rainsong sanctuary
so we stepped off the bus and onto a long driveway leading us halfway up a mountain. once we entered the gate it looked like a minature rainforest with small paths into wild brushes and animals around every corner. we soon read all the required documents and introduced ourselves to the various volunteers. after feeding all the animals and giving them necessary antibiotics we followed everyone even further up the hill to the farm and housing (huts). the animals in the sanctury included several parrots and various birds, 3 very pesky blue jays, an anteater (anti), a white faced monkey (tarzan), a kinkajou (kinky), a baby skunk (sissy),a baby howler monkey (mona lisa), several turtles, 2 baby squirrels, 2 rabbits, porquipines, guineau pigs and feliz the toucan. when we arrived at the farm we found several annoying chickens, various birds, this evil creature named knipper that all pamphlets make look adorable, and an ocelot. once we were acquainted with the place we plcaed our things in the honeymoon hut situated in the treetops of the jungle. mary the coordinator had two programs a volunteer could do, work stay where you lived in the hut for free and worked 6hours of work or work pay where you lived down the street in a jungalow for a discounted rate 7 dollars each and work 4 hours. we had a three day trial to where we were eatin alive by bugs and had no time to do anything but work from 8 to 11 then 2 to 5. so we decided to use the jungalows that were run by ed, a funny guy from holland, our jungalow was equipt with a cold water shower and kithen below along with several noisy monkeys swinging from branch to branch 100 feet above us. the day after we arrived at rainsong a going away party was arranged for some of the departing volunteers, so come around 12 o clock every rondevoud at the beach to join in celebration of pina coladas, weed, and sun. after that day life seemed to slow down and we were able to set into a comfortable routine. every day we would wake at 8 and walk to the site and take care of various animals, i became fond of anti the ant eater while chris the baby monkey mona. many of the animals were injured due to the electric lines of costa rica. its a huge issue currently because the country refuses to insulate the lines and several animals are being electricuted. tarzan only had 1 arm due to them, one of the blue jays died because of it, and a monkey died upon arrival from it. anyway, after taking anti to search for ants and lounge with her in the sun, i would make her yogurt breakfast and medicate her tail. when 12 o clock rollec around we would head back and either relax in hammocks drinking rum and eat mangos accompanied by a book or head to the beach and childlessly splash around in our young love. we also became friends with a couple of spanish vets, vanessa and jose luis, they were young, lively, and a lot of fun. everything was going smooth until a member who had been there since january ran into trouble with mary (the coordinator) apparently the girl christine had needed a couple of days to clear her head to various reasons and mary wouldnt have it. she made her pack her things and leave so she came to one of the jungalows where we were staying to calm down and regain a clear mind. a couple of days later she calls ed and says that he must tell her to evacuate or she wont send him any more volunteers (which keeps him afloat in the low season) therefore leaving him no choice. after hearing this information we decided to cut our stay short, soon the spanish couple also left and 2 of the coordinators a girl liz from new zealand and coral from california also made arrangements to leave early. after the vets left a new couple from new york moved in. they were also fun and before we left we ventured to the beautiful waterfalls of montezuma with them. cecilia was also a nutrition major and boyfriend travis was goofy and kindhearted. unfortunately we were seperated after the first waterfall but we both made it to the part at seperate times. the next day was our last day and ed and bob threw a party for us. bob was a funny old man that made honey wine and did an hour headstand every morning, he always had something short and witty to say. everyone slammed shots and danced to reggaetron most the night and we woke bright and early hung over to journey to our next destination.