Where to even begin. We sit here drinking out of coconuts, being fanned by leaf thingys, and tanning in our swimsuits. Ahhh, the sweet life of....
alright, let's get real. We arrive at the station oblivious to what we've stepped into. The first nights a couple of our group members come back from patrol (the are two shifts one: 8pm-12 and the other: 12am-4am), and the stories they brought back rattled some of our bones, shook us up a bit. It was raining, sand in our shoes, and you walk miles upon miles on this beach shore in the dark, where you can't even see your hand in front of your face. Wicked. The nights pass, and we all experience different situations....some see turtles, some don't. Some get to work with the turtles and some don't. There have been pts where we really have to lean on each other for support because we don't feel apprecitated for the work we've been doing around the station...
peace out. time is tight and we're heading back to the station after our vacation of one day. booyah!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Jungle Fever
ahh where to start? After being here a week so much has happened, and with working day and night it is as if we have been here longer. Everyone has pretty much covered everything that we have been doing and what we have been going through. So I decided that I wanted to share with everyone those amazing moments that will stay with us after the burns, exhaustion, and the bug bites go away.
The first night that we arrived, we had been through orientatioin and now just relaxing after our long travel to finally reach Gandoca when one of the guides came rushing to tell us that down the beach baby turtles were hatching from the nest. This was not only exciting that we were going to be able to see this but also because we were just told that there was hatchings the night before we came and the next one might not be for another two weeks (the time after we left) so we were all very nervous that we were goiong to miss out on this experience. I can not tell you how incredible it is to watch the baby turtles emerge from the sand and watch their journey into the ocean. Even more so getting to help them through that process, by smoothing out the sand, keeping birds and crabs away, and making sure they do not get flipped over on their back.
Then their is the experience of walking the hours on the beach, no matter if it is a clear night or pouring rain for the entire time( my clothes that night will never smell the same) when you come across that giant leather back sea turtle all the pain, tiredness and itching that we complain about goes away, and you look at it in awe and it makes the entire experience worth wild.
Another memory that I know none of us will forget it the days of practicing digging holes and being covered with black sand. I can not tell you how many laughters came out of us all just covered in sand trying our hardest to dig that perfect hole so that we could go play in the water, be whipped around by the waves, and clean off (to the best of our ability). Video and pictures of this will soon be up. Trust me they are a must see.
Something that I really enjoyed was our hike one morning through the jungle. This was a suprise to us when we were woken up after long night of patrol and told we had 15 minutes to get ready for an hour and half hike. let me tell you at that point they did not have happy campers on their hands. But their was something incredible about walking through the jungle, hearing the noices, making a chain to go through a river of strong currents, having to be helped jump over to the next path, trying not to lose your shoes as you hiked through up to your kneees of mud, and accidently having someone slip behind you causing everyone in front to go sliding down a hill of mud, only to come to a point where the most beautiful beach and coral I have ever seen. We had a whole morning to relax and swim in a secluded secret beach that only the locals could show us. It was definitly worth waking up for.
I can not wait to show everyone the pictures of what we called our "jungle fever" moments. there comes a point where the heat and the tiredness of the work gets to us all and things get a little crazy around here. We have sure been able to provide entertainment to all those around us. from the first day here when we jumped into the pool during a rain storm, or when uncontrollable laughter emerges from the group and no one around us has any idea why the crazy americans are laughing, to the excitement of finding a COLD coke and milkshake, to making headbands out of leaves and putting mud on our faces to look tough after long hike, or my favorite all the crazy antics (we have pictures and video of this too) that happens after when everyone gets back from patrol and we should be going to bed but again we all have "jungle fever" and the real craziness begins.
I can not wait to get back and show these pictures and cause the same laughter again that we had when we first experienced it. It is those moments that get us through all the hard work and take our minds off of the itching.
