Day 23...All Work and No Play

I was finally granted the opportunity to sleep a little later than usual. Though it was only until 8:15, it felt wonderful. Immediately after getting dressed, I proceeded to walk to the common area to work on my group project. From 8:30 until 12:00, I mostly worked on a video for the introduction to our project. After about an hour of doing so, I had the opportunity to have a chat with Dr. Harris. The first thing we discussed was my favorite part of the trip. Though it may seem simple and silly, the highlight for me was playing soccer with the kids. Most people simply watched from the sidelines or played for a few minutes before retiring for water. For me, on the other hand, it meant the world. As I told Dr. Harris of my passion for soccer, I began to tear up. Though I did not have the opportunity to give detail as to why it is so important to me, I think Dr. Harris understood and realized that the simple things on this trip have meant to world to me, like playing soccer.

After finally finishing the video, I took a break for lunch with the remainder of the group. I only took fifteen minutes to do so in order for me begin my identity paper. From about 12:30 until dinner at 6:00, I worked on my paper. Dinner was like lunch in that I sped through in order to return to my work. From 6:15 until 10:00 I worked on my paper more. Even with all of this time, I was still not finished but decided to head for bed; I could have a fresh start in the morning. 

Today mainly consisted of work and eating. Therefore, the lesson of the day lies in my conversation with my teacher. I recently realized it is my passion, and I need to find a way to play again. However, as I cried a bit thinking back on soccer and my past, I realized why it is so close to my heart. Having played soccer since I was seven years old, I have made some wonderful friendships during the process and have some very wonderful memories. For eleven years, my life, as well as my parents', revolved around this sport. This sport was a bonding time for me with new friends and for my parents with new friends as well. My last game was a sad day for all of us as we realized I would probably never play in a competitive setting like my club team provided ever again. Today I learned that without soccer, my life would be completely different. There were times I wanted to quit along with some of my friends, but I managed to stick with it. All credit is due to my parents for all of the time they gave up and effort they put forth so that I could play for as long as I did. Thanks for everything guys:).

Day 22...There's No Place Like Home

Waking up this morning I was surprisingly excited for the day ahead even though it would merely include traveling from San Jose back to San Luis. After I packed my bag and loaded it onto the bus, I was asked to collect money from anyone who wished to tip the staff at Hotel Milvia. Everyone was generous enough to chip in 500 colones (~$1). As the money was collected, we gathered in a circle to present it to the staff on behalf of the group. Dr. Harris gave a speech that caused each of us to tear up a bit. Though San Jose was not my favorite place of the trip, it felt the most like home. The staff was wonderful taking care of all of our needs. We felt safe and comfortable here making me feel like I could stay there for forever.

We said our goodbyes, and each of us insisted on giving Carlos (pictured above) a big hug before we left. As we walked out of the gate for the last time, we loaded the bus and made our way to San Luis. Of course we had a few stops on the way including McDonalds, the bank, and a bathroom break. The journey was about a three hour one, but I managed to sleep for about two of those.

When I woke up we were about forty five minutes away from the UGA Campus. Immediately after arrival we were served lunch, which, of course, consisted of rice and beans. We were then assigned to our rooms. I grabbed my laptop and headed for the library to begin work on my group project. With class being canceled, my group and I had extra time to work before dinner and actually managed to get a good bit complete.

Dinner was quite chaotic. In fact, there were not even enough seats for everyone. The conversation around the table as soon as we sat down consisted of hot chocolate. Because the hot chocolate here is the best any of us has ever had, it is a competition to be the first in line as soon as it is served. Tonight, we had much more competition that we are used to. We had a plan, but of course it failed due to our excitement and selfishness. (lol). They did run out before everyone could get their fair share, but our crew each had a cup. We finished our cups and continued working. After a few hours of work and a long day, we went to bed pretty early.

Today I learned that there really is no place like home. Even though I felt like Hotel Milvia was more of a home than anywhere else, today I realized how much I miss my home in Georgia. Part of my identity has always been that I am a southerner, born and raised. Being here I feel like that part of my identity has been challenged because I have felt less connected with this part of me being so far away for so long. Even with being at UGA, I am still in good ole' Georgia surrounded by friends from the same area. Therefore, though I am a good two hours from my hometown, the southern identity I have is not missing. Being here I have come to appreciate the little things I take for granted when at home such as the cooking, my family, and of course good ole' sweet tea. It will be sad leaving Costa Rica, but it will feel wonderful to get back to my roots.

Day 21...Sick and Tired

Awaking at 5:00 in the morning is not how I would have chosen to begin my day. Unfortunately, I was forced to deal with it because sleeping it off did not work. I could not even manage to eat anything. I made it through class and even managed to add to the discussion a little. However, as soon as it ended, I went straight to my room and jumped in bed.

After a two hour nap, I felt a tad better. My stomach still hurt but some of the pain was simply hunger. Nikia, Joanna, and Shannel had plans to walk to the market, so I decided to join. I purchased a few items, and we headed back to the hotel. I ate and worked on my projects some before listening to a guest speaker. Daniella, a media specialist in the area, spoke to us about dealing with prejudice in the media. Her company works to educate journalists of their responsibility to society dealing with prejudice in the media. They inform on items such as using politically correct terms and spanning coverage, good and bad, over all races rather than just the good for the dominant culture and just the bad for the minority cultures.

After we finished our lecture, we had the opportunity to work some before dinner. I managed to complete some items with enough time to take a fifteen minute nap. Dinner was casual this evening, and we all really enjoyed ourselves. I had some really good conversations with some of my fellow classmates causing me to feel like I have made some wonderful friendships here. After dinner, we proceeded back to the hotel for our last evening at Hotel Milvia.

Today during class we discussed the portrayal of certain races and ethnicities in the media. One specific video clip that was discussed was that of "Bonquiqui". Yesterday, a friend who had never seen the clip asked what it was about. As I told her, I laughed as I recalled each humorous line in full detail. However, today I realized how hurtful this video comes across to the people targeted, in this case black females. It portrays them as loud, rude, and obnoxious. Unfortunately, the clip causes the negativity perceived of black women to be attached to all black females who most likely have little in common with the girl in the video. While the idea may seem hilarious, it is important to remember how the targeted people must feel. Therefore, today's lesson is to be mindful of the consequences humor can cause at others' expense in all aspects including gender, race, religion, ethnicity, etc.

Day 20...Welcome to Wherever You Are

I planned to sleep in later than usual this morning. However, I was awaken by my roommate, Tamera, much earlier than expected. Fighting the light and wishing to sleep longer, I stepped out of bed to pack my bag and prepare for the day. After about fifteen minutes of frantically trying to find all of my things and throw them into my suitcase, I was dripping in sweat. I drug my bag to the bus and found a seat. Feeling all heat and no air, I realized that though I was hesitant to leave the beautiful city, the heat and humidity were two things I would definitely not be missing.

