Back to the land of fast food, A/C, and flushing toilet paper

Now that I've been back home for a few days and reacquainted myself with the comforts of home, I can look back on my study abroad trip with fond memories that will never be forgotten. While the whole experience was out of my comfort zone as far as location, food, conditions, etc., that "foreignness" is what made it so special and memorable.  I was able to see and experience things that I will never experience back home in Louisiana.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the trip was just how different Costa Rica and its people operate.  They take pride in their natural resources, both human and environmental.  At the same time, they are also able to attract these huge companies to invest money into their economy and stimulate growth within their country and to give people better jobs and opportunities that they would not have had otherwise.  They are able to not only be a successful arena for business, but they are constantly aware of their environment.  It truly amazed me how much they recycle and how they can transform one thing into something completely different.  As an example, I would have never guessed that recycled tires could be used for jewelry string or that recycled telephone cabling could be woven to make bracelets had I not seen and witnessed it for myself.  While Costa Rica may not be as industrial or economically developed as other countries, in my opinion they have mastered the art of using what resources they do have to the best of their ability.

Another aspect I really liked about the trip was that we got to see the real Costa Rica; the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful.  I never felt as though I was being sheltered or only being shown what was good about the country.  There were moments where you could clearly see the country still has many problems, socially, economically, etc.  Other times, I could not get over just how much business and entrepreneurship and industrialism was present within the country.  It just goes to show you the dichotomy that with the good comes the bad and vice versa.

Speaking of the good, the activities we did and the sights we saw will live in my mind's eye forever.  It truly was paradise, from the beaches to the wildlife to the forestation to the sunsets and sunrises.  I had never been anywhere tropical so this truly was an eye-opening experience. I did things I had never done before like zip lining and white water tubing.  I saw things I had never seen before like the sloths and howler monkeys.  It was just a complete sensory overload at times.  Now that I am home, I can reflect and look back on all that happened and all that I saw and experienced.  I'm grateful I was able to go on the trip, and I'm thankful to have these experiences and that I was able to build these memories with my fellow program attendees.

While it was fun while it lasted, I'm glad to be home where we have constant access to air conditioning, fast food, and I don't have to worry about whether or not I can flush toilet paper down the toilet.  I will miss Fernando and his awesome tour guide skills.  I will also miss the free french fries and all the other free food from the all inclusive resort.  But mostly, I will miss spending time with everyone on the trip (both from UL and Nicholls) and laughing at Sonny's one-liners or Chris' dancing skills with a bum ankle or any of the other multitude of hilarious things that occurred during the trip.  It really was an unforgettable adventure and lifelong-lasting experience.

Pura Vida!!

Forceps, and Souvenirs, and Cables, O My!

Today was all about the business tours. Our first stop of the day was to Boston Scientific. This worldwide company produces a variety medical supplies used in various fields such as endoscopy, urology, etc.  Specifically in the Costa Rican location, Boston Scientific produces biopsy forceps, catheters, and guide wires. Our tour guide took us through each product and demonstrated how they would be used.  They also went through the various certifications and awards that they had received which recognizes them as a world leader in their respective field. While we were not able to see the products being assembled up close and personal, we did get to see examples of their clean rooms where employees sterilized their hands and gown up in preparation of entering the work area. I found their walls very interesting. They contained a multitude of things from their core values (patient care being number 1) to quality metrics showing how well they are meeting their goals. All this is in the hope of keeping employees up to date and aware of what is gong on with the company worldwide and also at their specific plant in Costa Rica.  I think it is a beneficial technique to employees because it is constant communication among employees and they feel connected to the company because they know what is going on. 

The next stop on the business tour was all about souvenirs at Sr. y Sra. Ese. The company hand makes a large variety of souvenirs from wood found locally in Costa Rica.  They supply approximately 70% of all souvenirs sold within Central America. Before they can do anything to the wood, it must be dried out for 5 years to remove any water present.  They use a multitude of woods found in Costa Rica such as guanacaste, iron wood, tiger wood, etc. The company strives to maintain the integrity of the wood so it is not treated with any chemicals or stained; it is simply sanded down and leather polished to bring out the natural beauty of the wood itself. Once the wood is polished, workers then can create the individual souvenirs ranging from jewelry, wind chimes, crosses, etc. Specifically, seeds are mixed with the wood to create the jewelry and recycled tires are used to create the string for the wind chimes.  Again we can see that companies used recycled materials and strive to generate as little waste as possible.

