Tammy Lee
What a wonderful first study abroad for the ECU MAED Science Education program. It was so special because of these fearless science teachers. This is the pic that I chose to highlight as my favorite memory of our trip and time together. The teachers were being funny in this pic by posing as "fearless" hikers heading out into the cloud forest at night to search for whatever nature had in store for us. But this pic in reality illustrates their everyday courageous and daring nature of being science teachers. They all work tirelessly teaching our youth the love of science without much praise and celebration. They all go the extra mile to expand their own knowledge and experiences for the sole purpose of enhancing their students' lives and learning of science. They do not receive extra money for their advance degrees (at this time) or for this trip but they do it anyway because they are the true heroes of our society. I am so proud to know them and be a part of their remarkable journey as educators. You are all awesome! Thank you all for teaching science and being you!
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Bonnie Glass
Blair Driver
It was not for the faint of heart. The incline was steep and muddy and there were moments I was ready to be done; especially when my thighs were screaming. However, my group and I pushed forward and made the trek to the continental divide at the top of the Cloud Forest in Monteverde at 1800 meters. Few things can top that surreal moment of tiredness, triumph and awe. Often in the education profession, the paper work and student motivation are like trekking through muddy and up steep mountains. It seems like there is no end in sight but we still keep going, no matter how loud the screaming gets. No matter the mountain, the students, the classroom, great educators never give up. When we reached the top, it was a very similar feeling to ending the year on a successful note.
We came, We saw, We conquered. #BootsWereMadeForHiking #JustKeepTrekking #TheJourneyToSucccess |
Victoria Gemelli
As I sit quietly, alone in the Monteverde cloud forest, listening to the sounds around me and filling my lungs with what may well be some of the cleanest air on our planet. The breeze quietly dancing through the leaves. The sound of a Black-faced Solitaire in the distance, with it's distinct sharp, but smooth whistle. Crickets, cicadas and other insects buzz. The cool mist from the clouds blowing in from the Pacific Ocean. I am surrounded by the lush green of the forest, with epiphytes on every branch. This may be a forest, but when one pictures a jungle, it cannot be much different. Stay on the path. I see the homes of small creatures, that will never venture further than the branch they were born on. Lives, co-existing with others, each filling a particular niche within the biosphere that likely exists in much the same fashion as it has for ages.
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Mary Rose Yoo
I was just a metro woman who never get out of my comfort zone and done any extraneous outdoor activities. Initially, my favorite part of the study abroad was when we were at the Cloud Forest. It was easy for me to trek and hike even though I had to catch my breath sometimes. I learned a lot about climate change and had so many self-reflections about how beautiful biodiversity is. I felt more connected to nature and appreciated all the effort done by environmentalists, researchers, scientists and locals to preserve the tropical rainforests. However, Las Canones canopy zipline experience stood out for me because I was stuck and hanged at the middle of a .5 km cable. I never ziplined, I’m always careful and I’ve never done things without preparation. It was the scariest and humbling moment of my life. Humbling because I was so confident that I followed all the instructions but my body was so tensed that my mind cannot think correctly when I was at the canopy. The only thing that motivated me to continue and finish the 13 stations was the team’s support. As I heard them say” go Mary Rose, you can do it!” I did not get loose of the cable I patiently waited and continued zip lining. Dr.Tammy Lee was such a good leader and professor that boosted my confidence. After all the catching of breath and laughters when we saw the Howler Monkeys and the guide showing off his acrobatics, I finally enjoyed the rest of the stations. I conquered my fear and I learned a lot. We have an innate Quaker mentality. Great professors, teamwork and fun company made this Costa Rica study abroad a successful one.Pura Vida! Bravo ECU !
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Beth Wantz
Now I know what you are thinking, "Out of all the pictures of beautiful scenery and unique animals, this is what you chose to be your favorite, Beth?" This picture might not be National Geographic worthy, but it tells a story to those that understand it. This picture was taken on the first day of our journey in the city of Alajuela, just outside of San Jose. After our long flight we decided to take a walk around the city and explore our new home for the next 6 days. We were immediately drawn to this park that was full of people and Costa Rican music. We all just stood in amazement at all of these people dancing, laughing, and genuinely having a good time in each other's company. This is not something that you see all the time in the States and we found out within seconds that we were not something that the locals saw everyday. Most of us having light hair and light skin, stood out like sore thumbs (plus I was wearing fanny pack so that was a tourist give away). Within minutes, the locals pulled us into their dance party one-by-one to embrace the "Pura Vida" attitude. This summarizes this trip for me. I was taken out of my comfort zone, in front of many people, some of which I had never met before, and I was doing things that I would never EVER think I would do. But with these awkward and nervous feelings, I HAD FUN! Sometimes I had to be pushed and other times I welcomed the new experiences freely. By the end of the trip I not only grew as an educator, but as a person. I learned that leaving your comfort zone was challenging but most definitely worth it! (And that some elderly Costa Rican's could give any professional dancer a run for their money!)
