Entry 1: June 25, 2009  
Selva Verde Lodge, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

I came into this program after living in San Joaquín de Flores with a Tica family for four weeks. I honestly was dreading it. I was looking forward to the new experiences I would undoubtedly have and the new group dynamic, but in four weeks I had become extremely attached to my life near Heredia and fantasized about just simply staying there while my friends went off into the rainforest. 

Within my first week of being with the tropical ecosystems course, my life in San Joaquín was put to the side as I went zip-lining through the rainforest (one of my top 10 best experiences of LIFE), milked a cow and came face to face with a Capuchin monkey. In these three weeks I have been challenged more as a student (scientific research projects are hard when you've never done one), as a Spanish speaker, and as a person than ever. 

My three weeks that were spent visiting some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, simply solidified what I had been given a mere introduction to in San Joaquín. I feel even more in love with the culture of Costa Rica. The way that everyone cares for each other and for our planet is simply contagious. I don't believe I have ever wanted so badly to be changed by an experience as I feel at this moment. I want Costa Rica to be a part of me forever. I want to live pura vida every day. And most importantly, I want to go back... as soon as possible.