After many months of struggle, with constant ups and downs, steps forward and backward, little and not-so little panics and roller-coaster feelings…. Today we have many reasons to celebrate. We have written before about the paperwork struggles, particularly to get the drivers licence. The endless queues in full sun for nothing. The trips all over Costa Rica … More Reasons to celebrate
About two and a half years ago, I decided to start a company to build database applications for NGOs, biologists, government agencies and other actors in nature conservation. However, what do they need so urgently that they will pay for it? One could simply ask them. Right? Yes, except that I did not have a network in nature conservation. This blog is about how I am changing it. … More Not a minor problem : a new network
On the first of June, I officially started my leave from the university. Piuuuuuuuuung! PO….PO…..Piuuuuuuuuuung POPPOPOPOPOPOPOPO! The sound of the fireworks resound on my head as I write these lines. So, It is DONE. And it just feels right! It feels like all the pieces are slowly falling into place. As Frank nicely reminded me … More First day of my new life
With the month of November, our volunteer work has come to an end. Well, mine, since Frank had already finished in October. Gone are four months working for the Jaguar Rescue Center and La Ceiba, which, together with the four months of volunteering at Osa Conservation, has taken up two-thirds of our sabbatical. Perhaps it is premature to take stock … More The end of the volunteer work
Deze week zijn we begonnen met werken in La Ceiba. Cristina werkt twee dagen in La Ceiba en drie het JRC, ik drie dagen in La Ceiba en twee in het JRC. En plotseling ziet de week er heel anders uit, ookal is het werk min of meer hetzelfde. … More Week 39. Werken in La Ceiba
For whom the Neotropical Companion (hereafter simply the Companion) is a bit on the heavy side, there is another, more easily accessible book called Monkeys are made of chocolate. It is written by Jack Ewing who bought a cattle and rice farm at the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, somewhat north of Uvita. After a … More Monkeys are made of chocolate
De afgelopen week ging was een week vol zorgen om Matilda. Problemen met haar lever. Crisis op zaterdag. Goed nieuws over coronamaatregelen en het afdak voor de auto. Tenslotte hebben we nota bene een film gekeken. … More Week 15. Zorgen om Matilda
A friend recently asked us how did we find the organizations in which we will be volunteering in Costa Rica, which triggered us to write this blog. Here are some of the strategies that we tried and how they worked for us. … More How to find volunteering opportunities in nature conservation
In my last blog, I indicated how the wish list helped identifying some of the key criteria to decide where to live in Costa Rica. So, out next addition to the planning board was the criteria list for where to live in Costa Rica. In our case, the main criteria was: Close to National Parks (more or less … More Where in Costa Rica?
Why is a sabbatical wish list useful One of the items that is repeatedly advised in every book or blog about planning a sabbatical is to carefully think about: What is your main motivation for taking the sabbatical, i.e. why do you want to go on a sabbatical? What do you want to get from the … More The sabbatical wish list
THE FLIP FLOP LIFE 