This was the week I've been looking forward to most! Turtle tagging in Tortuguero was awesome, but more about that in a minute. Oh, and for those that have been asking, this is NOT a blog about school. I'll tell you all about what I'm learning if you're interested, but I don't want to subject most people to the tedium!
This week, Senator Bob Graham came to speak in our class. He was very interesting, talking about his career for almost an hour without losing me to boredom - quite a feat! Afterward, I got a picture with him, which was pretty exciting; after all, how often can you say that you had your picture taken with a former governor of Florida and US Senator?
Wednesday we had our water law conference. It was, to say the least, a different kind of experience. Half of the speakers spoke in their native Spanish, so we all got tiny headsets and a translator made it more understandable. I was so impressed by him, because he was able to listen in one language and simultaneously talk in another language without even pausing. The conference itself was interesting, and we all got nifty certificates saying we attended. Maybe something else for the law firm wall? There was also a small reception afterward with free wine and delicious food, and the professors wanted us to go to the reception so much, they put off a paper we had due the next day.
Thursday we headed out early to EARTH university. EARTH is a really cool place that has been around since 1991, and specializes exclusively in agricultural engineering. The students do work on sustainable projects, and get training to help out with small businesses in their home countries. We got a talk, lunch, and then headed out to look at organic banana and pineapple farms, and then a normal pineapple farm. Sadly, we didn't get to eat any pineapple. That night, we headed about 45 minutes away to a town called Guapiles to dance salsa, meringue, and
cumbia. We had a load of fun, but didn't get back until almost 2 am, so our 6 am wake up call came much too soon!
Friday, we got up early and headed to Tortuguero, a small place not far from the Costa Rican/Nicaraguan border. We drove for what seemed like forever on the bumpiest roads possible (thank you Brandon for the dramamine), then got in a boat. While on the boat, we saw some really cool wildlife, including spoonbills, monkeys, and a giant iguana. Tortuguero is only accessible by boat, and we rode for almost an hour on canals to get there. When we finally got to the CCC (Caribbean Conservation Corporation) headquarters, they had lunch waiting for us. Afterward, a bunch of us went to explore the village. It was very colorful, and had a lot of shops. I found a glass turtle necklace that I loved (and it was a good thing, because I broke it, and had to buy it :(). I also bought a hammock, and while we were getting rope to hang them, the man in the ferreteria cut it with a machete, awesome.
I signed up for the midnight-4am shift the first night, so I napped in preperation. While the first group was out, there was a torrential downpour, but it was clearing by the time I was ready to go out. We dressed in all black, because light colors could scare the turtles and prevent them from nesting. My group saw 6 turtles, and we were able to tag and measure them all. The turtles we saw were all green turtles, but another group saw a hawksbill, and we saw a leatherback nest as well. Sadly, we couldn't take pictures because it would disturb the turtles, but I can safely say it was one of the most awesome things I've ever experienced, even including the flipper to the face I got while trying to measure a camoflauging turtle!
Saturday, I wasn't feeling so hot, so I mostly slept in the room. I did go on a walk on the beach, and got the best pictures of monkeys. I also went to the museum and watched a video on turtles. Saturday night I went on a sunset boat cruise with the Senator and his family, as well as some professors and students from our group. We saw some cool wildlife, including green macaws and loads of bats. On the way back, I asked the senator's grandaughter where she went to school and she said "Bob Graham Elementary." Poor kid, that's a lot to overcome!
Now, I'm mostly just exhausted, and I have to go finish school work. Pura Vida!
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