Home is Where the Heart is

When your trip ends, and you find yourself sitting in an airport waiting on your flight (which is usually delayed) thoughts of home often come to mind. I have always enjoyed traveling, I discovered that one of the best aspects of travel is sharing your experiences with your loved ones upon your return. 

The shelves of my room back home are filled with scrapbooks, pictures and memory frames of my favorite trips. One day, when I am a senior citizen retired on my farm in the midwest, I plan on sharing my experiences of agriculture and traveling with the generation of my family.  

*Photo by Laura Schuler 

My family and I beside an historic barn on one of our farms back home in Gallatin, Missouri. 

This guy is always the first to greet me when I return home! Teddy is a Corgi and one of my favorite creatures in life. If I am gone a hour, week or day he always greets me with a endless excitement. 

What a View!

My journey to Costa Rica ended with a breathtaking view! I climbed to the top of a historic Costa Rican monument, where the country's last battle was fought in the early 1900's. After countless steps and many deep gulps of air, I had reached the top. Boy, was it worth it. 

I am a nature lover, and I had to take several seconds to absorb the beauty before me. In the distance is the volcano our group had hiked on. 

Standing at the top of the monument, the first thought that came to my mind were the words of  philosopher Laozi, 

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

The Miracle Plant, Aloe Vera

I have only had two experiences with aloe vera plants in my life. First, when I was ten and received a horrible sunburn at 4-H camp. One of my cabin mates happened to have a large bottle of green goo labeled "aloe vera". That green goo was a life savor for my bright red and peeling skin!

My second aloe vera moment was during my senior year in greenhouse class. Our agriculture department had just built a greenhouse and one of the first plants we grew was aloe vera. Soon, aloe vera was taking over our facilty. The plant grew fast and our agriculture advisor informed us seniors that our graduation presents might be aloe vera plants that year. 

When I took home my aloe vera plant, my younger brother Dane quickly became its caretaker. Dane is a high school athlete, with impressive muscles and he stands at over 6 foot tall. Yet, this big kid has a soft spot in his heart for his aloe vera plant. The plant is hardy, as it has survived being left out in a wind storm and was found in the middle of a pasture days later. It has grown tremendously and Dane transferred it into a pretty ceramic pot. It now has it's own spot in our home and if anyone ever has a sunburn Dane is quick to remind you that his aloe vera plant can help you out. 

 I had to send Dane a picture of his favorite plant when I visited an aloe vera farm. I thought our school greenhouse had many aloe vera plants, but these fields were filled with the plant.

Rows and rows of aloe vera!

The inside of an aloe vera plant is filled with a gooey-brown substance which is what relieves sunburn pain. The "green goo" you see inside the aloe vera gel bottles on Walmart shelves is actually dyed in a laboratory. 

A Career with Bugs

If insects fascinate you, if you are accurate with details and if you do not mind tromping through the forrest, then the career of a parataxonomist is for you. Parataxonomists are part of a biological project aimed at cataloging the diverse insect population of Costa Rica. These field biologists are responsible for collecting and categorizing species of caterpillars, moths and butterflies.Their work requires intensive identification training. Most are native Costa Ricans who know the forrest and who harbor a love for biology. The career of a parataxonomist has opened many doors to Cost Ricans.

 Parataxonomists begin their work day by going out into the forrest and collecting the specimens on that days "grocery list." Insects and plants must be collected daily and our group had the opportunity to assist with that days "shopping" as we headed off to the forest. 

After the caterpillars have been collected in the forrest, they are taken to this station to be cataloged. The data is recorded and they are then transferred from jars to bags. If a new or unknown species were to be found it would be frozen and sent to the United States for identification. 

 Caterpillars blend in easily with their forrest environment so parataxonomists are required to have keen eye sight. The parataxonomists might have had some aversions to insects before beginning their careers in biology, but now the workers are unfazed by the constant interaction with insects. 

Rows of plastic bags line the inside of this barn. Here, parataxonomists check on insect health, clean bags and feed the caterpillars 

 At another parataxonomist station butterflies are captured and cataloged. Costa Rica is home to thousands of butterflies and the project has made many discoveries about the butterfly population. New species have been discovered and species not native to Costa Rica have been found living in the country.

Rice Farms

 In Costa Rica, no meal is complete without rice. Thus it was only right that our group tour several rice farms and processing plants. Rice production in Costa Rica ranges from small family owned farms to large corporate farms. Producers take their rice to cooperatives to be sold for fair prices. Each cooperative member has a crop quota to meet. During some harvests farmers find themselves exceeding the minimum rice production. In these cases cooperatives cannot always take all of the rice being produced. Costa Rica has an exponential rice business and it shows in the country's fields and on your dinner plate.

Rice fields are alive with vibrant colors and wildlife. Many species of birds coexist on the rice farms with the crop. They do not harm the rice but eat insects and pests that would harm the rice. 

River canals run miles along the boarders of the production fields. They provide natural irrigation systems. 

