Student Blogs

Studied in Costa Rica this summer

What is an agronomist?

If you are an agronomist and visit Costa Rica and people ask you what your profession is, and you say agronomist, they will know what that is. Even if they are from downtown San José. If you ask the students who are studying agronomy here why they are studying agronomy, it is common to get a response along the lines of “I like science and plants” followed by “I have an interest in ecology” or environmental science, soils, farm management, business, administration, fruit and vegetable exportation, etc. Many of the students are from the city and do not have farm backgrounds – in fact in my classes, the majority of my classmates do not have farm backgrounds. This is interesting to me because not only do I often find myself explaining what exactly it is that I study to my high school friends (I am from Des Moines), but also to peers at ISU who know that agronomy deals with agriculture, but do not realize that it is a difficult discipline of science that has practical applications and offers you tools to work in an endless number of careers.

I have talked with some professors from University of Costa Rica who studied in the U.S. as well as professors from ISU who are familiar with Costa Rica and other Central American countries, such as Drs. Mike Owen and Randy Killorn, and all agree that the connection to the land here in Costa Rica is stronger than what exists in the U.S. I believe it is stronger than that in Iowa, in the sense that it is more popular and common to work with agriculture, and people who do not work in agriculture tend to have a clear idea of the importance of agriculture in their lives. I do not know the exact percentage of people who work with agriculture in Costa Rica but my professors seem to agree it is around 30%, compared to Iowa, known for its agriculture, having just 8% of people working in the field of ag. (Costa Rica’s percentage is less than other Central American countries as it has a developed industrial sector and tourism industry.)

It is refreshing to see this consciousness and awareness of the importance of agriculture along with the diversity of students who feel a connection to the land here. In Iowa now, many people are 2 and 3 generations removed from the farm and have no idea the importance of agriculture in our future. For the importance of our environment, ecosystems, energy, human and animal health, just to name a few, it is vitally important that this connection is not completely lost in Iowa and that high school students and younger understand the opportunities that are available to them through a degree in Agronomy or Agriculture.

Banana and Earth Field Trip

On Saturday everyone from my banana class loaded the bus and left the University of Costa Rica (UCR) at 6am to head for Earth University. The purpose of our field trip was to plant a garden of banana plants on the Earth campus along with the students who are taking the same class at Earth. It was a nice project, we gained the experience of planting and the University will now have a garden of bananas. Our professor also emphasized the importance of international cooperation, as each one of the students from the UCR was paired to work with a student from the Earth class (most are from countries other than Costa Rica). I worked with a student from Brazil. When we arrived to the campus the students from Earth were digging the holes into which we placed the rhizomes of the banana plants. Banana does not grow from seeds because cultivated varieties are sterile and can’t produce viable seed. To propagate, you can use corms which are underground stems. The stems take root and send shoots (suckers) up through the soil. You can then propagate banana from these suckers that grow from the main stem. Propagation in this manner is not free of disease, so in some places people propagate through tissue culture to prevent diseased planting material.  It is also important to note that Banana is a plant – not a tree, despite the size and structure. It is a herbaceous perennial, and grows rapidly. The “trunk” is a pseudostem, tightly packed concentric leaves.

The climate is hot and humid at Earth University, perfect for banana growth and giving us reason to take breaks to cool-off and eat some watermelon. After we had finished planting, we went to swim in a river on the campus. The water felt wonderful after working in the sun – it was cool and crisp with a swift current. We then ate a lunch of grilled steaks, sausages, salad and fruit, provided by the Earth. It was a valuable field trip to attend – practical experience, on-hands learning, and an enjoyable afternoon with students from different countries.

The beaches are beautiful in Costa Rica

At the beginning of Semana Santa, I was able to visit the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, in the eastern province Limón. The drive from San Jose is no more than 4 hours. About 30 minutes after leaving San José you start to enter a beautiful set of mountain ranges and it is perhaps my favorite drive so far. The highway leads to Limón province and passes the Braulio Carrillo National Park. What you see is mountain after mountain of pure rainforest. This lush vegetation with the mist reminds me of images seen in “Jurassic Park” (even though my friends here laugh when I say that). So close to San Jose, it would be a shame if visitors to CR did not have the chance to visit this National Park.