Today was a travel day consisting of a three hour drive from Puerto Viejo to San Jose. However, due to a few minor set backs, the drive was closer to a five hour trek. Our first stop was at a local ecotourism place known as ATEC; this was the organization that booked all of our activities while in Puerto Viejo. After leaving here, we traveled approximately thirty feet before stopping again for a group to make some purchases at the local supermarket. Fifteen minutes later we were finally on the road and ready for our journey. Unfortunately, we were stopped once again, this time for motion sickness. One of the girls had to leave the bus and walk around for a minute to keep from being sick. Of course we had to stop immediately causing us to be on the side of the road rather than at or even near a convenient store. Because a good bit of people bought drinks at the supermarket, many of us already needed a bathroom break. So, once again, we made another stop. After four stops, we were sure we were on our way. However, we cannot seem to do anything without having some sort of story. Just as we made it to the half way point, our front right tire blew. Luckily our driver had all of the equipment to safely change it. The last stop before arrival in San Jose was for lunch, which was quick and smooth. Feeling full and extremely tired, I slept the remainder of the way.

Upon arrival at Hotel Milvia, we unloaded, found our rooms, claimed our beds, and began working on our classwork assignments. During this time, I finished a paper and completely updated my blog. Thankfully the majority of the group decided to order food giving us a good amount of free time to work. We ordered from a local Italian place. Because we were really hungry when placing the order for seventeen people, once the food arrived we were like a pack of coyotes scarfing down our food meaning we finished our meals within about a ten minute time frame. Apparently traveling makes us extremely hungry.

On the ride from one destination to the next I listened to some music on my phone. A song that caught my attention was Bon Jovi's "Welcome to Wherever you Are". In this song he states, "maybe we're all different, but we're still the same. We all got the blood of Eden running through our veins." This verse put everything I have learned on this trip into perspective. It is important to realize that everyone is different in their own way but also realize how similar we all are, more than we want to believe at times. The title has just as important of a meaning today as the lyrics. We made multiple stops and had a variety of adventures. However, we simply went with the flow and welcomed wherever it was we were taken.

Day 19...The Glass is Half Full

Once again, I woke up this morning to have the usual breakfast prepared at the Shawanda hotel. After finishing, the group loaded into a bus to take us to a local school where we were to do some volunteer work. Here we split into three groups to each accomplish a different task. Being in group one, we were assigned to decorate a mural. Multiple colored bottle caps had been sorted into plastic bags, and we were instructed to use these to form letters on a wooden board. The letters were to spell the school's name, "Escuela Rio Negro" or "The Black River School."

After completing our project, a small group decided to go to the local Rescue Center. We saw multiple animals including a jaguar, toucans, sloths, snakes, a deer, and the best of all, monkeys. As soon as we walked into the monkey cage, one jumped onto my head and another into my arms. It was so much fun to hold and play with them. Even though it was only ten minutes, I really enjoyed the experience especially since I was contemplating not taking the tour. I really learned a great deal about the different species of Costa Rica.

We then went to lunch at a local place where we were given the options of chicken or fish along with rice and beans, and once again I chose fish. It was pretty tasty but not near as delicious as other restaurants at which we have eaten. Free time awaited us after we finished our meal. I decided to use this time to catch up on my blog. However, after completing two days, I found myself distracted by my friends in the pool. Before I knew it, I was in my swimsuit and headed for the refreshing water to join them.

Feeling refreshed, I headed back to the bungalow to shower and get ready for dinner. We were to eat at Koki Beach in Puerto Viejo. I was really excited because I had the opportunity to wear a new dress I bought when shopping yesterday. After placing our order, dinner was simple and relaxed so we all managed to enjoy ourselves. After two hours of the chaos we tend to cause when ordering, a night out was very much needed by the majority of the group.

We went to a local bar where most people danced and drank. I did neither simply because I was not in the mood. I observed and was content with doing so. However, after about an hour, I was ready to leave but my classmates and friends were not. Because of this, we were forced to stay another hour and a half waiting on more people to leave. Eventually I was fed up and ready to leave.

My day was overall great, but this evening brought a few bumps. Though I enjoyed myself for the first hour and a half at the bar, the second half of my time there was not fun. I was tired and simply not in the mood to drink and in turn did not feel like dancing. In addition to this tonight,  I was feeling really lonely and really missing home. However, I discussed my feelings with Audra and Sarah, which made me feel much better. I now feel as if I have two people I can confide in when things get tough here.

Today I learned that a positive attitude can go a long way and is necessary to succeed in life. When creating the mural I was shocked at the items we were instructed to use. However, believing it was possible, it turned out wonderful. When going to the Rescue Center, I did not want to go into the monkey cage fearing their reactions. However, when I did, I had an absolute blast and did not want to leave. When I was stuck at the bar, I was itching to be home, However, I smiled and talked allowing me to create even better friendships on this trip. The only way I survived my day was with my positive attitude; without it, my day, and the day of those around me, would have been absolutely miserable.

Props to Dixie Gallups for always telling me to be optimistic. Tonight I learned you know what you're talking about! :)

Day 18...It's a Wonderful Life

Waking up this morning I was ecstatic because my day was going to include surfing lessons. My cousin surfed when he lived in Florida, so I somewhat tried to learn when I was younger. However, I never managed to come anywhere close to standing. Today, I was determined, was going to be different. We loaded into  our van and made our way to the beach where we were greeted by our instructors. We were given a mini lesson on the proper form then grabbed our boards and walked to the beach.

I was the first one to try. Not realizing I was actually supposed to stand up, I fell off my board immediately after the wave hit me. However, on my second try I managed to get to my feet quickly and ride the wave for a few seconds. I did this a few times before feeling motion sick from the rough waves. I took a little break but was back out on the water within ten or fifteen minutes. We rode a few more waves and finished our lesson after about another hour.

After leaving the beach, we returned to the hotel where we were given some idle time to shower and prepare for the remainder of the day. After dressing and packing my bag, I decided to use this time to do some classwork. I worked on my blog and researched some ideas for my project. We then proceeded to Veronica's Place for lunch. It was absolutely delicious. We then interviewed a couple of people involved in interracial relationships. The relationships included Afro-Caribbean and Cuban, Afro-Caribbean and Ecuadorian, and Afro-Caribbean and German. They allowed us to ask any questions about their culture and relationships basically giving us an open floor.

After interviewing for two hours, we were given a two hour break to do as we pleased. For the first thirty minutes I shopped a little. Because shopping makes me so tired, I decided to rest for the remainder of our time. Shannel and I went to the beach for a bit and relaxed while watching people and nature. Meeting back up with our group, we walked down to Junior's house for a cooking lesson. We watched as he, along with his wife and two friends, prepared our meal right before our eyes in his outdoor kitchen. It was some of the best food I have ever had and the plantains were to die for. It was so neat to see so many people cooking at once and communicating nonverbally all while staying so organized.

As we left, Junior told us good bye and asked us to remember that "life is a wonderful thing." Hearing this I realized how wonderful it truly is and how much some of us take it for granted. The people we have met in Puerto Viejo are so relaxed. They go with the flow and do enough just to get by while enjoying all of the little things life has to offer. Seeing people happy with the bare necessities made me realize that life is a gift I need to take time to enjoy more often.