There were many new sights in Costa Rica including spotting alligators on farms. These gators are no laughing matter. Farm workers have to watch out for them and there have been several past deaths from rice field alligators. The alligators prey on rice field birds and other animals that live in the river. This alligator was difficult to first spot, but once I did it did not leave my sight!

Earth University

Earth University gives students the opportunity to learn about sustainable and international agriculture hands on. Being accepted into the Earth University is the opportunity of a lifetime but surviving the rigorous curriculum can be even more difficult. Students are placed outside of their comfort zone and experience hands on learning in an intense degree program. Earth University has a longstanding partnership with the University of Missouri and offers semester programs for college students who want to enhance their agriculture knowledge. While touring sections of the  thousands of acres of Earth University fields, we saw a variety of crops and farming habits in use. 

A grove of harvested mango trees. Mango's are one of Costa Rica's highest exported crops and the industry expands the country's economy by providing numerous jobs for laborers and income from mango sales. All profits from the Earth University mango groves goes directly to the students for scholarships.  

Our Earth University tour guide stood in a newly harvested field. Crop rotation is used in this field and by next year there will be a different variety of crop growing.  

Palm trees act as a barrier for the field irrigation system. 

Rice fields along the mountainside. 

Endless rows of sugar cane engulf hundreds of acres at Earth University. The sugar cane stalks grow over eight feet tall and the crop is very durable. You could get lost in a sugar cane field just as easily as in a Missouri corn field. 

Caught Blogging

I was found blogging by my professor during one of our breaks in-between tours. Of course, Truman the Mizzou tiger was not far away! 

I am often on my laptop doing research or writing. As a University of Missouri journalism student I am one of many who are equipped with matching Mac's. However, I like to stand out, so I did a little crafting on my laptop. My bedazzled laptop always seems to catch everyone's attention, including our mascott's. Even Customs agents and TSA workers at airports smiled when they saw my laptop going through security. Never estimate the power of crafting and creativity. 

Planting Time

During our tour of a diversified production farm, our guide offered us an opportunity to help him plant a new row of trees. As an agriculture student I grabbed my shovel, rolled up my sleeves and began to get my hands dirty.

Thumbs up for agriculture. 

Our group left its mark on Costa Rica, one tree at a time. 

Letters Home

When I was younger I loved nothing more than sending post cards to my grandparents when my family and I were on vacation. To this day, I still enjoy sharing my adventures and travels with friends and family members. In a day in age of instant messaging, email and Facebook wall posts, I still feel as though a hand written note is the best means of communication. Luckily, my handwriting and writing capabilities have improved through the years. Yet. I still find myself attempting to squeeze every detail into the tiny post card lines. I also think that post cards are the best souvenirs. The photos on the front really showcase your destination and make your receiver feel as though they are on the trip with you.  In fact, I have several albums of post cards from every destination I have been. My post cards crossed an ocean and several countries to reach the mailboxes of my loved ones. Now, many refrigerators in the midwest will have Costa Rican postcards across them. 

Say What?

It has been two years since my high school Spanish classes. Therefore, coming to Costa Rica, a predominately Spanish speaking country, I knew that I would have to adjust to the language barrier. I faithfully studied my Spanish dictionary before my trip but reading and speaking a foreign language are two different things! I found it interesting to see common signs in Spanish throughout Costa Rica because I was used to the English signs. The street signs were simply another example of the adjustments you make in foreign country. Also, you do not find many "beware of monkeys" or "turtle crossing" signs in our country. 

Luckily, common signs like yield and stop signs were the same shape in Costa Rica as they are in the U.S. 

One day we hiked on a volcano path and there were many signs telling us how close we were to the volcanic activity. 

This was one "hot" hot spring!

You do not find many ocean current warning signs in Missouri. 

Miles is not the common vehicle distance measurement in Costa Rica, or in any country other than the U.S. When we asked "are we there yet?" our guide always told us "just a few more kilometers." 

Patricia Jimerez: An Inspiration

Patricia Jimerez truly does it all. She is a women's rights activist, artisan and grandmother who formed CASEM, the Committee Artists Saint Elena Monteverde. CASEM is a women's craft cooperative that provides an opportunity for women to be independent by teaching them crafting skills. The crafts are sold to local business and in shops to tourists. Income gained from the crafts goes directly to the women and allows them to be independent by earning income. In addition, Jimerez advocates for Costa Rican social change and is a driving force within her community. She is respected for her craftsmanship and is an inspiration to all. 

Jimerez is in her element at her home in Monteverde which is her craft studio and sanctuary. When she was 13 Jimerez was diagnosed with Polio. Since then she has used crutches and has had to adjust her life, home and work to accommodate the physical challenges she faces. Despite the obstacles she has faced, Jimerez is one of the strongest individuals I have met. She has not let anything slow her down.

I was invited inside Jimerez's home and discovered every room had her crafting touch. Her bathroom was hand painted from floor to ceiling with vibrant colors and designs that were inspired by the Costa Rican landscape. Jimerez described the many hours of painting it took for her vision to be completed. 

