Pura Vida!

Hello to all from Costa Rica! For those of you who don't know, I am doing a research project/ internship funded by Peninsula College (where I attend my WWU Huxley classes on the Olympic Peninsula) & the National Science Foundation. This is related to the other internship I have been working on, but I am working on a different project now. It is an incredible opportunity & I will be staying mostly at a couple of different biological research stations for the next 10 weeks! But more about that later-

Just a short post to get me in the blog groove & let you know that I made it safely am enjoying myself already- it was a whirlwind trip to the beach at home for the 4th, back & then here on the overall uneventful, ultimate red-eye. I left Peter with a disaster of a house & didn't get to relax with him much but I am already looking forward to seeing him when he comes down in Sept, for the last week I am here.

I have already seen several different birds, howler monkeys, some lizards/ reptiles & spiders etc. It is very beautiful & La Selva- the first biological research station that will be my home for the next several weeks- has a nice vibe & set up, lots of trails, bathrooms, the rooms are simple but have the required bed & storage & are nice in a full of character sort of way. The people are very friendly & lots of educational opportunities abound.

My Spanish was very weak with the cab driver & at the store on the way here. People mostly speak English here at the lodge, but I would still like to practice. I should have plenty of opportunities if I head back to the city tho, there are lots of people who speak English, but I sure lots more who don't!

No pictures yet but keep checking- manana. There is a lizard above my head now & an unidentified nose that I hear, sounds like someone making kissy noises to a dog-