very uncomfortable. What first struck me was the difference in people staying there. It looked like I was back in Indiana, not in the middle of Costa Rica. The food was different too—like it was catered to us Americans instead of the Costa Rican people themselves. No bugs in the shower, no cacophony of sounds to wake me in the morning, no rice and beans. A month ago, I would never have thought to miss that but this hotel felt weirdly stale. The little life on the property was carefully placed and cultivated by Costa Rican groundskeepers that were gone by the time we woke up. Are we as ecotourists supposed to be separated from the environments we are visiting or in tune with them? The website had little mention of their sustainable practices which was a complete flip from La Selva which was made very clear at the get-go. The people that stay at this hotel are not challenged to see beyond the manicured grass lawns—why would they be? As far as they know, Costa Rica will always be beautiful and luscious. I found this to be the antithesis of what ecotourism is based on—we were extracting from the beautiful land instead of in harmony with it. In La Selva, you were constantly confronted with the reality of climate change with the immediacy of the jungle. The guides made a point to mention how the land is changing with rising temperatures. There was composting, no air conditioning, cold showers: leading to one of the smallest ecological footprints I may have ever made. My idea of what I was comfortable with changed drastically. That is what I believe ecotourism should be and I will challenge my friends and family to think about tourism differently. Change comes from being a little uncomfortable.

This last week in Costa Rica has been something else. Bouncing from Torteguero to Arenal to Palo Verde and then to Monteverde felt crazy after spending so much time at La Selva, and seeing so many different things in such a short window was both exhilarating and exhausting, especially being that we had to finish our research projects. I’m glad to not have to worry about that anymore, but It’s sad that this class is over. I love being here in Costa Rica, and I really love everyone on this trip. It’s pretty amazing how close you can get to a group of people in three weeks. I cried yet again in the airport, but this time in San Jose (far better than crying in New Jersey!) because now I won’t be with the 22 people who made the past three weeks the best experience of my life so far. There are no other professors, AIs, and classmates turned friends who I would rather have gone to Costa Rica with.

In addition to the new friends, I’m also going to bring back a ton of new knowledge and memories back to the United States. Between all the animal species and ecology that I’ve never seen before, to my new understanding of ecotourism, to my new knowledge on the complexity of climate change gained from my research project, my mind is swimming.

To start, Torteguero, Arenal, and Palo Verde all had new animals and sights that I had never seen before. During our afternoon walk on our first day at Torteguero, I got to see two two-toed sloths way up in a cecropia tree, which was one of the animals I knew I wanted to see while on this trip. These sloths were also surprisingly in a tree that was right next to a turtle shaped pool and a bar, which I would not expect. I would think that sloths would not want to live right by a ton of humans and human development, but these two looked cute and cozy up in their tree. When we toured Torteguero National Park, the whole thing was done by boat because the park itself is a conglomerate of rivers, canals, and lagoons. I had never seen anything like that before, and I felt like I was in some scene out of a movie, like Jurassic Park. During the night walk we did at Arenal, I saw quite a few of the green tree frogs, which were on my bucket list of creatures to see while here, but besides that the walk felt unnatural. We went in a human-made butterfly house, walked past man made fountains, and all the paths were lined with gravel and stone along the edges. After being at La Selva, I almost feel like I have a superiority complex about hikes and the outdoors. The more human-oriented a trail or environment looks, the less I like it. I loved the elevation and canopy views from the hanging bridges hike at Arenal, but all the bright signage and paved paths threw me off. Plus, being shown a Fer-de-lance that’s in an area sectioned off by caution tape felt like being at a zoo compared to the Fer-de-lance I stumbled upon in a tree on the second day at La Selva. Palo Verde brought us back to a similar experience to that of La Selva, but with a LOT more mosquitos and a ton of crocodiles. We went on a boat tour there where we saw dozens of crocs, including a teeny tiny baby one that I (not to toot my own horn) was the first to notice.

My ability to see through the greens and browns of the tropics to find lovely little creatures is pretty good at this point. Everything around you is so much more interesting when you take in all the little details, from the environment to the communities and people Julia and I talked to while doing our research project. While walking around the tourist town of Torteguero and talking to bartenders and shopkeepers, we could see the focus and attention on pushing the environmentalism and ecotourism, from serving cocktails in coconuts to emphasizing the sustainable and handmade jewelry being sold. Every single person we interviewed there mentioned beaches and turtles, which makes sense being that their livelihoods depend on steady flows of tourists. While interviewing people in Palo Verde, which isn’t necessarily the best funded national park out there, all of them were genuinely excited to fill out our survey, and all of them emphasized the impact of climate change on the park that they love. All of these survey results, which confirmed our hypothesis that Costa Ricans are more concerned with the issue of climate change than Americans, and the conversations we had in the process of gathering these results, mean so much more when you look at the importance of the planet in people’s daily lives. Ecotourism is fully dependent on the beauty of the tropics, and work at a field station at a national park changes greatly when the weather conditions are driven to new extremes, especially when being so exposed to the elements. 

In the United States, we are often sheltered from our natural environment and its changes. Opinions on climate change seem to change depending on who someone votes for each election cycle, and no one seems to care if they have to start using air conditioning earlier on in the year or turn it down a few degrees. In Costa Rica, the cultural and economic significance of the environment, the fact that environmental issues aren’t turned into political issues, and the exposure to the natural world at all times mean that the whole country cares. The whole country cares about climate change and its impacts on everyone, including the plant and animal species that live there. I really wish that I could have surveyed and talked to a bigger portion of the 5 million people who live in Costa Rica to learn more about their relationships with mother nature and climate change. Hopefully I get the opportunity to return to Costa Rica soon.

I have learned more about myself and the world in the past three weeks than I could’ve imagined. I can barely verbalize how much this has all meant to me, but this will definitely end up being the best class I will take at Indiana. 

El fin… ¡Pura vida!

As I was researching study abroad programs offered by IU, a trip to Costa Rica stuck out to me because of my love for warmer climates and I knew that in Costa Rica you spend a lot of time outdoors, which is another favorite of mine. I knew this program was going to be the perfect fit for me because you can always find me exploring outdoors and seeking new adventures. Once we landed in Costa Rica and felt the warm, humid air I was immediately filled with excitement to start exploring the country. Earlier in the year, my family took a vacation to Costa Rica for my sister’s senior spring break. They loved their trip and were excited for me to go as well because they know how much I love wildlife and exploring. After hearing about all of their adventures, I was very antsy to explore more about this beautiful country.

During my time at La Selva Biological Station, I was immersed in a thick tropical jungle and had waves of new information being thrown at me, however, I would not have wanted it to be any other way. The more I learned about Costa Rica’s ecology, the more questions I had because I was so intrigued and wanted to learn about every new living thing I came across. Starting with the natural alarm clocks of the jungle, the howler monkeys, who woke everyone up around five every morning without fail. Learning that these monkeys, also known as mono congo, howled every morning to send warnings to other groups of primates to mark out their territory was extremely interesting to me. This also proved to me how intelligent these monkeys are. A second animal that I quickly fell in love with were the bats of Costa Rica. We got to see the Honduran white bats, vampire bats, and greater-speared-nosed bats around La Selva. The reason I became attached to these mammals was that a couple of groups chose to sleep attached to our rooms at the River Station. This allowed me to constantly see what they were up to during the day, which was mainly sleeping. However, it always seemed that when I was walking past the bathrooms outside my room, at least one bat every day would come swooping from the ceiling and fly inches away from my face. Towards the end I think they were just doing it to mess with me because it became a pattern. I always found it funny and liked seeing them each day. Bats became a new favorite of mine throughout this trip, and I am happy for it because they are a unique mammal.

