(Story Ends at 701 words) I want you to close your eyes and imagine a place where you can smell rain approaching, hear birds singing, see monkeys swinging, and taste the salty ocean. These are just a few of the memories I bring home with me from Costa Rica. From the moment I learned I would be travelling to one of the most bio diverse hotspots in the World I was like a little kid at the Zoo, eyes wide full of excitement and ready to learn! Flying from the U.S I had never seen so many trees covering the Earth before and in this moment I knew I was in for the trip of a lifetime! The trip started on the Carribean side of the country on a small island called Tortuguero. Tortuguero is a place that brings you closer to nature with the education of sea turtle conservation as the main work on the island. I found myself awake from 12-4am walking along the seashore searching for turtle nests and eggs that might be in danger from other wildlife. Walking along the beach at night was extraordinary. The sounds of wildlife mixed with rolling ocean waves in the moonlight was like natures own soundtrack. A little further into the country I found myself in La Fortuna starring at a massive volcano (Arenal) through my hotel window. As we hiked to the volcano we approached an area that looked like the entire ground was moving. Large ants filled every inch between where we were and where we needed to be. In order to cross everyone had to go one by one, stepping in the each other’s footprints while using large strides to ensure the smallest amount of destruction to the ant population. The hike up the volcano was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time as little spouts of ash and rock sputtered from the top of Arenal. Whitewater rafting was the next adventure near La Fortuna. As a beginner, all my nerves became silenced as we headed down the river and saw an abundance of wildlife in the trees near the edge of the riverbank. Although it seems like a exhausting adventure don’t get discouraged! La Fortuna has a variety of hotels with great drinks and hot springs to relax those angry muscles after a long day of hiking or whitewater rafting! Monteverde was next on the list with its incredible Cloud Forest Reserve. Suspension bridges high in the sky allowed you to be eye level within the canopy of the trees. Many different tropical birds sightings became the highlight of this experience. Zip lining was also a way to become eye level with wildlife high in the trees. Small platforms suspended by thick cables from the treetops created a connecting course through the rainforest. Landing on a platform had my heart beating a million times per second! With tears in my eyes from being scared of heights made this one of the most impactful growing experiences of my life. I came to appreciate arboreal wildlife and all the adaptations that allow them to spend most of their life high in the trees. In an undisclosed location I found myself hiking for many hours in order to travel to a remote village in the middle of the country. The village Chief asked us not to bring technology, as the elders want to keep the children sheltered from the outside world. Plates were made from large leaves, the water was brown from cocoa beans, and the children were not clothed properly. It reminded me of a scene from a movie, except I was living it! Huts were their homes and one small building was used for anything else (religion, school, etc.). The smiles on many faces showed me how my perception of the World was tainted by materialistic items and technology. The blue waters of the Pacific at Playa Carillo brought the trip to an end. Tall palm trees and playful monkeys inhabited this area. Basking in the sun like the turtles of Costa Rica brought peace into my mind. Costa Rica is a place for the simple life and in that moment I realized that I wanted to live that simple life. Pura Vida! _____________________________________________________________________ I just recently graduated with my Masters of Biology with an animal concentration and am planning to travel around Costa Rica once again in 2021 and hopefully Africa after that. I am really hoping to start a travel blog in order to create awareness regarding habitat deforestation and the decline of wildlife species. I have participated in a photography internship and now need to learn the writing aspect of blogging. This would be an amazing opportunity to gain the writing skills I need! Check out my wildlife page on Instagram: OpenYourEyes.Wildlife Thank you for your time and consideration!