When you walk into Jimerez's home you are immersed in a craft studio. Her home doubles as her work space and overflows with stunning handcrafted paper products, tools, paintings, embroidery works and materials.

Jimerez can often be found on her laptop with her cell phone near by. She harbors no aversion to technology and enjoys bonding with her young grandson on her computer. They create artwork together with painting software. Jimerez showed me her Word documents, Excel files and emails and proved that any generation, anywhere in the globe, can be in touch with today's fast pace world.

"For me personally I have loved (discovering) that I can do a lot of work with my hands and be happy. I am completely relaxed when I am creating.” -Patricia Jimerez

A Sweet Tour

It may be difficult to believe, but this coco plant is what becomes the delicious chocolate treats we enjoy!

Producing chocolate requires many steps and machinery. In this stage of the process a chocolate "paste" is formed. Caution: I was given a sample of chocolate at each step in the making process. During step the chocolate is highly bitter. Further ingredients are added to the chocolate paste to overcome the bitterness and to enhance sweetness. The amount of vanilla and sugar added is determined by the quality of chocolate and if it is is a batch of dark, bittersweet or milk chocolate.

Yum, yum! After ingredients have been mixed in the chocolate tastes oh-so-sweet. The process of chocolate making gets messy, so chocolate makers try to always use flat surfaced objects when handling the product. This ensures for less waste and an easier clean up. 

The finished product is on display at a local chocolate shop. The handmade chocolates are a beautiful sight but taste even better! I recommend the peanut butter truffle.

Preventing Forrest Fires

Firefighters face numerous challenges in the jungles of Costa Rica. From rural roads, limited water supplies to poachers the men and women who have committed themselves to fire prevention must rise against the odds to protect the forrest and local communities. 

Fires are often set by poachers, to distract authorities while hunting illegally. The set fires pose a threat to native wildlife and the forrest. Members of this local fire fighting brigade rage from teenagers to fire fighting veterans. They have committed themselves to endless days of training in suffocatingly-hot uniforms and physically draining drills. But, their commitment ensures the preservation of Costa Rican forests and has allowed them represent their country in international fire fighting competition. 

The firefighting team practices for their upcoming competition. The firemen events focus on speed and accuracy. Teams must complete drills in the fastest time with the most correct maneuvers. The Costa Rican fire fighting team has won many titles and their trophy room boasts numerous awards. 

A few of the team members take time to visit with us about their experiences in competition. The team is composed of volunteers but their captain holds a paid position. It is his job to prepare the firefighters to combat  forrest fires and to excel in competition. 

Journey Through the Jungle

"Lions, tigers and bear's oh my!"

As I hiked through numerous forests and jungles in Costa Rica thoughts of wildlife were not far from my mind. Luckily, I did not have to worry about too many dangerous predators. Most jungle experts consider jaguars to be the most dangerous threat. Sitings of jaguar's are extremely rare, as the animals are nocturnal and tend to avoid human contact. Despite knowing that, I always asked locals if they had ever spotted a jaguar. Almost all of them said they had never run into a jaguar- and they hoped to keep it that way! My professor, Bill Allen, happened upon a jaguar during his first trip to Costa Rica. He vividly described his encounter with the jaguar in his novel, Green Phoenix. He always regretted not photographing his "jaguar moment". But I did not blame him for forgetting his camera when faced with a jungle predator. Despite my worry, and excitement, about jungle wildlife, the beauty of the jungle astounded me. 

Walking through the forrest was like entering another world. This world was filled with brilliant shades of green, countless species of wildlife and tranquil peace. As I explored trails, narrow dirt paths, I found myself feeling as though I was a part of nature. Often I would pause for a moment and simply take the landscape in. The sounds, feelings and scents of the land were unique and I treasured the moments I spent in the forrest. Our tour group took many hikes through the landscapes of Costa Rica. We traveled by volcanos, over rope bridges, to waterfalls and even discovered groves of monkeys. Being surrounded by exotic plants and leafy-green foliage was a change of scenery from the farm life I was used to.

Breathtaking Costa Rican streams flow through the forests from the mountain tops.  

Walking across rope bridges to the jungle! 

Hiking boots were a must here! You had to be alert for snakes among the rocks. Being on the lookout for snakes was normal for me, rattle snakes are very common in northwest Missouri. 

Our group was astounded at this nature novelty. Steam rose from the ground in these crater-like natural landmarks. 

You never know what you will find on a jungle trail. Our nature guide was not sure of the significance of this handprint and it puzzled my fellow students and I. 

Green was a common occurrence here. 

Exotic plants were everywhere and added hints of color to the landscape. 

Mist from nearby volcanic areas. 

This pool was the purest shade of aquamarine I had ever seen. However, do not think about taking a dip in it. Temperatures reach over 100 degrees Celsius in it.

After climbing a volcano and mountain ridden land for seemingly forever, we reached a waterfall. The waterfall appeared to be something straight out of a movie scene!