Being introduced to new species in the tropics is eye-opening because the evolution and adaptation of all these species are mostly polar opposite to what I am used to in the midwest of the United States. A lot of species in the tropics survive because of their camouflage. The camouflage that tropical species have include bright colors like green, red, blue, and yellow. While in the midwest, ideal camouflage for species includes brown, white, tan, and some black. Learning how to train my eyes to spot out bright colors among the equally bright colors of the tropical ecology was a learning curve, but once you start spotting one, the rest will come easier. On the other hand, the bright colors of some animals are intentional to stand out more. The best example that I saw every day was the Strawberry poison dart frog or blue-jean frog. This frog has a bright red body with a royal blue color to their hind legs. This little amphibian was easy to spot when against the green foliage. This color is to warn others of their toxic components that could harm predators.
Something that I did not expect to gain from the program was my interest in the botany of the tropical forest. I think this interest came from my consistent observation of the lowland plants when I was collecting data for our research project. I think that before my research study, I was always looking through the plants and trees in search of animals. My job for our study design consisted of counting the plants within a certain range on the forest floor. I believe that I became increasingly interested in the patterns and where I could find certain species of plants. I would catch myself looking for similar plants near the rivers and predetermining which plants I would see before I got to a spot. It was almost a game that I would play against myself to test my newly-gained knowledge. Along with predicting plant species, I also really enjoyed looking at plants, like the walking palm, that crawled across the forest floor in hopes of more sunlight. I was fascinated by this concept because it is a very advanced maneuver for a plant to complete, but you could see this happening all over the forest and across many species.

Another bit of information I was reminded about from Audrey and I’s research in the field came from our results. I was happy to see some significant data from our collection as well as some unpredicted information from bird species. I have always read in school that there will be a higher abundance of species and specie diversity near a nutrient-rich environment such as a river, however being able to record data and see the results from your collection has much more educational value. Some valuable data that we surprisingly received included the difference between insectivore and frugivore abundance based on location. Our data showed us that insectivores were much higher in abundance near rivers when compared to frugivore abundance in the same area. I found this information to be extremely valuable to our study because we were not initially expecting to be able to have data on specific bird species. With Audrey’s talent for identifying birds, we were able to add another layer of data collection that taught us more than we were expecting. I was also grateful for Audrey because she taught me a great deal about birds and by the end of the data collection I was able to identify a handful of bird species.

During this last week of our trip, we got the opportunity to visit multiple ecotourism spots in different parts of Costa Rica. We visited Tortuguero, Arenal, Palo Verde, and Monteverde. Palo Verde was another research station so I won’t really be focusing on it in this blog post, and instead will be focusing on the other three. 

My entire life I have watched tourism unfold and work its magic on tourists. I live in a small town called Lamar, which borders the tourist hotspot Santa Claus, Indiana. Santa Claus houses a popular amusement park called Holiday World and a campground called Lake Rudolph. I have worked at the Santa Claus Christmas Store for about 4 years now, so I have seen the forefront of tourism. Tourism does a lot for Santa Claus and brings a lot of attention to our area. It allows the locals to express their love for Christmas and run small town businesses during our busy seasons. Tourism however also does have downsides such as dependence on tourism income. During the months of January through May, Santa Claus is a ghost town. This can make it difficult for small businesses to survive and shift to staying open all year. However, this also just applies to Santa Claus because it is seasonal, so it doesn’t necessarily apply to every tourist spot.

Experiencing true ecotourism this past week has been eye opening. From the guides to the scenery, the spots we visited this week were truly one of a kind. Each spot showed a completely different ecosystem present in Costa Rica. Tortuguero opened our eyes to a marine ecosystem in the Tortuguero National Park. Arenal showed us a breathtaking volcano and beautiful views from hanging bridges. Monteverde presented us with stunning views of Costa Rica that I will never forget. Each place offered ecotourism in different ways, each being very unique and interesting to me.

Starting with Tortuguero, it was probably my favorite tourist attraction we visited based on its atmosphere. The boat tour of Tortuguero National Park was unlike any other national park I had visited. We saw some beautiful wildlife in the flesh and explored an ecosystem I had never seen before. However, my favorite part of Tortuguero was visiting the town. I loved strolling through the town and visiting all of the shops and restaurants. The shops in Tortuguero were different from the other shops we visited. Here in Tortuguero, I felt like I got exposed to the most authentic and local artwork than any other place on our trip. I ended up buying some beautiful handmade earrings for my mom and a gorgeous handmade tank top for myself. If I could go back to Tortuguero I would have bought much more not only to support the local artists but also because their work was beautiful. Along with the local artists, here in Tortuguero I felt most immersed in Costa Rican culture. The town was booming with locals and I even got to see a local soccer game happening at the school. The beach was also filled with locals fishing, playing soccer, and enjoying their home. 

Moving to Arenal, the volcano and hanging bridges park were nothing short of spectacular. The hanging bridges park is where we started, and the first thing I noticed was that it was definitely geared much more towards tourists than Tortuguero was. However, I really enjoyed the hike we went on and the guided tour of the park that we received. The bridges offered stunning views of the Arenal Volcano and of the landscape surrounding it. At the park we actually got the chance to see a fer de lance snake through a scope. While I felt like we were crowding the snake a bit, I still was grateful for the opportunity to see such an interesting snake present in Costa Rica. I also was grateful to see the snake from a safe distance given how dangerous it is! After this tour, we rode over to Arenal National Park and got a close up view of the Arenal Volcano. We learned a bit about the Volcano and its past eruptions. This was a difficult hike up the volcano, but the view at the end made it worthwhile. 

Lastly, we visited Monteverde which was a close contender in my favorite spots. The drive to get to Monteverde was brutal but breathtaking. In my opinion, Monteverde was the prettiest spot we visited. The view offered from our hotel was perfect (I swear I took pictures of it every time I walked in front of it again). In Monteverde, we visited another hanging bridges park which is gorgeous as well but I honestly didn’t get much out of it. At the time we went, it was really cloudy so it was difficult to see the views that the park normally offers. I would have really enjoyed hiking through this park early in the morning when it’s normally clearer than any other part of the day. After this park, we arrived at the lodge we would be staying at. This lodge not only had amazing views (as I mentioned), but the food here was exquisite. They grew most, if not all, of their food served at the lodge in a permaculture on the property. Every meal we had here was delicious and very fresh (obviously). The staff at the lodge were extremely friendly and very accommodating. They made our stay here super comfortable and fun.

As I reflect on all these places, ecotourism presented itself in many different ways in each spot but had the same purpose overall. Ecotourism allows the people of Costa Rica to express their culture and their identities while also financially supporting themselves. This exposure to ecotourism in Costa Rica made me see the tourism of Santa Claus in a different light. I always complain about the tourists and how they never know what a blinking yellow light means, but actually these tourists allow my town to express itself while financially supporting itself. I’m extremely grateful for everything I learned on this study abroad trip and will never forget the memories, stories, and experiences. Pura vida!

     Since the beginning of this trip, one phrase I learned very quickly was “Pura Vida” which directly translates to “pure life” in Spanish. My original understanding of this phrase symbolizes enjoying the beauty and life around you. But in the Costa Rican culture, Pura Vida means so much more than pure life. Natives will use this phrase after anything even if you say hello, good morning, how are you, and you’re welcome! It embodies the positivity and happiness they get from the world around them. Pura vida captures the greatest aspects of life from the natural environment around us to the pure blessing of existing in this beautiful country that I am so grateful to have had an opportunity to explore. Over the course of the last three weeks, we have spent extensive amounts of time in several regions of Costa Rica as we stayed at La Selva Biological Fieldstation, Evergreen Lodge, Lomas del Volcan, and Valle Escondido. We also attended several aspects of ecotourism such as hanging bridges and organic local farms. Each new location varied significantly from one another but they held the same values and respect for the nature around them. This was easy to identify as they try to conserve resources, respect creatures’ habitats, and most importantly want to educate us on the importance of their land. 

     On June 19th, we attended a coffee tour and our guide correlated this term with the idea of opportunities. Their land was generationally passed down to them and it gave them access to income and new innovations. They transformed their business to focus on education and the importance of their crop. Their family made all decisions based on the heart and mind of the environment. As we left this farm, the kind gentleman said pura vida with the largest smile and I felt the true meaning of this phrase. 

     Being away in Costa Rica has allowed me to reflect on things in life. I feel like I have learned to appreciate the world around us. Life of all kinds and forms matter and are essential for a balanced ecosystem. I will go through life with a Pura Vida, life is good, attitude and continue to be attentive and appreciative of all life forms around me and continue to explore new possibilities. Understanding the depth behind Pura Vida has allowed me to look at life through a new positive lens and made me realize what I need to change in my day-to-day life in order to preserve and protect the planet. 

