How have I adapted into my host culture?

In Tortuguero

Trying to identify a snake that was found outside of our kitchen

Doing our first excavation, we found ONE baby leatherback alive!

WE eat ice cream when we get the chance!

Getting some plants to bring back to the station

In San Francisco, the village across the canal

This seems to be a very interesting topic for a blog, but unfortunately I will not be able to really dig deep on this one.

The nature of this organisation is across a canal, in the bush, and isolated from the nearby community. If I wanted to interact with the community to see what the Costa Rican culture is like I have to make the effort to do so. And thats what myself, Juan and Masao have been doing. We have taken the initiative to work with the community on a number of projects aside from our daily duties at the station and the turtle walks. These projects that we are involved in have only shown us a TINY fraction of what the culture is really like. So with that being said, I didn't really have to adapt to the culture, because I'm not entirely exposed to it (unfortunately).

On the other hand, being a white female I stand out like a sore thumb which is something that I have had to adapt to (but not the way you would probably think). In the past, other organisations and tourist have been and are involved with the community, and not just doing community work either. There have been some romantic relationships that have happened between the local men and the foreign women. SO, this has become an issue for me. A lot of the men that I have interacted with might assume that at first I'm a white tourist looking for a "quick fix", so they will behave differently with me in comparison to Juan and Masao. So this is something that I have had to adapt to. Since this is the community that I'm working with I dont want to seem like a cold harted woman so I have had to learn how to deal with the way that they may precieve me and trying to keep it professional at the same time. So far it's going well, but that doesnt stop the cheesy comments I get haha.

AHHH and of course, the Tico Time. Well I had my experience with that. Well being in the bush, the internet isnt the best. So when the internet goes down back home, we can get a technician to come and fix it the same day or in 24hrs. Here, they offer the same service, but 24hrs turns into a week. Well what can you do? Nothing, but wait.

I have also been thinking. If I was doing this internship in San Jose I dont think I would dress the same way I do while im working here. Currently, Im walking around in flip flops and unclean shirts and shorts. But when your in the city, the girls love to have their matching clothes, their makeup, and of course their high HIGH heels. If I was in San Jose, I think that I would probably have to dress somewhat to that extent if I wanted to "fit in".

#1 Assignment

To get to my host organization I had to take a water taxi. Have you ever heard of a water taxi before?! This because there are a bunch of canals that you have to go through before you get to the station, because there are no roads. Going through the canals I was admiring the vegetation and how the dark water was reflecting everything. I asked the taxi driver if I could sit right at the tip of the boat (just like the way they do it in Titanic) and let me tell you... I did feel like the king of the world!

I have been at my host organization for almost a month. This place is amazing and the best part is that every day something new and random has happened (I guess that happens when your living in the middle of no where).

After spending a few days in San Jose I made my way to Tortuguero. This place is one of the largest nesting sites in the world for green sea turtles, but there is also SO MUCH DIVERSITY. The place where I’m actually staying in is considered to be one of the most diverse areas of Costa Rica. It doesn’t take much time to realize that when you get here.

The station is filled with all sorts of trees and flowering plants to attract all sorts of monkeys, birds, and butterflies. So even when you’re away from all the busy city noises, the jungle is actually really load. At night you’ll hear the crickets, or the water pouring onto the roof, at 4am you’ll be woken up by the howler monkeys, and the birds and frogs doing their mating chants. I love laying in the hammock and listening to the sounds of nature.

I have learnt the names of many of the amazing animals that come here and learnt so much by all these very educated people. I will never forget my first impression when I saw a Collared Aracari ( it is the most bad ass Toucan you will ever see – I first thought it was like a bird that came out of hell!). I will never forget the first time I saw a beautiful turquoise morpho butterfly, or when I saw my first Leatherback sea turtle. All of these amazing things is truly a blessing to see when its simply in the wild. I now have a total different perspective of zoo’s. Seeing wild animals in their natural habitat and roaming around freely is something magical that a picture or that the discovery channel can show you. With that being said... you need to go out and see things for your self

Well everything is all beautiful and dandy, but nature can also be... not so nice. After being here for a month I’m still and probably will never be accustomed to cockroaches, biting ants, and big spiders! During a massive kitchen cleaning I had a roach run up my leg and it was the most horrifying experience! Big spiders in my room and right by my window... good thing I have a bug net!