So until then, to my family, I love you all, miss you tons, and can not thank you enough for supporting and encouraging me to take this trip and experience of a life time.
xoxo all the way from the jungle
Jessica
The first night that we arrived, we had been through orientatioin and now just relaxing after our long travel to finally reach Gandoca when one of the guides came rushing to tell us that down the beach baby turtles were hatching from the nest. This was not only exciting that we were going to be able to see this but also because we were just told that there was hatchings the night before we came and the next one might not be for another two weeks (the time after we left) so we were all very nervous that we were goiong to miss out on this experience. I can not tell you how incredible it is to watch the baby turtles emerge from the sand and watch their journey into the ocean. Even more so getting to help them through that process, by smoothing out the sand, keeping birds and crabs away, and making sure they do not get flipped over on their back.
Then their is the experience of walking the hours on the beach, no matter if it is a clear night or pouring rain for the entire time( my clothes that night will never smell the same) when you come across that giant leather back sea turtle all the pain, tiredness and itching that we complain about goes away, and you look at it in awe and it makes the entire experience worth wild.
Another memory that I know none of us will forget it the days of practicing digging holes and being covered with black sand. I can not tell you how many laughters came out of us all just covered in sand trying our hardest to dig that perfect hole so that we could go play in the water, be whipped around by the waves, and clean off (to the best of our ability). Video and pictures of this will soon be up. Trust me they are a must see.
Something that I really enjoyed was our hike one morning through the jungle. This was a suprise to us when we were woken up after long night of patrol and told we had 15 minutes to get ready for an hour and half hike. let me tell you at that point they did not have happy campers on their hands. But their was something incredible about walking through the jungle, hearing the noices, making a chain to go through a river of strong currents, having to be helped jump over to the next path, trying not to lose your shoes as you hiked through up to your kneees of mud, and accidently having someone slip behind you causing everyone in front to go sliding down a hill of mud, only to come to a point where the most beautiful beach and coral I have ever seen. We had a whole morning to relax and swim in a secluded secret beach that only the locals could show us. It was definitly worth waking up for.
I can not wait to show everyone the pictures of what we called our "jungle fever" moments. there comes a point where the heat and the tiredness of the work gets to us all and things get a little crazy around here. We have sure been able to provide entertainment to all those around us. from the first day here when we jumped into the pool during a rain storm, or when uncontrollable laughter emerges from the group and no one around us has any idea why the crazy americans are laughing, to the excitement of finding a COLD coke and milkshake, to making headbands out of leaves and putting mud on our faces to look tough after long hike, or my favorite all the crazy antics (we have pictures and video of this too) that happens after when everyone gets back from patrol and we should be going to bed but again we all have "jungle fever" and the real craziness begins.
I can not wait to get back and show these pictures and cause the same laughter again that we had when we first experienced it. It is those moments that get us through all the hard work and take our minds off of the itching.
So until then, to my family, I love you all, miss you tons, and can not thank you enough for supporting and encouraging me to take this trip and experience of a life time.
xoxo all the way from the jungle
Jessica
SECTOR AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH
As you've already read the conditions that we have been conquering while in Gondoca aren't what we expected, to say the least! Although the struggles we've overcome have really bonded us as a group more so then ever imagined. Trust me, being the only male on the trip, its been very interesting at times! haha. This morning is the end of our "vacatoin from vacation" and it was a pleasant surprise to wakeup not covered in new bug bites and sweat from the night before. It's relatively cool here and the bugs basically don't exists compared to the station we are staying at in the jungle. There's really no need to repeat everything else that the others have blogged about but I will touch on a few things:
1) This is no vacation from home! If anyone calls it that we will have to hurt you!
2) The conditions here are not what were mentioned in the brochure. haha. You can't describe this clearly in paper to anyone.
3) We're all covered in bites and some of us have managed to overcome their fears of bugs.
4) It's impossible to be clean! Everyday from sun up to sun down you are covered in sweat and sand WILL BE in places you never imagined.
This is most certainly an eye opening experience for us all and we'll be thankful for that later but right now we are going to go back and DOMINATE the jungle for one more week!