     Waste & Recycling: At La Selva Biological Fieldstation, they stressed the importance of recycling, composting, and watching our waste products. They had several locations throughout their land that had multiple different binds to more specifically separate aluminum, plastic, paper, and other waste. After meals, they had 3 bins: a napkin bin, a compost bin for scraps left over, and a general waste basket. It was not til this moment that I realized how much food goes to waste. It made me wonder how much my family at home wastes and what can I do to help combat this issue. They used composting and I feel like it’s a great, sustainable way to help combat the waste problem as it returns to decompose and will eventually return nutrients back into the soil. This is something that I would like to use in my daily life! Another thing that La Selva wanted us to be mindful of was electricity. In every room and every light switch, there was a sign to turn off lights when not using them. At my own house, I love my lights on and I did not realize how much of an impact our light usage had. I got into a good habit of turning off my lights after me and will try to continue to watch my family’s light usage and overall carbon footprint. Lastly, the concept of toilet paper and watching how much I used really caught me off guard at first. At La Selva, they preportioned your toilet paper for about 2 squares for you. On our way to Torteguro, we had to pay $1 for toilet paper. At a little café, it was hanging on the wall outside of the bathroom stall. Time and time again I was stumped by why each place did this. I came to the realization that they want us to actively think about how much of each resource we use. They want us to be smart and preserve resources if we can to overall help the environment. 

     Water Consumption:  Each location was conscious of the amount of water they used but Palo Verde was the most eye-opening experience. Palo Verde was experiencing a water shortage due to climate change. They did not have the resources for us to do laundry, we tried to limit shower times, and they had to be super aware of how they used the water to prioritize what needs it the most.  All sinks were designed to shut off pretty quickly to help preserve water. This hit me super hard as I felt awful they were experiencing this. I didn’t realize how much water I personally used until it was limited and I had to actively think about it. I realized that I should turn off the water when brushing my teeth or washing my face until I really need it. I do not need to take extremely long showers in order to get a nice shower in. I did not realize how many and how many resources I have poorly utilized until moments like this. 

     As our journey in Costa Rica has come to an end, I want to do better for this world. I want to preserve the valuable resources around us to ensure future generations have access to them and continue to live comfortably. I need to implant these little things into my life and help educate and influence others around me to follow in better footprints. I have begun to see why Costa Ricans love what they do in terms of education and preservation even if it is not the most ideal and takes a lot of change and action. Pura Vida has opened my eyes to see all life and resources as valuable and essential. It is up to us, the future generation, to make a change bigger than ourselves to preserve and cherish natural beauty and resources.

The final part of our trip was completed outside of La Selva. After about two weeks there, it felt good to leave and see more of Costa Rica. The first stop we went to was Tortuguero. We took a 2 hour bus ride to get to a boat dock, then took a 2 hour boat ride to the Evergreen Lodge. It was very different from being at La Selva. I had a room with Anna and we got our own bathroom, and there was a pool and a bar! That evening, we went for a nature hike, and then we came back and swam in the pool. The following morning, we went on a boat tour through the national park. There were a lot of caimans and many different birds. The ecology reminded me of a swamp. The coolest park was seeing monkeys in the trees that were right up in the water. I usually think of monkeys as being more on land, so it was interesting to see them living in that habitat. That night, we went for yet another night hike. The next morning, we packed up our stuff, ate breakfast and left. Tortuguero went by really quickly. I loved seeing the wetland forest, but I think my biggest takeaway from it was learning how to pack light and be flexible. Since we could only take a backpack, I had to pick what I most needed to take with me. Going from living out of a suitcase for a couple weeks to only packing a backpack with essentials has taught me how to be more economical while also being prepared. I think this is an important life skill and helps with reducing an ecological footprint because I now know that I do not need a lot to be comfortable. 

Our next stop was Lomas de Volcan. Before arriving at the resort, we went to a place to learn about the Maleku, an indigenous tribe of Costa Rica. It was very sad to learn about what had been done to their people, but I think it’s important that they are trying to educate people about it, so something can be done for them. We went on another night hike after, and saw a lot of frogs. Then we made our way to the resort. This was definitely the fanciest place we went to. It had a pool, jacuzzi, and a nice restaurant. We also had a beautiful view of the Arenal volcano. The volcano is usually shrouded in clouds and it makes it look more interesting. The next morning we went to hanging bridges, which was a park that featured a lot of hanging bridges in the mountains that spanned over little vallies. It was awesome to see the forest canopy at eye level instead of from down below. It was also a lot cooler than in the lowland tropical forest, so that was nice. After hanging bridges, we did a hike up to the base of the volcano to get a better view of it. The rest of the day was free time spent at the resort, which Mahek and I used to work on our project a little. The next morning we went to the waterfall. Although it was touristy, it was worth it. The water fall was stunning; it looked like something out of a movie. After the waterfall, we left for Palo Verde. Lomas de Volcan was much more suited to the comfort of tourists than La Selva and even the Evergreen Lodge. It was lovely, but after the other places it felt like too much. I felt bad about using AC. This part of the journey made me 

appreciate how conscientious of my actions I had become while in Costa Rica. 

Palo Verde was the most challenging part of the trip, because of the combination of mosquitoes and having to work hard to finish the research project. There were two buildings we mostly stayed in, the cafeteria and classroom, to keep away from the bugs. The first morning we went on a nature hike to the boardwalk overlooking the marsh. It was pretty in its own way. The marsh was very still and there were a lot of birds and crocodiles. The next day was another boat tour! The best part of that however was the ride over. It was bumpy and we were in a land cruiser, so it was a little adventure. On the boat ride, we saw more birds and crocodiles. We presented our research projects that night which was a huge relief. Palo Verde was certainly tough but it was bearable because we were all in it together and we were able to laugh about it. I learned that any hard situation is better when you can still have fun with other people during it. 

The final part of our trip was to Monteverde. I honestly thought we weren’t going to make it on the drive up. The bus was stick shift and would stop in the middle of the incline to shift gears. And then we went over bumps or something and almost tipped and rolled down the side of the mountain. However, when we finally got to our destination it was beautiful. We went to another hanging bridges park, which was fun because we got to hike without a tour guide this time. It was nice to talk to my friends and have fun and not have to worry about paying attention. After the bridges, we went to Valle Escondido, our lodge in the cloud forests. Like all the other places we had been, it was gorgeous. The food was all locally sourced and fresh, and there was another bar! It was a good place to go out on a high note. The last day, we took a trip to the coffee plantation. It was so cool to see the coffee plants growing on the sides of mountains. We also got to try different kinds of coffee. This was the best moment of my life and I don’t think it can go up from there. I was very sad today to be leaving. Well everyone else left and I stayed but it was still sad. This has been one of my best college experiences. I learned so much from it and made so many new friends. Ultimately, this class taught me that I love to be challenged and it’s important to me to learn from experience and not just being in a classroom. 

     I came to Costa Rica expecting to learn a lot in a short period of time. I surely learned a lot about tropical biology, entomology, conservation, and climate change. These aren’t my areas of academic or professional interest, but I was excited to learn about them nonetheless. At the same time, I unexpectedly learned and gained clarity about my research interests and career goals. 

     First and foremost, I think one thing we have all learned is that conducting research is difficult. Bold statement, I know. It’s doable, and it’s so rewarding to see the final product come from all of your hard work, but it’s difficult. 

     I was lucky enough to take SPH-H 494: Research and Evaluation Methods in Health and Safety just this spring. In my section of this course, we conducted our own original research projects over the whole semester. Of course, one project or class won’t teach you everything you need to know about research, so there has been plenty more for me to learn here. I made plenty of mistakes in my research that I have learned from. More importantly, though, the freedom we had in designing our research has helped me understand my research interests and career goals. 

Kayla’s and my research project investigated perceptions of environmental risk factors of mosquito borne illnesses and snake bites among individuals from Costa Rica and the US. We combed through the literature, accessed public data of environmental and health conditions, and developed and conducted a survey. 

     This project was a reminder of the value of early, thorough planning. As we implemented our project and data collection, we found lots of things to tweak: background data analysis strategy, our data collection instrument, how we approach people to take our survey, and much more. Some things could be improved as we realized our mistakes, but others couldn’t. For example, once we started collecting survey responses, we couldn’t completely reformat the questions that weren’t very clear. This was frustrating, but working on a time crunch meant we had to just try to get something consistent and comparable pulled together. I’d heard that there is a trade off between setting up an ideal study and actually ever finishing one with imperfections. This project made that truth abundantly clear. The best way to get a good deal in this trade off is with early, thorough planning. 

