What inspired you to travel abroad?
I have always wanted to study abroad. I've always traveled and love learning about new cultures. One of my favorite reasons to travel is because I enjoy meeting new people and having new experiences and to experience a different culture in an immersive way.
Traveling abroad can give you new outlooks on customs and adventures. It is important to experience new traditions, foods, and social environments. It helps you find new interests and it is an experience you will never regret.
I had great company when I hiked all the way up to the Rainbow Mountain in Peru.
Why did you choose Toucan Abroad?
When I found this program, I thought it was perfect for me. I've always wanted to visit Costa Rica. I got to do it while learning about a profession I aspired to join.
This experience was an opportunity to improve my Spanish and learn about a new culture. My college had many abroad programs. However, there weren't any in particular that focused on the exercise science realm, therefore, this was a perfect blend for me.
What was your favorite part about Costa Rica?
My favorite part about my host city in Costa Rica was that it is a very local town. Not many tourists were in that specific area. It helped me immerse myself in the Costa Rican culture while partaking in native and traditional Costa Rican customs with my abroad group.
The location was very central, which made it easy to travel to other regions of the country. This made it easy for my group and me to surround ourselves with the culture of the town/country. Another important part of our location was safety. I never felt unsafe as a foreign traveler in our host location.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The founders of the abroad program impacted the experience we all had. They were very inclusive and did a great job involving everybody in activities. We became super close as a group within hours. I met some of my best friends from this abroad experience.
Being able to travel to a country with such amazing people while making extraordinary memories is something I will never forget. The physical therapists we got to shadow during the program were some of the nicest people I have ever met. They were very understanding and willing to help us learn while learning from us. They immediately made us feel like family.
It was so special to get to shadow these therapists in a hands-on way. I've gained so much knowledge from this experience which helped me confirm that I want to pursue a career in physical therapy.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff throughout my program were so attentive and helpful. This staff made you feel like you were at a home away from home. They were always making you feel welcome and safe. Whenever I had questions or concerns they were there immediately to help address them.
The staff also helped navigate us through the towns and provided recommendations for food and activities. They did a great job of planning fun activities for the group. They created a positive, fun, and safe environment for everyone in the abroad group.
Group photo of Toucan Abroad program participants visiting Volcán Irazu in 2019!
Did Toucan Abroad provide specific pre-departure Covid support? If yes, please tell us what kind of support you received.
COVID was not an issue during my time on the trip. We were given vaccination recommendations and health/travel insurance. We were set up as much as we could have been for any health/safety issues. Due to my experience with the staff, I can confidently say they would have strategically supported us in the best way possible if I were to have been there during the time of COVID.
How did Toucan Abroad help you stay (and feel) safe abroad amidst the ongoing pandemic?
Since I was not in the program during the pandemic, I will explain other ways during my time they helped me stay and feel safe. One way I felt safe during my time abroad was the staff making themselves available to us in an easy way. We were never alone and always used a buddy system.
They placed the program in a safe location while providing safe transportation and accommodations. During our excursions we always had a staff member with us to help guide us during our time abroad.
This is a selfie of me during my time abroad on top of Spain’s Metropol Parasol!
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
One thing I wish I would have done differently during my time abroad would be to sign up for the program sooner. I also wish I went bungee jumping instead of backing out. One benefit of traveling is being put outside of your comfort zone and I definitely was but I regret not bungee jumping and I hope to go back soon to do so.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day in my life abroad started in the morning when everyone got up and went downstairs to eat breakfast. We all had different shadowing times, but almost everyone would eat breakfast together. After breakfast, we would separate into our shadowing partners and uber/walk to our clinic. We typically spend 5 hours shadowing depending on the therapist and the schedule.
Every week you switch partners and clinics to get a well-rounded experience and to observe different practices. Come back and either go to lunch or dinner with some group members and have the rest of the day off to explore and hang out. Once a week, there is a planned group excursion. On the weekends, we went collectively to other cities and spent the weekend exploring the new town and doing new activities.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I enjoyed trying new foods and traditional Costa Rican dishes. The food was delicious. It was incredible to experience the serene and rushed feeling while zip-lining through the jungle.
My favorite part of the trip was playing soccer with a Tico (local/native Costa Rican) grandpa and his grandson. Another activity I enjoyed was swimming in the natural hot springs in La Fortuna and jumping off of rocks with the locals.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
Our accommodation was in a hotel with a great location in the town. On the bottom was a restaurant where we would have breakfast and sometimes dinner. We had such a beautiful view of the town. We were all located on the same floor, so it was so much fun being so close to each other and hanging out in everyone's rooms.
First time visit to Machu Picchu in Peru! I loved seeing the gorgeous views.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
My time abroad has impacted my life by creating life long friendships and relationships. It has opened my eyes to new outlooks and views. It made me realize I want to experience more cultures and traditions throughout the world. I have had so more more traveling opportunities become available to me. I have made many personal and professional connections.
What is one thing every future participant should know about Toucan Abroad before their program begins?
Anyone who decides to join this program will have such a great experience and will meet some of the best people. They will be able to return home with so much more knowledge and appreciation for their time there. This abroad program helps people get out of their comfort zone while creating core memories.
It's a once and a lifetime experience you can have while being immersed in a different culture. This trip can help solidify their decision in pursuing physical therapy as a career.
Would you recommend Toucan Abroad to others? Why?
Yes, I would recommend this experience to others. I have recommended it to many people throughout the years. One of the main reasons I recommend it is due to the hands-on shadowing that one can not get in the states. It is such a unique experience to shadow these therapists while being able to practice performing and learning new techniques.
Toucan Reunion on a white sand beach in sunny Mexico! We had such a blast together!
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
One of the biggest benefits of traveling abroad is being able to interact with different people. Traveling in general can help open your eyes to new cultures, traditions, outlooks, and developing meaningful relationships. You have unique experiences you normally can't get. Learning about new cultures and history is an important aspect of traveling.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
It means being able to fully immerse myself in the culture. I want to learn about the country's history and try learning the language while being in local areas. I want to leave with a deeper understanding of its people and country.
Meaningful travel enhances your life and helps you grow and learn about yourself and others. Surrounding yourself with enriching experiences and also give back to that cultural experience.
