My name is Jake Chinchar, and I am a computer engineering student from New Jersey. I am excited to go to Costa Rica because I love trying new things. I look forward to every meal, tour, and visit. I want to try chocolate, bananas, and coffee and learn about sustainable business practices. I am especially eager to meet my host family and interact with locals to learn more about the culture and the lifestyle. I have taken Spanish classes since fourth grade and have never visited a Spanish-speaking country. I finally have a chance to practice my skills in a real-world setting. Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to watch a local soccer game. Soccer is one of my biggest passions, so experiencing a game outside the United States would be an amazing experience.
I have always been interested in learning about sustainability, and Costa Rica’s initiatives sound appealing. With a quick internet search for sustainability in Costa Rica, I could not find information about agriculture, coffee, or bananas. What I found were several mentions of reversing deforestation and reducing biodiversity loss. Costa Rica’s focus on sustainability is impressive. Costa Rica has overcome massive deforestation to become a leader in sustainability and conservation efforts. Their initiatives evoke an image of many rainforests with lots of natural beauty.
Among Costa Rican sustainability efforts is the “pay as you throw” program. Rather than paying for trash service, residents pay based on the weight of their trash. By recycling, residents can lower costs. The “pay as you throw” program encourages consumers to choose items with recyclable packaging to reduce waste and cut costs. Most countries do not have the same level of focus on sustainability as they should, which makes Costa Rican efforts even more impressive. Another initiative is Costa Rica’s decarbonization plan. The plan is to have zero net emissions by 2050 and includes a set of policies based on green growth and inclusion.
I am excited to learn more about Costa Rica’s sustainable efforts over the next two weeks. I want to apply this new knowledge to future engineering problems I may face. It’s hard to believe this adventure will start in just a few days; I can’t wait to begin.