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Lauren Brewington
Looking back at our week in Costa Rica there were so many moments and pictures to choose from. I selected this picture that was taken overlooking Lake Arenal. On day 5 after our school visit, we left our “home” in Monteverde and headed northeast to Los Lagos. After a... let’s just say less than ideal bus ride, we came across a clearing with the most amazing view of Lake Arenal and the volcanoes surrounding it. Naturally we had to stop for a photo-op (and a jailbreak from the bus!) At this stop I snapped this photo of the 3D printed pirate made by Blair Driver. This pirate was used as a way to represent our school and the Pactolus Pirates. When I took this picture though it took on all new meaning. To me this picture represents that ALL of us East Carolina Pirates stormed Costa Rica and conquered all that was put before us. Costa Rica was an incredibly beautiful country and even though we took tons of amazing pictures, I don’t know that any of them truly do it justice. Thank you to our amazing guides, the Costa Rican locals who were so inviting, our fearless leaders Dr. Lee and Mrs. Glass and last but not least my fellow pirates who took on Costa Roca with me! It was an experience of a lifetime and I am so glad I got to experience it with these amazing people.
So, where to next?! |
Kayla Baker
I have so enjoyed being a part of this summer abroad exploration in Costa Rica. One of my favorite parts of the trip was zip lining through the canopy of the rainforest at Arenal. It was the perfect way to wrap up our research of the cloud forest and trek through the rainforest. We had been looking at the tops of trees from a distance all week long and actually being in the canopy and observing them up close was so awesome. **We even came across a family of howler monkeys in the trees right above us whenever we were zip lining.
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Kayla Sager
"When I think about the (I can't remember the name of...) frog species, it spends it's entire life living on a leaf, high up in the Cloud Forest. It doesn't even know the ground exists. I then think about us as humans. There is so much that we don't know know about this Earth, and honestly never will. It just makes you realize how small you really are."
Our naturalist, Emily, spoke these words to use while on a hike, and they have continued to stick in my mind ever since. Multiple times during our trip, we were asked to stop and observe our surroundings. In front of my eyes, there were thousands of species that surrounded me. So many of the species that are only invasive to this specific location in Costa Rica especially. It just makes me think about my footprint that I have left on this Earth. All of the places that I've seen, that I've walked on, yet there is so much left for me to explore. I feel as if I am the frog that lives in the trees, and only knowing what exists right in front of me.Visiting Costa Rica has made me realize how small I really am, yet the impact that I am able to make, just like the frog does to the canopy high above me. I chose this picture of a little beetle on a leaf. This is what I observed during one of my "10 minute observation breaks". This little guy, sitting on a leaf, probably only knowing what exists right around him, but never realizing how much he has surrounding him, and how much beauty our Earth has to see. |
Rachel Lowery
I was totally out of my element this week and it was so much fun! Before this trip I would have never placed my hand next to a giant critter on a tree just so I would have an idea of how big it actually is. I was amazed by all that I experienced and saw during our hikes in the rain forests. Our guide Ecuardo, in the Children's Eternal Rainforest, was so enthusiastic about all he had to teach and show us. I was amazed! Costa Rica's food, the animals, the plants, the people! What a week! Pictures just cannot do this experience justice. Sitting quietly in the Monteverde Cloud Rain Forest and listening to the sounds taught me to stop, breathe quietly, and listen to the sounds here when when I am outside. Costa Rica is definitely my favorite classroom of all time! #puravidaforever
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Kelsey Phillips
This landscape reminds me of my childhood. I spent my summers in the rolling hills of Kentucky on my grandparents cattle farm. As we drove to Monteverda, I was mesmerized by the amount of cattle farms. The cows were grazing even if the terrain looked too rough to venture through. Even in the tropical climate zone you can still see some of the same animals you see in the States.
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