Day 17...H-E-A-L-T-H. Health! Health! Health!

Waking up this morning was extremely difficult. Because of our fun, I did not feel too great today. I believed I could simply eat something and the sick feeling would disappear. However, I headed for breakfast only to realize I could not bear to take a bite of anything. I rested until it was time to head out. The group loaded into taxis to take us to the beach. Once we arrived, we were given the option of laying on the beach or going for a hike; I chose the beach and laid out for about two hours.

Later on, a group of us decided to go for a boat ride. However, before doing so we were questioned and lectured about safety. Believing the boat to be safe and seeing that locals were riding, five of us, Ansley, Feeney, Sydney, Tamera, and I, made the decision to go. The speed and maneuvering of the boat was perfectly fine and the view was glorious. After five minutes of riding, the driver stopped for us to jump into the water. Without thinking, Feeney plopped right in. However, in doing so, he slipped and hit his shin. However, when he came up from the water, he was holding his head, and we realized he must have hit that too. Not thinking it was a big deal because he was swimming fine and coherent, the rest of us jumped in the water as well. Between the freshness of the water and the gorgeous horizon ahead, we were absorbed by the beauty. After swimming for about five minutes, we climbed back into the boat and proceeded back to shore.

Some of us rested while others swam as we awaited the arrival of the our group members that went hiking. Once they arrived, we were given an additional thirty minutes or so for the hikers to enjoy the beach. The teachers and guide were talking and I was suddenly aware that something was really wrong with Feeney. They knew he had hit his head and was acting funny but simply decided to watch him rather than take him to see a doctor.


As we packed our stuff, we took a five or ten minute walk up to Luba's place where we were to be given a cooking lesson on bread. The process was fascinating, and the bread was delicious. Part of the process included using a machete to cut coconuts to use as fire wood, which I was given the opportunity to help with. Although I did not do a very good job, I managed to break part of the coconut apart. Many of the students were involved in helping make a batch of the bread making it extremely special for us.


For me to participate in a boat ride, laying in the sun, and chopping a coconut with a machete, I was definitely feeling better. However, the queasiness returned the minute I received my lunch. I ordered fish and a full fish is what I received. Not able to bear the thought of looking at it, Stephanie traded me fish for chicken. I ate some, but was still barely able to keep my food down. Feeling like I was about to pass out from being so tired, I decided to take a twenty minute nap on the beach and in the shade. This made me feel a little better but when I awoke, I was informed that we would be taking a forty five minute tour around Manzanillo. This was because a hiccup had occurred in our day; Dr. Harris and Marcus decided to take Feeney to the hospital causing us to be without two of our leaders.

Our tour was given by a local named Andy. He took us around and let us smell multiple trees and foods and simply look around the land. After this, we sat in a shady area where we were given the opportunity to ask him questions about him and his culture. He told us he plays an instrument and likes to dance. He also informed us of the development of Manzanillo, which was extremely interesting. Knowing he had visited the states, we wondered what he thought of our country and its people. He had nothing but nice things to say and then told us why he was there. In 1991, an earthquake hit Manzanillo causing a cement wall to fall onto his leg. The injury was so bad it eventually led to amputation. After listening to his story, we had a lot to process on our way back to the hotel.

Immediately after arriving I jumped in the bed and slept for an hour and a half. I would have slept much longer had I not had to prepare for dinner. Still feeling pretty bad, I dressed extremely casually, jeans and a t-shirt. We ate dinner at a local Caribbean place, like usual, where I had fish along with rice and beans, like usual. Once again, I hardly ate anything. A group of people were planning to go out, but I knew better. Instead, I came back to the hotel and fell fast asleep.

Today I learned how important it is to be thankful for my health. I am blessed to be as healthy as I am and feeling sick all day was completely my fault. Seeing Feeney with a cuncussion (thankfully he is fine) and talking with a man missing a leg for twenty one years, I realized how much I take being in such good shape for granted. I complain about my legs hurting or how huge they are while some people, like Andy, do not have the luxury to even walk. From now on, this is something I will try my best to keep in mind and continue to work at staying in good health. :)

Day 16...Global vs. Local

This morning began like any other at the Shawanda Hotel; we awoke at 7:30 for breakfast consisting of eggs, fruit, and bread. After eating our meal and preparing for the day, we loaded onto a bus and headed for a visit with the Bribri tribe. The first thing we did when we arrived was watch and learn about the production of chocolate. We were shown the seeds at the different stages of growth followed by the seeds and their stages of production. After this, we watched the making of chocolate and later drank some hot chocolate in a hut. We then proceeded to purchase some souvenirs.

Finishing our hot chocolate, we made our way up the street to interview the leader of the Bribri tribe. He was quite a fascinating character. He told us of his tribe and even sang a song of prayer for us. Leaving his home, we took a break for drinks at a local store. Here, I had a deep and intense conversation with fellow classmate, Mary Lee, about everything I was experiencing on the trip. We discussed the luxuries we have in the United States as well as future plans involving returning to Costa Rica. Following this conversation, we made our way back to the Bribri tribe where we were served a delicious meal.

Feeling full and reenergized, we began a hike to a waterfall. The leader we spoke with earlier and his grandson led this hike. It was a ten minute walk through a good bit of water and some slippery rocks, but we finally made it. Here the leader of the Bribri tribe sang a song of cleansing and had us walk under the waterfall to "cleanse" ourselves. It was one neat experience.

Drying off and putting some clothes on, we headed back for the bus to take us to our hotel. Upon arrival, we all showered and dressed to head to dinner. I was super hungry and the fish I had was absolutely delicious. A group of us then decided to go out for a night on the town following dinner. We went to a couple of bars, had a few drinks, and danced a good bit. Some of the girls even met some cute boys;). It turned out to be quite an enjoyable day.

Today's lesson involves helping others. I have always had a passion to help people, especially kids, in some capacity. However, I always saw myself as living in Georgia and working in the Atlanta area when really I could travel anywhere around the world to make a difference. Today I realized I could do a variety of things and my options are basically endless. I simply need to follow my heart. Whether globally or locally, I plan to make a difference, and this trip has shown me I can.

Day 15...Soccer = Passion

This morning I awoke around 6:30 am to head to breakfast. Breakfast included bread, pineapple (which was extremely fresh), banana, eggs, and of course rice and beans. After we finished our meal and packed our bags, we loaded into vans and headed for a local school. Here we were given the opportunity to simply interact with local students and see what their world is like. Before I knew it, I was playing soccer with them, boys versus girls. It took me a minute to get the hang of things again, but after a few trips and mistakes, I was playing like I used to and it felt amazing.

Finishing our game, which the boys won, we broke into two groups. One group was placed in the first second and third grade classroom while the other was in the fourth and fifth grade room. I was in the upper grades room. We were given the opportunity to ask the kids and the teachers questions while they were given the same opportunity. Of course we had a translator due to the fact that the kids and I speak different languages. All the questions were asked and answered in about thirty minutes or so. After finishing here, we proceeded to a local's house for an interview.

