By Nick Maodush-Pitzer

It is hard to describe in words what we have experienced this week in Costa Rica. We have done so much in the little amount of time that we have spent here, that it would be impossible to relay in one short blog post what we have seen and learned while traversing Costa Rica in just one week. What makes it difficult to explain in words, I think, is the fact that what we have learned has not been in word-form. What we have seen is that the Costa Rican people care too much about the environment and nature to solely say what they would like to do to see an improvement in how they live. No. They go beyond empty promises. Their dedication to improving the planet for future generations is shown in the work that is done here, not just what is written on paper. The initiative that these people have is extraordinary, and should be a model for how the rest of the world operates. And not only do they have many plans in-place and active, they also have incredible understanding of how their work affects the work of the neighbors as well as the rest of the world. It's uncanny how much the people understand the importance of acting locally while still thinking globally. They know that the future of the world cannot be protected solely by saying big things and acting in ways that are meant to affect millions of people at a time. One aspect I have learned about living the "Pura Vida" is that change does not have to start on such a grand scale, and it is impossible to help the whole world in a matter of seconds. Rather, the most effective way to spread your knowledge and care for the world is to first be aware of the needs of your immediate surroundings, and focus on correcting those problems. Eventually your ideas will grow, and spread throughout other communities, until multiple communities are contributing towards a common goal. We, as students eager to learn, are seeds of change. And in knowing what "Pura Vida" means, we are able to understand that the seed will not blossom in one day, and we must take life one day at a time, and slowly we will see that our small ideas can create big dividends for our world.