I arrived in February, not really knowing what to expect. I was going to do my marketing internship in Costa Rica for a volunteer organization. I knew where Costa Rica was, that Tropical Adventures a non-profit volunteer organization was and that Manuel not only the driver was who was going to meet me at the airport but also a beach.

So without to many expectations I arrived at the airport in San Jose. Manuel was waiting for me outside together with Susan, the tour coordinator for Tropical Adventures. They were going to take me and my “heavy” labeled luggage to Paraiso. On our way down to Paraiso Susan and Manuel told me all about Costa Rica. Susan kept saying that we were going to the coldest part of Costa Rica, where the weather was really bad and that I just had to follow a big grey cloud if I ever got lost. The only thing I thought was: “I’ll be fine I’m from Holland, no way the weather in Cartago is worse”. Well I have to say I’m really happy I brought some warm clothes with me to “Tropical” Costa Rica.

After a while we arrived in La Castilla, Parasio. The place where I was going to be staying for the next 5 months. After a warm welcome from Scott (Executive Director) and Isaac (Director), I went to bed. Totally overwhelmed by my first two hours in Costa Rica.

 I had to get up very early the next day, as we were going to Arenal for the weekend. It was Scott, Susan, Ray (Operations Manager) and me. On our way to Arenal we stopped to have breakfast, my first time “out” in Costa Rica was breakfast at McDonalds. We had a great weekend. We saw amazing hotels, we visited our projects in Arenal and the Wildlife Rescue center, near Arenal, we laid in Jacuzzi’s and I got to meet a lot of people. Only one disappointment, we didn’t see the Volcano. Not even once! It’s suppose to be one of the most amazing things to see in Costa Rica and in 3 days the only thing I got to see were clouds. A good laugh for my colleagues and I still have to go back to see it. Of course I can use this as an excuse to come back to Costa Rica.

So that’s how my adventure with Tropical Adventures started. A great and unforgettable adventure. It wasn’t hard to adjust to the “Pura Vida” and “Manana, Manana” culture. The Tico’s (Costa Ricans) are the most welcoming people I’ve ever met. “Mi casa es su casa” is a fact in Costa Rica. Big hugs and kisses when you meet someone, always a helping hand when you get lost or need help and everybody always greets you.

My work for Tropical Adventures was also an adventure. Being a marketing coordinator for a non-profit is not easy, but very interesting and I think the best way to learn to understand what marketing really is about. No big budget, just a good story.

I don’t think it’s possible for every non-profit to be able to get that far without a big budget. But I think that that’s it; Tropical Adventures is not just a non-profit, not just a volunteer organization or a tour company. It took me only a few days to see it; they are different. Scott and Isaac are the founders of this organization and it won’t take you long to realize that their hearts are in this organization. I’ve never met such hard workers. Everything they do, 24/7 has to do with Tropical Adventures.

After my first trip to the projects in Puerto Viejo and Bambu I really got to see what they are doing. It’s amazing to see what a big difference they have made in the last few years, but there is still so much more they want to do, to help out. The people are so thankful for everything Tropical Adventures is doing for them and they are so happy to see them. That’s when I realized: Wow they are doing a great job and I can be a part of it for a few months.

Before working for Tropical Adventures I always wanted to volunteer, but I never really go the idea of paying for it. Why spend so much money, when you just want to help. There is actually a pretty simple explanation, well for Tropical Adventures there is. How can you help people when you don’t have the resources to do it? How can you take care of volunteers when you don’t have the money to do that? How can you make sure everything is taken care of and volunteers have an amazing and unforgettable experience, without money? What can you do when a volunteer gets sick or something happens and you don’t have money? How can you make sure there is always someone around to take care of the volunteers, when you don’t have money to pay them? But the most important thing: How can you make a difference in so many lifes, without money?

Without all the volunteers and the money they paid to volunteer, Tropical Adventures wouldn’t have made such a big difference. It’s really simple; money is needed if you want to make a difference and have an amazing experience at the same time.

Having been a part of the “Tropical Adventures Team” was an amazing, unforgettable and great experience. They offer a wide range of internship positions in different parts of the country and I would suggest it to anyone who wants to have an instructive and at the same time an unforgettable internship. I will never forget it and I am sure I am coming back to Costa Rica, the country you’ll fall in love within no time. The people, the culture, the nature but most of all Tropical Adventures and its amazing people are reason enough for me to come back to Costa Rica.

Thank you all for making this experience such a great one for me! I will miss you all and never forget you!!!