Costa Rica: La Playa Samara

The last two days were spent on the beach at Villas Playa Samara. You would think with all of the adventure in the cloud forest the beach would be our time for rest and relaxation. Nope...most of the time was spent learning to surf, horse-back riding, kayaking, and swimming. Unfortunately, I got the icky stomach bug and had to sit out the excitement of surfing and getting stung by jelly-fish (yes, those dudes were biting). So, my time at the beach was relaxing (because it had to be). Nonetheless, I was able to enjoy the full-moon beach bonfire that our fabulous bus-driver, Johnny, initiated, the incredible sunsets (see photos) and take some great surfing shots. As is the case in many of my travels, I also had the joy of experiencing the farmacia and trying to explain in Spanish my condition. All I really had to say was diarrhea and he immediately handed me the Imodium and some sort of elixir. I have learned that international pharmacists know best, thus I did not even ask questions before slipping him the colones (Costa Rican currency), swallowing the little white pill, and washing it down with the luke warm, orange-flavored elixir.

After a short two days at the beach, it was time to bid farewell to paradise. Pura vida!

Costa Rica: Off Campus Adventure

Day four we hopped on a bus and headed into the Monteverde cloud forest reserve for some quetzal viewing (the incredible cloud-forest bird) and then went zip-lining on the Sky Trek. Zip-lining never gets old...this is my third time doing it and once again it was fantastic. But, I gotta say I would choose to do it in no other place than the green, lush, and sometimes wet Costa Rican cloud forest. The vistas are brilliant.

Costa Rica: On Campus Adventure

The thing I love about this spring break program is the coupling of both educational and adventurous activities in one tightly packed weekly schedule. There are a few rest breaks, but for the most part it is an intense learning experience while at the serene UGA Costa Rica campus (seven days) and then the last two days of the trip is spent on the beach. While on campus we went on night hikes (saw a tarantula), hiked to a waterfall (while learning all about the flora and fauna), walked to a local coffee farm, toured around, and drank coffee (saw a sloth hanging out in a tree), learned about the medicinal uses of the various flora and fauna, helped with the reforestation project in Costa Rica, in the outdoor classroom attended classes named "plant-o-rama" and "insect-o-rama" (where we attempted to catch butterflies and many of our students got ticks), walked to a locals house for a cooking class (where I stepped into an ant highway and OUCH!), learned to dance cumbia and merengue, tried to milk a diary cow (as the dudette took a BIG dump), and the students even went on a one-night home-stay with local families. So, yes...our week on campus was extremely busy and incredibly educational, not to mention F-U-N. Charlie and I really enjoyed the group of students as they were actually engaged, curious, and on-time, which made our job much easier.

Costa Rica: Sustainability & Authenticity

The 155 acre UGA Costa Rica campus that sits in the premontane humid forest is incredible! This is the second time I have visited the campus and I am so impressed with the sustainability efforts on campus and the genuine connection with the local San Luis community. Every student that visits the campus on a study abroad program also pays into the carbon-offset program, wherein campus staff plant four trees per student. As a visitor to campus, not only do we get to partake in all of the nature-related activities, but we are also well fed with the local organic cuisine (lots of rice, bean, fruits, and veggies). The campus includes 47 acres of small-scale sustainable agriculture...organic farms and farm animals, for example "Pinto" one of the dairy cows. The amazing thing is that the local staff really takes pride in the sustainability efforts, everything from developing the composting system to the security guards suggesting ways to save energy by efficient lighting on campus. We heard many stories about how the local staff have taught and shared their sustainable ways to make the campus even more sustainable. In addition, many of the activities offered (coffee farm, medicial plants, cooking class, etc.) are hosted in local homes and presented by the local community, but in a very authentic way. And, this is something that I am very critical of these days, as I think too many "cultural" tours are developed in an inauthentic way with only entertainment in mind (what will entertain those stupid Americans?) The Costa Rican culture is still in tact and you can tell that they simply want to share their way of life...not put on a show for the tourists.

It is evident that the UGA campus in Costa Rica belongs to the local people of San Luis, as much as it belongs to UGA.

