Costa Rica: Part I

It began, fittingly enough, with Journey. As the bus merged onto the highway in the early morning light the speakers softly emitted waves. “Anyway you want it, that’s the way you need it.” I talked classic rock with the driver as we headed south towards LAX.

The bus dropped me off at the international terminal. I checked my baggage and listened to announcements in four different languages as I waited for Marian, a friend from UC Davis, who would be my buddy for my flights to and from San Jose. We talked about mutual friends and our anticipation for the program as the geopolitical situation thousands of feet beneath us shifted.

The program we were excited about was a trip Central America. Through the University of California’s Education Abroad Program (EAP), we were going to spend fall quarter 2009 studying tropical biology and conservation in Costa Rica, a country widely acknowledged as a leader in both biodiversity and the effort to protect it. We would spend about eleven weeks traveling around the country with a group of 35 students representing most of the UC schools. Through the course of the program we’d learn about tropical diversity, community ecology, agro-ecology, and Spanish. We’d also spend time in home stays with local families and spend two weeks conducting an independent research project.

The first three weeks of the program, however, involved an orientation to Costa Rican culture and trips to see places representative of the wide diversity in this country. It all began in San Jose, the capitol of Costa Rica. Exiting the plane, Marian and I had our passports officially stamped, recovered our bags, and hired a taxi to take us to Hotel Cacts. We arrived late, just after midnight, and I had to wake up my new roommates in our shared hotel room as I dragged my luggage into the cramped quarters.

In the morning I woke up and met Jeff (one of the aforementioned roommates). The two of us proceeded up and down the maze of stairs that led to the breakfast area. I began the process of meeting the rest of the crew as I enjoyed my first plate of gallo pinto, a combination of rice and beans that is the mainstay of the Costa Rican diet. We met, mingled, and munched as the crowd continued to grow. Eventually the whole group had gathered, and Frank, the director of the Costa Rica EAP program, welcomed us.

The next few days were spent exploring the city, visiting museums and local eating food. But mainly we were trying to get to know one another.

Friendships formed quickly, and before we knew it we were on our way to La Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (ACG). Our destination was Pitilla, a research station near la Volcan Orozi

… to be continued…