The last business stop of the day was at Samtec. Essentially, their company creates cabling, connectors, and other devices to facilitate transfering a signal from one location to another. They are a worldwide leader in their industry with operations in the USA, Costa Rica, China, and Malaysia. The currently have a 5A1 rating which is the highest for current and future business health. Approximately 23% of the company's manufacturing takes place in Costa Rica. Not only are they an industry leader but they also give back to their community by providing playgrounds for schools, continuing education for employees, and others. One of their main mottos is a ROCK which stands for Revise, Organize, Clean, and Keep. This serves as a guide for all employees as to what thecompany's main mission is and what they want to accomplish.  

We were not allowed to take pictures but this made sense whenever we toured the plant operations. A large majority of their machines were created and designed by engineers within the company to serve specific purposes and to accomplish specific tasks. As such, these machines are basically trade secrets and give Samtec a competitive advantage so to speak. While we could not take pictures, we were able to handle the various cables and connectors and see how much detail and precision goes into to making these components. The quality control was by far the most interesting because it involved this complex robotics system that would pick up one component, check its size and fit, and then place it into a container depending upon if it passed or failed the measurements. While I'm sure we have all encountered or used their products in some respect, I think many of us did not realize how many details going into our various devices, products, etc. and how much work goes into one tiny company of a much large object. It is really a testament as to how efficient and successful they are in that they are an industry leader and have about an 87% market share. 

Question of the Day: 

Discuss some of the pros and cons for Costa Rica in offering these zones to foreign companies and why foreign companies want to locate in these free zones. 

Free zones are specific areas where companies do not have to pay any taxes or very minimal taxes so as to encourage and boost economic growth with that area. Free zones can also be areas where goods produces do not have to be subjected to customs inspections. As such, Costa Rica employs this technique to incentive foreign companies to come to the country and set up business operations.  Obvious pros for Costa Rica offering these free zones are economic incentives. They are able to bring in huge, international companies that are leaders in their respective fields. The inflow of these businesses not only brings more money into the local economy but they also provide jobs for locals which would also improve the economy. Even better, many of these companies provide health care services, continuing education for employees, and community involvement; not only are they helping the country financially but also socially. 

Cons for Costa Rica offering free zones could be environmental impact of the businesses locating here. The government may not place as many restrictions on the foreign company as they would perhaps for a local company so setting up operations could have a significant impact on the environment in future. The government may also give the tax incentives for the companies for a specific time period but after that time expires, the company may pull out of Costa Rica all together (Intel for example). Companies leaving Costa Rica would cost the economy money because they relied on the influx the company's presence had provided in the past. Due to the incentives they provide, foreign companies may also have the upper hand in bargaining so Costa Rica may have to give up more stipulations in the negotiating process.  Not having the upper hand, the government may be essentially forced to disregard rules and regulations that they would normally enforce. Lessening their standards for foreign companies could have a financial, social, political, and environmental impact. 

As mentioned, these free zones often provide significant tax breaks or lax customs processes so these incentives would attract foreign companies to locate within these free zones. In addition to the tax breaks, foreign companies will also be able to hire local people. Because the country is relatively poor, the cost of labor is dramatically decreased and thus the company's costs are even lower. Foreign company's overhead costs would be dramatically lower in these free zones in a country like Costa Rica. These large incentives attract companies to Costa Rica and make it cost-effective and ideal to locate a base of operations within the country. 

Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

After two nights, we had a final breakfast at Earth and departed the Carribean side of Costa Rica to began the journey back towards San Jose. Our first stop along the return trip was the Hacienda Tayutic. Our tour guide Sergio took us around the property where we got to experience panoramic views of the surrounding scenery. He also took us to a local church that resides on the property. Originally, the church was in a surrounding community as it is 250 years old. It was later moved to this property when the locals wanted to build a newer, bigger church. The church on the property is still used for weddings and mass. Additionally, there is a gazebo overlooking the valley and mountains that can be used for civil weddings. 

Next, Sergio walked us through the process of macadamia production. The plants take 7-8 years to mature before they can produce the nuts. There is no actually harvesting process as the nuts fall off the tree once they are ripe. The workers would then simply collect the nuts and they would be processed from there. Sergio explained that initially all the plants are male (featuring spiky leaves) and that later a female branch is attached to facilitate reproduction.  In the processing, the green outer skin is first removed to reveal a hard center core which contains the nut.  The nuts are separated by quality based on the color of this shell; brown being first quality and black being second quality. Black nuts are removed and placed in an oven to remove the humidity and hopefully change the color to make them first quality. Also, sometimes nuts are removed because the hard center is empty as squirrels have eaten the nut.  Finally the hard outer core is removed to extract the nut and then they can be exported and sold.

