Stepping into Pura Vida
By: Kithya Borey, CAS ’28
GRIP: Sustainable Development in Monteverde, Costa Rica
Arriving in the country of ticos and ticas in the middle of the night trying to understand everything from the language to the unique ways of living felt surreal. Although I was completely lost at first, I soon encountered a kind taxi driver who patiently engaged with my broken Spanish and made me feel at ease before taking me to my hostel where I was warmly greeted by the staff, got some much-needed rest, and the next morning, picked up by a team from the Monteverde Institute, where I would spend the rest of my summer immersed in a new environment, culture, and community. It was my first time being in a foreign country alone, but despite the initial uncertainty, the experience surprisingly became quickly welcoming in under the first 24 hours.
While the three-hour car ride to Monteverde turned into a winding journey through foggy mountain roads and lush greenery, it gave me a chance to quietly take everything in. When I arrived at my homestay, I was welcomed by my mamá tica Seidy, her husband Roy, their daughter Chelsea, and their son Fabián. In spite of my Spanish speaking skills, their warmth was immediate as they showed me around the house, prepared a meal, and made sure I felt comfortable in what would be my new home for the next two months. I was nervous about communicating, but their patience and curiosity helped ease that tension. Even their dog and cats seemed eager to greet me, making the house feel that much more like home. In those first few hours, I began to see how much I would learn not just from my internship, but from daily life with my Costa Rican family.
After eating gallo pinto with a side of huevos fritos while being gently teased by my mamá tica for waking up “late” in the next morning at 7 AM (which is considered late here as many people wake up super early around 5 or 6 AM), I was off to my internship at the Monteverde Institute. Although it was only a mile and a half away, the walk took an hour due to the steep terrain, winding hills, and unpaved roads that carved through the mountainous landscape. However, it was compensated by the beauty and charm of the walk itself as I passed by colorful homes, small shops in Santa Elena, and friendly greetings from local ticos and zaguates.
By the time I arrived at the institute, I was already beginning to feel a sense of belonging as my internship coordinator welcomed me warmly by introducing me to the staff, giving me a tour of the facilities, and walking me through what to expect over the next several weeks. Throughout all that, I was completely surprised by the environment around me. Although I originally expected a more traditional, office-like setting, the institute was instead more open, vibrant, and deeply connected to nature with lush gardens, open-air walkways, and rooms that blended seamlessly with the surrounding forest. I even expected there to just be me and a small handful of other interns, but to my surprise, the institute was bustling with many other students who came from many different universities around the world to learn, conduct research, and engage in hands-on conservation work here at the institute.
For this first day, several other interns and I participated in a reforestation activity in a nearby rural area where we planted native tree seedlings to help restore parts of an area damaged by deforestation and cattle farming before hiking through surrounding trails behind the institute to learn more about the region’s biodiversity and the ecological importance of forest regeneration and species conservation. Talking with local farmers and hearing about how the land had changed over the years from periods of heavy deforestation to efforts at restoration gave me a deeper appreciation for the connection between local livelihoods and environmental stewardship. It was interesting to hear how we were contributing to the work of previous interns, researchers, and community members who had laid the groundwork for long-term sustainability and reforestation in the area, knowing that our efforts were part of a much larger, ongoing commitment to healing the land and supporting future generations.
After some delicious lunch and a pleasant afternoon discussion with my coordinator about internship expectations and schedule, I walked back home with some other interns in the rain that had begun to fall gently, soaking the unpaved roads and filling the air with the earthy scent of wet soil and leaves. As we walked, I found myself reflecting on everything I had already experienced in just a day—the people, the landscape, the rhythm of life here—and felt a quiet sense of excitement building inside me for what was to come.
Over the days in the next two weeks, several interns and I engaged in a bunch of hands-on work together such as stream water quality sampling, analyzing camera traps, volunteering at community gardens, and raking several hiking trails in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, the largest private biological reserve in Central America, where every task felt meaningful in supporting the preservation of this incredible ecosystem. Between the hard work, we shared laughter during hangouts in Santa Elena, hiked the long yet scenic Sendero Pacífico, spent some time on the beach coast in Puntarenas, which faced the Gulf of Nicoya and Pacific Ocean, and explored other places around Monteverde such as cafés, small artisan shops, and the Monteverde Waterfall (Catarata Los Murciélagos). Every now and then, we would even trade hiking boots for dancing shoes at Bar Amigos, where we socialized, played pool, and let loose like true ticos.
Although what strikes me most so far is the rhythm of life here. Unlike the fast-paced environments that I have always associated with Penn or my life back home in Philadelphia, Monteverde moves with a sense of calm and purpose. Nothing feels rushed as things flow with intention. People take the time to greet one another, to share stories, and to appreciate the world around them. It is a one-of-a-kind place where you can truly breathe in the present moment. Surrounded by forest, welcomed by community, and immersed in a culture that values connection as much as conservation, I find myself gradually beginning to slow down too—not just in pace, but in perspective. I am adjusting not only to a new place, but to a slower, more mindful way of living and working. There has never been a moment of boredom or stillness that felt empty; only pauses that invited reflection, connection, or quiet appreciation for where I am and what I am experiencing. This rhythm of “tico time” was definitely different from what I had initially expected, but was exactly what I needed to grow in unanticipated yet meaningful ways.
In a sense, it is crazy how different this experience already feels from anything I had imagined. I am nearly 3500 kilometers away from home, living at an elevation of 1800 meters while being surrounded by misty cloud forests and the sounds of wildlife that remind me daily of how far I have stepped outside my comfort zone. What started as just a summer internship is turning into so much more than professional experience. Rather than solely learning about sustainability and conservation, I am fully living it while building meaningful connections and embracing new perspectives that challenge and inspire me every day. I am really looking forward to the remaining weeks ahead, eager to contribute more and expand my horizons in ways I never expected.
¡Pura Vida!
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