After coming out of the mountains the rest of the drive was through Limón province. It is heavily agricultural, and I saw many banana plantations, pineapple, bamboo, cocoa and a lot of cattle farming. Limón province is a historical province in Costa Rica. Christopher Columbus arrived on the beaches of Limón in 1502, followed by Spaniards arriving with African slaves. An Afro-Caribbean culture exists today in Limón, which has its roots starting in the 1870s when workers from the Caribbean islands (mostly Jamaica) arrived in Costa Rica to work in the banana plantations and build the railroad. The province has maintained this culture in the music, food and language. If you go to Limón it is very likely that you will hear “Patua”, which is a mix of Spanish and English.

The beaches are incredibly beautiful, and the waters perfect for surfing, so you see many tourists. I visited three beaches: Puerto Viejo, Punta Uva and Manzanillo. These beaches appear like paradise. The waters are a vivid blue color, with beaches of light sands and deep-green forests with the bright colors of exotic vegetation. The beaches are long, so you can walk and walk and walk, soaking up the nature. Keep your eyes and ears open because there are loads of animals to be seen and heard. Monkeys are in the trees, crabs all over the beach, and the sound of birds everywhere. People dive and snorkel at these beaches to see the corals.

Like many places in Costa Rica, you can see influences of tourism in Limón, but it appeared to be less than in other places. Different than the development explosion along the coast in Guanacaste where signs all say “FOR SALE” in English, all for-sale signs in Limón were in Spanish, making it obvious who is buying property in what part of the country.

Amidst all of the natural beauty seen there, it remains a fact that Limón is one of Costa Rica’s poorest provinces. The reasons for the poverty there are varied but it is a source of great interest for people. I have met people from Costa Rica and outside of Costa Rica who are studying the history, culture, and socioeconomic situation of Limón and its inhabitants. It is really worth a visit, with a culture different than that found in other places in the country, and natural beauty that is beyond words.

 

Holiday break

It is safe to say that Costa Rican students of all ages were very happy this week. Holy Week, or ‘Semana Santa’, is a national holiday in Costa Rica. This means no school for the entire week, and not just for the Catholic schools - for everyone. Even at the University of Costa Rica we did not have any classes or activities. Being in a country where over 90% of the people are Catholic, I was not expecting to learn that Semana Santa is more like vacation time and just about everyone heads for the beaches. (When I returned to classes Monday, listening to my classmates talk, it was apparent that almost everyone had gone somewhere outside of San Jose to spend the week).

As for the workforce, it seemed that people worked until Wednesday, and then had a four-day weekend. This means, on Thursday everyone arrives with their families at the beaches. (We were leaving the beach on Thursday to return to San Jose, I could not believe the throngs of people arriving – it was difficult to find space to walk!). I was in for a surprise when I returned to San Jose on Thursday. With all of Costa Rica at the beaches – there aren’t too many people left in the city. On Holy Thursday and Good Friday, all businesses are closed and everything shuts down. Buses do not even run. It is probably the only time San Jose is so still.

Instead of automobiles in the road, you can find processions taking place. The processions are dramatizations that show all the stages of Christ’s way to the cross, crucifixion and resurrection. These processions are truly something to see, people of all ages participating, dressed in costumes as Roman soldiers and religious figures. There appears to be many regional celebrations as well – and it is a great time to try traditional food. On Easter-Monday it was back to real life again with all schools in session, stores opening up, and people returning to work.  

Costa Ricans talk about Iowa

Today we had a “gira” at a research station about 40 minutes from the city owned by University of Costa Rica. It was for my Cultivos Tropicales class. The farm we were at is about 52 hectares, 128 acres. This station, named Fabio Baudrit Moreno, is full of field and lab research dealing with Fruticultura, ornamentals, legumes, weeds, ecophysiology, agricultural biodiversity, vegetables, gene linking and transfer.

