UW Certificate - Check!

Just a bit of exciting news to announce. The checking of another List Item --- to get my University of Washington, Foster School of Business Marketing Management Certificate!! After a year of classes, I've finally completed it and just received the diploma in the mail the other day. The graduation ceremony is tomorrow (Thursday 6/17) but I will likely not be in attendance - just seems silly to sit through a graduation ceremony at this point and life is currently keeping me really busy!

The program included three classes - the last being a practicum where we worked in groups with a local business (A&H Pharmacy, a great family owned Pharmacy/Home Medical Equipment/Pharmaceutical Services business). It went amazing and was such a good experience helping a small, local business develop a customized marketing strategy. Here is some of what the President had to say:

It was good to have a group of enthusiastic marketers look at where we are and show us the possibilities of where we could be. We unanimously thought the project was a wonderful success. Our satisfaction with the project partly comes from seeing 6 people dedicated, curious, and enthused to move our operations to a higher level. That type of positive energy is contagious and I think we got it!

Excited to have had the experience, to continue to grow, and to help a local family owned company along the way!

Costa Rica - The Farm, Part 2

The day I had in Angostura to help on the farm began bright and early at 4:30 am. And yes, it came with the whole shebang – rooster and all. We had some breakfast to prep us for the day and then crammed the seven of us into an old, two-door Land Rover and went to just one of the five farms they take care of.


The farm itself is a short drive from the house in the small town of Angostura. The dirt, sometimes muddy and pothole stricken road winds down the side of the hill Angostura sits atop of, into the valley and then over a river. Once we arrived, we got busy right away – well, busy trying to figure out how 5 completely clueless city people could possibly help on a farm in the middle of Costa Rica.

We started by trying our hand at milking a cow. None of us was very successful at all. In fact, the only thing we were successful at was making it nervous enough that it wouldn’t let anyone milk it – even the seasoned veterans.

(photo by Brian Knopp)

Left with an empty milk container, we then walked down one of the small roads that had been overtaken by a stream turned river to get their two horses grazing in one of the hilly fields.

After getting acquainted, we walked them further down the road to feed the cattle. Even with our rubber boots on, we watched as Kelci and Michael worked through their well-practiced routine of feeding the cattle – dry feed with drizzled molasses on top for extra yumminess.

From the very muddy cattle feeding area, we walked past the sugar cane fields to the shelter where they crush the sugarcane into a thick liquid substance (excuse the lack of technical terms here). This sugar product can then be used for a huge variety of things – such as the aguadulce I had with breakfast earlier in the day. Aguadulce, or “sugarwater,” is a drink of hot water mixed with this sugar substance. Very popular in Costa Rica because Ticos and Ticas love sugar and because, well, it’s VERY delicious!

(photo by Sara Pauk, I think...)

Once we got back to the farm, it was time to get down to business or get UP to the very top of the hills surrounding the farm to plant 500 coffee plants. It turns out this particular area we would be planting in can only be reached by foot or by horse. We loaded up both horses with large bundles of coffee plants on their backs and took off to plant!

Fortunately enough for us, there were countless numbers of fruit-bearing trees along the way – oranges, mangoes, avocadoes, soursop, fruit from a cocoa plant, plantains, and bananas. So not only was it an educational hike but a delicious one as well!

Once we wove our way to the top through the maze of trees, brush and other coffee plants we got started. Small holes had already been dug where we would sprinkle in some fertilizer and then drop in a small coffee plant. Each plant was about a foot tall and the roots hanging down nearly doubled that. Then we would go back and pack the holes with dirt. Around the middle of filling these 500 holes, I remember thinking “Oh, it must be about 1:00 which would make it time to head back to go into town.” Ooooh no… The hands of time are cruel sometimes – only 10:00 AM. Amongst all of this strenuous coffee tree planting we did; however, get to watch a very exhausting chase across the coffee fields which lead to the below happenings…

(Photo by Sara Pauk)

After a good portion of the work was completed, we headed back to the farm house for some amazing Costa Rican food for lunch. And then Tanya and I departed for a horseback ride up one of the other surrounding hills. Bella and Quitano (Spanish for gypsy), surely exhausted from two trips of coffee plants took us for a short ride around the area to get a better look at the incredible views. And the word “incredible” really does it no justice at all, nor do the pictures. But I’ll give it a shot anyway…

Having returned from our ride, I un-saddled Bella (for the first time) with help from Michael’s nephew, Memito, who spoke no English. Due to our practicing along the ride, my very terrible Spanish was up to par JUST ENOUGH to barely understand the directions of un-saddling a horse. After what seemed like a very long day on the farm for us and a short day for Kelci and Michael, we departed the farm to head back to the house so I could begin my journey back home.

I have so much appreciation for those who work on farms. It’s very hard work and it’s definitely a job that doesn’t allow for breaks very easily. It was such an incredible experience to see a “day in the life” and I really do treasure every drop of sweat that day (and that’s A LOT!!!).

Costa Rica - The Farm, Part 1

Visiting the farm and Sara's (my roomie) sister, Kelci was the ultimate purpose of joining in on the Costa Rican fun so I was really excited to make the journey from the Pacific Coast in Manuel Antonio to Kelci and her boyfriend's family's farm. It was located near the VERY small town of Acostura which is located just outside of San Isidro del General. It is almost the middle between the two coasts of Costa Rica.

The journey took a good portion of the day on bus and waiting in San Isidro for our bus transfer. But it was definitely worth it! The views along the way were incredible and I found myself not believing I was actually there. After two buses, the last leg of trip was made on foot down one of the few (and very muddy) main streets of Acostura which follows the spine of a large hill.

