Day 8- Quetzal Hike

Today the group hiked to the Quetzal National Forest in hopes to see the Quetzal bird, known for its vibrant red and green colors with two one-meter-long tail feathers, which are also known as streamers. The hike began in the early morning (since that is the best time to spot Quetzales) at a private trailhead directly off of the main road of the town. David and Jonathan shared much information about local flora and fauna while walking.

Eventually, we reached a cow farm which is managed and maintained by a local farmer named Carlos. Here the group witnessed and experienced hands-on milking a cow with an amazing view of surrounding mountains filled with beautiful grass, trees, flowers, large rocks and more. Afterwards the group hiked a little more before stopping to eat our premade breakfasts from our host families.

After breakfast, we made for the top of the mountain, stopping every so often to talk about the Quetzal bird and its significance in Costa Rican and Mexican culture as well as the types of food it eats and its behaviors. At every stop we made, many of us couldn’t resist admiring the amazing view overlooking the cow farm surrounded by the biodiverse mountains and also the beautiful flowers and plants sprinkled on the land.

Finally, the group reached the top of the mountain where we came to find a dry lake. This lake fills with water during the rainy season and dries up during the dry season, making a great opportunity to explore the area. The group gathered in the center of the dry lake where we practiced observation techniques for seven minutes and shared our observations. My observations were focused on the life’s interconnected environment and how everything lives in their own world; this includes humans, insects, other mammals, and everything as a whole. Unfortunately, humans don’t see or ignore these different layers of the world so we often forget that we are one and the same as all wildlife and plant life on earth. It’s important to reconnect to that reality because then we can begin to feel empathy and compassion and make impactful change for the better.

At this point, we needed to head back to town for lunch with the host families so we made our way back down the mountain where I was able to reflect on much of the discussion and have conversations with the other delegates about the journey of life. The hike back was much harder for me because the impact on my knees was harsh and yet I still had a fantastic time. A highlight of the day for me was when Alejandro fell three times when holding two walking sticks because he couldn’t figure out how to use them.

Unfortunately, we did not see any Quetzal birds which was slightly disappointing but even so I had a wonderful experience. The hike really put life into perspective for me, making me feel small when my ego was large which helped me remember my roots. However, what was more disappointing was when Jonathan’s truck broke down as everyone got really excited to rest at the host family's homes. As a result, all of us walked about halfway to town before hitching rides from locals. During this time, I was able to connect with more delegates through conversations; some were philosophical, while others were lighthearted and goofy.

While the hike was difficult for some more than others, it brought me a sense of accomplishment, belonging, and confidence that I previously did not have while here in Costa Rica and I gained a new appreciation for Costa Rica and it’s biodiversity, culture, and community.

Later after returning to the host families homes, we played soccer with the Young Dreamers which was the perfect way to finish the day. The Young Dreamers they complete the experience here by making everything more fun and exciting with their amazing humor and enthusiasm towards life.

Finally, the cherry on top was relaxing with the host family over a delicious meal where the

house was filled with jokes, laughter, and happiness that will forever remain in my memories.