Our gira consisted of taking a tour of the station and looking at species of Bamboo and other trees. A benefit of the giras was that we could eat the fruit from the trees (fruits that I could have never imagine even existed!). Half of this class consists of students working for their bachelors or licenciatura degrees, and the other half consists of retired people (60s and 70s) who want to learn more about Tropical plants. It lasted about 4 hours and towards the end I look to my left and feel like I am back in Iowa. Corn and soybean! Then I hear a man talking about Iowa and how he has been to Harlan and everything in Iowa is corn and soybean. Our professor then started talking about how there is an Ethanol boom in Iowa. The discussion lasted for a good 10-15 minutes. It was interesting and impressive to hear these two men from Costa Rica talking about agriculture in Iowa, they were both highly informed. They had a good laugh when we got back to the bus and one of the students asked me where I was from and I said Iowa.

My Spanish is quickly improving

Classes have been going well. They meet just once a week, so there is a lot of reading to do during the week and each class has quizzes or tests every time we meet. My Spanish is improving quickly and speaking is easier than reading or writing, so everything takes longer for me to read and write. I have definitely been studying a lot here.

My daily routines are pretty well set now. On Mondays and Tuesdays I have to be at University of Costa Rica at 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 am. I have to leave the house about 30 – 40 minutes before my classes because of the traffic. Mon and Tues. my morning classes last until noon so I eat lunch at the “Soda” in Agronomía. “Sodas” are little restaurants/cafeterias that are ubiquitous in Costa Rica. In Agronomía you can get a full meal and drink for around $2 US, and it is of incredible quality. On Mondays I go to afternoon class and then catch the bus home. During the nights I study alone or with classmates. In my free time I read books in English to rest or try to watch CNN en Español because they talk clearly and properly, I think it helps my understanding.

On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays I don’t have class in the mornings – but I still get up before 5:30 am. Unfortunately my sport, ice hockey, isn’t so easy to play in this small tropical country, so I have taken-up another sport: cycling. There is a velodrome in San José and there are cyclists in my family here so I go with them in the mornings to train. Cycling is very popular in Cost Rica and Latin America, and for anyone who has never tried cycling in a velodrome – it is very difficult. The incline of the track is 35?, which is difficult to ride on, but a very cool feeling when you get the hang of it. The exercise is tremendous. I will definitely be ready for RAGBRAI when I return in July!

On Wednesdays and Thursdays I don’t have class. I usually study or am able to walk around San José (visit museums) and see surrounding areas or travel to EARTH with the two other exchange students to sit-in on classes there. On the weekends there are always live-concerts and dancing in San José. With such easy travel and great bus systems, it is easy for students to take a two day trip to visit National Parks, other cities, or beaches in the country.

Learning About Bananas and Other Fruits

My classes are going to be excellent this semester! After looking through my syllabi and sitting through classes, my four classes have a lot of “giras”, or fieldtrips, around Costa Rica to practice and observe what we learn in class.  An overview of my classes:

My Fruticultura class is based on theoretical and practical components. We learn about the principles that make-up “frutícola” activity and then with the practical component we are able to learn how to practice these principles in the field. The first two weeks have been dedicated to the principles of how a tree grows. In our second class we spent about two hours working with Guayaba trees, learning pruning techniques in order to increase fruit production and quality. This is very basic agronomy knowledge for the Costa Rican students and the other exchange student from Mexico – but after lecture the German exchange student and I realized we had some learning to do about basics of tree growth. Our professor for the class is excellent! He is young with a ton of energy and always willing to meet with us outside of class for help.

My Cultivos Tropicales class takes a look at management of traditional and non-traditional fruit trees and basic principles of medicinal plants. The first day we had an overview of the major and traditional fruits in Costa Rica and the following week we had an overview of Bamboo production in Costa Rica and the world. This class also has many “giras”, where we will practice grafting in trees as well.

Fundamentos de Producción Vegetal is a class that is comprised mostly of Ag. Econ students at UCR. It offers them knowledge of basic agronomy principles (Nutrient cycles, fundamentals of soils, environmental issues). At first I was hesitant to take the class because it seemed so basic, but it has turned out to be worth it. The focus on agriculture of Costa Rica, Central and South America is totally new, different and interesting.

How can I describe the class Cultivo del Banano? Just what the name is: it deals with everything that has to do with banana cultivation. We started out with the history of banana cultivation in CR, historical figures that influenced the growth, the economics involved, and the effect of the construction of the railroads in CR on banana production and distribution. The class is taught by a 74 year old man, Prof. Moisés Soto. I have been told numerous times that I am fortunate to have the experience to have him as a professor because he is considered to be THE source on banana in Latin America.