PS - All the hard work, sunburn, and tears are justified when you watch the little hatchlings emerge from the sand, wake up and stretch, then make their crawl to the sea to begin their lifes journey! :)
1) This is no vacation from home! If anyone calls it that we will have to hurt you!
2) The conditions here are not what were mentioned in the brochure. haha. You can't describe this clearly in paper to anyone.
3) We're all covered in bites and some of us have managed to overcome their fears of bugs.
4) It's impossible to be clean! Everyday from sun up to sun down you are covered in sweat and sand WILL BE in places you never imagined.
This is most certainly an eye opening experience for us all and we'll be thankful for that later but right now we are going to go back and DOMINATE the jungle for one more week!
PS - All the hard work, sunburn, and tears are justified when you watch the little hatchlings emerge from the sand, wake up and stretch, then make their crawl to the sea to begin their lifes journey! :)
One Hell of a Life Experience.
Things are seldom exactly what you expect them to be and I think it's safe to say that that has so far been exactly the case with our trip. Someone can explain to you that you will be doing night patrol for 4 hours a night, but no one can fully explain or understand the elements- it's hot, it's humid, and it's hard work. With that being said, I've been nothing but impressed with how well everyone has gotten through the hard times. It's safe to say that our time here has been a total roller coaster ride, from the wonderful morning or day, to one of the hardest patrols of your life at night.
Hole digging is an awesome experience. Everyone practices digging holes for when they have hatchery duty and secretly we all dream of hatchery duty to take the place of our night patrols and when we get it, we celebrate. Even though it's a 6 hour shift, it's relatively easy work. You sit outside for 6 hours, dig holes if they bring you eggs, and check the nest temperatures at the beginning of your shift. Women are usually teamed with someone, but if you are male and we're short volunteers you sometimes work alone.
I think that working with sea turtles can be easily compared to being a dairy farmer-you never get a day, hour or minute off, you must always be prepared and available. We found that our our first day. When working with an endangered species you have to recognize that you have to be prepared to release the babies at any time and receive more eggs and females at any time.
Most of us have gotten to work with a turtle which is so rewarding (and it makes night patrol go by much faster). I've only yet worked with one and have gone on 5 night patrols, 3 A's and 2 B's- I guess you could call me unlucky. I was just startign to think I'd never see a turtle when we found one crawling onto shore to make it's nest. I actually got to catch the eggs in the bag as it laid them. It was buggy, my arms were weak and shaking and I itched as I laid in the sand, but it was so incredibly rewarding. I pray that our next couple nights are full of turtles and sleep- it will make the time fly by and make things easier for everyone.
While the work is hard and it's not at all what I'd, or anyone else for that matter, expected I can say it is one hell of a life experience. Since we have survived this trip, I know we are all physically, emotionally and mentally prepared to do anything that lies before us and I know how much this trip has made me a better person.
I miss everyone. I can't wait to be home to hug my boy!
Love,
Karla
Hole digging is an awesome experience. Everyone practices digging holes for when they have hatchery duty and secretly we all dream of hatchery duty to take the place of our night patrols and when we get it, we celebrate. Even though it's a 6 hour shift, it's relatively easy work. You sit outside for 6 hours, dig holes if they bring you eggs, and check the nest temperatures at the beginning of your shift. Women are usually teamed with someone, but if you are male and we're short volunteers you sometimes work alone.
I think that working with sea turtles can be easily compared to being a dairy farmer-you never get a day, hour or minute off, you must always be prepared and available. We found that our our first day. When working with an endangered species you have to recognize that you have to be prepared to release the babies at any time and receive more eggs and females at any time.
Most of us have gotten to work with a turtle which is so rewarding (and it makes night patrol go by much faster). I've only yet worked with one and have gone on 5 night patrols, 3 A's and 2 B's- I guess you could call me unlucky. I was just startign to think I'd never see a turtle when we found one crawling onto shore to make it's nest. I actually got to catch the eggs in the bag as it laid them. It was buggy, my arms were weak and shaking and I itched as I laid in the sand, but it was so incredibly rewarding. I pray that our next couple nights are full of turtles and sleep- it will make the time fly by and make things easier for everyone.