     Despite these challenges, this project really helped clarify my future research interests. This has been a surprisingly difficult question for me to answer in the past. As an epidemiology major, I knew that my research interests had something to do with the health of populations, but no singular health condition has stuck out to me. The pattern I have finally noticed between this and other research projects is that it’s not health conditions that interest me, but the perceptions, conceptions, behaviors, and policies related to health. Sure, the science behind envenomation and antivenom development is interesting, but I’m much more interested in how individuals and communities perceive the risks posed by snakes, who engages in behaviors that put them at higher risk, and how to make antivenom more accessible to those that need it. I ask similar questions about mosquito borne illnesses and other health conditions. 

     In addition to knowing what question you want to answer, doing research also means understanding how you want to answer it. In my case, the questions I want to answer lend themselves to social and mixed methods research. For past research projects, I’ve relied on interviewing friends who would volunteer via my personal social media. Even though it could be difficult to find enough people to volunteer, these conversations were pretty easy. Kayla’s and my research project felt like a whole different ball game. First, as previously discussed, I greatly underestimated the skill needed to develop an effective survey. To me, it seems to be a completely different skill set from developing and conducting interviews. Second, I didn’t anticipate how difficult I would find it to approach people to ask them to take our survey. My introverted personality doesn’t exactly lend itself to that when I’m in my own community, let alone one where I’m visiting for the first time. 

     Although I may not be able to change my personality, I do see a way I could make myself more comfortable conducting and project like this in the future. Like I said, this was my first time in Costa Rica. I arrived ready to be taught about the culture. My previous travels in the Dominican Republic and Panama, my Spanish studies, class readings, and my own reading prepared me somewhat, but I still didn’t know much about Costa Rican culture in particular. As I learned more throughout my trip, I saw many more opportunities for better research. I also saw opportunities for collaboration that would have made research more representative of a broader Costa Rican experience, more thorough, and more compelling. This, similarly, points to the importance of good preparation, but it also points to something bigger: the importance of investment and focus. 

      Similar to my research interests, my academic interests seem to pull me in multiple directions. I officially added an anthropology minor just this spring semester, at the end of my junior year. One could see how this would compliment my Spanish minor, but how it fits with epidemiology wasn’t clear until finalizing this research project. It’s important to me to invest in a community, understand language and culture, and then work on public health research and interventions. In other words, I’m interested in borrowing ethnographic approaches from anthropology to improve my public health practice. I’m not sure if these career interests will bring me back to Costa Rica or anywhere else in Latin America to expand on the project that Kayla and I completed this summer, but it does seem like a strong possibility. Even if not, the lessons I’ve learned here – personal, professional, or academic on any number of topics – will surely guide my path moving forward. 

Introduction:

Costa Rica, known for its stunning natural landscapes and commitment to eco-tourism, has long been a popular destination for travelers seeking an immersive experience in nature. However, a recent debate has emerged surrounding the impact of tourism on the country’s delicate ecosystems. Critics argue that certain tourist accommodations, such as Lomas El Volcan Hotel, feel “artificial” and disrupt the natural environment. While their concerns are valid, it is crucial to recognize the economic significance of tourism for Costa Rica and explore sustainable solutions that strike a balance between preserving nature and promoting responsible tourism. 

The Importance of Tourism for Costa Rica:

Tourism and eco-tourism play a vital role in Costa Rica’s economy, contributing significantly to the nation’s income. The country’s commitment to environmental preservation has made it a global leader in sustainable tourism practices. Travelers are drawn to Costa Rica for its diverse wildlife, lush rainforests, and breathtaking beaches, offering an authentic and immersive experience in nature. Tourism revenue provides essential funds for the protection and conservation of Costa Rica’s natural resources. It supports national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and eco-friendly initiatives, ensuring the preservation of unique habitats and biodiversity. Moreover, it generates employment opportunities for local communities, reducing poverty and improving living standards.

The Challenges of Unregulated Tourism:

However, the exponential growth of tourism, if not properly managed, can have adverse effects on the environment. Unregulated development and the influx of tourists can strain fragile ecosystems, leading to deforestation, habitat destruction, and increased pollution. In some cases, tourist accommodations may clash with the natural landscape, creating an “artificial” atmosphere that detracts from the authentic experience visitors seek. It is crucial to address these concerns and find a middle ground that satisfies both the need for economic growth and the preservation of Costa Rica’s natural heritage. Relying solely on traditional agriculture and cattle farming, as proposed by some, would lead to widespread deforestation and irreversible damage to the ecosystem.

Embracing Moderation and Sustainable Practices:

To strike a balance, moderation and responsible tourism practices are essential. Rather than completely shunning certain tourist accommodations, efforts should be made to ensure they harmonize with the surrounding environment. This could involve implementing architectural guidelines that blend structures with the natural landscape, using sustainable materials, and reducing energy consumption. Setting limits on the number of tourists allowed in specific areas and implementing strict regulations on construction and infrastructure development can help mitigate the negative impacts of tourism. By managing visitor numbers, the stress on delicate ecosystems can be reduced, allowing nature to rejuvenate and thrive.

Investing in education and raising awareness about sustainable tourism among visitors and local communities is also crucial. By educating tourists about the importance of minimizing their ecological footprint, promoting responsible behavior, and supporting local businesses that adhere to sustainable practices, a positive change can be fostered. Additionally, diversifying tourism offerings beyond traditional accommodations can help distribute the economic benefits more evenly across Costa Rica. Encouraging community-based tourism initiatives, where travelers stay with local families or engage in authentic cultural experiences, can promote sustainable development while offering visitors a deeper connection to the local community and environment.

Adhering to Higher Class Tourists:

To maximize income from eco-tourism, it is important to acknowledge a hard truth: eliminating the “artificial” aspects of traveling, such as air conditioning or maintaining the land, may lead to a decline in revenue. While focusing solely on creating an authentic and natural experience is admirable, it is crucial to consider the preferences and expectations of different traveler segments. Higher net worth individuals, who are often sought after by countries for their economic potential, may not be enticed by research station par lodging like La Selva, despite its appealing environment. These individuals have the means to seek out more comfortable and luxurious alternatives elsewhere. In order to tap into this wealthier demographic, countries must be willing to provide the higher class accommodations and amenities that these travelers expect. Luxury accommodations play a significant role in attracting affluent tourists. These individuals often prioritize comfort, exclusivity, and exceptional service during their travels. They seek high-end amenities, spacious rooms, and access to modern conveniences. By providing upscale lodging options, countries can position themselves as desirable destinations for these affluent travelers and increase their chances of maximizing income from eco-tourism.

Investing in luxurious eco-lodges not only meets the expectations of high net worth individuals but also contributes to sustainable tourism practices. By incorporating environmentally friendly features into these accommodations, such as renewable energy sources, efficient water usage, and responsible waste management, countries can align luxury with eco-consciousness. This combination appeals to travelers who value both comfort and environmental preservation. Furthermore, providing higher class lodgings doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing the authenticity of the eco-tourism experience. Countries can still maintain a focus on preserving natural habitats, promoting local culture, and supporting sustainable activities while catering to the preferences of affluent travelers. It is a matter of striking a balance between meeting the expectations of different market segments and ensuring the long-term viability of eco-tourism initiatives.

While it is important to maintain the authentic aspects of eco-tourism, the reality is that higher net worth individuals often expect a certain level of comfort and luxury during their travels. By investing in higher class accommodations and amenities, countries can tap into this lucrative market segment, attract affluent tourists, and maximize their income from eco-tourism. Striking a balance between luxury and sustainability is key to creating a thriving and profitable eco-tourism industry that benefits both travelers and the environment.

Conclusion:

Striking a balance between preserving Costa Rica’s natural environment and catering to higher class hotels is a complex challenge. While concerns about the “artificial” feel of certain accommodations are valid, it is important to recognize the economic benefits that luxury tourism brings to the country. By investing in higher class hotels and incorporating sustainable practices, Costa Rica can attract affluent travelers, maximize its income from eco-tourism, and ensure the long-term preservation of its natural heritage. With responsible tourism practices and a collective effort, it is possible to create a thriving and profitable eco-tourism industry that benefits both travelers and the environment

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As our time in Costa Rica is coming to an end, I have been reflecting and thinking about how traveling in seven provinces, staying in five ecotourism lodges, and learning about climate change through various methods of study has changed me as an individual and a student.

