Thoughts at the "End" of Expedition #2

This is Devin, and on Sunday we successfully completed our expedition and all returned safely home—I know for many on Team #2, the experience was life-altering, and much too short. Like those before (and after) us, we shared full days of meaningful work, education, meals, and play--I will be “unpacking” this experience for a long time to come, but I thought I’d share a few of my thoughts:

Coffee: I have been passionate about coffee for many years, but now, even this week in the office when I poured a cup or pulled a shot of espresso, I was much more “aware” of the coffee; especially the people whose lives revolve around the planting, cultivating, harvesting and processing of this miracle. For a true coffee lover, there was something magical about wading through “forests” of coffee plants, handling the branches, cherries, and leaves, wondering if one of those beans might end up in my cup some day. (However, while experiencing this magic, watch out for the caterpillars that hang out under the leaves—they have a sting that hurts like crazy!)


People: there is nothing quite like a group of people coming together and working toward a common purpose, with a common passion. The relationships we made with farmers, with co-op staff, and each other within our large team representing Costa Rica, France, Canada, and the US may have been a few brief weeks, but they were deeply impacting. I walked away with a renewed passion for supporting with my lifestyle those business practices that positively impact the quality of a product, the state of the environment, and ultimately quality of life for PEOPLE.

Practice: spending time in the coffee fields, hiking through a wet rainforest (If you didn’t know, it rains a lot in a rainforest), or gazing across a green valley to the hills across the way, I found a lot of time to think—and I found myself thinking quite a bit on my personal impact on the world--I know I will continue to ask myself questions--how do my choices, my lifestyle, and my consumption impact the wonderful people and the beautiful ecosystem that I’ve encountered in a far-off place like Costa Rica, and in the thousands of places I haven’t yet visited? And even more importantly, what things can I do with my life that will positively impact and improve the world I live in, and the one I don't see every day?

These are just a small sample of the things I’m thinking today as I pout a bit in my cubicle, looking back at this amazing adventure. I’m truly thankful for this opportunity to spend two weeks with a great group of people in a wonderful place. I’m sure that any member of this team would be thrilled to sit down with you and share everything they experienced, and everything they learned.

Best Regards,

Devin