We were then taken to a room where we again provided with amazing views and given refreshments; specifically featuring a drink made with sugar cane. One of the managers of Assukar Sugar Company then gave us a presentation with an overview of their process and the history of the company. They are one of the only companies to make organic sugar products in the world. As a result, they export to 16 countries worldwide including the US, France, and Spain to name a few. We also had a short trivia competition where by answering a question correctly, we were rewarded with a goody bag featuring some of the companies products.  I correctly answered the question about their first product which was the panela blocks (solid sugar). 

After leaving the hacienda, we had chicharones (pork) at a local restaurant. Following lunch, we made the journey to Cartago to visit our first business company. Vitec is a British company that makes a multitude of tripods, fluid heads, and other camera accessories.  Julio, the president of the Costa Rican branch, gave us a presentation to give us background information on what their overall parent company does and what is specifically produced in the Costa Rican location. A few of the brands produced in their location are Manfotto (Italian), Sacher (German), and OCONNOR (British). While describing their production process, Julio showed us a board that featured small improvements created by employees. The employees essentially provide solutions or better efficieny techniques for small problems or tasks. While the solution may be small, it can have a larger impact. I think it is a great system because not only does it encourage the employees to improve things but it also benefits the company as a whole. 

After touring the manual assembly productions lines and seeing how the workers put the components together, we then went into the machine production part of the plant. We got to see how large, solid chunks of solid aluminum are cut down and shaped into the base of future components. The metal parts are then run through an oxidizing process to prevent rust and corrosion and to also give it the black color. While I am not an engineer or mechanic, I could still appreciate all the different components and variables that go into making these products. Vitec Group houses numerous leading brands of camera accessories that are used worldwide in broadcasting and photography. To name a few, Vitec can boast BBC, ESPN, National Geographic and many more as customers who purchase their products. 

The last stop of the day during our journey back to San Jose was the Cartago Basilica. It was built in 1912 and features Our Lady of Angels as the patron saint. The origin of the church dates back to the 1600s where a young girl found a statue in the shape of the Virgin Mary. She took the statue home but in the morning it had disappeared. She went back to the spot where she found it and it was there again. She took it home and once again it disappeared. She informed a priest of this occurrence and he dismissed it. He took the statue with him to the church and once again it disappeared. The priest then found it at its origin spot the next day. The locals took this instances as a sign that a church should be built there. A unique attraction at the basilica is the spring. Basically, people come from all over to collect the water and bring it back home or to someone affected with some affliction.  Individuals have their own intentions that they pray for and when that intention occurs, they would then return to the church to place a memento (charm, trophy, etc.) to commemorate that their prayers were answered. 

Question of the Day: 

Explain the concepts of supply and demand using specific examples from Vitec and Assukkar. 

The basic principle of supply and demand is to generate your supply so that it matches demand (i.e. the market is at equilibrium). For companies, they want to have enough supply to meet the demand but also not have too much supply so that they are not bleeding money from covering warehousing costs to store an abundance of inventory. In some industries, demand is more stable so businesses have a better idea of how much inventory they need (necessities like milk or bread). In other industries, demand is more volatile so they have to be prepared for demand to drop or increase rapidly (oil for example). 

Vitec and Assukkar demonstrate two different scenarios that can occur in the supply and demand process. In the case of Assukkar, the manager told us that their demand was higher than the supply. They cannot make enough product to meet all demand because they are one of the only companies in the world to create organic sugar products.  In this case, there would be a shortage in the market which causes the price to increase. As the manager told us, the product sells for about $1 in Costa Rica but in the USA (at Whole Foods for example), the price jumps up to $9.50. We can see how high demand paired with a lower supply creates a shortage and forces the price up.  

In Vitec's case, almost the opposite occurs. Vitec supplies tripods, fluid heads, and other camera accessories to professionals and companies within the broadcasting and photography world. Due to this fact, their products are a speciality and as such the demand is not as high as sugar for example. Because the demand is lower, their supply would need to be lower. If their supply was too high, then there would be a surplus and it would drive the price down.  To avoid this, Vitec seems to employ a just in time inventory. They make enough products to just meet the demand so that there isn't a shortage or surplus in the market. Julio told us that their products may only sit in their warehouse a day or two at the most and then they are loaded onto containers and shipped out. 

