So today we had our first class. It was about the natural history of Costa Rica, and we learned all about how Costa Rica was formed by plate tectonics millions of years ago and why they have so much biodiversity compared to the small size of their country. Tonight we have 28 pages to read for tomorrows four lectures about the consequences the economic, and political systems had on Costa Rica's environment. I have found the readings to be very difficult, and I find myself having to read the same sentance over a few times to understand what they are trying to say. It took me about an hour and a half to read 8 pages! Most of the people here are environmental studies majors, and I think becasue I am a biology major, it makes it a little harder for me to understand these types of things. And melissa don't stress out about this..ill be fine.
Thank you for all of your comments, they make things seem a lot closer to home than they really are! Love you and Miss you...Alyson
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Day one!
About three weeks ago, when my mom and I were at Sam's club, we agreed that neither of us would cry when I left for Costa Rica. Needless to say, neither of us kept our promise; in fact we failed miserably as we hugged each other over the security rail at the airport. However, I think my experiences here will overtake the sadness we both felt as I left. Thus far, being here has been extremely enlightening. I think everyone should, at some point in their life, be subjected to something other that their usual lives becasue I have found that it is only then when you will truly appreciate what you have.
Life here is so simple compared to life at home. The houses are small and modest. Our filed station has no air conditioning, like almost all of the houses here. My room is very simple with two bunk beds, four small desks, and two closets. There is no carpet anywhere, the floor is concrete, so its not the most homiest of places. However, it is these kinds of things which make my experience here so worthwhile. I am far out of my comfort zone here, and I have to learn how to cope and accept that.
Today, I got up at 5:50 AM to run (dont worry melissa, i ran with someone else!) as i left the guard at the end of the driveway said "hace frio!" meaning "it's cold!". Mind you it was farr from being cold. It must have been 70 degrees and 100 percent humidity. After I ran I took a cold shower, becasue there is not hot water here. It wasn't too bad though condisering live in a house with six other people five of which are girls, so cold showers are not new to me, anyways it felt good after the hot run. Breakfast was at 7 and we had rice and beans, eggs, watermelon, plantains ( a different kind of banana) and mango picked right from the trees outside (by far the best mango i have EVER had). After breakfast we have "RAP" (reflection, announcements, and physicality). There is one student picked each day called "student of the day" who has to think of a reflection and physicality activity to do. And who do you think is the very first student of the day? Yes, I am. And I still have no idea what I am going to say for my reflection!
The internet is very slow here, so uploading images on my blog will be a rare occasion bc i have to go into atenas at the internet cafe and upload them. Later on tonight we are going to play soccer with the locals. I am really excited about that bc it gives me an oppotunity to interact with the locals outside of SFS. Thats all for today!
Mom..if your reading this expect a phone call sometime this evening, ill try doing it after dinner if i have time but it may be after 8:30 (my time)
Life here is so simple compared to life at home. The houses are small and modest. Our filed station has no air conditioning, like almost all of the houses here. My room is very simple with two bunk beds, four small desks, and two closets. There is no carpet anywhere, the floor is concrete, so its not the most homiest of places. However, it is these kinds of things which make my experience here so worthwhile. I am far out of my comfort zone here, and I have to learn how to cope and accept that.
Today, I got up at 5:50 AM to run (dont worry melissa, i ran with someone else!) as i left the guard at the end of the driveway said "hace frio!" meaning "it's cold!". Mind you it was farr from being cold. It must have been 70 degrees and 100 percent humidity. After I ran I took a cold shower, becasue there is not hot water here. It wasn't too bad though condisering live in a house with six other people five of which are girls, so cold showers are not new to me, anyways it felt good after the hot run. Breakfast was at 7 and we had rice and beans, eggs, watermelon, plantains ( a different kind of banana) and mango picked right from the trees outside (by far the best mango i have EVER had). After breakfast we have "RAP" (reflection, announcements, and physicality). There is one student picked each day called "student of the day" who has to think of a reflection and physicality activity to do. And who do you think is the very first student of the day? Yes, I am. And I still have no idea what I am going to say for my reflection!
The internet is very slow here, so uploading images on my blog will be a rare occasion bc i have to go into atenas at the internet cafe and upload them. Later on tonight we are going to play soccer with the locals. I am really excited about that bc it gives me an oppotunity to interact with the locals outside of SFS. Thats all for today!
Mom..if your reading this expect a phone call sometime this evening, ill try doing it after dinner if i have time but it may be after 8:30 (my time)
Greetings from Costa Rica!
Hello everyone! I have finally figured out how to post on these spanish computers! I just wanted to write in a quick post letting you all know how things are going. I have a longer post I am writting on my laptop in my room that I am hoping to post later today if i have time? I only have 15 min. now before I have to go to class so this has to be a short one! This afternoon we went into the town..its called Atenas. We exchanged money, looked at all the different markets, and i bought a phone card! very excited now that i can call my family when i want to know. everything is very cheap here, the phone card was only 5000 colones which is eqivalent to about $10.00 to talk for abt 30 min. Life here is a lot different from anything I know from home. People live so simply, "pura vida" is how they say it..meaning pure life. The food here is sooo good, consisting of maily vegetables fruits and beans..YUM! today for lunch we had beans, watermelon, some kind of meat, brocolli, pineapple juice (SOOO GOOD) and a cut up squash cooked in egg..also verryy good. I miss you guys all so much, and whenever I see something here that I am amazed at..I always say to myself.."I wish everyone could be here to see this with me!" so thats when I take lots of pictures and write it down in my journal! anyways, thats just a quick little summary of whats going on so far. I have to get to class...pleaseee post comments on my blog! thats what I look forward to doing whenever i have a break!! miss you all and love youu:)
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