What inspired you to work for Costa Rica Frika?
I was inspired to work for Costa Rica Frika because it offered immersion and volunteer experiences that were similar to the one I went on the summer beforehand in Peru.
Girl at a botanical garden in Costa Rica
Why should someone choose Costa Rica Frika over competitors?
I think that someone should choose Costa Rica Frika over other companies because of the size and the communication abilities the director has. The small size of the company is a perk because you don't have to deal with any middleman, and Dustin is able to devote more time to each volunteer. Additionally, Dustin is from Wisconsin but he has lived in constrictive for the past couple of years, so he is able to connect well with literally anyone from the world.
Describe a typical day at work for you.
I wouldn't say that there is one typical day at work. Every day brings on a new adventure whether it is meeting up with a new volunteer, checking out one of the volunteer projects, or even just taking pictures for the company.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The favorite part of my job was getting to know people from all over the world who were coming to volunteer while also getting to know the local people. The stories that I heard had to be one of my favorite parts of my trip overall; whether they were about the U.S. in the 1940s or about the local parade, they are something that I will remember for a while.
Girl sitting on a ledge in Costa Rica
What is the Costa Rica Frika mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
The company's mission is to provide an unforgettable experience and welcoming environment while also immersing yourself and having fun. We continue to work towards it by always keeping up with their volunteers and helping them out not only at their projects, but also with any other needs.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I found that my Spanish education helped a lot when communicating with the locals. I also found that my international background helped me be more understanding and open to learning about the host culture.
Why do you think learning a new language is important in the world today?
I think that learning a new language is important because it can help you out professionally and give you more opportunities within your career field. But also, in a personal sense, It opens up new doors for you to be able to communicate with many more people than you would have otherwise. Also as a perk, it makes traveling abroad to country where that language is spoken much easier.
Sloth
If you could participate in any of your organization's programs, which one would you choose?
Luckily, this summer I got to experience a lot of the the organization's programs, but if I could stay more than a couple of days somewhere it would definitely be the animal rescue center. I love the atmosphere of it, with all of the hand-painted volunteer signs around the center and the cute animals that were there, such as sloths and monkeys. Especially, I would love to be able to feed them or create enrichment toys for them to play with.
Selfie of a fourth grade class in Costa Rica
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope the participants are able to walk away more open-minded and have learned about themselves and the host culture. I also know that they're able to walk away with stories and adventures that they can share with their friends and family.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
The first time I traveled out of my home country was when I was about 13, and it was honestly my most life changing experience. Generally, visiting one country transformed my outlook on life and made me more open-minded. It was after this first trip that I had caught a travel bug that would not go away.
For a couple years I would do a lot of touristy traveling, but soon I realized that I wanted to make sure my traveling was not just a vacation, and that it was meaningful. So, my first year of college I volunteered in Mexico for my spring break trip and then in Peru for six weeks that same summer. I loved these experiences more than any of my other travels, not only because I got the chance to do something good, but because I was learning about a new culture by stepping into their shoes, seeing the world through their perspective, and empowering the community.
I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to have this kind of experience, and I want to show others that it is possible to have it.
Traveling is more than being a tourist, it is about learning and accepting others.
