Exciting news in my world! I started volunteering at a rescue and rehab center for monkeys, opossums, and whatever other animals need help. For those of you who didn't know already, I LOVE animals and that is why I am going to be a biologist. My goal in life is to help animals and save them from whatever they need saving from. I have been considering rescue and rehab as a career for a while so this is a wonderful opportunity for me. And I love it! I have always wanted to do marine stuff but I'm thinking I'd love to work with primates. The center is at a couple's home- the most beautiful home ever, might I add, with a gorgeous view of the mountains and ocean. Michele, Paul, and their monkey-sitter Gloria are the nicest people. They are from the States too. I am so grateful to have met them and that they have welcomed me into their home to help out with the monkeys.
They have 4 howler monkeys (or as Ticos call them "congos"), 2 spider monkeys, and 2 woolly opossums. There are 3 female congos, all under a year old, and a male who is 2 months old. He is absolutely adorable and really tiny. His name is Machito (he is the baby on the green stuffed monkey in my pictures).
Yesterday I learned how to bathe Machito (he isn't too fond of baths) and feed the monkeys. I tried feeding Millete... Let's just say I ended up with monkey poop all over me. Michele says monkey poop is good luck though hahaha :)
Besides having fun with the monkeys, I went to Jaco last weekend. It's a tourist-y surf town on the Pacific about 2 hours away from San Ramon. My friends and I spent Saturday at the beach. It was so warm and sunny! I spent as much time as I could in the ocean of course. I never wanted to leave the water! I have never swam in such big waves before but it was fantastic and so much fun. I also had delicious pizza. I miss pizza so much. There are pizza places in San Ramon, but I have yet to try any. I also miss macaroni and cheese. I know what I'll be making as soon as I get back to the States!
This Saturday I head to Nicaragua with the USAC group for a week. My next blog post will be about my adventures on that trip. I cannot believe how fast the time is flying here. I am trying my best to embrace every moment. Every day, I stop and think to myself how incredible it is to be living and studying in such a beautiful place. Pura vida!
They have 4 howler monkeys (or as Ticos call them "congos"), 2 spider monkeys, and 2 woolly opossums. There are 3 female congos, all under a year old, and a male who is 2 months old. He is absolutely adorable and really tiny. His name is Machito (he is the baby on the green stuffed monkey in my pictures).
Yesterday I learned how to bathe Machito (he isn't too fond of baths) and feed the monkeys. I tried feeding Millete... Let's just say I ended up with monkey poop all over me. Michele says monkey poop is good luck though hahaha :)
Besides having fun with the monkeys, I went to Jaco last weekend. It's a tourist-y surf town on the Pacific about 2 hours away from San Ramon. My friends and I spent Saturday at the beach. It was so warm and sunny! I spent as much time as I could in the ocean of course. I never wanted to leave the water! I have never swam in such big waves before but it was fantastic and so much fun. I also had delicious pizza. I miss pizza so much. There are pizza places in San Ramon, but I have yet to try any. I also miss macaroni and cheese. I know what I'll be making as soon as I get back to the States!
This Saturday I head to Nicaragua with the USAC group for a week. My next blog post will be about my adventures on that trip. I cannot believe how fast the time is flying here. I am trying my best to embrace every moment. Every day, I stop and think to myself how incredible it is to be living and studying in such a beautiful place. Pura vida!