In both cases, the companies are successful within their respective supply and demand scenarios. They understand what their demand and how they can meet that demand as best as possible with their supply. 

Earth is Bananas....B A N A N A S!!!!

We all survived the first night at Earth. I think it got a bad reputation...it was actually relatively cool over night but the raining conditions overnight helped our cause.  Breakfast was a montage of fruit, granola, yogurt, and different rice dishes. The jambalaya-type rice dish was my favorite. After breakfast, we began our 4 hour tour of the various activities that take place throughout the University.  First up was a short video giving us an overview of Earth University and its mission. The big theme of the video was about the students being "agents for change". Not only does the university provide students with the agricultural skills and knowledge, but they encourage them to be leaders and bring about change when they go back to their respective hometowns after graduation.  This message and mentality is what makes Earth unique and special in my opinion.  They admit students who are already leaders in their own respect, but they give them a mindset and value set that they can use to be successful in wherever they may end up.

Next up was the BANANAS!! With our guide Miguel, we walked through the banana fields to see how these trees grow and how they are harvested.  First off is the banana fruit that grows from the tree. The leaves of the fruit will later fold downward and expose the stems that will  eventually become the banana fruit. 

Once the banana matures, it will be ready for harvest via machete.  The blue bags protect against insects and create a microclimate that is critical for the maturity of bananas.  After a tree is harvested, the old tree is cut and folded down so that it will decompose and recycle nutrients back into the ground.  Typically, there is approximately 90-100 bananas per bunch and a foam padding is used to separate the different bunches on a single tree.  The bunches are then loaded onto a train pulley type of system where they are either mechanically or human delivered to the banana processing plant. 

Once the bananas arrive at the processing plant, the foam padding is removed and any defective bananas (small size or bruised) are removed and used to sell in local markets or used to make baby food. The bananas then go through a car wash where any dirt or insects are removed with soap and water. After this, the big bunch is separated into small bunches (say 8 bananas or so) and then the smaller bunches are again washed with just water.  Plant workers then remove the small bunches and place them on the conveyor belt where they are grouped and tagged with stickers. Finally, the bananas are packaged into boxes and placed into shipping containers to be exported.

While the banana process was very interesting, I was even more impressed with the agricultural projects undertaken by the students.  They strive to grow healthy and organic products using other substrates besides soil. Specifically, they use rice husks, charcoal, and coconut fibers as their soil type mixture.  This process goes back to their mission for their students to be agents of change.  In their hometowns, they may not have access to fertile soil or may not be able to afford the tools and resources need to plant a farm. With this alternative method, they can re-use what is already present around them and utilize cheaper materials.  It is so vital for students to be able to use the skills they learn at Earth in any situation and this project process helps them accomplish this. 

The last stop on our tour was the integrated animal farm. Here they raise cows and pigs and recycle the waste to create methane gas. They also mix in the manure with the soil and use the California red worms to absorb the waste and replenish the soil with nutrients.  These processes go back to the idea of having no waste and that something can always be used to make or help create something else. 

Lastly the Question of the Day,

As a student or employee  are there any principles or concepts that you take with you from EARTH to benefit your organization or other businesses in the U.S.?  Discuss and give examples.

I think that the principles and values instilled and taught at Earth University can be applied to almost any business situation.  Firstly, "agents of change" can positively benefit any business. No business can survive if they never change or adapt over time. Being open to new ideas and new techniques is critical to future growth and success. Throughout history, leaders such as Benjamin Franklin, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King made it their mission to introduce new ways of thinking. Initially they may have been met with resistance, but looking back on them now we can see that they had a forward thinking mindset.  Specifically in my case, I work at UL in Lee Hall in the Academic Success Center. One of the biggest services we provide to students is free tutoring.  We have to be able to not only find good tutors, but to ensure that the tutoring is effective. We have to be able to perform quality control and make sure that it is being successful, so we must be open to change and fix whatever isn't working. 

Another concept that is applicable to the business world is Earth's policy of no waste. Earth students find alternative materials and techniques to grow and produce plants using non-soil substrates. It illustrates that concept of one man's trash is another man's treasure. It shows that we can always use materials outside of the box and find other ways of doing things. I think this is readily applicable in any business industry. There is always companies that create similar services or products, but they may do the same thing all in different ways. To me, businesses must be able to think outside of the box and constantly come up with techniques to better their process and improve efficiency.  For businesses, I think they can recycle their materials or find ways to donate them where they can be useful. They will be eco-friendly and better their reputation. Businesses constantly should be maintaining their public image because it can make or break their success. 

