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Published: September 28th 2005
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I am just getting to the blog, my life has been very hectic, since I have returned from Africa. All of you know I am trying to do something, in an effort to help that regional hospital in Ethiopia. ( I mentioned it in my blog, the hospital in BahirDar). I want to make a small difference there and bring some very basic things, such as a laundry system and privacy curtains. Like with any project, it takes time and effort to move forward. I am very excited about some possible options to really impact a few people's lives. With a little luck and prayers, and maybe, with the help of many, we can get something done. So, forgive my falling behind on the blog.
Costa Rica is green. That is the easiest way to describe what first strikes you about this country. The green covers everything like a snowstorm would cover a mountain in Switzerland. The land is rich with the green of the trees, leaves and fruits. Lizards cover everything that is not paved over with concrete. (The lizards cover the concrete too!) It is really a contrast for me coming from Africa, where places like the
Sudan are covered in browns, tans and gold’s, with no sign of green anywhere. It was delightful to me to see that nature has its way here. It provides life for those that are blessed to be born here.
Let me back up and say that I am with a group of 17 and 18 years old students from around the country. Theyhave been in a Youth Leadership Program for the last 3 years. This trip is the final part of the program that started in Boston, Mass. in 2003. Now, we are finishing in the lushness of Central America. The kids are expected to do some community service here, along with learning about global compassion, leadership in a changing world and cultural diversity.
We all met in Miami and traveled together to San Jose. We stepped into a world where humidity has a new meaning. The moister hits you like some bully, that hides behind the door. As you leave the plane, it shocks you when it hits you, with all his force. Like with anything in life, there is a trade off. The green of God’s glory and the sucker punch of that bully called heat and humidity, greets you as you enter Costa Rica.
We traveled about 3 hours to Earth University for the first few days of our visit. Earth is a fascinating place. The concept of Earth is to teach college agriculture students how to develop the land in a way that is safe for the world and it’s future. They are taught how to reuse everything. The students come up with different ways to solve some of the world problems like waste, dangerous pesticides, natural energy sources, more productive farms and countless other things that literally affect people worldwide.
Most students at Earth are from Central or South America, but there are students from a few nations in Africa. They have to learn Spanish on a college level in order to proceed with their course work. It is really amazing to see someone that comes to Costa Rica with no Spanish and have to learn not only to communicate verbally, but also be able to read and write on a college level within one semester.
The campus is a beautiful place, with the rain forest and banana fields all on the grounds. They have mastered using everything in their environment to reduce waste and reuse everything, so the university really practices what it teaches. They even make their own fuel (nature gas) from compose, their trash from leftover food. It is a world that we all need to investigate. It is called sustainability; to live in the world that sustains it’s self, without taxing the limited resources, we all have come to rely on so deeply.
It was a moving experience where a whole place was working on ways to make the world a more environment friendly place. Looking towards the future, we won't have to rob our planet to live on it! I hope that the teenagers that traveled here were as moved as I have been. This is the generation that HAS to change their thinking about how we use our planet, so their children and grand children will have clean air and water to drink. Costa Rica is green!
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Kelly Jo
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Great Blog
Hi there, I just had a flash of brilliance reading this. I think you should think of running for office.