You haven’t tasted fresh fruit until you have been to CR. I think these classes are going to give me a good idea of the management that is involved in the production of the delicious fruit and food I eat here.

 

Visiting EARTH Universtiy in Cost Rica

Thursday I had the chance to visit EARTH University in Limón province. I had heard quite a bit about the University from professors and classmates at ISU who had visited, so it was interesting to be able to see this unique University. I was able to sit-in on a morning class and then tour the campus during the afternoon. During the tour we were given background and history of the University. EARTH is a non-profit and private university with around 400 students from 20 different countries. Students graduate with “licenciatura” degrees specific to agricultural sciences and natural resource management. Throughout the day we heard repeatedly the mission and goals of the institution.  During their study of agricultural sciences, EARTH aims to train students to become leaders with a code of ethics so they can play a role in and increase the sustainable development of the humid tropics. After their time at EARTH the goal is that the students can help the communities of the humid tropics attain social, economic and environmental well-being. This mission and vision is emphasized in the classes and on-campus activities of the students. The classes appear to be practical and hands-on, with time spent working in the field and on research. The research that the students work with deals with issues that face rural communities in the tropics. After their time at EARTH the students are then equipped with the knowledge and experience they need to apply what they have learned. It appeared to me that there was a huge emphasis on water-quality and wetland management. The lasting impression I had after my visit was how friendly the faculty was and that the students seem to be extremely driven. The campus is extremely well-kept and beautiful, so if you can stand the 95 degree weather and high humidity, it is worth a visit! March 10, 2007

Costa Rican Center Focuses on Preserving Tropical Plants and Animals

Friday morning I got up – had my usual breakfast of fresh fruit along with Costa Rican coffee – and caught the bus to a hotel near UCR where Dr. Lee Burras and Dr. Randy Killorn were staying along with their group of students here for spring break to study soils. I had not been to the hotel before and had an idea of where it was. I was looking for some landmarks but didn’t need them when I saw the group of blondes standing in the distance!

We left at 7:30 to travel into the mountains east of San José to the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) in Turrialba. The drive through the mountains leading to CATIE is beautiful, lasting 2 hours.

CATIE’s mission:

“To contribute to rural poverty reduction by promoting competitive and sustainable agriculture and natural resource management, through higher education, research and technical cooperation”.

We started off with a tour of the Botanical Garden which is 45 hectares of 4,400 genetic samples representing more than 280 species from around the world. The Botanical Garden is a huge laboratory for the graduate students and researchers at CATIE. The tour is excellent because they allow visitors to touch, smell and taste the fruits while learning about the plant production, history and properties. The center has a coffee collection considered to be one of the most important in Latin America. CATIE also houses around 200 species of birds (of the 850 in CR) which sounded beautiful during the tour. UCR Agronomy Professor Dr. Enrique Villalobos is accompanying the ISU group in CR, and he was a great resource during the tour in addition to our tour guide.

On the tour of the campus we learned the idea for CATIE surfaced in 1940 at the VIII American Scientific Congress in Washington, D.C. Former Vice-President, US Secretary of Agriculture at the time, but most importantly – IOWAN J, Henry A. Wallace along with other visionaries were pushing for the formation of centers committed to agriculture in the tropics, fostering agricultural research while instructing and guiding those connected to agriculture in their proper countries. Standing in the middle of campus is the Henry A. Wallace Building.

There are research, education, and outreach programs that the institution manages, all in-line with its mission. Students from all over the world study at CATIE for higher degrees. I was impressed with how open our guide was with information about the center and their research. Not only was he completely receptive to all questions, but encouraging of them as well. It was a wonderful opportunity to be in a place of such impressive natural beauty, in a truly unique learning environment where the teaching and sharing of knowledge is valued and fostered in order reduce rural poverty.