While the work is hard and it's not at all what I'd, or anyone else for that matter, expected I can say it is one hell of a life experience. Since we have survived this trip, I know we are all physically, emotionally and mentally prepared to do anything that lies before us and I know how much this trip has made me a better person.
I miss everyone. I can't wait to be home to hug my boy!
Love,
Karla
Monday, May 24, 2010
I have more mosquito bites than you.
COSTA RICA!
What's up, our loyal followers. Heh--OBVIOUSLY we haven't been doing our part in keeping you up to date. That's because we've been straight up living in the JUNGLE! Seriously though, Gandoca is an awesome place. It's different from what I expected--different from what we all expected (but isn't that always the case?) but hey, that's what makes it interesting.
So, updates. For the last week, we've been living at a research station a little bit outside of Gandoca. We're staying in a barracks type area, and our day basically consists of eating, morning activity (nest digging maybe, or beach clean up) eating, some down time, and then whatever our shift is at night. It's very cool, unlike anything I've done before, and probably unlike anything I will do. Challenging?--yes. The heat & humidity not only make it hard to work, but hard to sleep as well. The bugs are ridiculous--what's that about? I'm about to cut off my foot and feed it to the frogs (which are the size of my dog) to save myself from itching. Oh, crabs in the jungle--that's something I didn't expect. It's pretty cool though, having jungle and beach right next to each other. The two environments combine to form this like... super itchy jungle ocean creation. And we're right in the middle of it.
Favorite part?--I know you're dying to know. For me, it's probably some of the people we're working with. There are some really cool people volunteering at the station with us, and also people who are employed there. I've gotten to use what spanish I know A LOT, and that's been a lot of fun too. After four years of spanish classes, it's about time I check out a spanish-speaking country.
Overall, we've got a pretty good thing going down here in Costa Rica. Our group has an awesome support system, and we've gotten pretty dang good at taking things one day (or hour... or minute...) at a time. This trip is going to be one of those trips that really forces us to take a look at ourselves--probably in different ways for everyone. I'm glad we're through the first week, but I'm also excited to see what week #2 will bring. Thank you Costa Rica, for the good, bad and ugly. Can't have one without the others, right?
Kate
What's up, our loyal followers. Heh--OBVIOUSLY we haven't been doing our part in keeping you up to date. That's because we've been straight up living in the JUNGLE! Seriously though, Gandoca is an awesome place. It's different from what I expected--different from what we all expected (but isn't that always the case?) but hey, that's what makes it interesting.
So, updates. For the last week, we've been living at a research station a little bit outside of Gandoca. We're staying in a barracks type area, and our day basically consists of eating, morning activity (nest digging maybe, or beach clean up) eating, some down time, and then whatever our shift is at night. It's very cool, unlike anything I've done before, and probably unlike anything I will do. Challenging?--yes. The heat & humidity not only make it hard to work, but hard to sleep as well. The bugs are ridiculous--what's that about? I'm about to cut off my foot and feed it to the frogs (which are the size of my dog) to save myself from itching. Oh, crabs in the jungle--that's something I didn't expect. It's pretty cool though, having jungle and beach right next to each other. The two environments combine to form this like... super itchy jungle ocean creation. And we're right in the middle of it.
Favorite part?--I know you're dying to know. For me, it's probably some of the people we're working with. There are some really cool people volunteering at the station with us, and also people who are employed there. I've gotten to use what spanish I know A LOT, and that's been a lot of fun too. After four years of spanish classes, it's about time I check out a spanish-speaking country.
