I cannot believe this is the last blog post, this study abroad experience had an abundance of activities yet it went too quick! The making process starts at the farm, where maintaining the soil and using good fertilizer is crucial. This supports the growth of coffee, banana, cacao, and pineapple plants and trees. Each plant…

We visited many different tourist locations today in San Jose, and I enjoyed the sights of the mountains from the museum. They were terrific, and they overlooked a decent amount of the city. The shopping center was also a unique experience. There were no cars, just thousands of people crowding the streets. The culture of…

Today, we went to a banana plantation and a pineapple plantation. Viewing bananas growing from the plant was incredible, and the rich green color was great. Their sustainability practices for reusing old trunks of the plant are efficient. The pineapple farm was one of my favorite tours the whole trip. Sitting in the cart behind…

Today, we visited Sibo Chocolate for a chocolate-tasting tour from Julio. Julio did a great job presenting the history of chocolate and the reasoning for different flavors. The similarity between coffee and chocolate is fascinating. Throughout the preparation process, there are certain factors that, if not accounted for, can drastically alter the taste. Coffee beans…

Today was the most fun I’ve had in Costa Rica. We went to a local elementary school in Costa Rica and helped paint the front wall with the students. Spending the first half of the day with these students was an absolute blast. I spent the majority of my time painting with a 12-year-old boy…

The views while hiking through the Cloud Forest of Monteverde were unbelievable. My new favorite view from this trip was the continental divide, which looks to the east and west of the country. Additionally, all the unique animals living in the Cloud Forest are fascinating because of how they interact together and build the forest’s…

Today, we had a four-hour drive from Heredia to Monteverde, where we will stay for the next two nights. During this four-hour drive, we stopped at this rest stop, which had the most breathtaking views down into the central valley, with the mountains overlooking the distance. Additionally, the grass showed the message in my picture….

Cafe Britt fits nicely into the Costa Rican coffee system. They serve as the middleman between the processing of the coffee cherries and the next step, reaching the consumer. Cafe Britt specializes in two different times: coffee and chocolate. They focus specifically on roasting coffee cherries into coffee beans or exporting them to plants in…

Today was our first experience learning all about Costa Rican coffee and why it is a commodity. At Hacienda Doka, we reviewed their 10-step process: growing, picking, processing, milling, roasting, packaging, shipping, grinding, brewing, and finally, a coffee drinker enjoying their cup of joe! I found the sustainability practices fascinating; the company had little to…

Today, we had plenty of events. After arriving off the plane last night, we passed dozens of people offering rides while we waited for our bus. Before I knew it, we met our homestay family, and it was time for bed. Today, we started walking around Heredia’s central park and main streets. I learned that…

Costa Rica and their sustainability practices impress me. Considering we learned about the severe issue of deforestation in the 1990s, Costa Rica’s dedication to reverse its deforestation is terrific and awe-inspiring. The country focuses heavily on protecting its land and environment. Costa Rica is aiming to become a carbon-neutral country. During the COVID-19 lockdown, there…