Weekly Reflection #2

 Patrick Duffy

Kelly Griffin-Brown

Senior Project

May 22, 2022

Weekly Reflection #2

While last week was spent adjusting to adult life and fitting in time to cook and get groceries, this week was when River and I finally got into a routine. Between the end of the first week and the start of the second week, River and I got sick of cooking and went out a few times, especially when we went to the beach. Eventually though, we went back to cooking our own lunches and eating breakfast at the house in the morning to save us some money. Aside from more adult problems, I learned a lot about myself through my work at the Monteverde Institute. I learned that I can put a lot of effort into my work when I really put my mind to it and I learned that my help can have a large impact on a community. Overall, I was surprised by how much work I actually did at the Institute and that I came super close to reaching the 80 hour requirement in just ten work days (although as of now, the requirement has been reduced to 65 hours). I think that I personally benefited from the work I did this week because I was able to make a serious contribution for Monteverde’s future by playing a role in the reforestation effort. Some of my goals for this project included seeing my old host family, meeting up with old friends from my first time in Monteverde, seeing the current Proctor students, and helping the Institute in any way possible. Fortunately, I can safely say that I have checked off all of the boxes and I can fly back to Proctor satisfied. As I sit in the airport hotel in San Jose, I look back at how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to return back to a place that I missed for so long. Since the pandemic started right after I finished the Costa Rica program and disrupted all of our lives, it felt like I was stepping back into the past every morning when River and I drove to the institute. I am extremely grateful for everyone that helped me get down here and everyone who trusted me to be independent.


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