As we flew over our final destination of Costa Rica I could've jumped out of my seat from excitement. It felt like hours standing in line for our luggage. When we finally exited the airport a huge rainbow showed through the clouds. I thought this scene, the beautiful rainbow showing in front of mountains of vegetation, would perfectly represent my over all trip in Costa Rica.
Our first day in Costa Rica we explored a coffee plantation. I learned that picking and producing coffee beans was no easy task. Our tour guide explained that many people worked on the plantations and many children did as well.
As the trip progressed I encountered many realizations. One of them is that as Americans we take simple things like air conditioning for granted. Not only do we take things for granted i realized that with out being physically submerged into a new type of living condition it is hard to truly understand how others survive.
During the last few days we stayed with a tribe called the Bri Bri. While staying with the tribe we visited elders. As we talked to them they told us about their lives. I saw a lot of poverty in Costa Rica and although it surrounded the elders as well they didn't think it was poverty. They were content with how they lived. They didn't have everything they wanted but they were not needy. This was another realization. Do you ever find yourself wanting something you know you don't need? As Americans this happens to many of us but for Costa Ricans they are satisfied with what they have. Surrounded by natural beauty and natural food many Costa Ricans we content with how they lived.
Overall not only did I realize we as Americans take things for granted, but we do not respect the easily accessible resources we are provided. For instance running purified water is limited in many other countries not only Costa Rica. I do not want to keep spending valuable money on things I want, when i could donate it to countries in need of accessible resources.
Our first day in Costa Rica we explored a coffee plantation. I learned that picking and producing coffee beans was no easy task. Our tour guide explained that many people worked on the plantations and many children did as well.
As the trip progressed I encountered many realizations. One of them is that as Americans we take simple things like air conditioning for granted. Not only do we take things for granted i realized that with out being physically submerged into a new type of living condition it is hard to truly understand how others survive.
During the last few days we stayed with a tribe called the Bri Bri. While staying with the tribe we visited elders. As we talked to them they told us about their lives. I saw a lot of poverty in Costa Rica and although it surrounded the elders as well they didn't think it was poverty. They were content with how they lived. They didn't have everything they wanted but they were not needy. This was another realization. Do you ever find yourself wanting something you know you don't need? As Americans this happens to many of us but for Costa Ricans they are satisfied with what they have. Surrounded by natural beauty and natural food many Costa Ricans we content with how they lived.
Overall not only did I realize we as Americans take things for granted, but we do not respect the easily accessible resources we are provided. For instance running purified water is limited in many other countries not only Costa Rica. I do not want to keep spending valuable money on things I want, when i could donate it to countries in need of accessible resources.