Costa Rica: Celeste Huff
Program: UW Tropical Horticulture in Costa Rica, Winter
Celeste’s Major: Entomology, Horticulture
What did you learn about yourself or the world because of your experience?
I have a new appreciation for quality, fair-trade coffee! After seeing coffee production and all of the work that goes into growing the trees, harvesting the fruits, removing the red flesh, roasting the beans, and packaging the coffee, I no longer buy the cheap, bulk brands I used to choose.
During a guided tour of a medicinal garden, I learned about the history and uses of many different plants. For example, the toothache plant (Acmella oleracea) is a small herbaceous, flowering plant which numbs the mouth when you chew on it. The smells, tastes, and stories of these plants were enchanting!
Describe your internship, research, or fieldwork and how the experience helped advance your career or studies.
This course is a fun, fast-paced mix of learning about food systems, eco-tourism, and culture in Costa Rica. We visited a wide variety of farms growing crops such as pineapple, coffee, palm oil, apples, bananas, and dragonfruit. Some of the horticultural spaces we visited were intended for medicinal plants, and we even visited a botanical garden. During these visits, we had the opportunity to speak with the producers about their work, their markets, and their lifestyles. At the end of the day, we had group discussions to discuss our questions and thoughts. I learned so much from our conversations!
What message or advice do you have for students considering going abroad? What’s something you know now that you wish you had known then?
Curious minds thrive in this space! Take pictures, take notes, journal– there is so much good information delivered in a short amount of time. Take advantage of all the opportunities for learning and fun. Oh, and bring your binoculars, there are plenty of amazing birds!