A local Ladino (Latino) opened her home to us and allowed us to ask her any questions we had. From this interview we conducted, we gathered a good deal of information about her community. Most people of this community tend to marry younger and have babies immediately; she married at nineteen and had a baby within the year. After marriage, the couple then usually will move in with the woman's family. Other information was divulged and a lot was learned. It was a good opportunity for us to learn about yet another culture in Costa Rica.

Later that day we went for a gorgeous "hike". We were told this was going to be a ten minute one when in reality it was about two minutes. Here we took multiple pictures before heading to lunch. After finishing our meal, we proceeded on our journey over to Hotel Shawanda. Arrival was smooth. We were given our room assignments and settled in quickly. This time around I am paired with Tamera and Mary Lee. The three of us claimed our beds and talked until preparing for dinner.

Throwing on a t-shirt and shorts, I joined the rest of the group as we walked up the street to dinner. We were served Caribbean food consisting of chicken and rice and beans. At dinner, everyone was making plans to go out on the town for the evening. Not knowing they were going until it was too late to get ready and really not feeling up for it, I decided to stay in, along with Mary Lee, while the remainder of the group jumped in taxis and headed for town.

Playing soccer with the kids and seeing their passion for the sport reminded me of how much I loved playing and how much I miss it. It has been over a year since I last played, and I never thought I would play again. Today, my mind was completely changed. I learned that if you have a passion for something, giving up on it is not an option. Even if I never play for a team of my own again, I know I will still participate in some capacity. Passion is important and everyone deserves the opportunity to experience theirs.

Day 14...Calypso is Cool

This morning I woke up around 7:30 to prepare for departure from Hotel Milvia to Casa Calateas. After loading all of our bags onto the bus and finding a seat, we began our four hour journey (which was really more like a five or six hour journey due to all of our stops:). I slept for the first hour and half, read my book for the next hour, and listened to music for the last haul. About thirty minutes out we stopped for lunch at a local Caribbean cuisine restaurant. It was very simple, which made it extremely delicious. Arriving in our third city, we were to be given a short orientation. Before we did so, we were assigned rooms. Sleeping in a room with mosquito nets surrounding the beds, we held our breath nervous about the bugs we most likely would be sharing our beds with. We knew it was going to be hard, but we were ready to brave it.

After finding our rooms and returning to the common area for a brief talk, Willis began discussing our schedule. However, after only having read a sentence or two, Feeney, who was sitting next to me, started to shake. As I peered over, I saw he was trying to open his water bottle. Overhearing a conversation between he and two other girls, Ansley and Meagan, I assumed he was simply upset and shaking from the rude comments made. However as I continued to watch, the shaking worsened and he could not even twist the cap off of his water bottle. One adult ran over, and then another, and then another, and then yet another. Seeing the anxiety on each person's face, I realized he was having a seizure. Not knowing what to do, I simply sat there. The intensity of his shaking scared me to my core. Multiple medicines were looked through until the correct one was found. After he took one pill and walked around for a bit, he seemed to be okay.

As Feeney walked around, the rest of us had some refreshments and finished looking through the schedule of the week ahead. After completing this, we were given some free time, which we used to play some games including Dominoes, Uno, and Mafia. We then had a delicious dinner of fish and potatoes. After finishing dinner, we proceeded to the common area for a live performance of Calypso music. We listened, danced, and even sang some. The song titles varied from "Rum" to "Give Me Some of Your Rice and Beans". This lasted for about an hour or so and many laughs were had.

Watching a seizure occur before my eyes, people rushed to bring help while I sat there terrified. Not knowing what to do, I had the opportunity to observe the actions of others. Seeing everyone drop what they were doing made me realize something. I learned that in the time of need, everyone bands together to get the job done. So today's lesson is that no matter the circumstances, race, religion, sexuality, etc., it is important to help those in need no matter the situation.

Day 13...Observation is Key

As usual, I awoke around 8 am to eat breakfast and get ready for the day. However, today instead of having a discussion with a guest speaker or having class, Joaquin, who spoke to us a few days ago, had an activity planned for us. We were to go to the mall and simply observe. On our way, we took a detour and stopped at the University of Costa Rica. Some of us shopped while others observed the students around campus. After about twenty minutes of this, we headed for the mall.

Upon arrival, we fanned out and found a location where we could observe. Our directions were to spend thirty minutes observing the space, thirty more on the people and their wear, and the last thirty on nonverbal gestures. After an hour and a half of doing so, we all met up and discussed what we had seen. Discussion ranged from how girls tend to not wear shorts to how Costa Ricans tend to walk at a leisure stroll. Another major contrast between the two countries is that of space. At home kiosks are randomly strewn throughout the mall's length. In Costa Rica they are more permanent and placed strategically. There were many other differences observed between the United States and Costa Rica.

After this activity, some people stayed at the mall to shop while others headed back to the hotel to sleep or complete some work. The readings for today discussed Porte Viejo and the Bribri. Topics from these articles included games, culture, and traditions. As we has class, discussion ranged from these people living simpler and healthier lives than today to the interesting games they have invented. Finishing our talk, we moved into groups to create interview questions for a variety of people we will be meeting with over the course of the next few days.

Completing our questions, we prepared for dinner and made our way to Tin Jo. The dishes ranged from the simple fried rice with chicken to fish along with teriyaki sauce. No matter the food, It was a consensus that everyone enjoyed their meal. For dessert, we were given a slice of cake in honor of Sydney's "birthday." She was generous enough to let everyone have a bite and it was deliciouso:)! After dinner, we proceeded back to the hotel to turn in for the evening. However, just as we were to do so, we took a little detour. A few of us went out for the evening to a local club. It was an absolute blast as we danced the night away!

The lesson of the day is that respect is important. It is one thing to accept differences and try to move on from them. It is another to treat these differences respectfully. Reading the Bribri's story and simply observing the actions of others on this trip, this lesson has suddenly become blatantly obvious to me. I hope that after learning this lesson, I can apply it to life.

Day 12...Relational Diversity

Waking up thirty minutes earlier than usual was not as hard as I expected. I did my usual routine and did some work before departing to hear our fourth speaker. As we walked towards the University of Costa Rica, many of us began to complain about the heat. Finding the building, we fully expected to walk into a full blast of air conditioning. However, to our surprise, we walked into an even hotter area. As we signed in and followed our speaker to a classroom, most of us felt as if we were going to pass out from the heat. We did try to ignore it throughout the talk. Our speaker, Vanessa Smith, discussed discrimination and racism in Costa Rica amongst all types of people, especially immigrants and minorities versus majorities. After listening to the talk for about two hours in intense heat, we headed back to the hotel.

Arriving at the hotel, I headed straight for the fridge and grabbed some food for lunch. My lunch was an eclectic one consisting of a banana, strawberry yogurt, rice, fruit loops, and water. During this break, I prepared for class. I read the article and the chapter and filled in our worksheet. After completing this, I took a short thirty minute nap. Waking feeling very refreshed, I grabbed my books and laptop and sat down for class. Today we talked about interracial friendships. We discussed the idea that it is possible, though hard at times, to be involved in relationships with someone of a different race.