In my previous blog I talked about how growth occurs when one goes beyond their comfort zone. And wow did that lesson still pertain to me in Palo Verde. The 50-something hours spent in Palo Verde was a time where I was pushed beyond my boundaries more than I have ever. The relentless swarms of mosquitoes and gnats prevented us from leaving the classroom or dining hall without being covered in bites. It made simple tasks such as using the bathroom, showering, and walking around, nearly impossible. The two days spent in the classroom learning about the depressing reality of climate change was an extremely difficult challenge. I noticed my perspective on life and positivity diminishing due to our discussions about global warming and 6° Celsius temperature change. I never thought I would become okay with seeing cockroaches on my suitcases or scorpions in the bathroom. While our time there sounds all doom and gloom, in reflection the adversity we faced opened windows of gratitude. As I travel back to the United States, I will never take air conditioning, exercising outside, or the comfort of knowing I am not within a five foot vicinity of a tarantula larger than my hand for granted. As Kelly Clarkson once said, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger,” and I firmly stand by that. I also believed that staying there helped us understand the direct effect global warming is having on biodiversity ecosystems such as Palo Verde. 

Besides our time in Palo Verde, glimpses into the lives of many Costa Ricans have allowed me to come to the realization of how fortunate I truly am. I have had amazing and fantastic times here, but some of the moments haven’t been the easiest. These difficult moments only open my paradigm to the aspects of my life I am fortunate enough to have. One of them includes this group of students I have traveled with.

I could honestly write a whole blog about every student on this trip. Everyone is so unique, diverse, and curious in their own way. Never in my life have I run into a room to tell people I saw a tarantula larger than my hand to then see a group of people sprinting to the door to examine it. Everyone’s fascination with all kinds of species has shown me that these creatures are not enemies, they are beings that live amongst us rather than against us. Students on this trip have shown me a world where we care for all beings, including the scary ones, rather than stomping on them. Additionally, the character of everyone on this trip has allowed me to accept the hurdles we face and move on with a greater appreciation of life. When times got hard, my group took things lightly and made a hard situation, well, funny. Sometimes it’s hard to be optimistic when you do not have the comfort amenities you are used to, but I am so thankful to the people I was with who made it easy to see glass-half-full. (Okay side note – but as I was typing this, our bus almost tipped while traversing down a gravel road. People jolted up from their sleep and started laughing.) It’s experiences where you are covered in sweat or where you are five feet away from Costa Rica’s most dangerous snake that make you realize the people around you can really make or break your experience. And for that, I got really lucky. 

Along with the amazing folks that have accompanied me during the trip, I have learned a lot about the importance of our education and curriculum within the final days of the trip. During our visit to the organic coffee farm, Life, I took a lot away from their family-run, sustainable, balanced lifestyle, and business. This farm was situated in the hills and valleys of Monte Verde’s mountainous range. The air is significantly cooler, the farm was immersed in clouds and overlooked a stunning view of Monte Verde forest range and the ocean. The view is honestly breathtaking. However, it was not the beauty of the valleys or the smell of the coffee beans, it was the values that this family had that resided with me. The family farm valued collaboration, living among nature, and community, which really struck me as a way to live sustainably in the future. Compared to Western culture, the way they treat their food, gardens, and community with great care and respect is something I deeply admire. 

While our days were extremely long and busy, I am so glad that we were able to experience a diverse range of living situations and see so many unique parts of Costa Rica. Learning about global warming in conjunction with seeing the raw and unfiltered beauty of nature has opened my eyes to the urgent importance of this issue. I choose to see climate change in two ways; one where we can make a difference by collectively changing our lifestyles now, or the other, living in ignorance while destroying the beauty and biodiversity that surrounds us. Through our classroom discussions and surveying Costa Ricans it is evident that so many people care about our earth. It is not too late I believe. While we are slowly approaching a tipping point, I think if we change our values and behaviors, we can mitigate climate change for future generations. 

As always, I am incredibly grateful for Dr. Wasserman, Dr. Libby, Eric, and Debby for accompanying us on this journey and guiding every student along the way. It’s been fun.

Julia

When I first crossed the dangling high bridge at La Selva nearly three weeks ago, I was immediately swarmed by mosquitos, bugs, and other annoying pests. Standing outside of our bus, I couldn’t help but think about how I would deal with all these pestering bugs for three weeks. Now, following my trip to Palo Verde Biological Research Station, I now truly understand what it means to be swarmed by pests. I sit here typing with mosquito bites covering my fingers and all up along my legs. I continue to stop typing in order to scratch and itch these annoying insects bites. I’ll probably never have the answer as to what some of the weird scratches and bumps I have all over my body after three weeks in Costa Rica. Despite this, I am proud to say that I actually admire, respect, and care about these new, yet still annoying insects. I have a new profound perception of these small and often microscopic organisms. I have always known that these small organisms were important, but now I truly have learned that every member of an ecosystem, particularly the tropical rainforest we have studied these past three weeks, mean something. You never really appreciate or notice these small organisms until you start looking for them. I started looking and searching out the smallest and ugliest organisms on our nature hikes throughout the trip, not just the lovable monkeys or daring crocodiles. This made the hours of hiking and guided tours so much more interesting, insightful, and meaningful. I am enjoying reflecting on the new skills and new perspective I have on the natural environment around me. I have realized that I have been incredibly naive to the smallest, and seemingly meaningless, organisms that are in nature, not just here in Costa Rica, but back in Bloomington, Indiana as well. 

With this new appreciation, comes a whole new perspective on the climate crisis and the current state of our planet. As a biology major, I have learned a lot about the possible effects of climate change, meteorology, and ecology. I thought that I new a lot about what could happen to our planet if we continue along the path we’re on with continuing to produce incredible amounts of carbon dioxide and methane. I knew that maybe sea levels rise by a few inches and maybe we would lose a few annoying insect species; I certainly didn’t think that we could lose half of Earth’s total biodiversity. I certainly didn’t know that if Earth’s surface temperatures rose by only four degrees celsius, Egypt’s second largest city and entire economy would collapse. Sitting here now, only three weeks after leaving my comfortable, air conditioned home in Indiana, do I understand how naive I was in regards to the climate crisis. I have been privileged to have been able to see so much these past few weeks, plants and animals that I didn’t even know existed, and now I couldn’t imagine planet Earth without them. These same mosquitos that have attacked me at Palo Verde, are actually vital to almost all life on planet Earth. Even after dozens of biology courses, it took me actually traveling to Costa Rica and seeing biodiversity with my own eyes, to fully understand the interconnectedness that every species has on one another. It took me actually traveling to Costa Rica and hearing about the species that have been lost and the changing weather patterns to learn that climate change is actually happening. I needed to see and hear, with my own self, in order to learn what I should have known after years of science courses. I have learned more in three weeks with a few lectures, than nearly a decade’s long worth of biology courses.

Being a science student, I do have a great appreciation for the natural world around us, so I thought. Only after hearing with my own ears and seeing with my own eyes the loss of biodiversity that will occur if we humans do not change our behavior, do I now have a great appreciation for our natural world. As humans, we naturally don’t exactly wish to change unless we are forced to. We don’t like to adapt to new situations unless we have to. I, myself, am guilty of these attributes. But after living in Costa Rica for three weeks, I wouldn’t even be able to recognize, let alone agree with my old self. Protecting and preserving all the life we have seen, is now a passion and priority. Something that seemed like a outlandish threat, I now know is real and is happening right in front of our eyes. We need to change and we need to take action. I know that it is much easier said than done. It seems as if we humans can’t agree on anything, let alone agreeing on changing our comfortable lifestyles and behaviors. I also know that very few people have the opportunity to live for 12 days at La Selva Biological Research Station. I know that so few people could learn and live alongside three expert instructors. I know that so few people could hear the planes spraying pesticides on to agricultural monocrops. I know that so few people could count 23,000 leafcutter ants and learn about their vital importance to life on Earth. I know that so few people could swim underneath a waterfall. I know that so few people will have even a fraction of the experiences and knowledge I gained in just three short weeks. Day by day, I am starting to realize just how fortunate I am to have been able to have these experiences because it literally changed my perception of the spinning rock we all have the pleasure of living on. For this new knowledge and experiences that I probably will never have again, I will be forever greatful. 

