Week 4: Dia de la Anexion de Guanacaste

Week 4 of our Global Seminars in Costa Rica was spent back in San Juanillo, where we spent our first week of the study abroad. I was incredibly excited to see my first host family again. It also reminded me of how fast this program has gone, with only one more week left before I return home. 

For this week we had to work on our own independent research projects. For my project, my friend and I are studying the butterflies in the Guanacaste region, and how visitation on non-native versus native plants differs. We have so far found that many of the butterflies here are more drawn to specific non-native flowering plants than most of the native plants. However, we also learned that there are not many native flowering plants in this town. There are a lot more introduced flowers growing around San Juanillo. This research project has been incredibly enlightening, as I have been able to closely observe many different species of butterflies. Below are just a couple of butterflies I have observed here. 

Checkered Skipper

Elf Butterfly

Northern Tropical Buckeye

Other than data collection, the main event this week was the 200-year celebration of the annexation of Guanacaste to Costa Rica, aka Dia de la Anexion de Guanacaste, on July 25th. This was an all-day event, with rodeos, horseback riding, dancing, and eating. People even came from other towns and areas to celebrate here. It was the most people I had seen in San Juanillo since staying here! 

My host mom helped cook for the celebration, making an extremely tasty arroz con leche that I will be thinking about once I am back home. There were so many food options and I wish I was able to try it all! The highlight of the night was definitely dancing with my friends and some locals during the celebration. The morning after Dia de la Anexion de Guanacaste a few of us also helped clean up, as there were many bottles, cans, and other trash left around.

Unfortunately, we are leaving San Juanillo for our last week of the study abroad, and heading over to Santa Rosa National Park. I will miss my host family here dearly, and all of the memories we have made.  From the beaches, to the people, to the wildlife, to the food, San Juanillo is definitely a very special place. I hope to one day visit again!