After class, we all changed for dinner. We ate at a nice restaurant called Cafe Mundo. I had Fettucini Alfredo with seafood along with my first Sex on the Beach drink. Everything was absolutely delicious. On the way to dinner, at dinner, and on the way back to the hotel I had a really good conversation with Shannel. It was really nice connecting with someone on this trip on a deeper level seeing as I had fully expected to simply have surface conversations with most people.

Though I have made some good friends here, as mentioned above, being here has made me truly appreciate my friendships back home. Of course I value all of my relationships equally but in different ways. However, I learned today that interracial friendships are important. My core group of friends from my high school consisted of an Asian, a couple of African Americans, a middle easterner, a boy from the Dominican Republic and a pacific islander. I have a vast majority of these friendships and each has taught me a great deal about different cultures. These relationships have helped shape my outlook on a variety of subjects and have allowed me to be a very diverse person.

Day 11...Monkey Business

This morning I awoke to a bright light in my face and a loud conversation in my ear. Thinking my roommates had flicked the light on, I was somewhat upset I could not go back to sleep. However, when I pulled the covers from over my head I realized all of the light was simply coming from the window. Realizing what the time must be, I jumped out of bed and headed for breakfast. Of course, I had the usual, pineapple, toast, and coffee. After finishing my meal, everyone went back to their rooms to change and prepare for the zoo. Naturally, I panicked about what to wear fearing that I would be to casual. Though I scoffed at the idea of someone wearing a dress to the zoo, that is exactly what I ended up wearing. Our attire varied throughout the group; some were in dresses while others were in t-shirts and shorts. In the end, attire did not really matter that much.

Most people slept for the hour long car ride to the zoo, though I do not know how because it was a bumpy one. After arriving and making our way to the entrance, we split into groups and began our journey. It began with a good amount of birds. Immediately after seeing the first few birds an iguana suddenly appeared walking freely on the sidewalk with us. As the majority of us were quite frightened we ran up the path. Monkeys, turtle, parrots, peacocks, and a number of other animals were included in our sightings for today. Unfortunately the turtles were the most interesting. As I approached their section, I heard quite a funky noise...Come to find out, they were getting a little friendly with each other. Because I have never heard or seen anything like this before, I was quite appalled.

Finishing our trip, we walked across the street to a local hole in the wall restaurant. My chicken and fried rice was absolutely delicious. There was a bit of a language barrier but I managed to stay calm and my order was actually correct. Waiting for the check, a long bus ride back, and a stop at the bank, we finally made it back to Hotel Milvia. With about two hours before class, I furiously worked on my discussion questions. As class began, I was extremely nervous about how my questions would be received. The majority of our discussion revolved around tourism and identity, especially that of race. How we are perceived in both aspects. In the end, between Shannel and I, we managed to start a good amount of conversation allowing class to last for almost two hours. Following class, the group ate together at a local Japanese restaurant. Some really good conversations were had around some good food.


Today's reflection refers to nonverbal communication cues, especially facial expressions. As Shannel and I walked back from dinner with Dr. Harris and Marcus, Dr Harris. commented on how I use nonverbals to communicate. She simply said she finds my facial expressions childlike and precious. Her prime example came from lunch earlier in the day. When preparing to order, the waitress began telling me about the specials. Of course the waitress would pick me, the one who speaks the least amount of Spanish at the table, and begin talking extremely fast. The face I made was not made on purpose. However, I was told that my facial expression showed that I did not understand at all and desperately needed help. I find this extremely funny because I am always being told that I make crazy faces, but I do not even realize I am making them. So today's lesson is that facial expressions, and other nonverbals, can communicate a lot whether you mean to or not. Therefore, we should pay special attention to all types of communication, including facial expressions, body language, dress, attitude, etc., in order for people to perceive us in the manner we aim to portray.


*Kudos to Shannel for my title today:)

Day 10...Hola, Coca Cola!

A 5:45 am wake up call is not the way many people wish to begin their morning. However, knowing that the day would include white water rafting made getting up much easier. Casually getting ready and heading for some breakfast, I heard Dr. Harris knock on Feeney's door informing him that the bus had arrived. Laughing to myself thinking that she was fibbing trying to get him out the door quicker, I did not move much quicker. Just after I sat down to eat and drink my coffee, I was told to hurry because the bus really was here. Gulping my coffee down and swallowing my cereal without chewing, I ran out the door.

After everyone finally boarded, we picked up another crew and headed for the mountains. Sleeping for the entire three hour journey, I was happy to arrive. We were served breakfast that included pineapple, rice and beans, coffee, eggs, and toast. We then boarded for another thirty minute drive to head for the rapids. As the last few people were loading onto the bus, the seating arrangements seemed to cause tension.

Our group was scattered about the bus leaving some random seating available. I sat in the second to last row along with Tamera next to me and Mallory across the aisle. Marcus' location was directly behind Mallory in the back corner. As the last family boarded the bus, the mom sat opposite Marcus (behind Tamera) and her daughter sat next to Mallory. The dad then boarded and sat next to the mom. Throughout this process nothing seemed off, until the second daughter searched for a seat. Though there was only one seat to choose from, this teenage girl anxiously looked for any seat but the one between her father and Marcus. She spun in a few circles and was very hesitant for a good thirty seconds or so even though her mother kept telling her to just sit down. As I stared at the situation shocked at what I had just seen, I glanced at Marcus who in turn simply shook his head. It was extremely obvious that the girl did not want to sit next to Marcus because of his skin color. Though undue awkwardness was caused, we noticed, said nothing, and proceeded to the rapids.

We had a great time on the water. It was just cold enough to be refreshing but not too cold that we were freezing the entire trip. My raft included Mallory, Stephanie, Tamera, Sydney, Shannel, myself, and our guide, Roberto. No one fell out, though we did jump out to swim some. We all managed to work together quite nicely allowing us to sail down the river. We stopped for lunch about three hours into our journey. Though it was extremely simple, it was extremely delicious. We were given the option of tortilla or bread and a multitude of toppings to choose from. I filled mine with lettuce, turkey, and cheese. After my second tortilla and some delicious pineapple, I was absolutely stuffed. We managed to make our way down the river safe and sound, but as we approached our final destination, we were all saddened that the trip was over.

This evening was a good one. After arriving back at Hotel Milvia, we all decided to stay in. I had left overs while a majority ordered, yes, pizza. Because my leftovers were not very good, Marcus let me have a piece of his pizza. Between all the random bites I had from people, my hunger was satisfied. After dinner, Shannel and I worked on our discussion leader questions. We managed to get a good deal complete. I then had the opportunity to talk to Sarah some about the day. I informed her of what happened on the bus earlier that day and wanted her opinion on it. We talked for a little bit, and she made me feel much more comfortable with the class in general.