Overall, we've got a pretty good thing going down here in Costa Rica. Our group has an awesome support system, and we've gotten pretty dang good at taking things one day (or hour... or minute...) at a time. This trip is going to be one of those trips that really forces us to take a look at ourselves--probably in different ways for everyone. I'm glad we're through the first week, but I'm also excited to see what week #2 will bring. Thank you Costa Rica, for the good, bad and ugly. Can't have one without the others, right?
Kate
PURA VIDA!!
Hola!
It has been one wild week. We have experienced so much as a group. We have seen both mother sea turtles and baby sea turtles. Some of us have even seen and held the turtle eggs. We also now know what it feels like to really rough it. From sleeping with 6 of us in one room with only one window (on the opposite side of the breeze) and no fan, to out door showers, to the extreme humidity, to bugs eating us up. It has been one experience. This trip has also given us a lot of exercise with walking the beaches every night for 4 hours. It is a challenge, yet really rewarding when it is finished. Now, don't get me wrong, we are having a great time here. We have met so many new people from all over the place with all different stories. We have all gotten the opportunity to use and practice our spanish skills (the few that we have). We have befriended many of the locals and we have seen many cultural differences. One thing I learned is that the locals of Gandoca love to play futbol (soccer) and they have a great time while playing. We have also had the chance to swim in two parts of the Caribbean Sea with two totally different conditions. Gandoca has black sand while Puerto Viejo has white sand. It is really neat to see the different culture and different enviornmental extremes and how the locals of Gandoca have adapeted to living with both the jungle and the ocean. I really believe this trip has brought us all together so far and has also made each one of us even stronger. Some of us have even overcome our feers of spiders, some snakes, and bugs. There is still much to come with one week left. So, until the next time we get the opportunity to use the internet... :)
PURA VIDA!!!
~ Grace
It has been one wild week. We have experienced so much as a group. We have seen both mother sea turtles and baby sea turtles. Some of us have even seen and held the turtle eggs. We also now know what it feels like to really rough it. From sleeping with 6 of us in one room with only one window (on the opposite side of the breeze) and no fan, to out door showers, to the extreme humidity, to bugs eating us up. It has been one experience. This trip has also given us a lot of exercise with walking the beaches every night for 4 hours. It is a challenge, yet really rewarding when it is finished. Now, don't get me wrong, we are having a great time here. We have met so many new people from all over the place with all different stories. We have all gotten the opportunity to use and practice our spanish skills (the few that we have). We have befriended many of the locals and we have seen many cultural differences. One thing I learned is that the locals of Gandoca love to play futbol (soccer) and they have a great time while playing. We have also had the chance to swim in two parts of the Caribbean Sea with two totally different conditions. Gandoca has black sand while Puerto Viejo has white sand. It is really neat to see the different culture and different enviornmental extremes and how the locals of Gandoca have adapeted to living with both the jungle and the ocean. I really believe this trip has brought us all together so far and has also made each one of us even stronger. Some of us have even overcome our feers of spiders, some snakes, and bugs. There is still much to come with one week left. So, until the next time we get the opportunity to use the internet... :)
PURA VIDA!!!
~ Grace
Sea Turtles, The Jungle & Itching
Today is the beginning of week number two, and we had the opportunity to go to Puerta Viejo to spend a free day relaxing, shopping and eating some great food! This is the first day off we have had since we arrived in Gandoca on Monday morning.
After over 24 hours of traveling, we finally arrived at Gandoca Wildlife Refuge and the Widecast station nestled back in what you would have to call the jungle. We had an orientation on the organization and a little into what we would be doing for the duration of our stay. Little did we know what we were getting ourselves into!
Our work has included beach cleanup, learning to dig 65-75cm holes for leatherback and green turtle nests, hatchery duty & beach patrol in four hour shifts in either Sector A or B. Beach patrol, along with being a four-hour workout, can be tiring unless you encounter a turtle. There's quite the process that goes into encountering a turtle during patrol. There's measuring of the caracus, collection of the eggs to be transplanted to another nest and searching for tags to track the turtle. It has been many long, hard hours for all of us.
