My name is Óscar Carratalá Climent, and I'm from Alicante, Spain. I'm 27 years old. I've studied economics. I was a volunteer in an animal protection organization in Spain too. Now I work on volunteer projects for Tropical Adventures and in the office as well.
Alumni Spotlight: Óscar Carratalá Climent
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Tell us a little about yourself and your role at Tropical Adventures.
Why did you decide to volunteer/intern abroad with Tropical Adventures in Cosat Rica?
Recently, I've finished my degree in Economics so after that, I was looking for on internet, and I found a Tropical Adventures internship, so it was a chance that I couldn't refuse - Costa Rica! No place could be better if you love the animals and the nature!
Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.
As the intern marketing coordinator it is my responsibility to make sure our project information is current on our website and the locations where we advertise. I research new projects, post on Facebook and Twitter, keeping everyone up to date on exciting news.
As a volunteer, I have had the opportunity to visit many projects and work in many fields - sea turtles, children, retirement home, and wildlife rescue center. With sea turtles we were cleaning the beach, building a new hatchery to help the turtles nest (specially the leather backs), and at night we were patrolling and looking for the tracks of the turtles. When we saw one, we measured her, and wrote all the features (number of eggs too) for the future studies with turtles.
The next project "arribadas" with children and old people from the retirement home (Bambú): they were so happy to see us, and have someone to talk to. I was listening all their stories, so funny, one of them told me that I had to get married with a girl from Costa Rica and have children with her, who knows! Nevertheless, it was really a nice experience help them with their activities, help in the garden, paint the walls, etc.
What made this volunteer abroad experience unique and special?
This amazing country, full of nature, always warm and the nice people who live hear. I feel like at home!!
How has this experience impacted your future? (Personally, professionally, academically, etc.)
This experience, one of my best ever, see to nature, real nature, and animals in freedom, exotic animals, stay in one beach where you feel the only one in the world, is something that you just can see on TV. And with Topical Adventures, team work and taking responsibilities, it is going to help me a lot for my career, really nice experience.