Unlike many of my peers, I spent very little of this past week venturing into the forest. With a background in political science and statistics, genuine scientific field research was a daunting task I knew very little about. Rather, I have always been more appreciative of the social sciences, which is part of the reason I opted for a survey-based method for my project. I am so thankful that I did, because I have never experienced such a unique opportunity to visit a foreign town which did not fall under the category of “tourist trap,” or speak to so many locals. Tuesday morning granted me this beautiful opportunity and I cherished every moment of it, even if it did not go exactly as planned. In all my previous survey-based research, I had always simply distributed a survey link online. Posted it on Instagram. Texted it to friends and family and asked them to do the same. This week, for the first time in my life, I found myself facing the absolutely mortifying task of walking up to people with an ipad and asking them to take a survey. Doing this in town, while people were just going about their days, minding their own business, felt disruptive and intrusive. Each time we began to approach someone, we found ourselves immediately turning around and heading in the complete opposite direction. Even though we did not get the response rates we were hoping for on our survey in town, we took this experience with us and carried the lessons it taught us through the rest of the week and will continue to do so through the rest of our data collection.

The second half of the week yielded far more successful results in terms of our survey. Tuesday we were able to go around some of the tables during lunch and get some people to fill it out. Wednesday we posted the survey online and got a bunch of responses that way. Thursday we enlisted the help of Kenneth, who took it upon himself to start lining up staff members in the offices in reception to take our survey. Using these tactics helped us feel more comfortable with approaching possible respondents than walking up to random strangers going about their days in town.

Coinciding with our data collection, we began some data analysis on the previously available data to determine the significance of several correlations and be prepared to compare that to the results we obtained regarding people’s perceptions from our survey. It was in this area where my geekiness truly came out. Coming into this class, I was worried I would be lightyears behind, considering I had no previous background in environmental science or biology or anything related to global and planetary health. Having conducted several research projects in the past, I knew that my background in statistics would be beneficial during this class, but I did not realize how much I would be relying on it until the first day of class. It makes sense that statistics would be an important part of scientific research, as it is the only possible way to determine if the results you get actually mean anything, or if they could simply be some sort of fluke. But with each day of classes and research presentations from Dr. Wasserman, Eric, and even Mecca, I was continually reminded of the importance of statistics. The importance of this really hit me during Eric’s presentation and while reading his article especially. Even as a statistics major, I had always glossed over the portions explaining the stats methods used in most studies I had read for classes. As I was reading Eric’s paper, however, and listening to his presentation, I was reminded of the significance of this seemingly small part of any research project. This made me even more excited for the days to come in which I knew I would be able put my statistics knowledge to use.

Over the course of the week, I spent hours in the library pouring over data of previous snakebite cases, dengue cases, temperatures and precipitation levels on the days, weeks, and months of all the cases, and regions and types of land where the cases were found. I took all of this data and compiled it into one master spreadsheet, from which I began my t-tests. Using a Pearson’s correlation coefficient, I determined the degree of correlation for all of the data points. Then, I used a t-test to determine if any of those correlations were statistically significant. I was the nerd all week sitting in the cafeteria at mealtimes with my laptop analyzing data and multitasking between conversations and data analysis and still just absolutely in my element.

While I will admit that, by the end of the week, I had gone down more rabbit holes with data collection and analysis than I can count and I am sure Biz is thoroughly ready for us to move onto the next stage of our project, I feel like I learned a lot this week about statistics applications in the real world that I will hopefully be able to carry with me throughout further research and studies. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities this experience has given me, not only socially and culturally, but academically as well and I cannot wait for the rest of our survey responses to come in so that I can get back to analysis.

Tuesday marks the first day that I have ever collected my own data for a field research project. Years of research papers and reading research studies has given me some idea of the fundamentals of systematic data collection, but nothing compares to the real world experience my research partner Miyako and I conducted this past week. After days of planning our own research questions and refining them into fully fledged methodologies, we decided to work on her project, where we collected data at La Selva to find how disturbances both human and otherwise impact the amount of invasive species in a given area. The first day at La Selva, we were informed about how particularly invasive the Pink Banana of the Musa (banana) genus is at La Selva. One question I asked our lovely tour guide Kenneth was how bad invasive species were, and he said that these species were more of an issue in the newer secondary forests. Little did I know that this answer would come to be a helpful side note to the research and background of this project to come.

During our first meeting with Dr. W after coming together on the research project, we decided to tackle more easily recognizable invasive species that could be found throughout La Selva: The Pink Banana, that has been used in edible gardens and ornamentally, the species of rapidly spreading bamboo (there is no native species of bamboo in this particular region of (Costa Rica), and lastly the cultivated crop Cacao. All of these species have varying levels of invasive status, but particularly the bamboo and pink banana seem to be of great concern in protected forests. Banana trees are not native to this continent at all but have been introduced as a cash crop from tropical Asia. To add a degree of randomness, we decided on doing a 100 meters on, 50 meters off system, where we would stop looking for species at this uneven interval. We used a GPS mapping tool that Eric let us borrow to track our meters walked and do this random sampling method. After an afternoon of playing around on the GPS, I was finally able to figure our how to start and stop recording meters walked. Although this worked great for our first set of data, our advisors were concerned that this method would probably not be as accurate as using the meter marks that were available for most of the trails. Additionally, I made multiple mistakes in the charging of the device that would have been detrimental had these trails not been well marked, as well as us having the other method for tracking meters traversed with the GIS component of our project.

On Tuesday 6/6 we had one final talk with Dr. W and went to conduct our first transects in actively human developed areas. We walked the same road that we walked on due to the tree falling on the road on the way back from the pineapple farm all the way to the highway where we walked past houses and seemingly naturally retaken pasture fields on the way to the other entrance to the Research station by the Zompopa houses. Along this trail of human developed land we were surprised to see plenty of all of the species we were looking for, by order of biomass we saw: A large forest of bamboo encompassing at least an area of 75 meters wide and 50 meters deep, reaching the same height as the canopy cover, next we saw over 30 individual pink banana plants, and 8 cacao trees. Traversing 2800 meters total, using our collection method we collected 14 transects of data.

The next day we searched the youngest patch of secondary forest in La Selva, marked at 20-39 years old 5 years ago. We chose this to be as close to a new secondary forest as possible to differentiate from the old growth to come the next day. While we definitely saw less plants per distance traversed, the secondary forest patch we walked to was quite far down the trail (over three miles) that we were walking in the heat, so we did not end up collecting quite as much data on this section this day as we did the human developed area. In this path we took, we decided to take CES to STR which cut down on the mileage as well as taking us through some old growth forest to collect data on on the way. Wednesday was the first day we ran into troubles with the GPS, an oversight on my behalf. Upon taking the GPS out once we reached the first set of old growth I realized that the battery had gotten to one bar and it did not last far into the forest. We switched to using the trail signs to implement our on off periods as a substitute that we were considering anyway.

Thursday and Friday was devoted to getting mostly data on old growth, as well as collecting some more new sec. forest to get a few more transects on this data set. Because I realized that we were leaving soon, I was excited to go deeper into the old forest on dirt trails to see the even less human disturbed places and had a really great 4 mile hike despite the blisters that had been plaguing me throughout our research days. Surprisingly, even including the 15 extra transects I collected beyond Miyako and I’s data collecting hike in the morning we did not see a single invasive species in any of the old growth designated forest. I was very happy with how our research turned out, and our systematic method seems to have given us accurate data to translate onto excel for data analysis and Arcgis for plotting the collected coordinates.

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.

This past week was our second and last at La Selva. A majority of the time was spent doing our research projects, however we went to the cacao plantation on Monday. We got to watch the process of turning cacao seeds into chocolate and we got to try the result of each of the steps along the way. My favorite was the cacao nibs, because they were rich and bitter, like coffee. Then we went back to La Selva to prepare for the next four days of research collection. 

