It’s Jess again, Today was our last day of our Anthropology 445 Course in Costa Rica. We now have to say goodbye to the place we considered home for the past three weeks. I developed such a close relationship with my trip members, the professor and T.As, and the staff. I almost teared up when the staff asked when we were coming back. I didn’t know how to respond, but I assured them that I would never forget them and I will try to add some of them on Facebook. When I finally stepped outside, I said my goodbyes to the rainforest. Living in the rainforest has by far been my most cherishable experience. There were many challenges that came along with the trip, but I got through them and those challenges made this trip that much more rewarding. I have grown more as a person and have learned so much more about the world around me and I now understand what we are losing when we cut these forests down. We are losing beauty, diversity, homes, and lives and I cannot sit back and watch it happen. This trip has inspired me to pursue conservation research and it has made me grateful that I experienced the rainforest for myself.relationship with my trip members, the professor and T.As, and the staff. I almost teared up when the staff asked when we were coming back. I didn’t know how to respond, but I assured them that I would never forget them and I will try to add some of them on Facebook. When I finally stepped outside, I said my goodbyes to the rainforest. Living in the rainforest has by far been my most cherishable experience. There were many challenges that came along with the trip, but I got through them and those challenges made this trip that much more rewarding. I have grown more as a person and have learned so much more about the world around me and I now understand what we are losing when we cut these forests down. We are losing beauty, diversity, homes, and lives and I cannot sit back and watch it happen. This trip has inspired me to pursue conservation research and it has made me grateful that I experienced the rainforest for myself.
Jessica Gutierrez
ACESstudyabroad 