It was almost symbolic when my watch broke. What a shame - I really liked that watch.
It was a present from my girlfriend. It had been scuba diving to the sandy bottom of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, as well as the coral-fringed reefs of Belize. That watch had kept the time in locales as distant as the American and Canadian Rocky Mountains, as far away as Seattle, Vancouver, Tampa and Virginia Beach.
When I arrived in Costa Rica last week, I was shocked to learn that the most profound difference between the United States and Costa Rica is the value and emphasis placed on time. Walking through the International Airport in San Jose, I was hard-pressed to spot a clock. There are no city clock towers, and the few timepieces that can be found on public display are amazingly inaccurate. But, my friends, "Pura Vida" - this is Costa Rica!
Quite possibly one of the greatest overlooked opportunities in modern-day education is the chance to live or study abroad. Unbelievably, foreign exchange programs at the college and university levels are scantily attended - supply is greater than demand! Here in Monroe, we are fortunate to have a strong foreign language program at the high school, complete with a special emphasis on foreign travel. Karen Fowdy and Lisa Hendrickson, notably, have organized student trips to Germany and Costa Rica, respectively. Some Costa Rican friends of Lisa Hendrickson recently expressed an interest in hosting an American agriculturalist during the Expo Pococi. I was honored to have the opportunity to do so.
Expo Pococi could be likened to a Caribbean version of Madison's World Dairy Expo, or Milwaukee's State Fair. There is entertainment; there is a carnival. There are tents selling local handiwork, as well as a delicious variety of food. There are cattle exhibitors representing all regions of the country, and, yes, the showground is fringed with coconut and palm trees.
As a representative of Green County agriculture, I was expected to give a presentation on farming practices from my home territory. Additionally, I would attend various judging competitions, and have the opportunity to view firsthand how Costa Rican farmers make a living from the earth. These objectives all were met in the most hospitable and natural environment one could imagine. If there is one thing about the agricultural industry that I cherish the most, it is the mutual friendship and respect bestowed upon members in international climates. No matter where I go, or for what reason, I can instantly relate to those involved in agriculture, at a level that is unsurpassed in other industries. My reception in Costa Rica was no exception, and special thanks must be directed to a few key players. First is Alicia Fonseca, president of the association. Thanks to her, I had the chance to be involved in the first place. Also, I thank the administrators of Expo Pococi in charge of everything from cattle judging, to music, to entertainment, and lodging. Of course, a special thanks goes to Tobias Ramirez. Aside from translating for me and officiating my visit, he also gave me a phenomenal recipe for spicy rice and seafood, with avocado dip and ceviche - what a great idea for a date. And, of course, Lisa Hendrickson - hopefully this will be the first of many such hosting opportunities!
While attending Expo Pococi, I noticed a unique advertisement for Costa Rica. In brilliantly colored letters, the poster read, "Visit Costa Rica - No Artificial Ingredients." This is perhaps the greatest way to describe the country, and its people. Of course, there always is a need to mix some business with pleasure, and thus I always had a busy itinerary with Tobias. Perhaps most interesting was my tour of a working banana plantation, owned by Chiquita. All work is done manually, without the aid of machine, from harvesting and carrying banana bunches, to separating and washing, to packing and crating the fruit into waiting semi trailers. A human assembly line even slaps on those little round stickers, so fast I could hardly see the women's arms moving! Even in Wisconsin, one can purchase a bunch of bananas in nearly any gas station, and it was interesting to witness the process at the plantation, where it all begins.
Costa Rica also is home to huge expanses of virgin jungle, as well as coastal regions set aside and protected for turtle nesting. Tobias and I took a riverboat to Tortuguero, and joined the thousands of tourists who come here each year to study wildlife, rather than harvest it. In stark contrast to the world of today, photos from yesteryear were displayed of massive turtle hunts, where the animals were captured and slaughtered for their meat and shell. An accompanying canal tour exposed the natural side of Costa Rica, complete with jungle wildlife and plant life, and, yes, even a crocodile who, unfazed, swam right up to our boat and peered inside.
My friends, the phrase "No Artificial Ingredients: is a flawless way to describe Costa Rica. Even the manmade measurement of time is irrelevant here, and it was nice to slow down to enjoy a more natural pace of life. To make matters even more agreeable, my father would be joining me for a scuba dive tour, at the culmination of my responsibilities for Expo Pococi. Tune in next week.