Today I learned that stereotyping can really affect someone. The young girl's association of a negative connotation to black men was subtle. However, I noticed it without anyone saying a word. It made me furious at myself that I have gone my entire life ignoring these types of events while they probably happen to Marcus multiple times a day. By taking notice to this, I proved to myself that I have grown in the short amount of time that I have been here. I am now more determined than ever to pay attention to instances similar to these and keep myself from participating in them.

I saw this on my own. No one influenced me. i just knew marcus saw it too by his head shake.

Day 9...The Simpler Things in Life

This morning I awoke excited to finally have an opportunity to buy some souvenirs. Our schedule for the day simply included eating (as usual), attending class, and going to the market. However, in order for me to make it through the day, I needed my first meal. Breakfast was the usual, pineapple, toast, and coffee. Afterwards, I began working on my discussion leader assignment. But before I could get into it, it was time for class.

Today's class consisted of learning about significant others' opinions and generalized others' opinions. Significant others include parents and close friends while generalized others tend to simply include strangers or acquaintances. The opinions of those closest to us are the ones that are taken into consideration the most. In addition to this concept, we discussed identity and how we were shaped. While most microcultural groups, such as Asians, had their race pointed out as a child, most macrocultural groups did not. One classmate, who happens to be Asian, stated that as a child her parents pointed out to her that she was Asian and things might be different for her. I, on the other hand, never saw my race because I am white and would not endure the same obstacles as a minority. Therefore, my identity has been shaped differently than my fellow classmate.

After we finished class, everyone began to shuffle around and get ready to head to the market. We were told to bring a certain amount of money and place it in various areas. Some was placed in my pants pocket, more in my bra, and the rest in my wallet and bag. As we headed for the bus stop, we prepared to embark on our first public transportation journey here in Costa Rica. After being crammed in a hot and tiny space for about fifteen minutes, we finally arrived. Feeling quite hungry, we split into groups and set out on a mission to find food. The choices were pizza (which I am now completely sick of) or fried chicken. Niether look appetizing, but I chose pizza. As we placed our order, I was somewhat disgusted by the looks of some of the pizzas; they looked as if they had been sitting out for days. Because of this, I decided to go with cheese and no meat. It actually was pretty delicious and extremely cheap too. Along with this we had aqua (water) to drink. At most places we have eaten, we have asked for tap water in order to save money. However, here it was different. All seven of us asked for a bottle nonverbally communicating that we feared the cleanliness of the tap water.

After finishing our meal and meeting back up with the crew, we made our way to the market. This place was huge and had a variety of items for sale. There was meat, goldfish, birds, dogs, hammocks, t-shirts, shoes, coffee mugs, you name it, it was there. I was happy to find some souvenirs. My favorite purchase was my hammock. It was $25 and I did not bargain at all for it, but I feel it was totally worth the price.

Shopping completely wears me out, even though we only did so for an hour. Because I was so exhausted, I took an hour and a half nap upon returning to the hotel. Waking up to a grumbling stomach, I asked around about dinner. Thankfully most people wanted to order in; however, the options were limited and one was pizza. Deciding I couldn't handle ANY more pizza, I went for pasta instead. Multitasking, I ate my cheese ravioli while working on class work. Though I did not get too much done this evening, I managed to completely catch up on my blog.

My lesson of the day is to be thankful for everything I have been blessed with. Even the smallest things matter. Without thinking, I order water more often than not from the tap. However, Some people do not have the luxury of clean water. I have learned that I really need to appreciate the simpler things in life more.

Day 8...Different is Special

The past few mornings I have awaken to multiple voices chatting in the breakfast room. In hearing these, it sounds as if the majority of the group is awake and already eating. As I jump out of bed, brush my teeth, wash my face, and get dressed, all in a complete hurry, I rush out of my room only to find three or four classmates eating. This morning the same thing happened once more. Because I was already awake and ready for the day, I decided to just go ahead and eat breakfast. After doing so, I did some work and prepared for our third guest speaker to arrive.

Joaquin Lizano spoke on Otherness and Social Groups. He talked about many different concepts including cultural and racial ideas. Culture wise we learned that personal space is limited, time management is non-existent, and horn honking is a constant. In a racial aspect, a racial hierarchy, similar to the one in the United States, exists as well as in-group and out-groups. Both of these terms were discussed as seen from a Costa Rican standpoint. Because he spoke English, he was extremely easy to understand allowing me to really enjoy the discussion and learn a great deal.

After his talk, five of us ventured off to lunch. We had a good time and enjoyed our decently inexpensive meal at RostiPollo. With a full stomach and a need for a nap, we headed back to the hotel. I journaled and worked on a paper before trying to take a mini snooze. Before I knew it, it was time for dinner. Though we were told we were on our own, a large group of us still managed to go out together. We ate at Kai Cafe where I had a coffee, a grilled chicken sandwich, and a piece of chocolate cheesecake. After finishing my $20 meal (cha-ching!), we headed back to the hotel for the night.

Later on in the evening I skyped my parents. We had a really good conversation and managed to catch up a good deal. I did not realize how much I missed them until I was able to talk to and see them. Though skyping make me realize that I miss home terribly, I know that I would not trade this experience for the world. In such a short amount of time I have learned so much and feel that I am already beginning to see a change in myself for the better.

Ethnocentrism is something I have always carried with me as I have traveled abroad. However, I have only recently realized it. Whether it is on purpose or not, it is something I have participated in. Seeing one's own culture as better than another simply because they differ in the manner in which things are done is wrong. Saying it is "strange" for Costa Ricans to throw their toilet tissue in the trash rather than flush it down, "weird" to have no sense of personal space, "odd" to greet one another with a kiss on the cheek, or "rude" to run thirty minutes late is all categorized as ethnocentric. Lesson of the day is to appreciate everyone's uniqueness and keep an open mind. If we were all the same, life would simply be boring. 

Day 7...All. That. Jazz!

Today we talked about race, like we do everyday. But today we were not only asked to think about our personal views and our family views on the subject matter, but we were also asked to think about how we can help the issue. Most people said by simply talking to their families and making them aware that times are changing and certain things are no longer okay. Basically, we need to be active in the mission of equality.

After class, we broke into groups and headed out for lunch. In doing so, my group and I decided to shop a little as well. After buying absolutely nothing and feeling nourished after a yummy lunch, we proceeded back to the hotel for our second guest speaker's lecture. In this lecture we learned that a social hierarchy exists in Costa Rica much like the one in place in the United States. Whether we wish to acknowledge one exists or not is not the issue because looking around, in either country, it is obvious that it does. Whites are at the top. Asians and Hispanics are in the middle. Blacks are at the bottom. Living in the United States as a white female I have experienced white privilege every day causing me to be blinded to the fact that this hierarchy is still in place. If I were asked if I believed this to be true a week ago, I would have said absolutely not because I did not see it. I was, am, and will be, though extremely unfair, treated in accordance to it because of my skin color. In other words, whether anyone wants to verbally acknowledge it or not, when really thinking about it, we all know it's true. By simply acknowledging it, we have made a step in the direction of changing it.

