After coming back from my amazing trip to Costa Rica, it is difficult for me to find the words to describe the immense beauty that I experienced during this trip. It makes me wish that I sat down and journaled during the moment so I can share details from my experience. Alas, I didn’t journal as much as I would have wanted because I was having too much fun. Usually when I would try to sit down and write about my day it was time to go off to our next adventure or time to grub on delicious food.
Nonetheless, what I do want to express in my first blog of my community service trip is that because of the wonderful group that I traveled with and our awesome scenery and host family, I felt like it was a second home. There was so much laughter and good vibes all around. When we arrived at the airport before arriving to Costa Rica, I think the first endeavor for our group was to pop the awkward social bubble. After spending a few hours together during our delay in Atlanta we all fell into ease with each other’s company. To be honest, I think it is beautiful and rare when a dynamic group can work so well together.
Our time in Monteverde, Costa Rica was an incredible experience! From challenging ourselves through long, incline hikes, to picking coffee cherries, roasting the coffee beans and packaging the coffee, to testing our faith in human contraptions by zip lining and soaring through the canopy. As well as, exploring the cloud forest of Monteverde, where you walked through a lush rainforest and hike upwards to be literally up in the clouds. The wind was so fierce it will rock your socks off. Man oh man, as I write this I just don’t feel like I am expressing my Costa Rica experience with justice. You simply have to go and experience it for yourself. There is so much beauty to take in, wonderful friendships to make, and exploring to do. I will definitely go back and next time I will try to journal more so I can satisfyingly describe my wonderful experience.
Brenda Torres Barraza
Senior Global Studies and Spanish Major