- Dan Wegmueller is a columnist for The Monroe Times. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
It was a present from my girlfriend. It had been scuba diving to the sandy bottom of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, as well as the coral-fringed reefs of Belize. That watch had kept the time in locales as distant as the American and Canadian Rocky Mountains, as far away as Seattle, Vancouver, Tampa and Virginia Beach.
When I arrived in Costa Rica last week, I was shocked to learn that the most profound difference between the United States and Costa Rica is the value and emphasis placed on time. Walking through the International Airport in San Jose, I was hard-pressed to spot a clock. There are no city clock towers, and the few timepieces that can be found on public display are amazingly inaccurate. But, my friends, "Pura Vida" - this is Costa Rica!
Quite possibly one of the greatest overlooked opportunities in modern-day education is the chance to live or study abroad. Unbelievably, foreign exchange programs at the college and university levels are scantily attended - supply is greater than demand! Here in Monroe, we are fortunate to have a strong foreign language program at the high school, complete with a special emphasis on foreign travel. Karen Fowdy and Lisa Hendrickson, notably, have organized student trips to Germany and Costa Rica, respectively. Some Costa Rican friends of Lisa Hendrickson recently expressed an interest in hosting an American agriculturalist during the Expo Pococi. I was honored to have the opportunity to do so.
Expo Pococi could be likened to a Caribbean version of Madison's World Dairy Expo, or Milwaukee's State Fair. There is entertainment; there is a carnival. There are tents selling local handiwork, as well as a delicious variety of food. There are cattle exhibitors representing all regions of the country, and, yes, the showground is fringed with coconut and palm trees.
As a representative of Green County agriculture, I was expected to give a presentation on farming practices from my home territory. Additionally, I would attend various judging competitions, and have the opportunity to view firsthand how Costa Rican farmers make a living from the earth. These objectives all were met in the most hospitable and natural environment one could imagine. If there is one thing about the agricultural industry that I cherish the most, it is the mutual friendship and respect bestowed upon members in international climates. No matter where I go, or for what reason, I can instantly relate to those involved in agriculture, at a level that is unsurpassed in other industries. My reception in Costa Rica was no exception, and special thanks must be directed to a few key players. First is Alicia Fonseca, president of the association. Thanks to her, I had the chance to be involved in the first place. Also, I thank the administrators of Expo Pococi in charge of everything from cattle judging, to music, to entertainment, and lodging. Of course, a special thanks goes to Tobias Ramirez. Aside from translating for me and officiating my visit, he also gave me a phenomenal recipe for spicy rice and seafood, with avocado dip and ceviche - what a great idea for a date. And, of course, Lisa Hendrickson - hopefully this will be the first of many such hosting opportunities!
While attending Expo Pococi, I noticed a unique advertisement for Costa Rica. In brilliantly colored letters, the poster read, "Visit Costa Rica - No Artificial Ingredients." This is perhaps the greatest way to describe the country, and its people. Of course, there always is a need to mix some business with pleasure, and thus I always had a busy itinerary with Tobias. Perhaps most interesting was my tour of a working banana plantation, owned by Chiquita. All work is done manually, without the aid of machine, from harvesting and carrying banana bunches, to separating and washing, to packing and crating the fruit into waiting semi trailers. A human assembly line even slaps on those little round stickers, so fast I could hardly see the women's arms moving! Even in Wisconsin, one can purchase a bunch of bananas in nearly any gas station, and it was interesting to witness the process at the plantation, where it all begins.
Costa Rica also is home to huge expanses of virgin jungle, as well as coastal regions set aside and protected for turtle nesting. Tobias and I took a riverboat to Tortuguero, and joined the thousands of tourists who come here each year to study wildlife, rather than harvest it. In stark contrast to the world of today, photos from yesteryear were displayed of massive turtle hunts, where the animals were captured and slaughtered for their meat and shell. An accompanying canal tour exposed the natural side of Costa Rica, complete with jungle wildlife and plant life, and, yes, even a crocodile who, unfazed, swam right up to our boat and peered inside.
My friends, the phrase "No Artificial Ingredients: is a flawless way to describe Costa Rica. Even the manmade measurement of time is irrelevant here, and it was nice to slow down to enjoy a more natural pace of life. To make matters even more agreeable, my father would be joining me for a scuba dive tour, at the culmination of my responsibilities for Expo Pococi. Tune in next week.
- Dan Wegmueller is a columnist for The Monroe Times. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
