Did you see that coming? I definitely did. So much has happened already and we're not even at the field stations yet. I am writing this from a hotel called El Sesteo, which is a cozy but beautiful place. I'm surrounded by budding Microbiologists, Botanists, Ornithologists, Conservationists, and others who are here to broaden their horizons or figure out what they want to do. We range from as young as 1.5? (professor Alex Sloan's son), to a professor who is much older than any of us who teaches at the University of Oregon. Already the diversity is so great and the energy is so enriching, and we have yet to step foot in a rainforest. I'm excited, and I expect great things to happen.
Above are pictures of El Sesteo.
Today was our first formal lecture. It was (intensely interesting, in my opinion) mostly about safety concerning snakes, but we also learned a great deal about the snakes of Costa Rica and the production of antivenom. In fact, we had this lecture in the Institute of Clodomiro Picado, where antivenom is produced and shipped all over the world. It seems like snake encounters are inevitable here, and especially when we really get into the thick of things, but I'm looking forward to it. I want to feel that burst of adrenaline (but not be bitten). Actually, the chances of me dying if I'm bitten are pretty close to zero, so that would be quite a story to tell, wouldn't it?
Lunch was served afterwards at the OTS headquarters, where we also had a lecture on the Geology and Climate of Costa Rica by our other coordinator/professor, Brian O'Shea, followed by an overview of our course from Prof. Sloan.
Dinner took place at a Mexican restaurant called Maria Bonita ("pretty Maria" in Spanish) and free time is happening as I am typing this. The halls are quiet, and I suspect everyone is on their computer now that the management finally fixed the internet.
I will leave it at that for now, because we are leaving at 7 am tomorrow for Las Cruces, a 7 hour drive. Meanwhile, enjoy this picture of an anole I caught earlier this evening at the hotel (and let me know if you know the species, because nothing I've searched matches so far):
Cool little anole, but it sounds like you had better be careful what you pick up, Tiff!
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