Following this intense discussion, most of us rested and worked on class work while letting the lessons of the day sink in. After about an hour or so of this, we all began to frantically get ready for the evening. We were to go to dinner as a group at a Peruvian restaurant. I had bass and chicken along with rice and coke (made with real sugar); it was absolutely delicious. Finishing up our meal, the majority of us headed for the Jazz Cafe up the street where we sipped on Cosmopolitans and listened to music for about an hour. The music was fabulous and the drinks were delicious. Feeling as if we were about to pass out from exhaustion, we headed back to the hotel to get some sleep. Between intense discussion and lots of eating, some shut eye was very much needed.

Though at first I dreaded going to class, participating in discussion, and listening to speakers, today completely changed my mind. I do not think I have ever thought this deep about the subjects we are discussing until today. Today I learned I can do my part to help others realize everyone IS equal but not always treated in that manner by simply being active. Whether this means talking to my family about certain issues or simply showing others I have changed by not using words or phrases that have a negative connotation to them, I can make a difference. If I learned nothing else, it's that I can make a difference even if it's only a slight one and even with issues that seem too big to conquer.

Day 6...Walking, Walking, & More Walking

Waking up to discover class has been canceled is always a good way to begin the day. After eating breakfast and dropping off my laundry at a local laundromat, a group of us decided to head for the mall to do a little shopping. (Personally, I am in desperate need of some day to day clothing items.) The walk was  a long one. However, we darted in multiple stores hoping to find some inexpensive wear which made the walk a little more bearable. As we finally stumbled upon the mall, the search for some decent clothing continued.

The distance between the hotel and the mall was probably a mile or two. Needless to say, after walking there, around, and back, we were pretty exhausted. But just when we thought we were done for a while, we headed back out for lunch. The restaurant at which we were to dine was almost as far as the mall. Again, we thought we were finished walking, and again we walked another mile or two, this time to the University of Costa Rica campus. (And we still had to walk back to our hotel.) In other words, we walked enough in one day to last us a week.

At the University of Costa Rica we listened to a talk on the history of Costa Rica and its variety of cultures. It was quite a confusing talk due to the speaker being fluent in Spanish but knowing very little English. Though we had a translator, it was hard for her to relate it back to us in English terms. I did feel like I somewhat understood the basics of the lecture but wish I knew Spanish so I could have grasped more concepts.

After the talk was finally complete, we rushed back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. We had reservations at a restaurant sitting atop a hillside and overlooking the city. As we all showered and dressed in out fanciest clothing, we were giddy with excitement at the idea of finally having the opportunity to look nice. Arriving at the restaurant, we disregarded our seating and headed straight for the view; it was absolutely breathtaking. Lights, buildings, the skyline. Just gorgeous. And of course, we just HAD to take pictures. After the paparazzi session, we headed for the table. However, some of us (me) were distracted by the beautiful jewelry for sale...

Dinner was a buffet and absolutely delicious. Along with dinner, I had a (my first) margarita. I really enjoyed chatting with everyone around me with the beautiful view in the background. After eating, we were asked to proceed to the dance floor where we were to watch a traditional dance. After the first dance was complete, which absolutely awesome, the dancers changed and came back to the dance floor for a second dance. The boys began choosing "volunteers" from the crowd. Yes. I was one of them. Though I was nervous and shaking, I had so much fun. This was definitely not my forte, but I embraced it and tried my best.

Today I learned that fear is everywhere. Along with heights, one of my greatest fears is having all attention placed on me. Tonight, being pulled onto the dance floor caused this exact situation to occur. Though I wanted to shake my head and stay seated (well, I really wanted to run in the other direction), I stood up, let out a little "woo-hoo," and began dancing in my extremely no rhythm manner. I was not about to let the fear of how others perceived me direct my choices. Letting others' thoughts dictate your fun is no way to live. In other words, sometimes it is necessary to completely let go and simply HAVE FUN!

Day 5...A Long Bus Ride on a Curvy, Mountain Road

This morning began like any other; waking up for a 7:30 am breakfast. However, this morning differed from any other in that we were preparing to depart from the campus. This was somewhat scary. Here we had been protected in a sense. The majority of the people on campus are bilingual, therefore, no language barrier exists. Traveling to the city would be an entirely different experience.

Once our driver arrived, we began to load the bus. However, this bus was much smaller than the one we originally road in on. Because there were only eighteen seats total and there are seventeen of us, we were forced to load some our bags on top of the van. Our driver wrapped them in a tarp and tied them down. However, the manner in which he did so made the majority of us nervous about bags falling during our journey. As for the rest of the bags, they were packed inside along with us. Needless to say, we were extremely crammed in.

Heading out, the fear of toppling over the mountain side quickly arose. With the weight of the bags on the roof and the manner in which the bus driver directed the bus did not help to settle this fear in any way. In order to distract myself, I decided to read some. (And I never read for pleasure. Therefore I must have been pretty scared.) Considering the fact motion sickness can easily overcome me, this was not the best idea. (I did take a Dramamine before we left, so I was fine.) After reading a few chapters, I fell asleep.

When I awoke, we were approximately thirty minutes from our destination. We made one stop at a local super market where we were instructed to purchase water and any snacks we feel we may need. Stopping here, we were given our first glance at San Jose and its people. After purchasing our items, we boarded the bus once again and were bound for our hotel; Hotel Milvia is a little bed and breakfast in San Jose where we will be staying for the next seven days.

Lunch was a quick and easy process. Afterwards Tamera and I  decided to shop some. As we entered one particular store, we were immediately spotted and eyed closely throughout our time inside. It was as if we were perceived to have a negative stereotype tied to us as foreigners or "others". Whether their intention was to simply watch our every move, I am not sure. What I am sure of is that it felt weird and I did not appreciate being followed one bit.

Anyone is capable of shoplifting. White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, or any other race for that matter. Attaching negative stereotypes to any particular race is shameful. Though I have always been taught that judging someone based on appearance or beliefs is wrong, I have only recently realized I passively engage in this type of behavior quite frequently at home. Today I learned whether actively or passively participating, I am still participating. Unfortunately, it took me personally being in a situation where I felt I was being judged based on my appearance which lead me to feel unwelcome to gain insight on what some people deal with every day. The phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" though discounted at times, should never be overlooked or forgotten.

Day 4...Zippity Do Da. Ziplining Day!

Signing up to do ziplining was a big step for me. Back in December my family and I traveled to San Diego and had plans to zip line over the zoo. However, as we reached the top of the line, the height and the distance of the line shocked me. Even after watching three groups go and talking to the instructor, I was still not able to overcome my fear of heights. The lesson I learned from this experience was if the practice line brings fear, the real thing will be no joke. I let my fear get the best of me last time, but this time, I decided, this time would be different. 

