Rainforest Pictures

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So the last day started with saying goodbye to the little people of the rain forest--the fun loving, hard working people of Quebrada Arroyo. This small tropical rain forest community was great. No, more than great, truly unbelievable. No crime. No drugs. Just people living a "Pure Life" compared to the rest of Costa Rica. But one stood out more then the rest. Victor. A 35 year-old Costa Rican wanting to know English. So, as we worked, he would point to the ground and say, "In English," and Steve and I would reply "Dirt". Then he would reply "Durt". Then we would say "dirt". Then he would say "Dirt". After this I would nod and smile. He would give me a grin half the size of his face. But yes, the rain forest was full of plants and animals. But I was amazed by the small community. Only three days with my friend Victor and I was able to learn the meaning of "Pura Vida". So........

EPA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm coming home tonight.


====> Martaz Jo <====

Fourth of July Vs Independence Day

Hello all! Happy Independence Day! It feels weird semi-celebrating it in another country, in my opinion, but regardless, I feel like I need to rep my country even though I’m not in it.

Well you are all probably wondering about my experience in the rain forest. Well… there was tons of rain… and lot of trees. I think that pretty much sums up the rainforest.

To be honest my time spent in the forest was great in a strange way. Aside from Felica’s constant screeching because of animals, I think I found some peace and solitude from being there. Even though I will probably be afraid of butterflies all my life, I did enjoy seeing the toucans, sloth, and even the bats flying around at night. I am really happy we went for the hike on Friday. We got to see a lot of trees and plant, many of which are endangered. I learned a lot, like pretty much all plants in the rainforest can pretty much cure anything, but cancer. On the hike there were plants for colds, heart problems, even diarrhea.(Which many of the team members needed). Yes the rainforest was tranquil apart from the weather, the bugs, the trees, the animals, high bridges, the mud, the hills (no, mountains). Really it was quite an experience.

Of all things in the rainforest, the people there were most wonderful, especially my friend Victor, he was so cool. If we came back in like two years, his English would be pretty good. He was so cool, even though he knew so much about the rainforest he was always open to know more. Victor honestly had such a sweet heart and I think the whole team is going to miss him.

The one thing that was so amazing to witness about being in the rainforest was the community. I never saw in my life a community that was so united. I really can’t put into words the unity of these people. After hearing their history it surprised me, after many failures with agriculture, they still found ways to make their community survive. I guess it isn’t a big surprise, but it was amazing to see how they got themselves through their troubles, and how they moved the community into Ecotourism. I really liked the village and all the people I’ve met.

It’s sad that the trip is ending with every minute my heart grows sadder and more anxious. Sadder because a huge part of me doesn’t want to leave San Jose. It’s been fun and tons of memories are collected in this city. I’m very anxious about getting home because I really miss my family. I feel time will move accordingly, and now try to live with the motto "Carpe Diem."

Being in Costa Rica, I’ve truly gotten to understand and experience Pura Vida (Pure Life)

hEPA!!!!!!!
**** Cristal****

Mom, I'm Staying, and there is NO Stopping Me!

EPA!!!!!
(the team's new catch phrase)
I love the rain forrest!

The ecological growth and beauty of earth allowed me to experience a greater feeling towards life. There is no explaining the evolution that I underwent this weekend. I’ve grown to a higher level by witnessing first hand one of the world’s most beautiful ecosystems -- that of the rain forest. The coexistence of man and nature within such a delicate environment, amazes me and makes me want to tear down the corporate US and tell those aristocrats to learn to be human beings again and not be ridiculous over this worthless item called cash.

Not to be anti-climatic and fearful as many people may be, I wanted to take a deeper step towards human excellence and become closer to nature. To do so, I left the comfort of my bed in the cabin and slept outside on the hardwood deck. Everything that I witnessed was so marvelous that I doubt that most of you would ever be able to understand! As the sun rose the first day that I slept outside, I witnessed the sky as if it were on fire. There was a lightening storm going on at that time and the site is something that only the very lucky would ever be able to witness. I was locked out of the room so I wasn’t able to get any video or pictures of the dazzling site, but I will always have the memories!