I think all people who visit CR should tour CATIE. It will certainly provide you with an appreciation of the environment, land, agriculture and scientific efforts with humanitarian interests being made in CR. Thanks to Dr. Burras and Dr. Killorn for letting me join their group for the day! March 9, 2007

Classes Start at the University of Costa Rica

Today I had my first classes at University of Costa Rica (UCR). The day was gorgeous and the campus was full of students. Classes are on a different schedule here. For example, a three credit class lasts three hours just one day of the week. On Monday mornings I have my Fruticultura class which is held at a UCR research farm outside of San José. This means that I have to be in the parking lot of the Facultad de Agronomía at 6:30 am every Monday morning to get on the bus that takes us to the farm. Already I need to make a change with my classes. I arrived at the History class that I had enrolled in and the professor announced that the title of the course has nothing to do with the course content. It was not this that made me want to switch classes, it was when she announced that we would be required to read “Les Miserables” and “Great Expectations” in Spanish that I realized it would be a smart move for me to find another class. So now I will be taking another agronomy class, Cultivos Tropicales, on Monday afternoons.

I am feeling optimistic about the coming semester – my classes will be interesting and I have been able to understand the spoken Spanish in the classes. It was nice to meet other students as well. A noticeable difference at UCR is that the campus is always full of students, as opposed to ISU when campus seems to be teeming during the 10 minutes between classes and much quieter for the next 50 minutes. It felt similar to the first day of classes at ISU, and I felt right at home when I observed that after every class students file out of the classroom checking for missed calls on their cell phones and listening to their IPods. March 5, 2007

Clear Water and Beautiful Beaches in Costa Rica

One great feature about Costa Rica is the size. It is a little smaller than West Virginia, which makes travel easy and fast. It took just four hours to arrive at the beach. The beach I visited is in Guanacaste, the province located in northeast Costa Rica. The name of the beach is Playa Hermosa, beautiful beach, and it could not be more fitting. If you travel to the beaches here and you see a blue flag – the beach is perfect! Playa Hermosa and the surrounding beaches all had blue flags. The soft sand contained only shells, NO TRASH anywhere! The water was incredibly clear; you can always see your feet along with the fish swimming around you. I heard from numerous divers there that they had never seen so many pufferfish in their lives. This was the first time that I have had some real sun since last summer. On the first day, I was reflecting so much sun it was like another sun all together, and in the water I am pretty sure the wee-ticos at the beach confused me for a pale white fish. The pacific waters here are always warm and along with the gentle currents I felt like I could swim for hours. This, of course, was until I got sunburned despite numerous applications of sunblock. (Next time… SPF 2000!!) March 1, 2007

The drive from San José to Guanacaste is gorgeous. This was my first time out of the San José area and into the rest of the country. The little towns, countless farms, mango trees, vibrantly green sugar cane and cattle lazily grazing in the heat, all with the picturesque mountains in the background, the four hour drive seemed to be 30 minutes. After my time there, maybe I could look into an independent study with an agronomy professor in Guanacaste as another foreign exchange student here is doing? Tempting, but I am enjoying San José and University of Costa Rica too much for that.

Feb. 20, 2007

On Tuesday I took a break from the beach for a day (don’t worry, I’ll survive, someway, somehow…) to travel to the Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, in Guanacaste (about260 km from San José) along with my host brother, Carlos. Now, during the summer, the dry-season in Costa Rica, Guanacaste is very dry and brownish-looking. But once we drove into the Park, the world appeared greener and lush. This is due to the forest-cover that exists in the Park which is carefully maintained. The Park was extremely quiet and the number of animals and amount of vegetation that can be seen is overwhelming. There are marshlands, mangroves and savannah and deciduous forest. There are 253 species of birds, 10,000 of insects, 3,200 butterfly species, 100 amphibian and reptile species and 115 mammal species. The mammals consist of 50 bat species (which we saw everywhere), white-tailed deer, howler and peccary and capuchin monkeys. There are ocean turtles in the Park on the two beaches Naranjo and Nancite, which are famous because the ocean turtles lay their eggs there.

Driving into the park, we immediately saw iguanas, and a Cornisuelo tree. The tree is covered in thorns. When the tree undergoes an attack ants emerge from the thorns to counterattack what has disturbed the tree. For demonstration, Carlos tapped the tree slightly and in seconds the tree was covered in black ants frantically crawling over the branches. Driving very slowly, we saw many iguanas and monkeys. We were so close to the animals – it was far better than any zoo I have ever visited!

