This country is amazing! Being able to stay at Carara National Park has been the biggest eye opener and most exciting experience.  Going to sleep to the sounds of the rainforest and waking up to the roar of the howler monkeys is unreal.  I thought I knew what the rainforest was like, but nothing beats actually experiencing the torrential downpours, biological diversity, and green canopy! Everyday has consisted doing service work for the park and local community, as well as diving right into our research for our different teams.  We worked on the trails, raking the debris away and painting buildings.  Today my policy group went on morning interviews that led us to a local school and we got to interact with the kids.  They were all so full of life and not shy about coming up to us at all, it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had.  One thing I have really enjoyed about being on the policy team  is all the interview outside of the park we have got to conduct.  We have really got to get a taste of all the different aspects of the local community, with more to come! Along with our service and research time, we have also got to experience both the local culture and tourism sides to being in the country.  Going out to eat and then to the disco gave us a taste of Costa Rica nightlife, and then going on the zipline above the canopy was an experience like no other! Staying at the station has been such a great change of pace from our usual lifestyles and has really allowed the group to get to know one another.  I think one of the most surreal things we have done is watching the Jungle Book on the side of the station with the actual jungle less than ten feet away.  I would have never thought that I would be watching that in this situation when I was a kid…it is truly amazing here.  I am overwhelmed by the amazing people I have met and the openness of the local people.  It has nearly been a week, and I have already had so many new experiences…I cant wait for the rest of this month! Pura Vida!!