To continue the adventures tomorrow,

Katie Simon 

 

Hiking and Driving

Despite having no air conditioning, I got a decent night's sleep. I actually got a little cold during the night and pulled up the covers.  The breakfast from Alex was phenomenal! The brownie bead and homemade bread were to die for!!

After breakfast, we all departed to head to Cahuita National Park. This is another national park and is located right on the Carribean coast.  We took a hike through the forest to hopefully see different types of wildlife. We managed to see some blue crabs throughout the trail. About halfway through the walk, we crossed a wonderful beach where the cool water was natural air conditioning and very refreshing. Our group then split in halfm, with one group going forward and another group heading back to the beach. 

I was with the group that headed back the beach. During our down time, I had a very good conversation with Mr Mike from Nicholls.  We discussed his job and his past with the study abroad program in Costa Rica.  We also discuss my masters program and my graduate assistantship on campus. While we did not get to see snakes or monkeys, we did manage to spot a black and red toucan which was exciting. 

While we were waiting for the rest of the group to return, we meet a very nice couple. The woman was from Malaysia and the man was from London and they live in Kaula Lampur.  They were telling us about how they were wanting to take a taxi from San Jose to Cahuita I believe.  They couldn't get over how expensive the trip was and weren't willing to the pay the $100. I think they finally got a ride with another cab driver who wasn't as expensive but they still thought the trip was expensive. We also discussed the different cuisines in Malaysia and Louisiana and Costa Rica. I know we all throughly enjoyed the discussion.

After regrouping, we went back to El Encanto and checked out. It was a little sad to leave because it was just so picturesque. We then had lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we had about an hour drive to Limón. Limón is one of the two biggest ports in Costa Rica and handles about 80% of Costa Rican exports. We walked through a local park and got to head right up to the coast where we all took group photos. We also walked to a shopping area where we got to treat ourselves to ice cream which was very yummy. 

We left Limón to begin the journey back towards Earth University.  We also passed right by Moin, the other big port on the Carribean side.  After another hour or so long ride, we finally arrived to Earth University.  While it doesn't have A/C, our rooms reminded me a lot of past summer camp experiences.  After dinner, we all had an amazing time playing Heads Up.  We all broken into groups and got to act out and do impressions for our partner to try and guess the answer. It was a really fun experience and another group bonding moment. 

Ready for the next experience, 

Katie Simon

All About the sloths, bout the sloths, no touching

First off, to address the question of the day "Why is it economically important for Costa Rica to protect its wildlife?"  

In my opinion, the majority of the reason is based on tourism.  I believe you, Dr. Lanier, had told us that roughly 60% of Costa Rica's economy is from tourism. Based on this fact, it is clear to see that tourism is a vital part of their country.  By taking the appropriate steps to protect their wildlife, Costa Rica ensure their survival and prosperity. The protected wildlife attracts tourists to the country because they want to see the indigenous creatures located here in Costa Rica, such as the sloths. By protecting the wildlife, the government ensures that there is ample reason in place to attract tourists and boost the economy.  Additionally, by protecting the wildlife, it could provide opportunities for research and potential grant money. By having plants and animals that are only located in Costa Rica, it would bring in those people who desire to study and research these unique beings. Research often uses grants for funding so again this could be another incentive for wildlife protect because it helps boost the economy.  

Now to talk about the fun stuff! The day we have all been waiting for finally happened today....we got to see the sloths! After breakfast at the Tryp Sabana, we departed San Jose and drove about three hours over the central volcanic mountain range to get to the Carribean side of the country. The windy and bumpy roads got a little much at times but we all made it through.  About halfway through the trip, we stopped at a local fruit stand where there was a multitude of fruits to taste test. I put my finicky side away for a second and I did try the un-ripe mango. I didn't realize at the time that it was un-ripe but I still tried it. I didn't care for the taste (it hadn't quite sweetened up all the way) and the fibrous texture threw me off kilter a bit. 

