Surprises in Costa Rica
By: Emily Roberts
Rainbow on my walk home
While at work, hearing loud crashes from the roof could mean two things. It could be the wind rattling the trees, and the branches are hitting the building, or it could mean monkeys are jumping around the roof. Monkeys, motmots, kinkajous, tarantulas, and agoutis all surprised me during my time in Monteverde. Previously, I have only seen such a wide range of wildlife enclosed in small areas at zoos. I was amazed to see vast and varied animals in their natural habitat, running free and undisturbed by human intervention.
Along with wildlife, I also have the opportunity to observe plants and beautiful nature every day. Bananas, cas, passionfruit, and mango trees are all around with the most delicious and juicy fruit. My homestay family is particularly knowledgeable of the native plants. It is not uncommon for my advisors to ask me to bring a leaf or fruit home, where my homestay dad is able to identify and name the plant with exceptional speed. A ten-minute walk from my host family’s home is a lookout point that stretches all the way to the Pacific Ocean. After bouts of torrential rain when a cloud is not covering the mountain, gorgeous rainbows can be seen that easily beat the rainbows I am used to seeing in New York and Philadelphia. I never have to go far for an amazing view. Monteverde, Costa Rica is located on a mountain with an altitude of 5,900 feet so breathtaking views can be seen from all around. The hikes around Costa Rica bring beautiful views, including the Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna waterfall.
Another surprise that came with living abroad was my lovely host family. I was expecting to stay with kind people, but I had not anticipated how welcoming and sweet they would be. I am always included in family gatherings and functions, and my host family goes out of their way to make me feel as if I am not intruding. My host mom is an amazing chef, and I am always full of gallo pinto, arroz con palmitos, empanadas, fresh fruit, and juice, among various other dishes. Whenever I emerge from my room, I am asked if I would like a cup of tea or coffee or if I would like to play a game with the granddaughter living in the house. I have also quickly fallen in love with Tato, the family’s cat, whom I am allergic to but I seem to forget that every time he wants to cuddle. Zyrtec and excessive hand washing are to thank for the development and maintenance of our inseparable bond.
Along with the abundance of pleasant surprises, my time abroad has not been without its challenges. An overwhelming amount of my belongings has inevitably been overtaken by mold due to the daily rainfall coupled with the lack of sun to dry my soaked belongings. The abundant hills and insane elevation leave me sweaty and tired after walking to and from Santa Elena, which is the center of town. The farms I have worked on have also brought challenges, such as at Valle Escondido when I spent several hours extracting an invasive plant covered from leaf to stem in intimidating thorns that easily pierced my gloves. After the plants had been extracted, they had to be moved from the greenhouse and into the chicken coop for over ninety chickens to feast on. Days on the farm have left me with dirt so deep under my fingernails I feared it would never come out. I am also never without my bottle of sunscreen and bug spray, as my skin may or may not currently be decorated with sunburns and a truly obscene amount of mosquito bites.
Despite the limited challenges, the excitement, beautiful nature, and the people I have met in Monteverde have greatly improved my global internship experience. My host family are some of the loveliest people I have ever met, the food is amazing, the nature is breathtaking, my boss and coworkers are extremely kind and welcoming, and have on several occasions allowed for me and my fellow intern to stay late to bake cinnamon rolls, banana bread, and other pastries to surprise our host families with. I am incredibly grateful for this summer, and I look forward to my final two weeks.
The Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to intern or conduct research abroad for 8 to 12 weeks over the summer. Participants gain career-enhancing experience and global exposure that is essential in a global workforce.