Summer in Costa Rica

It was my first time ever traveling outside of the country. I was so nervous and unsure, but my home and host universities were so supportive. They walked me through every step of the way. I met amazing people, tried new food, and experienced culture in a way I never could’ve in the United States. The connections I made while there have changed me as a person. I still talk to my host mom, my Mama Tica, to this day. Even with the language barrier between us, we built such a close connection in such a short time. When it came time for me to leave for the airport, we were both crying. This is an experience I would reccomend to anyone, especially those who are scared to take the leap.

I'll just go in order of the 6 categories of academics, living situation, cultural immersion, program administration, healthy and safety, and community. Academics - I found this study abroad because I was interested in the program for health professionals. As it turns out, you can only choose session 1 or session 2 if you do that specific program, but if you want to do both sessions, apply to the double session program and then just choose health-related classes. There were lots of different course offerings, some in English, some in Spanish. I took 4 classes total, 2 in English, 2 in Spanish. I thought the academics were too easy. For some people, that sounds perfect, for some people, that sounds boring. It just depends on what type of person you are. Living Situation - Genuinely the best part of my trip. I love my Tico family so much. I had a wonderful room and support system, and ate some amazing food. I know that other people in the program didn't have as much of a great experience as I did with my family, but you can also always talk with the program staff if you ever have any concerns/needs. Cultural Immersion - The program had some really amazing experiences for us to do together, and if you participate in both sessions, it will be different experiences for you to try in the 2nd round. Probably my favorite was going to La Fortuna to swim around a waterfall, but we also hiked a dead volcano (Irazú), and tried fresh cacao. In terms of really learning the language and culture, explore the city, and really get to know your host family. Program Administration - The program staff were wonderful. All of our questions were answered, they learned everyone's names, and really wanted to provide us with the best experience possible. There are pre-departure sessions for students and for parents, which I think is a great idea and also helped my parents feel more comfortable with me leaving. Health and Safety - If you follow the recommendations of the program staff, you will be safe and comfortable. Avoid walking around at night at all, but if you have to, do it in a group. It's pretty basic things like that to be aware of, and everything will be good. For medical insurance, you pay for it before you leave, and if you get hurt or sick while there, you pay in-person out-of-pocket but then get fully reimbursed afterwards. Community - I'm not a party person, so when I rate the social scene, I'm not including that. (Although I have friends that had lots of fun going to bars and parties while there.) What I am including is the people on the trip, the local places to go, and the offerings on campus. I absolutely loved the weekly dance classes that are offered at no additional price. For fun local places, I explored book stores, weekend markets, and cafes. I definitely recommend Feria Verde that's open every weekend. You can find good food, gifts/souvenirs, and art.

These are three descriptors I would use to summarize my time in Costa Rica. On this trip, it felt like my 3:00pm class was just a fraction of my overall experience. What was truly exceptional was my time spent white water rafting, going to the beach, taking an afternoon to enjoy live music in the heart of the city, and hiking up one of the many mountains that loom over the capital city. Travelling far away from home does not just bring about a change in the way you learn, but also in the way you live. Surely, you learn plenty about history, cultural norms, environmental conservation initiatives, and much more, but the way in which those lessons impact your outlook on the world influences what beliefs you take back home with you. Regardless, travelling to Costa Rica will be a lot of fun, no matter what. There is something for the thrillseekers, the researchers, the athletes, the extroverts, and anyone else you can think of.