My Arrival

Travelling to a different country, I was so nervous. This was a country with a different language, one I did not know and was having a hard time learning. I did not matter that I was travelling with someone who would know the language. I still wondered what would happen. I was up early and dressed before I even woke my sister and brother-in-law to get me to the airport. I had a bunch of questions: Did I have everything I needed? Did I pack all the things I was carrying down for the host organisation? Was I going to be overweight? What about security checks? Anything in my carry-on that should not be there? What happens when I get to Miami? (I had half hour to get to my next gate and remembering Miami from previous travels that airport is huge). Would my bags make the transfer or will I end up in San Jose without clothes to last the trip? (Haha that would have been funny. Not to worry Larissa I had a change of clothing in my carry on as you suggested). Yes, I had many questions but none I would voice to anyone, after all this was an adventure. The one answer to all those questions was everything worked out just fine. Now to the landing part.

I got into San Jose at 1:00 pm Canadian time, 11:00 local time. Because I was on a field course looking at tropical ecology and sustainability, I would not arrive at Caño Palma, my internship site, for another two weeks. Getting off the plane the first thing I saw was free wifi. Great my new gadget can work in the airport and I can send a message home to let them know I have arrived safe. Sadly that sign was only for the waiting area. That sucked! San Jose Airport has the easiest immigration and customs for all the airports I have been through (not that many I can count them on my right hand). You go up to the immigration officer, they take your passport, see where you are from (if you are travelling on a passport other than Canadian, US or European, they need to check with a supervisor to see how long they can stamp you in for), you get your passport back and you head down the escalator to baggage claim, you look for your bag; oh! Someone was nice enough to take it off and put it to the side so others can get a chance, to exit customs put your bag on the x-ray machine and you are free to go. Even going back home to my own country my bags would be checked.

The next two weeks were an adventure as the class travelled around Costa Rica learning more about their conservation and sustainable efforts. We spent most of the trip in the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor near San Isidro del General. In this region there is a concentrated effort to maintain forest cover through the production of shade grown coffee. From there we travelled to the Osa Peninsula. Here we did a bit of snorkelling while learning about the wetland conservation efforts. From the Osa Peninsula we visited Monteverde, a cloud forest region Costa Rica and apparently the Quetzal capital of Central America and yes we did see that magnificent bird. We spent the last part of the trip in San Jose saying a sad but fond farewell to the people that made the trip exceptional.

Back to being a bit scared on dealing with things on my own. David had headed off with friends to see a bit more of Costa Rica before reporting for duty. I needed to settle my visa issues before heading for the coast. After a long wait at the Immigration Office I was assured that my visa extension application was accepted and I should get back to them in ten days. The next day I travelled to my work site. The trip was made through beautiful country. My next stop from San Jose was Cariari where I would take the bus to the river then head for the Cano Palma Biological Station. The first thing that hit me was how hot it was. I come from a tropical country so I though I was dealing will with the weather. However I soon realised that the warmth on the Pacific side of the country was a lot drier and closer to home than the Caribbean. Boy did the ice creams come in handy for keeping cool.

The trip to the Tortuguero River was through a stretch of banana plantation. It was a monotony broken only by pasture land for cattle or farms. Going down the river itself was bit like travelling on the rivers back home during what we term low water season. The depth of the river at that point is dependent on the tide and with the tide out there was little water for the boats to travel. It took about 1.5 hrs for us to make it to deeper waters and by then I was almost near to where I was going. I had no grand expectations about the field station has I had spent a lot of time on one as it developed the accommodations and facilities are great. David and I have a nice room all to ourselves, the drawback being that it is close to the boat dock so we hear all the conversations that occur there and that can be a problem when you are trying to sleep after a long night of looking for turtles.

I guess my only expectation was in the person the person that would be managing the field station. I figured that Jon would be middle aged and serious. He turned out to be a nice guy, in his early thirties, with a great sense of humour, knows what he wants done and is helpful. Except for the humidity I am enjoying myself here. Will keep you posted.

Sorry not to have pictures up but the internet connection here cannot take the overload.

Deirdre