The heat and bugs are enough to call our condtions "roughing it". This isn't an amateur camping trip my friends! We are all proud to say that at any given time we could be using bug spray, sunscreen, aloe vera and calamine lotion all at the same time.
My teammates on this trip are troopers and amazing people. None of us would be as strong without the others and without anyone of us, the trip wouldn't be the same. I want to thank them, our familes & friends for their love and support throughout this journey. We will never forget saving the turtles, sounds of the jungle and endless itching we shared.
See you all state-side in a week!
After over 24 hours of traveling, we finally arrived at Gandoca Wildlife Refuge and the Widecast station nestled back in what you would have to call the jungle. We had an orientation on the organization and a little into what we would be doing for the duration of our stay. Little did we know what we were getting ourselves into!
Our work has included beach cleanup, learning to dig 65-75cm holes for leatherback and green turtle nests, hatchery duty & beach patrol in four hour shifts in either Sector A or B. Beach patrol, along with being a four-hour workout, can be tiring unless you encounter a turtle. There's quite the process that goes into encountering a turtle during patrol. There's measuring of the caracus, collection of the eggs to be transplanted to another nest and searching for tags to track the turtle. It has been many long, hard hours for all of us.
The heat and bugs are enough to call our condtions "roughing it". This isn't an amateur camping trip my friends! We are all proud to say that at any given time we could be using bug spray, sunscreen, aloe vera and calamine lotion all at the same time.
My teammates on this trip are troopers and amazing people. None of us would be as strong without the others and without anyone of us, the trip wouldn't be the same. I want to thank them, our familes & friends for their love and support throughout this journey. We will never forget saving the turtles, sounds of the jungle and endless itching we shared.
See you all state-side in a week!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Good Morning, Planeteers!
Good Morning from Costa Rica!
A very good, VERY early morning that is! We arrived yesterday around 10.00 where we were picked up by our ABC contact Chiara. We were then transported to the hostel where we have basiclly been chilling for the last day. It was a really good time for everyone to relax and get settled into their surroundings and today we leave for our site. We're unsure as to the kind of internet connection we will have while we are there but we will do our best to upload and blog as often as possible.
It's a really good day and we've seen and done a lot of things, eaten a lot of new foods, enjoyed the company of new people, so it's been quite the experience. While our flights were long and so were our layovers, it was a good experience. One of our flights did, in fact, take off at 3.00 am.. and today we're up at 3.00 am.. by fault. We're still getting our bearings here so we struggled with the time change and lack of appliances... such as cell phones.. with alarm clocks.
But, we will do our best to be in touch. Love to our families!
Karla
A very good, VERY early morning that is! We arrived yesterday around 10.00 where we were picked up by our ABC contact Chiara. We were then transported to the hostel where we have basiclly been chilling for the last day. It was a really good time for everyone to relax and get settled into their surroundings and today we leave for our site. We're unsure as to the kind of internet connection we will have while we are there but we will do our best to upload and blog as often as possible.
It's a really good day and we've seen and done a lot of things, eaten a lot of new foods, enjoyed the company of new people, so it's been quite the experience. While our flights were long and so were our layovers, it was a good experience. One of our flights did, in fact, take off at 3.00 am.. and today we're up at 3.00 am.. by fault. We're still getting our bearings here so we struggled with the time change and lack of appliances... such as cell phones.. with alarm clocks.
But, we will do our best to be in touch. Love to our families!
Karla
Friday, May 14, 2010
Costa Rica Bound
It's 11:41 the night before we leave and I've received text messages from nearly everyone on the trips and had visits from at least a couple people. It's been a hectic last couple of weeks for myself and I'm sure for everyone else as well. After settling into a new apartment which we only finished moving into today, I set out to pack and do all the last minute checks and debugging. Everything and everyone looks to be on track. It looks like we'll have one hell of a trip!
Love to my family, especially Dalen.
Karla
Love to my family, especially Dalen.
Karla
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
