Today marks two weeks before we fly half way across the globe for our adventure in Costa Rica. Now that we’ve have said goodbye to most family and friends at a couple of farewell get-togethers, it feels real. The rucksacks that will be home for all our worldly possessions are partially filled with the increasing piles of essentials around them – hopefully reduced down in the coming two weeks, as I’m not sure I will be able carry it all otherwise! I just want to get going.  It’s excruciating all this waiting but I figure that’s part of the process of journeying. It gives time for reflection, time to think about the hopes and fears that maybe I have not wanted to name yet.

One of my biggest fears is getting sick while I’m away. There’s plenty of ways on offer; mosquito bites and the consequential disease possibilities (using DEET as insect repellent, I am really not happy about, especially as it can melt plastic, but I guess needs must. Picaridin is another option, but wow, at a price), internal parasites, sickness bugs, and, of course, there is the keeping on track with my food choices to help me keep generally healthy and well, so I have the energy to make the most of the time there. I have experimented over the last couple of months with eating some of my trigger foods that are accepted as staples in most peoples’ diets. Frustratingly, it’s come with consequences. I have a sensitive digestion, there’s no way of avoiding it. I have to keep away from pre-processed foods, principally keep gluten and dairy out of my diet and eat lots of fresh vegetables, namely for the fibre. The Costa Rican staple, rice and beans should work, especially as there’s a strong chance of us having it for breakfast, dinner and tea in their varying forms. I think invention, namely herbs and spices, are going to be key. 

Another of my fears is causing trouble through my actions, either due to my ignorance or my error. To tread lightly and only leave footsteps, leave no other trace, that’s my aim. Except for positivity, there’s always room for leaving that! I will be aiming to travel and live as ecologically friendly as possible. I am already conscious that flying half way round the world and travelling the length and breath of Costa Rica blows that theory. However, we will mostly use public buses to get around. I’ll be using natural cleaning products and toiletries, mostly hand-made not mass produced. These are still pollutants but not in the same excessive way. Trying for minimal waste, no single use anything, we’ll see how possible that one can be achieved. Obviously we will be contributing to natural waste and the big world-shit-heap problem, but I have no way around that one except to dispose considerately. I read a fabulous book by Kathleen Meyer called How To Shit In The Woods – An Environmentally Sound Approach To A Lost Art – who knew! We will be considering our electricity usage; using solar rechargeable gadgets as much as possible, rechargeable batteries etc., booking rooms with fans not air-con, which are so much cheaper too …maybe we will regret that decision but we have to get used to the heat as quickly as possible anyway as there’s no air-con in the midst of the jungle where we will be working!  Hopefully I’ll learn many other impact-reducing ways to travel, which I can report back on. I do not want to contribute to the challenges of any countries where I travel, let alone one working as hard to achieve better sustainable development and as ecologically forward-looking as Costa Rica. I hope I will learn many new sound environmental practices to bring back home to use in the future too.

I realise that some people consider global warming to be propaganda and the climate crisis just something the Greens have got themselves in a flap about. Maybe they haven’t had to look their teenage children in the eye when having conversations about the state of Earth, week after week, year after year, mostly following reports or new research on the latest natural and man-made disasters that have been in the news. How can I ignore the dangerous direction we are heading in when my adult children don’t want to consider having children of their own with what they face in the future from climate changes? It seems not all of us are using the same tint in our glasses to see the alarming evidence that I see. I reckon we need to do better, for ourselves and our children. Do what you have always done and get what you have always got. Positive change only happens when something beneficially different is done. Needs effort and consideration too, but hey, what else would we be doing?! Hopefully I’ll get to see positive change happening and work out how to use some of the ideas for influence once back at home.

I’m looking forward to developing friendships and relationships that enhance the lives of the communities who I will work along side, I don’t want to cause them any extra problems or issues, nor offend them in anyway particularly through the work I will be doing. I need to be sensitive but productive. Can be a fine line between the two. I cringe to think there may be the ‘I know what you need to do – do it like this!’-type working practices still going on.  I hope I don’t see any of that style of work. The ‘how can we help?’ approach feels so much more my style. I want to contribute, not dismiss or dictate. I crave the opportunity. Guess that describes my biggest hope. I so love to help. I want to learn how to help more effectively. I relish the thought of watching and helping other’s grow. What can be more uplifting than seeing people realise that they can achieve much more than they ever thought possible? For me, there’s not much that can top that.  It makes me feel emotional just thinking of it.

Though I have now described some of my deeper concerns, they pale against the excitement I am feeling. I am so ready to embark on this life-changing opportunity. It really is a step into the unknown, something I never could have seen my younger-self doing, ever.  It is filled with promises of the things I’ve craved for over the last 20 years. In my time with Raleigh International, I will get to be part of a community with a sense of purpose, doing meaningful work. As part of this team of like-minded individuals, I feel safe enough to take these risks, I am not afraid. I need to take care of me and the rest will follow. What a privilege. And to cap it all, Andy and I will go on to explore the diverse environments of Costa Rica afterwards. Is three months with Raleigh International plus nearly two months travelling really going to be enough time? Maybe now I’m being greedy. I just want to be there already!