Beginning My Inquiry into Water Use and Sanitation in Costa Rica

Only a day and a half from departure. ¡Ay dios mío!

As mentioned in my previous post, each participant, faculty and student alike, will conduct an inquiry project while in Costa Rica. Kath Murdoch’s Phases of Inquiry (out of Australia) will guide our research. (I use this model in my social studies methods course at UNCW, as well as in my curriculum development work, and find it meaningful and versatile across age groups. Having visited IB schools and seeing it implemented in grades PreK through high school has convinced me of its effectiveness). Since our initial pre-departure meetings, students have chosen their areas of focus —ranging from gross national happiness to environmental sustainability—leaving me to consider an important issue not previously chosen. It’s been in the back of my mind for weeks: What will I research while in Costa Rica for three weeks that is both of personal interest and relevant to my teaching that I hope to include in my fall courses?

Two days ago, our package from the Costa Rica Tourism Board arrived containing maps and promotional materials. Tonight, I watched the enclosed 11-minute video entitled “Costa Rica Con Los 5 Sentidos.” Shortly into the video, the narrator states that Costa Rica is “the leading country in Latin America in drinking water supply.”

The global issue of water use and sanitation is significant and of contemporary importance. It is said that future wars will be fought not over petroleum, but clean drinking water. Statistics pertaining to access to potable water on a global scale are staggering: more than 1 in 6 do not have access to safe drinking water and around 2.5 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation, resulting in unnecessary deaths every day. Many of us, myself included, take this for granted, and I look forward to being reminded just how precious this limited natural resource is from a global perspective.

This tourism video has prompted me to choose water use and sanitation in Costa Rica for my inquiry. The first stage of Murdoch’s model, Tuning In, encourages one to reflect upon the following questions:
• What do I already know or think I know about this topic or issue?
• How do I feel about it?
• How have I come to know and feel these things?
• What am I interested in finding out?
• How can I find out?

Frankly, I know very little about the freshwater supply in Costa Rica. It is my understanding that Costa Ricans live modestly (indeed a role model for us all) and that fresh water is limited, such as when bathing, yet is readily available for drinking and is safe for consumption. Whether to drink tap water in Costa Rica has been debated among my group. I’ve been told it is perfectly safe by many who live in or have visited recently various cities in Costa Rica. (I admit to fearing illness in a foreign country, perhaps my greatest apprehension of embarking on this program. Last week, I bought a filtered water bottle – despite being advised this does not prevent waterborne parasites. This, I am curious to learn more about).

I will take advantage of the many sources of information made available during our visit – my familias Ticas, CPI personnel, tour guides, educational experts, and more – in order to learn about the issue of water use and sanitation in Costa Rica.

In the meantime, I am experiencing many “lasts.” My last dinner with my small family whom I love more than anything – my husband and our dogs, Daisy and Gabby. My last phone conversation with my parents. My last night sleeping in the comfort of my own bed. Soon, though, I replace my “lasts” with my “firsts.” My first meal in Costa Rica, my first conversations in Spanish, my first evening with mi familia Tica.

With gratitude and appreciation for the amazing learning opportunity that awaits us in San Jose on Friday….hasta luego.

Elizabeth

Reference:
Murdoch, K. (1998). Classroom connections: Strategies for integrated learning. Prahran Victoria, Australia: Eleanor Curtain Publishing.