So, why does this National Park exist? It all goes back to a significant battle that took place in 1856 that is very important for all American history. Keep reading.

The Battle of Santa Rosa

The history preceding this battle has its roots in the political situation of Nicaragua and Central America during the 19th Century. William Walker was a U.S. soldier who was hired as a mercenary in Nicaragua during a civil war. Walker established himself in Nicaragua and controlled the presidency of Nicaragua instituting slavery. Acquiring more power, it was Walker’s objective to conquer all provinces in Central America. Although Walker’s intentions of conquest were not well known, Costa Rican President Juan Rafael Mora Porras, deduced that Walker would attempt to conquer Costa Rica. Porras declared war on Walker “to help our brothers of Nicaragua”, and on March 4 the Costa Rican army started marching from San José toward the Nicaraguan border. They arrived in Liberia, Costa Rica on March 12. When Nicaraguan forces realized that Porras was leading his people toward the border, they entered Costa Rica. The place where they met and where The Battle of Santa Rosa took place was La Hacienda Santa Rosa, on March 20, 1856. This is La Hacienda that exists in Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, to commemorate the battle.

The Battle lasted just 15 minutes, with the Costa Rican military victorious in their efforts to turn Walker and his forces back.

La Hacienda is standing today in the Park, a well-maintained historical commemoration of the events that took place. In La Hacienda are guns, weapons, clothing and other artefacts that were used during The Battle, along with displays explaining the history of The Battle, William Walker, Nicaragua and Porras. It was impressive to read the newspaper articles that were published at the time in Nicaragua and CR, describing the situation, as well as the maps showing the distance the Costa Rican forces walked to fight the battle. One thing which cannot be denied: America (US and Central) would be very different had Costa Rica not been victorious.

This was a unique and valuable experience for me to view such an event from another perspective, being a citizen of the US but also a guest in Costa Rica. It is certainly a place visitors in Costa Rica need to visit.

Feb. 14, 2007

Today I went to the University of Costa Rica (UCR) campus to register for my classes. The registration process is quite different than that at ISU – it isn’t completed on-line. There is a course manual (virtually identical to the course guide at ISU), from which students choose their courses. For the foreign-exchange students, you go to UCR and fill out paper work saying which classes you want to take and then we will hear back in two weeks if we can take the classes. As for my agronomy classes I had to go meet with the Director of Agronomy at UCR to see what classes are available. I am hoping that I will be able to get into three classes that are a little different from what Agronomy undergrads normally take at ISU: Fruiticultura, Cultivo del Banano (class that teaches production, growth and harvest of banana!), and Fundamentos de Produccion Vegetal.

I am also learning to navigate the bus system of San José better. If you travel to San José, the buses here are great for transport. They are always at the UCR campus, are cheap, easy to pick-up and can get you around the city quickly.

Feb. 10 and Feb. 11, 2007

Over the weekend I was able to see all of San José from a bird’s eye view, without being in a plane. Some students took me into another set of mountains near San José, Cerros de Escazú. These mountains were perfect to drive up and walk around. It was interesting to me because we were driving in San José, and then suddenly it was as if we were miles away from the city. On the slopes of these mountains are many “fincas” farms. On the small plots of land I saw lettuce, sugar cane, radishes, pumpkins, zucchini, coffee plants, oregano, parsley – anything and everything! The slopes on which people can raise these crops are very steep, and it was very impressive to see these small sustainable, clean, and productive operations amidst the great beauty of the mountains. It is an entirely different world from San José, quiet and laid-back with a cool climate. Like all Costa Ricans I have met so far, these farmers were extremely warm and glad to let us walk around and look at their land and crops, so I was able to visit four different fincas.

We continued up the mountains toward the top where it was cold and even with my years of compiled immunity to the cold of Iowa, I wanted my sweatshirt! There are many look-out points where you can see all of San José. These mountains are lush with trees and plants, and hopefully remain that way because they have been designated Protection Areas by the Costa Rican Government.

I heard yodeling as I ascended the mountain. I am not sure whether I heard Julie Andrews or Gwen Stefani, but am pretty sure the lonely goatherd was yodeling in Costa Rica.

