Author: Chelsea Beebe
Placement: 5 months at placement 072
Period:
May 2006 - Septemeber 2006
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I arrived at the ecolodge after a very bumpy, dusty ride and was absolutely amazed at the beauty of the site. I was shown to my casita, a small "shed" tucked back in the forest, and had some time to look around the area and ponder all the things that I hoped my time here would teach me. Looking back after five months, I am still overjoyed at the tranquility and peace of the Ecolodge. I have learned so much about the natural history of the area, made wonderful friends and have gotten a good sense of the community. The community of San Luis is very warm and welcoming. One of my favorite memories from my time here was the annual dance at the local school. It happened to coincide with the week that my family was visiting from the States. Although we were all outsiders, upon arrival at the school, everyone was made to feel so welcome, having food and drinks offered, and plenty of dance partners to go around. I think that the ecolodge is a great place for volunteers who have a strong desire to learn all they can about nature, improve their interpersonal skills, and to experience rural Costa Rica without the distractions of a big city. One of the challenges that I overcame was the constant interacting with guests and students. At times I just wanted to sit on the porch in peace without a steady flow of questions and requests; however, over time, I learned to just enjoy everyone who came through here, learn their stories, and share some of mine.
I hoped that they would all look back on their stays with great memories.