Another Spring Break in Costa Rica

Another spring break in Costa Rica! Back in 2008 when I was recruited to the UGA PhD program Professor Toma offered me the opportunity to be a teaching assistant for the Franklin Residential Hall spring break study abroad program to Costa Rica...an offer that eventually became reality. In 2009, I accompanied a group of students and the Toma family on the Costa Rica program. In 2010, not enough students signed up for the program to rationalize my attendance, so I went skiing in Colorado instead. This year I found myself taking more of a lead role in the program, as Professor Toma battles a terminal illness. Without Professor Toma at the reigns I had to convince (or just simply ask) a different faculty member to teach the course. Luckily, the Director of the UGA Costa Rica Campus, Quint Newcomer, stepped up as the faculty of record. With a great professor in place we recruited 19 undergrad students and began meeting regularly in January to teach students about the ecology and culture of Costa Rica before the trip to Costa Rica March 12-20.

The flight to Costa Rica was oversold with many spring breakers which meant that Charlie and I had to arrive a day earlier than the students...oh darn . Actually, it was very nice for just the two of us to travel to Costa Rica to ready ourselves for a week of herding cats (or undergrads). We stayed at the airport Hilton and began our Costa Rica adventure with warm tortilla chips, pico gallo, guacamole, and Imperial beer poolside.

The next day the craziness began...all of the students arrived and we loaded up on a mini-bus for a 4 hour bus trip to the beautiful and amazing UGA Costa Rica campus.

International Dinner Soiree

Charlie and I have been talking about hosting a dinner party with all of our fabulous internationally-minded friends since the fall. Finally, the soiree grew wings as we hosted a group of eight friends from Brazil, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and the motherland on Saturday p.m. Of course the evening included a few games with special guests Gadhafi, Cinderella, Lady Gaga, Bono, and even Darwin (have you ever played the game where you get a famous name stuck to your forehead and you have to guess who you are by asking yes/no questions?) We also played the old-time favorite charades while wearing Mardi Gras beads and ended the evening with a grand finale of everyone's favorite make-me-sweat wii game. Charlie and I spent a good portion of the afternoon cooking up a storm: chicken and chickpeas (for the carnivores in the group), polenta, caprese salad, and ratatouille. Delicious! We topped off the evening with some Belgium chocolate and a serious dance-off! This was definitely the highlight of the evening as we danced and sweated to the Wii Michael Jackson Experience. Imagine Gadhafi, Justin Bieber, Bono, and even George Bush dancing like zombies to the Michael Jackson classic "Thriller"...if that does not spell world peace, I am not sure what does. Oh, I cannot forget to thank Raul and Jose for willingly participating in Leasa's infamous "jumping" photos. Yes, more to add to my collection!

San Francisco & a Leopard-Print Bathrobe.

Seriously, I love San Francisco...the beautiful views of the bridges, funky architecture, sour dough bread, walking up and down the steep hills, Ghirardelli chocolate, cable car, and the diversity. I arrived on a Saturday afternoon (2 days before the conference began) and it just so happened to be raining (more like a torrential downpour). Guess what I forgot to pack? Um, yeah an umbrella. Oh well! I hopped on an airport shuttle and to the city I went. A beefeater, dressed up like a bodyguard of the British Monarch (see photo to left and below) greeted me at the entrance of my hotel...I stayed at the Union Square Sir Francis Drake, instead of the over-the-top expensive conference hotel. (Ah, the joys of being on a grad student travel budget.) Actually the Sir Francis Drake was one block from the conference hotel. So, it made for a very convenient spot to stay, plus it was located on Powell St. where the cable car runs, plus it offered some VERY cool amenities (keep reading...), plus the dude dressed in red threads with a fancy flowery hat greeted me every time I entered/exited the hotel. On arrival I checked into the funky, yet swank hotel and walked across the street to Walgreens (how convenient) to pick up an umbrella. WHAT...$18 for an umbrella? I must be in the big city! I skipped the umbrella purchase and instead decided to check out the hotel digs. I soon realized that the best hotel amenity was in the closet...two super chic bathrobes--one leopard print and the other zebra print. Ahhhh...some. I tried both of them on (not at the same time), decided on the leopard print, and lounged around in the hotel room (with free wireless) until the rain subsided around 7 p.m. Then, out to see the city, which was great timing because the Chinese New Year parade just so happened to be traveling right by my hotel.

The next day was SUNNY! Did my morning yoga, laced up the walking shoes, and headed out to explore the city. I walked all over...first to Whole Foods for breakfast. Then, to Chinatown, North Beach (smell that garlic), Fisherman's Wharf, and Ghirardelli Square. From there I walked up, up, up Hyde Street and down, down, down the crooked Lombard Street and slowly made my way back to the hotel. After a full day of walking my legs were tingly and the leopard print bathrobe never felt so good.

The next two days were intense conference days...thus, I did not leave the conference hotel except to walk back to/from the Sir Francis hotel. It was sad to leave SF...such a great trip!