The long anticipated release of my photos, from our trip to Costa Rica and Nicaragua with VIDA Volunteer, is finally here.  But let me start by saying this: There are too many important details and stories behind each photo for me to simply throw them up in a gallery and let you browse.  So, I think I will post a few at a time and tell the story that goes with them.  I hope you enjoy reading and viewing the stories I re-tell from the people we encountered and served in this beautiful area of the world.  And thank you to VIDA Volunteer for working together with me, affording me the opportunity, and agreeing to allow me to share these stories.

I guess I'll start where all stories start: somewhere right in the middle. 

Iglesia de San Rafael, Zarcero, Costa RicaWe made a stop at this church as we traveled on Easter Sunday. We checked out the shrubs and stretched our legs while Easter Mass went on inside.

Our team of 21 student from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) traveled, by bus, through Costa Rica for the first 4 days of our trip.  It was Easter weekend and that Sunday we spent about 10 hours traveling to from Alajuela to Los Chiles, where our first two clinic days were.  We were a team of volunteers dedicated to serving the underserved.  The Ross students were on their way to use their hard earned knowledge, supervised by practicing veterinarians, to offer free physical exams, castrations, and various other procedures to communities who could not afford the necessary care for their animals.

My contribution to the team was my photos.  I arranged with VIDA Volunteer to donate my time and photos to help tell the story of their mission.  I was there to capture the essence of life in rural Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the conditions of the animals, their owners, and the interaction between the VIDA team and the people we served.  

The first two clinic days were hosted just outside Los Chiles, Costa Rica in a surprisingly well kept elementary school.  In fact, it has just been renovated.  I learned that federal money was often misappropriated by local principals and, as a result, the children learned in very poor conditions.  This particular school, however, was managed by a principal who was about to retire and, more importantly, cared.  She put the money directly back into the school and had given it a face lift.

People from miles in every direction brought their animals to the clinic.  For 2 days straight there was a line of people waiting to have their pet taken care of. The doctor-guided students used their knowledge to give their patients the care they needed; everything from preventative treatments to castrations.  It was truly amazing to see them put into practice what they have been working so hard to learn. 

Los Chiles, Costa RicaChildren played soccer in the dirt during recess. The condition of the school is much better than any other school we saw.

I spent my time interacting with the people in other ways.  I adopted Ghandi's mentality: you cannot understand people unless you put yourself with the people.  I spent a lot of time sitting with people, barely able to communicate.  My Spanish is not very good.  I know enough to say hello and ask if I can take a photo; that's about it.  So, I would say hello.  And I would sit and smile.  One of the funniest things to me, which I very much appreciated, was that no matter how many times I said I don't speak Spanish, or I don't understand, people continued to try to speak to me in Spanish.  I did try.  I said every Spanish word I knew.  I even learned a few.  Well, probably more than a few.  By the end of the trip I was versed enough to get a photo and avoid a conversation, even though I would have loved to have a conversation with everyone.

I photographed people with their pets, school children playing and jumping rope, puppies nursing and one thing I found is that no one disagreed to having their photo taken.  Even under less-than-ideal circumstances, people were happy to have their photo taken.

Man and Cart, Los Chiles, Costa RicaOn our way to print the photo for the young man I passed this man sitting on his cart. He had so much character in his face I had to ask for his photo. He pleasantly agreed and gave me this image. At one point the team agreed the best treatment for an animal was euthanasia.  The animal had walked 10km...that's 6 miles...with his owner to come to the clinic.  The dog had a large mass on its neck and had not eaten in eight days.  It was in no shape to undergo anesthesia and surgery and it would only suffer until it died.  Understandably difficult to accept, the young man mourned with his dog as he came to grips with the situation.  I found myself thinking, "This would make an incredible photo, but it's one I just can't take."  I mentioned it, in that way, to our trip leader who said, "Let me talk to him."  He told the young man we would like to take his last photo with his dog and we would have it printed for him.  The young man agreed and we did just that.

For me, it's little moments like that that can completely change an experience.  I could have very easily shoved a camera in his face, "taken" his photo and ran.  But I believe in this case, the proper thing to do was just what we did.  The true experience came when we took him the prints.

He, and many others in the area, lived in sticks and tarps; literally.  Some of the people in this area have fashioned houses out of small trees shaved into logs and plastic from who knows where.  With dirt floors they slept in hammocks in the open air.  I spent about ten minutes with the family.  They were so gracious and so thankful for the photos.  They smiled and shook my hand and offered more photo opportunities.  I asked to photograph the young man's mother.  She blushed and smiled, obviously flattered and nervous that I had asked.  For all I know, I may have been the first person to ever ask.  They, then, waived me over to a hammock full of blankets.  The young man moved the blankets on top uncovering his child who was resting in the hot afternoon.  With a few words and coos the baby was smiling and laughing.  I snapped a few more shots, shook hands, hugged, kissed, thanked and moved on.  The memory is transcribed in just a few images, but is forever alive in my mind.  

The Young Man's MotherShe posed, flattered yet nervous, just in the place I first saw her. A beautiful woman who cooked for her family over an open fire. Who slept the same as she hung her clothes; in the open air. We spent two clinic days in Costa Rica where I photographed surgeries, puppies, kittens, people, pets, students, and passion.  There are so many photos and so many stories.  The people of Costa Rica were so warm and welcoming.  They were so thankful for the service we were providing.  Another Ghandi ideology is to "find yourself in the service of others".  When my wife and I first decided to take this trip I told her, "This will be an experience of a lifetime."  I am fascinated by culture.  To be able to go into these communities, interact with the people, provide an important service to them and, in my case, bring home some beautiful photographs and unforgettable memories was truly amazing.

Feel free to leave a comment, ask questions, share this blog, lets get interactive!  This is only part one of our trip to Central America.  I will be posting more photos and telling the stories soon.  So, make sure you stay connected here, or like my Facebook page to get the latest.   You can see more of my photos from Part 1 of our trip by following this link.