As I proceeded to enter the tram that would take us to the top of the mountain, fear began to sink in. I had mastered the practice course with little fear, but as we increased in altitude fog covered us; not being able to see was the scariest part. As we embarked on our journey to climb the tower leading us to the first real line, I felt panic stricken. I said over and over that there was absolutely no way I could go through with it. As everyone around me tried to calm me down, the encouragement I felt from my new friends was amazing. Though this encouragement did not completely over mask the intense winds and rain, it helped me take the next step [literally. stepped off the platform].

Stepping up to the line I was hooked on and before I knew it, off I went. Yes, of course I screamed a little, but that was me letting go of my fear. After the first real line, I was hooked. There were nine lines total and I conquered each of them though not always on my own. About half of them were individual lines while the other half were partner lines. Having a friend along for the ride with me made me feel much more secure. But even with this security, a rush of adrenaline came with each new line. And with each line it was just another time I could take my fears head on.

Though facing fears is not always an easy task, it is an important one. There are some things I will never do because I have no desire [like bungee jumping] to do. However, if an opportunity presents itself and you feel like you should take it, backing out will only bring regret to replace the fear when it should really be replaced by excitement. The lesson of the day is to face fears and depend on those around you for moral support. Even if you do barely know them, it can truly make all the difference.

Day 3...Weeding is JUST as important as Planting

This morning included sleeping in...until 6:45 anyways. After a 7:30 breakfast, our group departed thinking tree planting awaited us. However, to our surprise, we learned we would actually be pulling weeds. At first everyone was very disappointed that we would hardly be helping. However, after all of our work we compared a set of trees covered in weeds to a maintained set. The difference was tremendous. Though the group could see the difference, all of us still felt as if we had helped but very little. The Naturalist working and leading us at the site assured us that weeding around the trees is just as important as planting trees in an alternate location; if the trees can't grow, they cannot be planted.

Here at UGA Costa Rica there is a program known as the Carbon Off-Set Program; it entails the idea that deforestation has occurred in multiple locations around the Monte Verdes area. Because of this, it is a mission to replant trees wherever possible without taking land away from locals. Therefore, when locals agree to it, the program provides the tools needed to plant a few trees on the land. They bring no harm to the locals' land, but they bring life back to nature.

In participating in this activity we were an active part of service learning. Rather than coming in and acting as if we knew the right and only way to fix the problem, we were guided and helped with what was needed. Today's lesson was that sometimes us as Americans can sometimes force our way of life onto people when they do not really feel the need for it. If we can simply ask what is needed and provide the help rather than believe our way is the only way, the appreciation will be so much more.

Day 2...Milking Cows, Hiking & Latin Dancing All in One Day!

This morning began with as an early one. After waking around 5:45 am, I, along with four other girls, headed for the cow pasture. As we approached the location where the milking process would occur, all of us began to wonder what the heck we were about to do. We began to take turns milking but were always conscious to leave some for the next person in line. By the time the fifth person had taken her turn, we were sure we had milked the cow dry. However, to our surprise, when the professionals took our place, they made more milk than the five of us combined.

I know a great deal of French. Spanish on the other hand is quite a different story. I know some of the basics and have recently learned a little more, but not near enough to engage in conversation. The professional milkers were the opposite in that they seemed to know absolutely no English. Though we could not verbally communicate, these men showed their appreciation through their nonverbal communication. Through this, the five of us felt a sense of accomplishment:).

Not long after we completed the milking process, we joined the remainder of the group to take a hike. The journey was somewhat intense. In fact, I fell and more than once (I even have a bruise to prove it. If my clumsy gene wasn't exposed, it is now.) After about and hour and fifteen minutes, we had finally made it, and I was gazing at one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. This magnificent sight made the hike worth it.

As we made our way down to the water, somehow the thought of how cold the water would be and the possibility of seeing a snake never crossed my mind. Fearing nothing, I jumped right in. Watching about five people jump into the water from the waterfall, I wished I could do the same, but I knew I was too scared. As the number of people who had not jumped began to dwindle, I felt pressure to follow suit. Barely talking myself into it, I swam to the shore and proceeded to the jump site. As I tripped over rocks and tried not to fall in too soon, I wondered what on earth I was about to do. Right before I jumped I wished I could turn back. Before I knew it, I was in the water.

Later that evening we took dancing lessons from Geovanny. Though I cannot remember a single move and there were very few male partners to go around, I had a blast trying to learn latin dancing. The laughter and smiles shared across the room were wonderful. I even had the opportunity to dance with one very attractive Costa Rican named Kevin, who was quite a great dancer. Once again, there was a language barrier. However, through dancing it was not obvious. Taking the time to emerse ourselves into another culture like this brought happiness to the natives teaching us and it was quite evident.

Today's lesson was that even if a language barrier exists between two people, communication can still occur. Using hand gestures or even smiling can create a sort of connection. I find it so amazing that even being from two different countries the nonverbal communication can be so similar. Between overcoming two fears in two days and finding an appreciation for simple things, this trip really has already began to be a life changing journey after all.

Day 1...From Atlanta to San Jose

After three orientations, multiple e-mails containing various information, and a hectic morning of trying to finish the packing process, I finally made it to the airport and joined my group at the gate right on time. We boarded our plane and after three long hours, we were finally in Costa Rica. Because the process of trying to get here was so intense, I had very little opportunity to really think about actually being here. Landing in San Jose was one amazing feeling. I felt like I had accomplished so much by this simple event. I had been accepted into the program. I had delved into the process. But most importantly, I had brought myself to do something more out of my comfort zone than I ever expected. I had set my mind to something and accomplished my goal. A few short minutes and I was in love with my trip. However, with all good things come a few bumps in the road.

Because the group was scattered about the flight, I was unaware of anyone's whereabouts after unloading from the plane. As I followed the passengers out of the plane, I wondered what to do. I looked around for familiar faces but saw none, so I followed the signs to immigration. With my head turning in every direction and my eyes constantly darting, I continued to search for my group. After waiting in line for about ten or fifteen minutes (what really felt like thirty or forty), I decided to check my e-mail for directions. Turns out we were to meet as a group before heading for customs. Panicing, I ran back towards the gates. Spotting my group, I frantically tried to explain where I had been. As I calmed down, we made our way for customs. Though the lady checking my forms was rude and condescending, I was finally safe to say I was in Costa Rica.

The rest of the day consisted of easy transitions. We met our driver, Johnny. We ate at a little restaurant outside of the airport. And we arrived at UGA's Costa Rica campus. Each step of the way, the people were nicer than I could have ever imagined. Traveling to France last summer, I encountered numerous occasions in which I was treated rudely because I was not familiar with the language. Though I tried my best to make conversation to the best of my ability in French, I always received a sarcastic response in English. Here, I am 0% fluent in the national language. However, every time I ask for an item or directions, I am greeted with a smile and either gestures, if they do not speak English, or broken English, rather than a snarky comment.

If I have learned anything today, it is that when foreigners visit our country, we should accept and help them. In America, we expect everyone visiting to comprehend and speak our language. When we travel, we expect the same. Rather than seeing our language as the dominant or "right way", we should simply be more understanding and welcoming. A smile can always go a long way. :)