THIS IS JUANCHO

MMMM the food! I have never tasted mangos, pineapple and plantain so juicy and sweet in my life! I’m a big fruit eater and veggie eater back home, which came in handy since most of the food we eat at the station is vegetarian (mostly because buying meat is expensive). This is probably also why beans are such a huge protein supplement, and unfortunately people who are protein desperate will also eat the turtles and their eggs, and also poach other animals in the area (including the private property of the station) The veggies here are not the greatest down here and its mostly because they rot so quickly from the humidity. The quality of foods and being able to get food whenever you want it at a relatively cheap price is one of the biggest differences. In Toronto you can get you hands on a pineapple during the winter, you can get mangoes and kiwis when ever your little heart desires it.

This is probably because of all the free trade agreements Canada has with a lot of countries around the world and is able to import tropical foods at a low price. There was recently a soccer stadium built in San Jose that the Chinese have donated to them completely! The materials and even the workers. This is a gift to them for breaking ties with the Taiwanese and creating new alliance with China. And according to the guide I spoke to, this is going to be very good for Costa Rica’s economy because the will be able to export more bananas, coffee, pineapple and mangoes. In my head when I herd this my environmentalist came out. First thing that comes to mind is more and more plantations. We all know what the issues are with plantations, and I believe that with a country where its biodiversity and environment has become imperative to its development in the first place (through eco tourism) that, if things are not done right, this new agreement can be pretty horrible for Costa Rica’s economy.

The people. Well, this organization is really isolated from the close communities and the organization is lacking some serious relationships with community members. So I have really gone out my comfort zone and tried to build some relationships with the community and so far it’s been good! The people that I have met have been really friendly, and maybe to friendly... The problem of coming here as a white female where I stand out as a tourist, I’m looked at by some men as a girl that could potentially be interested in getting a quick fix with a local guy, because “Spanish men have lava running through their veins” hahah! Besides that, I’ve noticed a big difference on how people socialise compared to Canada. I’m sure you have heard about that a lot of people in North America don’t even know their neighbour? Well here everyone knows everyone! People sit by their doors and people walk by and just spark up conservation. Also, there is also one elementary school here (which is so vital to the community) where many of the parents are involved with. But just like any small town, where everyone knows everyone... means drama. Drama on top of a conflicted area has just amplified some of the prevailing issues found in the community.

P.S I WENT TOO... THATS RIGHT.. AEROSMITH CONCERT!

Adelante Mamita - San Jose

Me and Juan had the chance to visit El Jardin de Mariposas. The Butterfly Garden. I highly recommend anyone to do this! It was such a beautiful experience. I had butterflies comming at me right and left. Check out my reaction with the butterfly on my shoulder! How often does this happen!? Well, for me it was my first! On this day I chose to ware the brightest dress I had, so that I would look like a walking flower. And it worked!

BOTOS! gorgeous! I wish I could have swam in there, but Max our tour guide said that it was to acidic. Can you tell how happy me and Juan look? We were so excited to be here!

POAS! This place is wonderfull. The pictures cannot even give this place justice. When I leaned over to look at the volcano it was like sitting in a IMAX theater with 3D and HD quality. It was some sort of high, well maybe it was all that sulphur!

This is one of the many motos that I saw driving by swerving in between the cars. You want to know what my culture shock was?... Its the driving! its like a war zone on the road, you got to fight to get ahead. This is because the roads are very small, and its very easy to get stuck in traffic. So based on the number of people on bikes, it seems like one of the easyer ways of getting around. But, do not get in their way because they will not stop. Cars and bikes have the right of way. This means that I have to look not only both sides before I cross the street, im looking in every direction and so scared whening the street. Its something that I will eventually get used to.

ADELANTE MAMITA! , thats something I herd every two seconds. People were so friendly and welcomed you to their stands with a nice warm smile. This mercado was very beautiful with a lot of things at a good price. You have to bargain with them...something that I have yet to build some courage to do.

Making a wish! This is at one of the many parks that you will find in San Jose. Thats one of the things I love so much about this place. You can just take a walk and youll see so many different parks with the locals just hanging out and the cute couples enjoying themselves.

Check this out! These trees are still standing. As you can see they paved around the trees rather then cutting them down. Pretty neat!

This is my first Costa Rican meal. It is a very traditional meal with rice, black beans, salad, potatoes, and plantain. I have to say I loved every bit of it and the most amusing part of this was the lemon. Its not the common yellow lemon you would get at your grocery store, it was greenish orange on the outside and a soft orange in the inside. It tasted like a very sour orange. I loved it!