This high season, our Communications Office was lucky enough to have three stellar interns to help keep our summer programs running smoothly. Before they packed up to head back to the U.S. to resume their college semesters, we sat down and interviewed them about their experiences…
Coolest animal you saw in Costa Rica?
B: Monkeys! But beware, the white face monkeys are stealthy thieves. While I was hanging out on the beach in Manuel Antonio a group of monkeys opened my purse and stole my earphones!
C: The boa constrictor chilling outside our front door.
K: A baby armadillo. I was walking in the back door and it ran right over my feet!
Favorite Memory?
Bri: Pride celebrations, a catamaran cruise to Tortuga Island, and visiting the Tabacon Hot Springs in La Fortuna.
Cynthia: Group dinners making fish tacos, zucchini fritters and patacones together in our cozy kitchen, and our weekend trips to Jaco, La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio.
Kat: Going to Pride, seeing a toucan for the first time, and making meals together in the kitchen.
Favorite part of base?
B: The insane view from our deck at the office. You can watch the hummingbirds go crazy all day.
C: The student kitchen to eat some of Samuel’s delicious food!
K: The people! Whether it was a laugh with Paige, a hug from Samuel, a card reading from Suzanne, banter with Nat, Kyleigh, Cynthia, or Bri it made the base feel like home.
Favorite day or weekend trip?
B: Orosi Valley Hot Springs and the Starbucks Hacienda Alsacia Coffee Farm.
C: Orosi Valley! We went to the hot springs and walked around town, it was a great day.
K: La Paz Waterfall Gardens – you can see just about any animal native to Costa Rica in one place. Also can’t go wrong with a 2-day trip to Jaco!
Favorite office memory?
B: Rosa the chicken coming in to say hi and always leaving us a surprise. 💩
C: The time Danny let a snake loose in the office.
K: Watching Bri build a barrier so Tess the cat couldn’t sit on her.
Something you’re going to miss from the summer?
B: Living in our house with the other interns, Nat and Kyleigh. I love the constant craziness in our little kitchen.
C: The amazing people!
K: The memories I made with my new friends and all the people I met along the way.
Favorite animal on base?
B: The hummingbirds. I could watch them for hours!
C: Tess, who I will be smuggling in my suitcase to bring home with me.
K: Brandi, even though he’s getting so big!
Favorite restaurant in Costa Rica?
B: Apotecario and Francos in Barrio Escalante.
C: Mocapan for the breakfast burritos and chai lattes.
K: Tacopedia. Literally the best tacos of my whole life.
Favorite place to travel in Costa Rica?
B: The beaches in Guanacaste, and the waterfalls and hot springs in La Fortuna.
C: Manuel Antonio National Park and La Fortuna!
K: Easily Jaco and Manuel Antonio. I love a good beach.
Favorite Costa Rican food?
B: Gallo Pinto
C: GALLO PINTO!
K: Chrifrijo!
Best piece of advice for future interns?
B: Don’t let yourself go crazy over expectations. Everything is always different than you imagine it is going to be. Prepare yourself for an adventure, but not too much.
C: Get a waterproof phone case… I dropped my phone in a storm drain and in a hot spring, and left my phone in the rain way too many times.
K: Keep everything important in Ziploc bags! The humidity is no joke.
One item you’re glad you brought?
B: Spanish-speaking abilities
C: Boring, but an umbrella. I use it everyday.
K: My Chaco sandals, they are the best!
Favorite fruit in Costa Rica?
B: Passionfruit and pineapple!
C: Mamón chino! But pineapple is a close second.
K: Pineapple! They are so sweet here compared to the U.S.
Favorite movie we saw?
B: Top Gun 2. We are Top Gun fanatics now!
C: Have to say Elvis since I saw it twice.
K: Top Gun: Maverick. I was pumping my fists in the theater.
If you could go on course, which would you go on?
B: Scuba! I would love to go to Bocas del Toro.
C: Definitely scuba to get my diving certification!
K: I’ve been on scuba before but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Favorite activity outside of work?
B: Cooking in our tiny kitchen. Time passed quickly, and I remembered how much I love cooking.
C: Going out to dinner, especially in Barrio Escalante.
K: Loved going to the gym after work.
Favorite memory from an airport run?
B: Tracking a student’s phone back after she lost it in the middle of the airport (someone returned it)!
C: When Bri, Kat and I were all at the airport at the same time one day – that never happened!
K: Playing Old Maid and Go Fish with students.
Thanks Bri, Cynthia & Kat for your hard work!
Interested in our summer internship program? Keep an eye on our careers page and Instagram in the coming months!