What were your expectations coming to Costa Rica? (By Kathy Bonilla, TA)
Kathy Bonilla is a teachers assistant, part of the climate change mitigation classroom, aiding our students' learning. In todays blog, Kathy shares her observations through a journal style reflection! Scroll down to the end for the blog in ESPAÑOL.
"What did you expect when coming to Costa Rica, how did you imagine it?
By Kathy Bonilla, Teacher Assistant
Two weeks have passed since the Climate Change Mitigation course began in a particularly green landscape in Costa Rica called Monteverde. I am very happy and motivated to see the students enjoying the activities that we -the academic team- have prepared for them, and most importantly, that they have learned a lot in such a short time. These days, they are very enthusiastic and have many good ideas and proposals for the final project where they must apply what they have learned in local (or global) solutions focused on climate change.
Climate change is a priority and speaking up about these issues is what the planet currently needs. What better way to do this than encouraging youth, who help to correct the actions of the elderly, to make daily decisions with more awareness of the damage we do to the planet and to actively think about eco-friendly solutions and alternatives?
Under contact with nature, the students have been able to appreciate the enormous biodiversity of the tropical forest: butterflies, bats, birds, plants, insects, coatis, bromeliads... In this way, they understand the paradise that we have to take care of.
Personally, their impressions of Costa Rica have caught my attention. Most of them agree that they did not imagine it as green and that they feel welcomed to be in such a beautiful place. This also made me feel proud as a Costa Rican, and I hope these impressions stay with them for a long time. In the same way, I hope that what they have learned here can be implemented back in the US, and that they continue to grow in their professional careers.
Costa Rica will always welcome all of you, waking you up with the birds’ songs and going to bed with the crickets’ songs."
ESPAÑOL
"¿Qué esperabas al venir a Costa Rica, cómo lo imaginaste?
Por Kathy Bonilla, Teacher Assistant
Han pasado dos semanas desde que inició el curso de Climate Change Mitigation en un escenario particularmente verde de Costa Rica llamado Monteverde. Me alegra y me motiva mucho ver que los estudiantes han disfrutado de las actividades que les hemos preparado como equipo académico, y lo más importante, es que han aprendido mucho en tan poco tiempo. Estos días, se han mostrado muy entusiastas y con muchas buenas ideas y propuestas para el proyecto final, en donde deben aplicar lo aprendido en soluciones con enfoque al cambio climático.
El cambio climático es una prioridad y extender la voz en estos temas es lo que actualmente necesita el planeta. Qué mejor manera que incentivando el activismo juvenil, que ayude a corregir acciones de los mayores, a tomar decisiones cotidianas más conscientes del daño que le hacemos al planeta, a pensar activamente en soluciones y alternativas ecoamigables.
Bajo el contacto con la naturaleza, ellos han podido apreciar la enorme biodiversidad del bosque tropical: mariposas, murciélagos, aves, plantas, insectos, pizotes, bromelias… Así entender el paraíso que tenemos que cuidar.
Personalmente, me ha llamado mucho la atención sus impresiones sobre lo que han conocido de Costa Rica. La mayoría de ellos concuerda que no se lo imaginaron tan verde y que se sienten acogidos de estar en un lugar tan hermoso. Esto también me llena de orgullo como costarricense, y espero que estas impresiones se queden con ellos durante mucho tiempo. De igual manera, que lo que han vivido aquí puedan implementarlo de regreso a US, y que sigan creciendo en su carrera profesional.
Costa Rica siempre los recibirá con los cantos de aves al amanecer y despedirá con los cantos de grillos al anochecer."
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