Mahek and I walked along three transects to test the air quality. One was along the road every 100 meters, the other was in the secondary growth forest, and the last was in the primary forest, along the CCC trail. On Tuesday, we had to measure the height of the tree and the canopy density. This part was a little monotonous and was hard to complete in the heat. After that, the next few days of data collection were easy. Mahek and I fell into a nice routine. We would have our coffee after breakfast and start data collection around 8 a.m., and complete the road transect and the secondary forest transect. Then we would take a break in the library because of the air conditioning, and complete the CCC before lunch. Mahek played music on her phone and measured the canopy density and I would measure canopy height and air quality. Mahek also was in charge of the spreadsheet of data collection. This routine we had made me realize I had fallen into a similar routine with La Selva after one short week. 

Each morning when I woke up, I could hear the howler monkeys in the trees. I got better at spotting them as the weeks went on. I quickly figured out the areas they liked to be in. The trees by the cafeteria usually had a few in the morning or evening, and Mahek and I would spot them along the secondary forest path. One night a pair of them were hanging along the bridge, and they came down to jump to a tree and I got to be really close to them. The howler monkeys were just one thing at La Selva that became a norm for me. 

Another species I got familiar with was the leaf cutter ants! There was a massive colony along the path to the River Station and every time I walked pass I would remember to step over them. Sometimes they were very busy and sometimes there were only a few carrying leaves. I also liked to check on the ones that lived by the bridge. It was cool to see them climb along the trees. I saw these two colonies every day, but I also saw them along all the trails and I started to be able to identify which leaves had leaf cutters taking pieces off of them. They are another thing I will miss about La Selva.  

The trees, although not as active as the howler monkeys or leaf cutter ants, were one of my favorite things to look at in the rainforest. The huge ones that are really old were my favorites. They were very majestic. I am used to trees in Indiana, so it was fascinating how a single tree supported so much life growing all over it. It was never a singular tree, it was a structure for other things to live and thrive on. This is a perfect example of how crowded the rainforest is with life. The trees were always so peaceful to look at because they were huge but still and silent unlike the rest of the rainforest.

One thing I won’t miss but got accustomed to was the bullet ants. There was a branch before the stairs leading up to the river station that was named the bullet ant branch, because it always had at least one crawling up it. I usually checked and waited for them to pass before I walked under it.

This past week, I went on a lot of runs with Marina! We always ran around 4 o’clock, and would go about 3 or 4 miles. On some of our runs, we saw agoutis, a pack of peccaries, several different birds, and once a blue butterfly! I got used to expecting to see something new on our runs. 

Everything at La Selva was scheduled, including the wildlife. The howler monkeys woke up at the same time, the birds were always out in the morning etc. We had breakfast lunch and dinner at the same time every day and we always had a new flavor of juice that I looked forward to. It didn’t take a long time for me to settle in there and even get accustomed to the heat. I think everyone in our group adapted pretty quickly, because we did not have any other choice, but it was our little home for about two weeks and I will miss the things that became familiar to me. Like the leaf cutter ants and the geckos squeaking in the class room. I’ll miss looking for the iguana that liked to chill on a tree branch near the bridge and the cayman that was usually on the river bank. And obviously I will miss the constant supply of coffee that was available to me. However the one part of La Selva that I really enjoyed was the fact that I saw or learned something new every day. For example, on the very last day I stood on the bridge for awhile looking at the fish. I noticed they all clustered under one tree. Frequently the tree would drop some kind of nut or fruit into the water and all the fish would go after it. They waited under the tree for food! On the second to last day, I saw some possum looking thing crawling along the bridge. Unfortunately I forgot what it was called, but even after two weeks of a routine, the rainforest never failed to surprise me. It is so full of life that is constantly moving and changing that you could spend your whole life there and probably still find something new every day. 

It’s so weird to think that there’s only one more week left of this class. Not to cliche, but time really does fly when you’re having fun! This week was all about our research projects, and I couldn’t be happier with what Julia and I are working on. Going into town to conduct our social research surveys has been such an eye-opening experience.

Before everyone dove into their research projects, on Monday we went to this extremely eco-touristy resort for a cacao/chocolate demonstration. I’ll admit, the chocolate making process is interesting (and tasty), but everything just felt so artificial. From the moment we pulled into the resort, I knew that everything was going to feel really inorganic. Obviously the trees, iguanas, the river, and the forest we walked through are all beautiful and natural, but the resort and chocolate demonstration just felt too touristy for me in contrast to the experiences of being at La Selva and the two earlier farm tours. I do have to admit that some of the ecotouristy things are great, like the fact that I’m writing this blog post from the side of the pool at Torteguero, soaking up the sun by some monkeys. It’s definitely nice to relax after such a long week of research.

One of my favorite things about this whole Costa Rica experience has been how immersive everything has felt. Waking up to the sounds of howler monkeys in the morning, walking over a gorgeous suspension bridge and seeing turtles and caymans on the way to meals, even the sounds and sights of geckos chirping in the classroom – everything I’ve done at La Selva has been centered around the rainforest and the gorgeous landscape around us. I really love being surrounded by nature and really getting to understand the importance of the environment in Costa Rican culture, which was only made more apparent by going into town and conducting social surveys.

On Tuesday and Thursday, I got to go into town with the other social survey groups, and it was just fascinating to see what life in Sarapiqui was like. Being that it wasn’t a touristy area in the slightest, we stuck out like sore thumbs with our backpacks and iPads for surveying, but it did give us the chance to get a great sample group and talk to really interesting people. We did get rejected a couple of times, but for the most part everyone we talked to was super nice. My spanish is “muy mal” and I can mainly chimed in with “hola” and “muchas gracias”, but thankfully Julia speaks the language pretty well, so she was able to get people to fill out our survey. We went to bakeries, coffee shops, grocery stores, clothing stores, a hotel  – literally anything we could walk into that looked inviting. 

One conversation that we had with a cashier at a general store really told me all I needed to know about the culture of Costa Rica. This woman, who luckily for me also spoke fluent english, is from Costa Rica and lives in San Jose with her husband, who’s from Quebec. She told us about how she was in Sarapiqui to work for her aunt for a while, mainly because she loves the natural beauty for the area. She told us about how she and her husband love the landscape of Costa Rica, and that she was currently taking French classes to broaden her horizons. She said that she loves to travel and wants to see the world, and mentioned wanting to go to both New York and Chicago after Julia and I shared where we were from. I was so intrigued after hearing all this, especially about her husband moving to Costa Rica from Canada. According to the latest Costa Rican census, the number of immigrants in the country totals to about 390,000, or 9% of the country’s population. The main reasons given as to why people immigrate to Costa Rica are due to the nature and culture, which makes perfect sense.

Based off of the current survey data from Heredia, it is looking like part of the hypothesis that Julia and I have is correct: Costa Ricans care more about climate change than Americans. Our results from the 21 La Selva surveys we conducted was fascinating, with literally everyone we talked to saying that climate change exists and is a threat to humans, animals, and plants. The contrast between this attitude and that of Americans is remarkable, and I have no doubt that is largely in part due to the cultural significance of the environment to Costa Ricans, as well as the way their lives are so deeply immersed in nature. As I’m writing this we haven’t looked at our results for Tortuguero quite yet, but based off of a couple of the conversations we have had so far the great people here are equally caring and immersed in their environment, especially being that we are talking to people who directly benefit from ecotourism, which is centered around Costa Rica’s beautiful biodiversity.

I’m looking forward to the other forms of culture I’m going to see during the final week of this adventure. Hopefully it doesn’t all go by too fast, because I really do love it here. Spending too much time in the United States really clouds your perspective of other cultures and other parts of the world, and being here has really gotten rid of that cultural fog.

In the best way, being in the forest has reminded me just how small I am, and just how vast the universe is. This past Friday, on our last day in La Selva, a group of us – Kieran, Trin, Miyako, Roarke, Kayla, Edwin, and Biz – got together to take one more hike through the forest to soak in the vastness of the jungle, and the beauty of nature. Kieran, like always, brought the fascination for insects & arachnids to the group as he took time to spot damsel flies and horned spiders. Edwin had a keen eye for the many small lizards that scurried through the foliage. Trin and Miyako were as bubbly and kind as ever. All of us were amazed by the forest as we trodden the tiny path through the primary forest, completely surrounded by thousands of creatures living amongst the trees, sounding a symphony of chirps, croaks, and calls into the air.

