After breakfast, this morning began with a tour of a local coffee farm. We took a twenty minute hike to the farmer's home where Elisia showed us around her and her husband's farm. In addition to coffee, her family grows sugarcane and multiple fruits. Towards the end of the tour, we were given the opportunity to taste the sugarcane grown as well as help make a juice from it. It was a really neat experience to taste something so fresh. We also enjoyed a beautiful view while doing so. As we finished up with this farm, we made our way to the next where we were given the opportunity to buy some coffee as a souvenir after learning the process of production. We then journeyed back to campus for lunch.
After we finished lunch, we were given time to work on our projects seeing as today was the due date. After about two more hours, I finally finished my identity project. I then made my way to Shannel, Tamera, and Sydney's room to add finishing touches to for our group presentation later that evening. It did not take long before we felt prepared causing us to become quite distracted by multiple outlets. Before we knew it, it was time for dinner.
Dinner was delicious as usual along with dessert. Unfortunately, we were not given the opportunity for a taste of UGA Costa Rica's hot chocolate one more time before leaving. Upset that the mass group of people was the cause, we dispersed for an hour before meeting for class. I managed to skype my mom for about ten minutes before meeting up with my group. However, skype was not cooperating, so I went back to Bungalow C to see what was needed for our project. We practiced for about twenty minutes before heading down to the classroom.
Of course we were in a building back in the woods leading us to have some difficulties finding our peers. We did manage to do so after a couple of minutes searching. We had hoped to present first, but were beat by the other undergraduate group. Their presentation on haptics and proxemics lasted for approximately twenty minutes; ours followed and was in about the same time frame. I believe we all did a great job on give details of our subject matter and comparing it to the United States. As we completed our final projects and felt relief lift off of our shoulders, the graduate students were required to present. However, their presentations were to be of their identity project and much more intense. Considering I completed the same project with similar outlines, I would not feel comfortable at all sharing this information. It was very private and intimate details about my journey, and I commend them for standing confidently in front of the class and sharing with us.
Lesson of the day, and the final one of this trip, is to be yourself. If the graduate students can embrace who they are in front of the class, I can do it in my ever day life. It is important for everyone to know who they are and stand up for what they believe in. Having learned so much on this journey, I can use today's lesson to help me when feeling the need to educate others on the multitude of lessons I have learned while in Costa Rica.