Feb. 7 and Feb. 8, 2007

These past two days I attended orientation sessions for the group of exchange students studying at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) this semester. There are around 40 students that have made their way to Costa Rica from various countries (Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, USA, Canada, France, England, Germany, Finland, Spain, Norway, Holland). It was interesting to meet the other students who have come to study not just Spanish but subjects that range from Chemical Engineering to Religion.

Wednesday consisted of a full morning of power point presentations with information about Costa Rica and its history as well as the history of UCR and everything that it has to offer. This was followed by a tour of San José in the afternoon. The staff that works at UCR in their office of international affairs is extremely accommodating and presented all of us with a very warm and easy welcome to UCR.

Thursday we traveled to an Experiment Station that UCR has in the mountains right outside of San José. A PhD student in animal science gave us the tour describing his research dealing with nutrition in cattle and took us through all of the milking and feeding facilities for their cattle. We were also able to walk through their horse stables and learned about the research being conducted on goats as well. The station is really nice and in a beautiful setting. In the afternoon we divided up into groups and gave short presentations about our respective countries. For the US we each said a sentence about our states. I got a good laugh when I described Iowa because what could be more fitting than, “Hay mucho maíz y más cerdos que personas” – “There is a lot of corn and more pigs than people”!!!

Feb. 4, 2007

On Sunday my host parents took me on a 3 hour walk around San Jose. It is a beautiful city with nice boulevards, parks and buildings. We first stopped at the National Park which has a big monument in the middle surrounded by many trees. We kept walking to see one of the hospitals in the city and walked through some neighborhoods stopping to look at flowers and plants. My host parents know what every flower and tree is – so I should be able to learn something if my Spanish doesn't pick up soon! After the walk we ate some tamales, which were homemade and delicious. I have had good tamales in the US, but never have I had tamales with "Salsa Lizano." It is a sauce that I think you can put on just about anything – the taste is difficult to describe – but for anyone who has seen the movie "Old School" - "Once it hits your lips!!!" there is no going back! I am looking forward to the coming week when I have orientation at UCR and will have the chance to meet some students.

Feb. 3, 2007

Saturday morning we went to the farmers market in San Jose. It is a huge market with tons of producers selling fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, meats, cheeses, breads, etc., all for really good prices. I had a great time walking around, there were people of all ages there and I was able to get a nice view of the picturesque mountains that surround San Jose. Again the weather was perfect, sunny and breezy in the 70s. Saturday afternoon we drove part way up one of the volcanoes that is right outside of San Jose in Cartago. The volcano is Irazu, and before I knew it we were winding up the volcano above cloud level. My host family explained to me that the soils that are there are extremely productive, and it was incredible to see the slopes on which people are growing vegetables. When we came back down, it was getting dark and the lights of San Jose looked beautiful. We stopped at a restaurant and I had gallo de lengua to eat – which is tongue. For anyone who travels to Costa Rica: EAT TONGUE! It is incredibly tender and extremely good, you won't regret it.

Feb. 2, 2007

Friday morning I went to the UCR campus to turn in some papers for my arrival. Although the campus is right in the city, it is secluded by many trees and has a definite university campus-feel to it. The campus is quite large and gorgeous. Trees are all over and the sidewalks, buildings and walls are covered in mosaics, murals and bright colors. The people that I talked to were very kind, it isn't hard to tell that it is a nice learning environment. Friday night we went to a restaurant that is typical of Costa Rica to eat chicharrones! The food was amazing and the restaurant was really nice. I had a very sweet tea to drink called "agua dulce", and I think I am addicted now – go ahead and hook it to my veins!

Feb. 1, 2007

I arrived to San Jose on Wednesday night along with three other planes coming in from the States, so it took a while to get through customs. But the wait was well worth it when I received the warmest greetings from my host parents at the airport. After a full day of travel, I slept in on Thursday, and thankfully, I woke up just in time for lunch. The table was full of food. I never thought that rice, beans and bananas could taste so good, but the countless ways they are prepared here are delicious. We ate "gallos" which are tortillas with (from what I understand) anything you want to put in them. Thursday evening I was able to walk around downtown San Jose for awhile and caught my first glimpses of some of the parks, museums, buildings, stores and people of San Jose. It was a very comfortable evening, like every day so far because the weather here is perfect, in the 70s almost all the time.

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