January 12, 2016
We left Drake Bay by boat to go to back the pier and then get in the vans to head onto our last place. On the way to the other side of the Osa Peninsula, we stopped at Neotropica, an organization that is rehabilitating ecosystems by planting mangroves. We volunteered by planting them, but the tide came up really fast! We had to swim across a river to get to the vans. The current was really strong! We all made it across but lost some stuff along the way. After planting, we went to their educational center where we had lunch and then a presentation. 6 out of the 7 species of mangrove species in Costa Rica can be found in the Osa Peninsula.
We made it to our lodge after dark, which made for an interesting experience. We all stayed in tents so we weren't all really for it at first since we literally had no idea of our surroundings. (Which isn't normally that bad, but when there are venomous spiders and snakes around, it isn't the most fun time.) The food we had at dinner was delicious though!
January 13, 2016
I woke up really early to see the sunrise. It was absolutely gorgeous. The beach of the lodge is right on the Golfo Dulce and there are mountains all around. It was perfect. Once I figured out my surroundings, Morgan's really grew on me! I borrowed a book from a Miami alum, Annie, that is doing some sustainability projects and marketing for the Morgans. I read it in a hammock looking up at the palm and beach almond trees, hearing macaws and howler monkeys calling in the trees next to me, and the waves crashing on the beach. If I could ever stop time, it would be for that hour. After that, we had designated research time. Two of my group members went out to collect data for the last time while the rest of us did data input. Later that day, we visited an arboretum with a centennial garden. It was a really cool experience. For class that night, we had a journalism discussion. The journalism class that went on the trip with us gave me a whole new perspective when it comes to not only scientific research, but just even reading the newspaper.
January 14, 2016
WE STARTED OUT THE DAY GOING ON A DOLPHIN TOUR! We were surrounded by dolphins (spotted and the common bottlenose) on all sides! It was so cool. We also got to go snorkeling and saw a sea turtle! (I have a GoPro video that I will have up soon of it!)
As per usual, we had more time for our research project when we got back. We worked on the presentation and did some data crunching.
January 15, 2016
We went on a mangrove kayak tour. I went during the earlier session. The sun came through the trees just right and would look like it was almost dancing on the water. It was gorgeous and so serene (when you weren't being playing bumper boats with people). It's also really tiring! Afterwards, we went in to Puerto Jimenez for ice cream! Before dinner, we had a discussion on agroforestry. During dinner, we had an agriculture presentation. We worked on our research project presentation and then IT CRASHED! IT WAS GONE!
January 16, 2016
But, no worries! I finished the presentation! It got completed before we had to present it. I think it went really well and the professors all seemed to really like it! The other projects done by my classmates were really good and interesting!
January 17, 2016
We left Morgan's after breakfast to head to San Jose. We got to explore a little bit. Hailey and I walked down Av. Central. We saw the National Theater. Then we saw the Central Bank Museum was open! There were exhibits on Pre-Columbian gold and Numismatics. Then we had dinner at Marco's restaurant. It was so pretty and the food was really good!
January 18, 2016
We woke up bright and early to go to the airport. It was an amazing trip, that I wouldn't trade for the world!
Looking back on it now, I cannot believe I got to go on such an incredible trip! I got to:
As always, I cannot wait to travel again. While reflecting on traveling to Costa Rica over J-term, I've started a new semester at Miami and have been applying to internships in Washington D.C. and the Philippines. So wish me luck and hopefully I'll be headed to somewhere new and exciting again soon!
Lots of love,
Kirsten
P.S. Come back soon for updates on what I'll be doing over the summer! Talk to you soon!
We left Drake Bay by boat to go to back the pier and then get in the vans to head onto our last place. On the way to the other side of the Osa Peninsula, we stopped at Neotropica, an organization that is rehabilitating ecosystems by planting mangroves. We volunteered by planting them, but the tide came up really fast! We had to swim across a river to get to the vans. The current was really strong! We all made it across but lost some stuff along the way. After planting, we went to their educational center where we had lunch and then a presentation. 6 out of the 7 species of mangrove species in Costa Rica can be found in the Osa Peninsula.
We made it to our lodge after dark, which made for an interesting experience. We all stayed in tents so we weren't all really for it at first since we literally had no idea of our surroundings. (Which isn't normally that bad, but when there are venomous spiders and snakes around, it isn't the most fun time.) The food we had at dinner was delicious though!
January 13, 2016
I woke up really early to see the sunrise. It was absolutely gorgeous. The beach of the lodge is right on the Golfo Dulce and there are mountains all around. It was perfect. Once I figured out my surroundings, Morgan's really grew on me! I borrowed a book from a Miami alum, Annie, that is doing some sustainability projects and marketing for the Morgans. I read it in a hammock looking up at the palm and beach almond trees, hearing macaws and howler monkeys calling in the trees next to me, and the waves crashing on the beach. If I could ever stop time, it would be for that hour. After that, we had designated research time. Two of my group members went out to collect data for the last time while the rest of us did data input. Later that day, we visited an arboretum with a centennial garden. It was a really cool experience. For class that night, we had a journalism discussion. The journalism class that went on the trip with us gave me a whole new perspective when it comes to not only scientific research, but just even reading the newspaper.
January 14, 2016
WE STARTED OUT THE DAY GOING ON A DOLPHIN TOUR! We were surrounded by dolphins (spotted and the common bottlenose) on all sides! It was so cool. We also got to go snorkeling and saw a sea turtle! (I have a GoPro video that I will have up soon of it!)
As per usual, we had more time for our research project when we got back. We worked on the presentation and did some data crunching.
January 15, 2016
We went on a mangrove kayak tour. I went during the earlier session. The sun came through the trees just right and would look like it was almost dancing on the water. It was gorgeous and so serene (when you weren't being playing bumper boats with people). It's also really tiring! Afterwards, we went in to Puerto Jimenez for ice cream! Before dinner, we had a discussion on agroforestry. During dinner, we had an agriculture presentation. We worked on our research project presentation and then IT CRASHED! IT WAS GONE!
January 16, 2016
But, no worries! I finished the presentation! It got completed before we had to present it. I think it went really well and the professors all seemed to really like it! The other projects done by my classmates were really good and interesting!
January 17, 2016
We left Morgan's after breakfast to head to San Jose. We got to explore a little bit. Hailey and I walked down Av. Central. We saw the National Theater. Then we saw the Central Bank Museum was open! There were exhibits on Pre-Columbian gold and Numismatics. Then we had dinner at Marco's restaurant. It was so pretty and the food was really good!
January 18, 2016
We woke up bright and early to go to the airport. It was an amazing trip, that I wouldn't trade for the world!
Looking back on it now, I cannot believe I got to go on such an incredible trip! I got to:
- See an ocelot
- Go snorkeling
- Take a gazillion pictures
- Go ziplining through the clouds above the rainforest canopy
- Make some amazing friends
- Fall in love with early morning birding
- Watch the sunrise
- See a sea turtle
As always, I cannot wait to travel again. While reflecting on traveling to Costa Rica over J-term, I've started a new semester at Miami and have been applying to internships in Washington D.C. and the Philippines. So wish me luck and hopefully I'll be headed to somewhere new and exciting again soon!
Lots of love,
Kirsten
P.S. Come back soon for updates on what I'll be doing over the summer! Talk to you soon!