It’s day ten! And it’s safe to say I’m having a great time in Costa Rica. We’ve been to San Jose, Ensenada, Monteverde, and now Heliconias. Although some of the hikes have been rigorous and early in the morning, they have definitely all been worth it. Especially today. I saw my first sloth, and it made my trip that much better. That was one of the animals other than the rare birds that I really wanted to see while on my trip. Each of the places we have gone have been so different, and of them all, I’ve liked Heliconias the most so far. It rains a lot here, but that’s to be expected. It’s not unwelcome, though. I love a good storm. We had one tonight that took the power out for a while, leaving us with nothing but candlelight, flashlights, and talking to each other for entertainment. This leads me to another point: the things I have a renewed appreciation for back at home: air conditioning, closed in rooms, grilled cheese sandwiches, cell service, blow dryers, makeup, and I’m sure a lot of other things I can’t think of right now. I’m grateful for this experience though. It’s teaching me not only about birds, but also about myself. I can do a lot more than I thought I could, and I can put up with a lot more than I thought I could as well.

Pura Vida.

-Kayci