Day Fifteen Boston

I'm at the Courtyard Marriott at Logan Airport for the night. It's been a long day of flying and layovers. I left my CR hotel exactly 13 hours ago. Almost all CR airport employees wore masks (to avoid H1N1 Virus) and many passengers wore masks up to Newark New Jersey. From there, I did not see anymore masks, and I personally never wore one. This flu strain will probably be classified as a global pandemic in the coming days and scientists will learn much about preventing the spread of disease among populations by studying this case. However, this flu does not seem anywhere near as severe and deadly as the strain in the 1918 worldwide flu outbreak. I've been reading The Great Influenza by John Barry for the better part of the year (I only read this book at school during Team Time, Uninterrupted Silent Sustained Reading, so it's not been a fast read!). I'm enjoying the book because it discusses the progression of our science knowledge concerning viruses in a historical context.

During today's flights, I was able to organize a few more of my photos and add them to the flickr account. However, I have about 12 hours of video to edit and compile into a documentary of sorts. This was part of my impact plan, the application that I wrote for the study tour. One of my goals was to inform my students about Costa Rica's efforts in becoming more carbon neutral and sustainable, and by so doing, encourage the same thinking for our own local community. By showing the extent of deforestation and subsequent reforestation efforts, I hope to communicate to my students the interconnectivity of natural environments to many species, and the significance of the global community's reliance on natural resources. A second goal was to bring back as much documentation (pics and videos) about the various biomes (life zones) seen in Costa Rica. I will also have some readings, exercises, and papers to write, to finish the course for credit, as offered by our tour lecturer, Professor Thomas Dunne (Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California at Santa Barbara). In addition, I have a few tasks and assignments to complete for the Institute of International Education. There's lots left to do as the end of the school year nears! I do hope to complete the video project in time to air it on WOWL-Channel 16 before the end of the school year.

Before I got involved with this project, I had no idea that Toyota was so involved with environmental education. I have greatly benefited by being a Toyota International Teacher and I have also become more informed about Toyota's efforts at always trying to better itself as a corporate citizen. Last night, at our final gathering, we were reminded of the KAIZEN philosophy espoused by Toyota that we learned about on Day One of our journey. I've also learned that Toyota has other programs involving education, safety, land, water, air, and communities. (click here to see Toyota Why Not?) I realize that many large corporations fund environmental projects in their efforts to be good corporate citizens, environmentally friendly and carbon neutral. I can say with sincerity that Toyota's efforts are truly making a difference, as I have seen it with my own eyes, and I know that there are 25 more teachers, in addition to the many who previously took part in this educational program, who are returning to their small corners of the US convinced about the importance of environmental education in all disciplines. As our guest speaker stated at Monteverde Institute, "we must teach our children how intricately connected they are to their environment, to include it in all parts of their education, so that they will be good stewards of their natural resources."

Thank you Toyota.

Day Fourteen How Time Flies!

We will be checking out by 8 A.M. and returning to San Jose for our last night in CR. After our last lecture by Professor Dunne, we will visit Purdy Motors (Toyota, of course) then have our final group meeting and dinner. ☹

On Saturday, I fly out of CR and connect in Newark, New Jersey, then Boston, where I will have to spend the night since no connecting flights leave Boston for Presque Isle later Saturday. I will arrive in Presque Isle at 3 P.M. Sunday.

These last two weeks have been absolutely amazing! We have seen much, learned much, and shared much. We are physically exhausted but mentally recharged. Thank you Toyota and I.I.E., but mostly, THANK YOU to the organizers, directors, tour guides, and all those responsible for putting such a fantastic educational experience together. Rhonda, Mike, Tom, Mar-Destinee, Laura, Julio, Isabel, and Vicky: You are the best!