Once settled in, we got busy right away making some amazingly incredible snacks. The first included corn tortillas from scratch made with the corn grown on their farm. This, of course, had to be accompanied by freshly made guacamole made with avocados and tomatoes grown on their farm as well. There's really something incredible about making your food from scratch from ingredients you've grown yourself. I really do wish I had the time (and ability) to do this at home.

The house had incredible views and was so quaint, I can completely understand WHY Kelci moved to Costa Rica to learn organic farming and HOW she's ended up staying several years.

Here is a picture of Sara and I enjoying the views from the top near Acostura.

This area is where Cupito (the cutest and loudest of little dogs) lives along with several chickens/roosters and a bunny. The path leads further down to more fruits/veggie trees/plants.

A bundle of green plantains grown on the farm, easily accessible outside the back door.

In process of making fried plantains in three, equally amazing, ways. (Note: Please excuse the very inaccurate terminology.)

1. 
   
   
   Thicker dices of ripe plantains fried
2. 
   
   
   Green plantains fried, squished, then fried again
3. 
   
   
   Thin slices of green plantains deep fried

 (Additional note: all frying took place in pig fat from a pig raised on the farm. mmmmm.)

An evening event of roasting coffee beans over an open-fire outdoor stove. Took a little longer than the modern methods...

Although I was only there a very short time (too short), I do have to say there is something comforting about living so closely to the land and your food source. It continues to boggle me how we have let ourselves get so removed from what we eat to the point that we don't even know everything that's in it.

Costa Rica - The Canopy

About halfway through our time at the Jungle Villa (here’s another picture to help you drool)…

...we hit the mountains for a zip line Canopy Tour of Manuel Antonio National Forest. I’ve never been zip lining before and was slightly nervous because I am typically afraid of heights and wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. After getting harnessed in and helmets atop out heads, we hiked up a trail seeing some awesome forest creatures along the way. One included a very poisonous tree frog (similar to the one below) that was a little larger than the size of a quarter that, with one touch, can cause excruciating pain for several hours. Yes, this was much better than the other frog found in this forest – the even more poisonous Dart Frog that could kill 20 people.

Actual picture taken of one of the millipedes we saw on the forest floor. Curled, it's about the size of your palm. -->

 

We made it through alive :-) and started our canopy tour with a couple practice runs and a Tarzan swing over a large drop off in the forest. Super fun! And yes, I screamed like a little girl. And yes, I got bit by a stupid fire ant. Those dang things hurt more than you could imagine! I guess it was partially to be expected since we were stopped in the middle of the Fire Ant Alley (or more like Freeway). Quite cool to watch though with the bits of leaves floating being hauled around the ground.

I haven’t got the professional pictures back from the “paparazzi” on hand that day. But here are some pictures I stole from my friends’ Facebook pages. Thanks girls!

 Pre-tour -->

Half-way break at the thatched hut -->

Sara and one of the many guides, high atop the trees -->

Me starting the longest zip line of the tour which spanned across this entire open area. Beautiful. -->

The group at the half-way break, overlooking Manuel Antonio National Park -->

Claire spiraling up one of the staircases wrapped around a tree to the next zip line -->

This was such an amazing time and such a blast! I would definitely do it again. It's a fun time but also a great way to see the rainforest, incredible views, and see creatures you wouldn't otherwise see.

Costa Rica - The Mangroves

Day 2 in Costa Rica was slightly more adventurous than Day 1. It consisted of a Mangrove Boat Tour near the town of Damas, Costa Rica, right near the Pacific Ocean.

Mangroves, –noun

1.any tropical tree or shrub of the genus Rhizophora, the species of which are mostly low trees growing in marshes or tidal shores, noted for their interlacing above-ground adventitious roots.

Exhibit A:

I've never toured mangroves before so it was quite a treat. Especially in Costa Rica. When the tide comes in, it fills up all these canals with water that you can tour by boat. The tide raises the water something like 12-15 feet and when the tide goes out, they completely drain to where you could walk through.

We started the tour on land with a traditional Costa Rican meal with rice, beans, fried plantains (my fav) and Mahi Mahi. Delicious!!!

On our tour through the mangroves, we saw a ton of different flora and fauna.

A troop of white faced monkeys swinging around in the trees and in the mangrove roots...

Small crabs all over the mangrove trees - this one is missing two legs...

Several termite's nests - you could see dark lines weaving throughout trees to and from these nests...

Blue Mangrove Heron - the largest in the area...

I'll spare making this post incredibly long but we also saw the world's SMALLEST anteater nestled up in a tree, iguanas, giant hornet's nests... and many more. It was so great to see such a unique area of Costa Rica. Not only did we get to see so many different creatures, but we also got a glimpse of locals, their homes and neighborhoods. Very cool experience. 

 

Costa Rica - Day 1

Once we had survived the long journey to Costa Rica, the first moment of relaxation made it all very worth while. We spent the first half of the first day lounging around the Jungle Villa (otherwise known as a piece of heaven).

This is officially the best seat in the house....

The hammock overlooked the Pacific Ocean, the jungle and a small island off in the distance. We then started the long hike down from the Jungle Villa to the beach near Manuel Antonio National Park to work on the tan. :) TO the beach wasn't bad, back from the beach was a completely different story drenched with sweat.

By day 1, it was easily confirmed that Costa Rica is by far one of the most beautiful countries I've ever been to.