Right about now, most of you think I’m crazy for even thinking of sleeping outside. Well, I am, but that is beside the point! The sights, the smells, the sounds; I’ll be able to hold that for years to come! I also believe it was much safer out there than in my room. The bugs did not bother me as badly, the snoring of some of my fellow male comrades wasn’t there, and plus, I didn’t have bats messing with me in the middle of the night like they did!

If you know me well enough, then you know that I can not speak Spanish even if my life depended on it! That made the communication factor of this trip a little tough, yet I was able to make a lifelong friend even with the odds against me! ¡Victor! He is one of the hardest working people that I’ve met yet he is so down to earth. We both helped each other struggle with one another’s language just so that those barriers wouldn’t stop us from communicating in some sort of fashion! I’d love to come back somewhere on down the road and have a true conversation with him in both of our native dialects. I think we’re both most likely to work at it.

Speaking of work, rebuilding a ravaged football (soccer for all of you Gringos back in the States) field in the blazing heat was exceptionally tough! Collectively, as a team, for lack of better words, we kicked ass!

I’ve learned a gigantic lesson from my experience in Costa Rica; bite your tongue! Unneeded drama can be solved all by sucking it up and taking one for the team and not saying a word. This then allows for moments as a team to completely overshadow insignificant dilemmas that may be created by specific team members. The greatest example of this would be all of the swimming we did, whether it was in the waterfalls or in the Pacific Ocean.

I have decided that I am going to try and play football (soccer you fools) once I get to college; all because I have found it to be one of the most exciting and fulfilling sports ever! I already loved the game to begin with, but playing it is such a better experience. I am going to have to train very hard even though defensively, I am pretty darn good. However, I need to work on my headers, my dribbling, and stamina, which means I’ll probably play intramurals my first year and try to be a walk-on in my second. I play extremely aggressively, only because I learned from those on the field facing me; meaning the Ticos! Oliver is tall, he scored 2 goals. However, Rodrigo dominated the two games by scoring 500 goals. He is commonly referred to as “That Guy.” He is an outstanding player and would probably play better then anyone on the US’s World Cup team. I won’t dare give the final score because it just shows how horrible US soccer is!

There is way too much to talk about!

At the beach, there were some over-ambitious monkeys and lizards that scared the baduzle out of a couple of the girls, which includes Mr. Filipiak. The day before at the volcano trip, I asked Oliver permission to listen to my Mp3 player to experience this beautiful work of nature corresponding with masterpieces made by man. The wind, the rain, the leaves, the birds; all of the movement I saw and felt, gave me inspiration to drive myself to become closer to what life is actually supposed be. Whether it was the lack of the proper words to this, people saw me doing something that was the exact opposite of my intention. What’s done is done and cannot change, now or forever.

Finding a higher meaning to life was the greatest goal that I hoped to accomplish from this trip and that is the same sentiment everyone I discussed the trip with who did not go felt. I wanted to find my center and reach one step closer towards human excellence; I wanted to build bridges and form multiple new relationships. I believe that I have reached these goals as well many unforeseen goals that I gained along the experience. I’d like to thank everyone who helped in the whole entire experience and now it’s back to Pittsburgh at 2 PM!

---Alexander Bobbs

Pura Vida

The thought of leaving Costa Rica tommorrow is a really emotional thing to me. I have learned so many things about life that it are amazing. Although I really didn't want to go to the rainforest, but I learned more there than I did in the city. I learned about working hard for what you want. I watched people who had nothing, build up to make something. Although they haven't reached their ultimate goal, I hope by this time next year things will be booming for them.

The crazy thing about it is that I went to Quebrado as a young girl looking to recieve something from these people, but then I realized that I was the one that needed to be giving out. I didn't come to Costa Rica to recieve, I came to give. I didn't come to answer questions, I came to ask them and learn. Going out there and working hard in the hot sun really taught me some lessons. Afterwards I felt good to know that I helped someone else, that, for once, I blessed someone instead of looking to be blessed. This experience in Costa Rica was not about me coming to have a party, but being the worker, the servant. In the United States it seems like we are so stuck on ourselves with the mindset of "what can I do to get richer"; we do things a lot to get recognition, but why not be that person on the mountain, working with others towards a common goal. I mean, I rarely see my next door neighbor. I wouldn't know if she was dead or alive, these people see each other day in and day out and they show the real meaning of family. I just hope that when I get home I can keep this with me forever. I hope that when I come off of this Costa Rica "high", that my life is changed forever. I may not be able to change the dynamics of my community, but I can start with my family. I can start by working with the people I love the most. I can start by not worrying if my name will be recognized for the works I do, but I can be concerned that whatever the need is, that I do my best to work towards it.