After making the trek from the Central Valley to the Carribean coast, we finally made it to the Sloth Sanctuary. We all could not wait see the sloths. First off, we started with a smooth canoe ride down the little river to check out the plants and hopefully see some wildlife. The bamboo was so thick and dense and I definitely did not expect to see that in Costa Rica. I immediately thought that any panda would be happy to munch on that anytime. We also saw banana trees and coconut trees during the boat ride. We manage to spot a salamander, small iguana, and a frog throughout the trip. 

The highlight of the canoe ride was when we got to witness "play time" for the sloths. It was beyond amazing to see how they move around and interact with one another. They always seems to be smiling so it's great to see them as though they are constantly happy; which I'm sure they are considering they play half the day and sleep half the day. I think one sloth even wanted to come with us because he keep moving closer and closer to us until finally one of the workers picked him up by his fingers and put him back in the central play area. 

After the boat ride, Marco our tour guide gave us a multitude of information about sloths...most interesting being their bathroom habits in that they only go once a week. Seems as though that would be difficult but it's just their normal routine. He also introduced us to Mellie, Toyota, Tasmania, and Johnny Depp.  All of them were two finger sloths except for Toyota. He was my favorite because he was three fingered and he had lost an arm from being electrocuted. While of course I don't like the fact that he was electrocuted, I think it shows how resilient animals are in that they can bounce back from almost anything  I also thought the relationship dynamic between Tasmania and Johnny Depp was interesting in that sloths are normally solitary creatures, but they formed a bond because they came to the sanctuary together as babies. The final stop on our tour was to visit the baby sloths in the nursery. While Gabi told us we would be able to hold a baby sloth, this was not the case. Despite that, we all got an up close look at Spirit when Marco went around the room with her in a blanket.  Katie from Nicholls University started the sloth selfie and everyone jumped on that trend real quick.  

Even though there is still lots more to see, I feel as though the Sloth Sanctuary will be the best experience by far. It was tons of fun but still educational and informational at the same time. We got learn about their habits and see their daily routine. I think we all took an obnoxious amount of pictures because we are likely never to see their animals again and we wanted to make sure we never forgot the experience. After lunch at a local restuarant, we travelled to our bed and breakfast in Cahuita where we would be staying the night. Because we are three girls to a room, Alex, Renee, and I got an amazing suite that features a huge king size bed, two single beds, a full kitchen, rainfall shower head, living area, and a terrace complete with a hammock.  It also featured ocean views so it was definitely idyllic, even without air conditioning. 

After checking in, we went into town and were able to take in the beach and the amazing views. Even though I took pictures, I felt as though my trying to capture those moments would not even do the view and experience justice. It was a natural beauty and ambience that could not be contained or replicated. It was nice to have some downtime and just take in the culture of the area. 

The day exceeded my expectations and I will never forget the sloths!!

Hasta mañana,

Katie Simon

Pura Vida

Today was finally the day!! After all the waiting and planning and anticipation, we finally left Louisiana to make our way to Costa Rica.  Despite waking up at 3:30am, I was filled with excitement because I knew it was finally time to begin the adventure.  Even the early morning rain couldn't dampen my spirits.  After a short flight from Lafayette to Houston, I refueled with Cinnabon to get me through the rest of the journey.

About three hours later, we finally landed in San Jose and were officially on Costa Rican time.  After making our way through customs and getting to the Tryp Sabana Hotel, it was time for my favorite part of the day...eating!!! By this time, we were all starving and beginning to waste away. So we all grabbed our rain jackets and made the short walk with Fernando, our local Costa Rican guide, to Soda Tapia. This is a local sandwich type restaurant located in San Jose and we all (most of us anyways) throughly enjoyed hamburgers and lots of French fries. 

After re-energizing, we walked back to the Tryp. On our way back, we stopped at a local supermarket to get some snacks. After a full day of travel, we finally got to have a brief reprieve to relax and recharge in our rooms.  The weather had fcleared up at least somewhat, so we could see some of the surrounding landscape, as San Jose is located in the Central Valley. We could see the volcanic mountain range beginning to peak through, after some of the rain and clouds had moved out. 

We met with Fernando to discuss the itinerary for the entire trip and he taught us "pura vida". This saying means "pure life" and is used in all types of situations such as hello and goodbye.  After our orientation, we were able to sit back and relax for the rest of the evening. We even came to the hotel bar and had a blog writing party...already having those group bonding moments!!! We did have a slight disappointment from finding out we would not be visiting Rawlings baseball factory. On a more positive note, tomorrow is all about the sloths!!! Needless to say, we are all tremendously excited!!!!!

Hasta mañana,

Katie Simon