These past two weeks have been incredible, and I am so sad that our time here has come to an end. I will forever cherish the memories, friendships, and knowledge that this trip has provided me with. This trip has impacted me in so many ways, and the knowledge and perspectives that I have gained…
Tag: Kyrsta Girardi
I Liked Today a (Choco)-Lot
If I had one day left on earth and got to choose any way to spend it, my day would look pretty similar to how it did today. We started by going to Sibo Chocolate Factory, a local small business that makes high quality chocolates. There, we learned about the history of chocolate while trying…
This Niña Loves Piña
Today was probably the most delicious day yet. We ventured once again across the continental divide to visit a banana and pineapple plantation. Here, we learned all about the growing, harvesting, and exporting process behind these fruits and got to try a lot of different foods made with them. There are several differences between the…
Keep Palm and Carry On
Today we got to see a new side of Costa Rica by travelling to the Caribbean side of the continental divide. There, we visited a heart of palm plantation where we learned all about this unique crop by seeing how it is grown and harvested, and seeing (and tasting) some of the many different ways…
Sustainabili-tree at Life Monteverde
Today we visited Life Monteverde, where we learned about the life of a Tico farmer. We got a glimpse into their daily life and practices, and got to learn the reasoning behind their methods. (We also got to climb a really cool tree with some fantastic photo ops- make sure to visit so they don’t…
Head in the Clouds
I promise the views today were immaculate. Unfortunately internet does not function at this altitude and therefore I am unable to share them ☹️ Costa Rica prides itself on being a sustainable country, having several programs in place to promote its residents to live a sustainable lifestyle. However, they didn’t achieve this without any challenges….
Quaking with Excitement
Today we drove to Monteverde, which means we spent about 4 hours in a bus seeing many different areas of Costa Rica. So far we have stayed in pretty much the same area the whole time, so it was really nice to see some different parts of the country and be able to gain more…
The Pittsburghers take on Britt-sburgh
Today we toured a company that is so well established that they said they don’t even see Starbucks as competition to them. However, most Costa Ricans don’t even drink their coffee. How can this be? It’s because they have the power of marketing on their side. Touring Cafe Britt was a very different experience than…
Loca for Doka
Today we toured Doka, where we were able to get an in-depth look at the coffee production process, from growing to harvesting to exporting and everything in between. We made our way through the factory as the tour guide explained and showed all of the equipment used. We also got to start the tour with…
Livin’ la Pura Vida
Overall, Costa Rica has matched my expectations pretty well. The buildings and local areas look similar to what I had envisioned. One thing that did surprise me was how many people were in the central area of Heredia just hanging out and talking to one another. I knew Ticos were generally more laid back than…
Sustainability that is one in a minion
Costa Rica is often regarded as one of the greenest countries in the world, and for good reason—their government and culture places a heavy emphasis on implementing a sustainable lifestyle. This fact makes the country even more admirable to me. I am constantly looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly in my daily life,…
Going bananas waiting for Costa Rica
Hi everyone! My name is Kyrsta Girardi, and I am a freshman intending on majoring in civil engineering, potentially on the environmental engineering track. I also would like to pursue either a certificate in sustainability or a minor in architecture. Outside of classes, you can find me spending time with friends, exploring the city, going…