I have enjoyed my stay with AVICs and Alicia, Ligia and Mario. I feel like they have been more than simply tour guides but good friends to me whilst I have been here. They have all helped me tremendously (Ligia took me to the supermarket the first day, Alicia has come for coffee with me and picked me up on a Sunday and Mario has been cheerful and fun to be around) All three of them and donna Isabel have been fun and I have enjoyed my time very much with them whilst I have been in costa Rica.
| Name: Shona Choudhury | Project: : Turtle Conservation |
| From: United Kingdom | Age: 27 |
The help and support I have been given by AVIC is remarkable. I feel like they have gone above and beyond in helping me throughout my stay. I initially started on a turtle project but due to stress regarding the work I wanted to leave. Alicia and Ligia bent over backwards to alleviate my problems, help me move and make me feel more comfortable. From the onset of informing them of my issues Alicia was sooo incredibly helpful, friendly and attentive, offering support and understanding and being a good listener. Even on the first day, worried that I will be alone, she organized an evening activity for me which was very kind of her. In fact right from the beginning my interactions with Alicia have been outstanding. She is sooo organized, detailed and prompt in responding to any queries I have had, which makes all the difference when you are in a foreign country away from family and friends back home. I suffer from anxiety, yet at every step she has given me an answer to questions presented to her, and with such speed as well. She has been caring, kind and thoughtful, always having my best interests at heart, which has not gone unnoticed. Additionally she made my change of project pleasant, very fluid and relaxed.
I changed projects and the people on my new project were sooo welcoming and made me feel at ease. Didi, in particular helped me settle in. I am really grateful to Ligia who came with me on my first day of the project, which made me feel less nervous and scared. Furthermore she stayed with me the whole day, checking if I was okay in my surroundings. She is easygoing, gentle and cute. She has been soo friendly, kind and sweet throughout my whole stay taking me and other volunteers to the festival, providing us with ample entertainment and extremely good company. She has also taken me and some other volunteers to some dance classes which I have absolutely loved , which has been a highlight of my time here, along with the festival and spending time with such nice people. These activities outside of the project have been very enjoyable.
Another member of AVIC who has been exceptionally helpful is Mario. He also attended on my first day of the second project. Four of us, Lauren, Ligia , Mario and I, went up the mountain on a trail. I got scared and kept falling over but he helped me get up, told me where to step and taught me how to walk in the mountains. Even on the tricky bits he supported me from falling. Walking in forests is not normal for me, yet he still made me feel comfortable, and kept telling me that we are nearly finished which spurred me on. He has also visited me in the dorm to check that I wasn't bored or lonely, which is so nice and considerate of him. He has been a true gentleman, kindhearted, delightful and lovely, even protecting the girls at the festival. He has texted me to check if I am okay which is very thoughtful. Likewise, Ligia and Alicia have rung the home phone to make sure that I am okay and rung my mobile to see it I am well and check where I am, which is so sweet.
Dona Isabel has cooked amazing food and been smiling throughout even when she doesn't understand what I am saying!! She has been so friendly and welcoming serving all our breakfasts at different times depending on our project start time. This flexibility and her soft temperament have been splendid.
Alicia, Ligia and Mario have also been fantastic tour guides, possessing an abundance of knowledge regarding Costa Rica. Alicia has advised me on which locations will best suit my personality. Mario has helped me plan a route and organize the number of days in each location and Ligia has helped me with bus times, locations and getting there.
The first project was hardworking, strenuous and not necessarily what i thought it would be. But this has nothing to do with Ligia, Alicia or Mario. I merely think the project is better suited to different types of people. Doing this project and a conservation project has reinforced my desire to work with people and do an orphanage project. All I have to do now is learn Spanish!! The people I have met on the projects have been brilliant. I have met some fantastic people in both projects and hopefully I will see them again. I have realized I like to keep busy and be around lots of people and go out and have evening activities to keep me entertained, which ligia, Mario and Alicia have all provided fantastically.
I recommend the turtle project to those who are happy to do night work which could be a maximum of 6 hours at night and 6 hours in the day. Additionally I recommend it to people who like remote places, who are happy to stay in one location and not go out in the evenings. The conservation project is ideal for those who like quiet, calmness and thrive on nature and animals.
I have enjoyed my stay with AVICs and Alicia, Ligia and Mario. I feel like they have been more than simply tour guides but good friends to me whilst I have been here. They have all helped me tremendously (ligia took me to the supermarket the first day, Alicia has come for coffee with me and picked me up on a Sunday and Mario has been cheerful and fun to be around) All three of them and donna Isabel have been fun and I have enjoyed my time very much with them whilst I have been in costa Rica.