Well, we are on our final home stretch of our month long course in Costa Rica. There have been the inevitable ups and downs that can almost always be associated with living like sardines with 20 other young adults, but I’d say mostly ups. The month was filled with ah-ha moments, fun facts and new information, passive aggressive arguments, tolerance to other’s sweats and smells, and laughs to name just a few. There were times during this trip, however, that I could have sworn we were part of a reality TV show or social experiment instead of a group of graduate students studying tropical ecology. As I look back at the month in review, it’s clear hindsight is always 20/20. Therefore, I would like to share some of my “lessons learned” to quote Dr. Williams in our last semester’s project management course.
- Solar shower heaters may save energy but are more likely to save water because they won’t be warm for long, so you better be quick!
- No matter how cute the puppy may be, don’t pet it unless you want to be infested with a healthy dose of “noseeums”
- Utilize discipline when the desert and carb trays come around
- Always take advantage of the stops to the grocery store in town. It’s better to have than to look at others with hungry and begging eyes.
- Learn spanish
- In America, pedestrians have the right away. In Costa Rica, pedestrians are known as “targets” and you best move out of the way!
- Ants are everywhere. Watch your step
- Never forget your rain jacket
- Don’t show up to a day’s work on a coffee farm hungover
- Being territorial is the only way to get what you want when trying to survive group living. If you want the (insert something desirable here) you best get there first!
- Don’t play ping-pong intoxicated. It’s likely to induce dizziness and almost always guarentees a loss when playing against sober opponents
- The bus is like real estate: location, location, location. Especially if you get car sick!
- Over estimate the amount of underwear you’ll need
- A sense of humor is your best bet in almost every scenario
- Don’t eat beans or drink coffee when you have an upset stomach
- Use the distance from loved ones back home as a chance to exercise effective communication. Words are powerful, use them wisely
- Lock the bathroom stall doors if you don’t want to be walked in. Better yet, just knock if you don’t want to walk in on others!
- Get to meals on time — even if you think you aren’t hungry. Nothing makes you hungrier than seeing a line forming before your very eyes
- Take each day at a time. Life moves slow when you’re busy planning the future!
- Flexibility isn’t just for gymnasts and figure skaters.
This goes without saying that so much else was learned during this month: personal, social, scientific, and cultural. I feel lucky to have been able to have this experience and to share it with amazing and opinionated individuals. Pura Vida!