As I traveled to Monteverde, my first priority was to avoid motion sickness on the winding roads. Although I could not look out the window for most of the trip, I was able to notice some differences when I peered out. First, I noticed how different the vegetation was as we rode closer to Monteverde. There were many more lush trees and green plants as we rode up. There were many more animals as well. At one point along the journey, the group stopped and left the bus to view a group of about twenty monkeys. The monkeys were napping in the trees above us. The people and buildings were more spread out and very rural. The few houses we passed were much smaller.
After living in Costa Rica for four days now, my perspective of Costa Rica has begun to change. I now recognize the complexity behind their lifestyles. Farmers and companies have a lot to consider in order to survive in the economy. I also recognize many challenges people and companies face here. The agricultural lecture yesterday taught me numerous problems farmers are dealing with such as land use conflicts and climate change. These issues are similar to many issues experienced by farmers in the United States. Living with a Costa Rican family also teaches me how people live here. I have found that the family I am staying with shares many similarities with my family. Their youngest grandchild will play the same video game on the TV that I play with my friends. Each evening, they have dinner together. After dinner, the grandchildren may relax or go to the neighborhood park to play. Living here has taught me that many different aspects of life in Costa Rica are very similar to my life.
Upon arriving in Monteverde, I enjoyed lunch at the hotel. I then attended a talk with Don Ricardo Guindon about how Quakers from Alabama traveled to Costa Rica and settled Monteverde. They named the area Monteverde to describe their journey from a low dry place to the lush, mountainous area. To make a livelihood, they decided to bring fine and aged cheese to Costa Rica. With the help of a German cheese maker, they started a cheese factory that specialized in fine cheese. Their presence brought high quality cheese to Costa Rica’s economy. Additionally, they helped to better the roads in Monteverde. When they first arrived on the mountains, they had to put chains on their care wheels to make it up and down the steep inclines safely. Therefore, they made better roads here to travel more easily. Lastly, they brought electricity to Monteverde. Their settlement here greatly impacted the region and Costa Rica.
