One week...

The trip is drawing ever closer, and I still need to find what I can leave behind to lighten the heavy load in my backpack right now. I've been packing and re-packing to try and figure out how to cram everything I need for 5 weeks into one backpack (keeping in mind that I must still be able to not only carry the bag, but then hike for miles with it on). It seems that there is a fine line between being prepared, and being over-packed! (Maybe I don't need 5 gallons of sunscreen...?)

I've also been fiddling on Paint and put together a little map of my rough itinerary. Some of the places might be replaced with others and there are a few other small stops along the way, but it gives a good idea of the regions we will be visiting. We will spend the bulk of our time at Carara and Corcovado National Parks (#4 and #8 on the map). In between are the resorts, beaches, etc. that we will stop at for our much needed breaks. Also, in Ciudad Colon (#6) we will be visiting the University of Peace to take a class on globalization, and then return at the end to attend a conference where we will be presenting our findings.

Preparations...

So I'm well into the process of preparing for the trip, there's still a lot to do but I feel pretty good about it so far.

I've gotten my passport, of course, and can't wait to get that first stamp proving I went out of the country! Today I went to fill my malaria immunization prescription which is a medication I will take throughout the time I am in CR. Rumor has it that the malaria meds are supposed to be pretty nasty stuff that can give you hallucinations and night terrors. I really hope I can avoid that! Although the regions we'll be going to aren't on the official CDC risk list for malaria, other regions in CR are, and it's worth it to take the extra precaution. I'll be keeping my bug spray and mosquito net on me at all times! The other immunizations that I had to get were hepatitis A and typhoid, I was already up to date on tetanus.

The other part of the preparation process is deciding what to pack! We'll be backpacking into everywhere we go (including one 13 mile hike into the middle of the Corcovado National Park) so everything we bring must fit on our backs. Sleeping bag, clothes, toiletries, even course books all go on our backs. It really makes you double think the need for that second pair of shoes or extra pants!

Its great though, I cant wait to live simply for 5 weeks with just a few changes of clothes and just what I need to get by. It's the right time in my life to take a trip like this where I challenge myself to do what I've never thought I was capable of doing.

Two weeks...

I leave in just two weeks. After waiting so long, two weeks seems hardly any time at all. There's still so much to do to get ready!

The adventure begins...

This summer may prove to be the most exciting summer of my life so far.

To introduce myself, I'm Emily an environmental policy student from the states, and I'm about ready to embark on a pretty exiting journey. This summer I will be spending 5 weeks in the Costa Rican rain forest with a large group of fellow students. There, we will study the Costa Rican conservation model through the eyes of the local forest rangers who we will be eating with, rooming with, and working for throughout our stay there. As well as conducting our research and studying as students, we will also be there to provide a service to the rangers in return for letting us stay with them. Digging ditches, building bridges, painting, shoveling, hammering...whatever it takes to return something back to the people and rain forest of Costa Rica.

Anyways, aside from the logistics, I'm just really excited to be a part of it all and want to share my experiences!

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world" -John Muir