Where did you go and what did you do there?

Costa Rica - Turrialba. CATIE

I did my internship in the agronomic center CATIE. I carried out different follow-ups in a test platform that aims to orientate the choice of coffee variety to be used according to different management systems (organic, conventional, etc.) and different types of shading. The two main studies I conducted were earthworm and grass monitoring within the trial to study the impact of different systems on soil macrofauna but also to assess the development of environmental services between different ecosystems.

Where did you go and what did you do there?

Costa Rica - Turrialba. CATIE

I did my internship in the agronomic center CATIE. I carried out different follow-ups in a test platform that aims to orientate the choice of coffee variety to be used according to different management systems (organic, conventional, etc.) and different types of shading. The two main studies I conducted were earthworm and grass monitoring within the trial to study the impact of different systems on soil macrofauna but also to assess the development of environmental services between different ecosystems.

What did you learn during your stay at Go LaSalle?

During this stay I learned a lot about myself but also about the country in general. I was able to discover a new culture, new traditions, new dishes, etc. This internship also taught me a lot about coffee but also about agroforestry. It made me discover a part of the researcher's job that I did not know.

Did you know that? In Costa Rica, deforestation is forbidden to make way for new cultivable land.

How will this help you in your professional life?

I don't know exactly what my future job will consist of but what I do know is that the skills I have acquired here will be useful for the end of my studies but also during my professional life. I have developed my sense of autonomy, my ability to see a situation from a professional point of view and above all to adapt and to face problems that come up during the implementation of a project or a study.

Did you encounter any difficulties during your stay?

I did not encounter any particular difficulties except for the lack of my relatives.

What is your best memory?

I have so many great memories! I can only choose one! I'll tell you an anecdote. One weekend, we were at the beach with some friends and we went swimming. So far so good. But when we came back, a bunch of monkeys were going through our bags and emptying them looking for food! Like what in Costa Rica we have to be careful with thieves even if they are not the ones we think about ;)

Any advice for future 3rd year students who will be in your shoes next year?

The best advice I can give to a future 3rd year student is that you shouldn't be afraid to go far away and even less alone. You should seize this opportunity and make the most of it. It is an incredible experience to discover a multitude of new things. Living in a different country and a different lifestyle allows us to learn a lot about ourselves! Going on your own allows you to meet new people on the spot and to become more familiar with the culture and language of the country.