It was a bit bittersweet for me, knowing that this would be the last time I walked the trails of La Selva, likely ever in my lifetime. I became so comfortable at La Selva, and the routine of it all – the lovely meals every day made by the hardworking and talented kitchen staff, nutritious and wholesome, accompanied by fresh pressed juice; waking up to the adorable family of white-lined bats who would, without fail, congregate at the screens lining the ceiling of my room. Those little things, coupled with the kindness and care of the people, made La Selva a lovely home. So, naturally, it was sentimental leaving.

I sometimes have a rather hard time coming to terms with the ending of things; there is such a finality to it. As a result, anxiety often builds within me as I realize my time dwindles, and I need to make the most of the time that is left. But what does maximizing my time look like? Appreciating something to the fullest? There is so much you can do, and so little time, how can you do it all and appreciate something as it deserves to be appreciated? But, we learned so much this week about how corporate agriculture is fantastic at maximizing efficiency, but horrible for the environment and health of wildlife and humans alike – so I try, now feeling my anxiety build as my time in Costa Rica with these lovely people slowly dwindles away, to take a breath and relax, and appreciate what I have, and not focus on the despondency of endings and what all could have been done but was not. Instead, I will try to focus on living in the moment, and appreciating the curious, unexpected present – as, ultimately, appreciation is accepting and loving what you have and had, and not dwelling on what could have been.

But back to the forest, and our small place in the world – it is fascinating to me how minuscule we really are, and how vast this world is. But just because we are each small, it doesn’t mean we are meaningless. Rather, quite the opposite.

The reason? There are many, and we could look to the forest for answers. Just yesterday we traveled from La Selva to Tortuguero and had the opportunity to go on a two hour hike around the area. This new location is a much more manicured existence – tree foliage is blown away for aesthetics, and paths are well established with concrete. It’s an ecotourism spot, so this pacification of nature for human comfort and ease makes sense. But with that said, we were able to see two sloths, an anteater, iguanas, spider monkeys, and howler monkeys!! Anyway, to my point – during this tour, the tour guide pointed out a heliconia, a red lobster-claw looking plant that grows in clusters all around Costa Rica. What was interesting was the flower – it was curved; and low-and-behold, the pollinator of the plant was a hummingbird with a curved beak! The plant even grew in a way that allowed for the hummingbird to have a perch to sit on as it takes nectar. The birds are small, but they have a place in the universe, one that compliments them very well.

Related is another factoid our tour guide told us – as it turns out, the leaf cutter ants my classmates and I have grown to love so much are vital to the rainforest ecosystem. In fact, if they went away, the entire jungle would collapse! Tiny, but mighty, they are important for the sustenance of the gorgeous, beautiful forest we have the privilege to exist within.

And to shift gears a bit, but still focusing on meaning and purpose within our world, I turn to a project that has taken up a great portion of my attention for the past week: Trin and I’s social survey. For this, we had the privilege of going into the local town in Sarapiqui near La Selva for a total of 6 hours in data collection, spanning two days. This village was perfect, because it wasn’t inundated with tourist attractions and merchandise, but instead showed an authentic glimpse of Costa Rican life. I was grateful for all the people who gifted us their time and attention in completing our survey, and being so patient with our Spanish. But each and every person we interviewed, from street vendors, bakers, auto-shop workers, and more, had vital and critical insight. Their opinions and experiences matter. And I could not help walking away wondering more about the locals’ lives – what got them there, what are their hopes, dreams? No matter who you are or where you live, you have a place in a community, and a story to tell.

So I come to the crux of my point – though we are small, in a great big world, our stories and lives matter. We each have the power to impact those around us, and make a difference. And together, we are even stronger. And at the same time, with how vast the world is, it’s important to know you can’t take everything in at once – breathe, take in what you can, and appreciate every precious moment, and do the best you can during it.

Pura Vida, and here is to appreciating and experiencing the journey of life!! So excited for what is in store next week! 🙂

Thank you to all the professors, locals, wildlife, and friends I’ve made – this experience has been invaluable because of all of you <3

Marinna 🙂

If you’ve been around the ecological world you’ve probably heard the title of this presentation many times, I mean, the first thing you

ever learn about when you take AP environmental science or your first Environment and Society-type class in college is the concept of biomes and how they are defined. On the most basic scale, local precipitation and temperature are what defines each biome. Tropical rainforest? High in precipitation, high in temperature. Tropical Savannah? Medium in precipitation, High in temperature. Desert? High in temperature and very low in precipitation. This is a gross under explanation, but I’m not going to fill this blog with details about seasonality and coastal effects that add nuance to this basic design. This local climate pattern informs what plants grow in a region, and as a result, what animals and fungi and microbes grow as well. This has been a key focus of mine throughout my stay in La Selva and now Tortuguero. The second I stepped off the plane into Costa Rica, it was very easy to feel the difference in overall climate when compared to Indiana. It certainly gets humid in Indiana, but not to this kind of oppressing level. I was covered in

sweat even before I got to the biological station. And I have remained covered in sweat until now at Tortuguero. Costa Rica is exceedingly mountainous, and the different environments caused by shifts in elevation and proximity to the ocean are very profound. Where I would be covered in a sheen of sweat sitting outside La Selva, I am relatively comfortable even without a fan writing this blog at Tortuguero. This area is not a lowland rainforest like La Selva. I am honestly not sure what type of rainforest it is exactly, but its proximity to the ocean and probable higher altitude has meant that I feel more comfortable here than I have in La Selva or anywhere close to there.

With this increased attention to climate, I also noticed a lot of things while conducting research at La Selva. The various microclimates formed by types of vegetation or geographical features were so numerous that the landscape felt more like a patchwork of microclimates than one big feature. At each pitfall trap Faith and I had set, there was a different local environment. The arboretum was open and sunny, the ant activity very evident on the ground, as they could be clearly seen exploring for fallen insects or fruits to take

back to their nests. The secondary and old growth areas were far different, however. The ants only appeared when connected to colonies, army, bullet, and leafcutter ants were evident along the trails, but the more independent black ants were far less common, it seemed. One tree we set a trap under had these massive, hard green leaves that seemed to dominate the ground. They were not the same consistency as other leaves, and appeared to decompose less quickly or at least somehow otherwise dominate the other litter. The patchwork exceeded just from visible changes. The patchworks of smell in the forests were also diverse. They ranged from sweet, to sickly sweet, to smelling of rot or feces or chemical. All things that I believe originated from the plant life, which originates, of course, from the climate. And while these different smells certainly got on my nerves (Just talk to Faith about how much I complained about my overly sensitive nose), they serve important purposes in how that particular plant functions. Smells that are uncomfortable to us may be absolutely amazing for insect pollinators like flies or wasps, or may be specifically suited to ward off those same insects from laying their eggs or eating the vegetation. We certainly found different levels of biodiversity at each site we put the traps, so we know La Selva was not a homogenous ecosystem and that something has an effect about where things live. My

hunch is that it was the vegetation, though I cannot prove that without a full blown investigation, since top down (Animal based) trophic control is a very real thing in many ecosystems.

Here at Tortuguero, along the river, I have seen new plants that create their own microclimates. The floating vegetation, very common, creates little pockets of biodiversity with their own ecosystems. Insects can thrive here, I even saw grasshoppers probably feeding on the exposed leaves. But birds like the Jacana used these areas to pluck insects out of the vegetation, while staying afloat with its absurdly long toes, appearing to walk on the water. Herons used the floating vegetation to launch attacks on fish, attracted by pieces of food tossed into the water by the birds. These small rafts form the basis of whole

ecosystems, molded by whatever climatic resources there are available. It puts into perspective how important it is to consider climate change and its impacts on local as well as global climate. Maybe rainforests as a whole will continue to exist, but what of the small climates within them? What if it gets just a bit too hot for the Cecropia tree to thrive where it normally does? Will the Azteca ants that live in its hollow shoots also die off if it does? Will the howler monkeys survive their favorite food supply getting erased from the planet? What happens when I start to sweat in Tortuguero? Will the increased humidity and heat that caused me to do so also expose plants to new fungi and bacterial parasites? The complicated web created by this limiting, but so productive, climate is fragile for each species that relies on another for its survival. And continuing to tweak the global thermometer may have some terrifying consequences down the line.