I faced every fear I have in Costa Rica. People half my size saw me run from bugs and heard about my experience with the bats. I played soccer and ate more beans and rice than anyone I know. I didn't have much room for preference because there were a limited number of options. After all this I learned a lot from this little country. And I hope what I learned can be given to other people and that I will never forget these people. They showed me that they live by what they say everyday, and they gave me a new perception of things. So, hopefully, I can live up to this little phrase "Pura Vida!!!"

--Felicia

The End of a Journey!

Welcome to the rainforest/canopy tour.

There are 56 people in the whole town of Quebrado Arroyo, where we played soccer against the locals and lost masterfully. Victor was our tour guide while we were there and others helped us out along the way--like the cooks with the old wood fire stove.

There are two cabin areas that are split into two that hold up to 12 people total with plenty of space. The beautiful natural springs and waterfalls were wonderful after a hard's day work. And the (Evangelical) Church we visited was an experience in and of itself--more music than scripture, but very interesting. I don't think I have ever seen kids as strong as the ones we meet. They were like 3 and 5, but they were working to clear the soccer field along with us and carrying over 10 times their size. I am still sore from shoveling and moving and walking to clean up the field in order to help them play on it and use it for an event to raise money for the community.

I learned a lot about medicine. Especially where it's derived from because they explained how they used the herbal medications from plants while we were on this tour of their land. They showed us what was highly poisonous and what the kids use for crayons and food coloring. I saw many different types of birds species and ants but not so many animals. (When we visited the waterfall gardens we got to see the snakes and the butterflies--there was a unique cocoon which was golden.)

The people really appreciate what they have and enjoy sharing that same love of nature and peace and quiet with others. It was very eventful, trying to do everything at once. Sliding through the forest on a cable allowed me to view everything as a small grain that will eventually build up to a bigger picture. I have met so many people and have done so many things that I would never have thought I would do, but in the end I am glad it all came together.

I will never forget this experience. I have learned alot about teamwork, international politics, and ecological environments that are impossible to keep to myself. So, if you get a chance to view the world from a different perspective, or in a different country for that matter, never say no, just go in and do it, because with every experience you will grow and learn something that may create more unity in the world. Thank you to all the people who have helped us along the way. Though my body is aching, I had a blast and I would do it all again.

--Frances

Speechless

As I think back over these past 4 days, I struggle to find the words to describe all that we saw, did, and experienced. I think Trevor said it best after we had hiked through the rainforest and were looking out over the forest and all the way to the ocean. As I tried to frame a shot with me camera, he leaned over and said "No words or pictures can ever really capture this".

Our days away from San Jose are a jumble of images: the scary monkeys that tried to eat our food at the beach; bodysurfing in the Pacific Ocean; watching a three-toed sloth crawl across our path and pull himself into a tree; bouncing up the dirt road through the rainforest to Quebrada Arroyo; meeting all of the people at the reserve; the view of the forest from our balcony; working on the soccer field despite humidity, heat, and the tropical sun beating down on us; swimming in waterfalls; hiking through the forest eating plants and watching the wildlife; the toucans hanging out in the tree while we ate dinner; getting our butts kicked in futbol by the locals and then everyone jumping into the waterfall pool fully clothed; our party with the Ticos; zipping through the treetops hanging by just a harness; arriving back in San Jose and heading out for a surprise -- the mask maker we had visited earlier staged a maskara in the park just for us (complete with 7 guys in huge masks and a live band).

I guess I agree with Trevor there really are no words sufficient to convey the depth of this experience for everyone involved. I have traveled to many places but I don't know that I have ever truly been to anyplace as much as I have been in Costa Rica. A few days or weeks from now, when everyone has a chance to sit back and reflect on this experience there may be words but for now I am speechless...

--Wilds