As I prepare to leave this beautiful country, its beautiful culture, its beautiful people, I reflect upon my exceptional and amazing experience here. Monday and Tuesday were the last days at the reserve. I took my time, as it was my last week in Costa Rica. I made some amazing friends that will remain close contacts for the rest of my life. Tuesday was my favorite day at the reserve. It was the last day with everyone and in the late afternoon, Caro, Marta, and I went to go on an exhumation on Playa de Jesus. Exhumations are sometimes very hard to watch because we are digging up nests that are past due for hatching, but when we dug up the nest we found two sea turtles alive! It was a great moment to see two beautiful lives saved. As I guided the sea turtles to the sea, I shot some pictures that I will share below. After we went to a sunset lookout where we could look over and have a 360 degree view of the vast ocean. However, my favorite part from that day was returning from the night walk and noticing little glows coming from the waters edge. Marta, Caro, and I went to investigate and realized that it was bio-luminescent plankton. We decided to say goodbye to the ocean by taking a last swim in the ocean with the bio-luminescent plankton. It was such an amazing experience. Letting our hands swirl in the ocean water, watching as the surface lit up with living, breathing, beings. I am very sad to be leaving, but excited to come home to my family and friends and even to return to school and share my experiences!
These past four weeks, I have developed a love and appreciation for everything around me. Being surrounded by such kind and loving souls that are so happy even though they has so much less, it's inspiring. I can't wait to inspire others in my community from what I have experienced. I learned so much about living life to the fullest, appreciation, expressing gratitude, the importance of life and how fragile it is. NOA gave me such an unique experience, I got to experience Costa Rica from the perspective of the people that live there. Living with Gonzalo and his family was amazing, they will be part of my family forever. I have so much love for Gonzalo, Maurizia, Laylie, Farriva, Amir, and Johnny. The people at the Sea Turtle Reserve as well, Caro, Jainer will continue to inspire me.
I'm going to tell you about Marta. Marta is one of a kind, she is such an inspiration in my life and I am so glad that I got to work with her for this internship. She taught me about love, compassion, life. She is so appreciative for the Earth and the connection she has with it is amazing. One problem that I face is anxiety and I have been searching for natural remedies that will help me to calm down in situations where my anxiety is heightened. Marta taught me how to disconnect from everything around me and live in that moment, to listen, to feel, and to appreciate everything around me. Throughout, she has become a sister to me, a wise, amazing, beautiful, and loving sister who will be part of my life forever. The amount of love that I have for her cannot be expressed in words. I love you Marta and my gratitude for everything that you have taught me extends infinitely!
This internship was an AMAZING experience and I am so lucky to be part of such a sensational program that taught me so much, thank you so much to Animas High School, Marta, my family, Janae and everyone else who made this opportunity possible for me!
Pura Vida ~ Emily
These past four weeks, I have developed a love and appreciation for everything around me. Being surrounded by such kind and loving souls that are so happy even though they has so much less, it's inspiring. I can't wait to inspire others in my community from what I have experienced. I learned so much about living life to the fullest, appreciation, expressing gratitude, the importance of life and how fragile it is. NOA gave me such an unique experience, I got to experience Costa Rica from the perspective of the people that live there. Living with Gonzalo and his family was amazing, they will be part of my family forever. I have so much love for Gonzalo, Maurizia, Laylie, Farriva, Amir, and Johnny. The people at the Sea Turtle Reserve as well, Caro, Jainer will continue to inspire me.
I'm going to tell you about Marta. Marta is one of a kind, she is such an inspiration in my life and I am so glad that I got to work with her for this internship. She taught me about love, compassion, life. She is so appreciative for the Earth and the connection she has with it is amazing. One problem that I face is anxiety and I have been searching for natural remedies that will help me to calm down in situations where my anxiety is heightened. Marta taught me how to disconnect from everything around me and live in that moment, to listen, to feel, and to appreciate everything around me. Throughout, she has become a sister to me, a wise, amazing, beautiful, and loving sister who will be part of my life forever. The amount of love that I have for her cannot be expressed in words. I love you Marta and my gratitude for everything that you have taught me extends infinitely!
This internship was an AMAZING experience and I am so lucky to be part of such a sensational program that taught me so much, thank you so much to Animas High School, Marta, my family, Janae and everyone else who made this opportunity possible for me!
Pura Vida ~ Emily