Hola Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a beautiful country. After leaving San Jose on Saturday morning, the bus ride to Quepos was filled with sunshine, palm trees, and all things green. As well, there is a family of crocodiles that live in a river along that way that can be seen from the bus. Unfortunately, it is winter here, things are very rainy, but it only rained on the Saturday.

I have yet to do a lot of volunteer work, since the first days include a lot of introductory training. I have learned quite a bit about the project itself, how GVI positions itself as an organization within the community, and life in and around the house in Costa Rica.

The house itself is really spacious; it is home now to 17 people! In all my experiences in living with others, I have lucked out in having my own bedroom, my own space. That is now the complete opposite, since I'm sharing a bedroom and bathroom with 10 other girls (I even got the top bunk. Fingers crossed I don't fall off). There is a lot of space in the common area and on the patio to relax and try and get some alone time, but it seems as if there is constantly people around.

The people living in the house now have been here for quite a while already, I think the newest before myself has been here for a month. I've made a lot of international friends, because under the roof of this house is people from many different nationalities. From Switzerland, Sweden, the UK, Australia, and the United States. Everyone has their own unique accent, it is really interesting.

The rest of this week I will be doing 16 hours of Spanish lessons. The afternoons are ours to explore, so if the weather permits I think a beach trip is in order. Possibly surfing? I need to embrace the pura vida lifestyle while I'm here.

Airports

People watching in airports is a good way to pass the time while waiting for connections. 
Think about it; all of these people are coming from all different parts of the world, waiting to get in a huge tin machine type things with wings that flies several hundreds of kilometres an hour, thousands of feet in the air. Doing so allows all these people to fly anywhere in the world. To see family? Friends? Business? Vacation? Who knows. It is still amazing nonetheless. 

Ten more hours until touchdown in San Jose.
So many feels I don't even know what to feel. 

Hostels & the Matthew Effect

Arriving in Costa Rica on May 2nd, I will be staying in a hostel for the first night. I have never stayed in a hostel before but I think I'm looking forward to it; to travel without all the luxuries that are provided at resorts or fancy hotels will allow for a totally different experience. 

Gaudy's Backpackers Hostel is recommended by GVI. From their website, it looks like a very quaint place to stay. For anyone backpacking or looking for a hostel to stay at, this would be one of the best.  http://www.backpacker.co.cr/gallery.html 

On a more reflective note, working on final papers and studying for exams has been consuming all my thoughts lately. Studying for global studies classes can be difficult at times because we are discussing inequalities and injustices in the world; most of the topics pertain to failed attempts at delivering sustainable peace and justice to those who need it most. As I comfortably sit in my safe, furnished bedroom, healthy and not hungry, its often difficult to conceptualize the fact that not everyone lives like this. Sometimes it is important to remember your privilege and reflect on how you can actually use it to help others. Educate yourself, volunteer, give back. All simple tasks that can have monumental effects. 

A guest lecturer in our pre-departure class earlier this semester discussed the Matthew Effect. In Matthew's Gospel he says, "For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath", saying that the rich continue to get richer and the poor continue to get poorer. Many people today live well outside their means, without reflecting on how their actions can have detrimental consequences to those living on the other side of the world. The guest lecturer ended her discussion saying this: "The opposite of poverty is not wealth, it is justice". We are all not Oprah's or Ellen's, but we still have the ability to contribute in bringing justice to others. Doing something, no matter how small, is better than doing nothing. 

Much love, 

kf

Titles are hard

The countdown app on my phone tells me I will be in Costa Rica in 24 days, 20 hours, 36 minutes...

With my departure date coming closer, I've found myself getting a bit nervous. I have never traveled this way or experienced anything like this before so I'm not sure what to expect. Thoughts that have come to my mind recently being, ..what if I hate all the food we're given?..... what if I offend a local Costa Rican with my Canadian lifestyle?.... (and the most troubling) what if I absolutely hate it and am stuck there for an entire month? 

I think I need to get in a positive mindset, and not have any specific expectations; going in with an open mind will allow me to adapt to my new surroundings better. 

The GVI Quepos team has a twitter account that they update sporadically. It's interesting to see pictures of what is going on there now, and to think that in less than a month I will be taking part in it. Here is the link https://twitter.com/GVIQuepos if you're interested in checking it out. 

Much love,

kf 

Less than one month.

I can honestly say that this is the very first time that I have ever written on a blog before. Cool.
I should have started doing this much earlier.
T-26 days until I will be headed south for four whole weeks. There is still so much to get done before I leave! Final exams and assignments have consumed my life - but the light at the end of the tunnel is near.

Only 26 more days....
Much love,
kf