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On May 24th, I traveled with the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS) to Costa Rica, where I would stay until June 21st. We would stay in three cities in the western half of the country: La Fortuna, Sámara, and La Paz. If I were to break up the trip into four parts, I would say we divided our time between service, excursions, classes, and bonding. The first six days were split between two cities called La Fortuna and Sámara. Our time there was focused on service, excursions, and bonding; we learned about the communities through visits to places such as Volcán Arenal and Sámara Beach, along with volunteer work at a local organization called CREAR. Our service with CREAR was especially wonderful as we were able to beautify a local elementary school with children who attended the school and their families! We had time to get to know each other, learn about the school system in Costa Rica, and work to benefit the community simultaneously. I felt it was a wonderful way to leave a mark on a new country!
The rest of the trip was spent in La Paz, a small town outside the city of San Ramon. Here we began our mornings exploring and learning about the town, and in the afternoon, we had class. I took one Spanish class that was built around learning about Costa Rica through presentations and readings. We were instructed to present about a location that we were going to travel to during our time in La Paz, and I honestly learned so much from them! My classmates were able to provide background knowledge that helped me truly immerse myself in the community around me! Outside of class, we visited places such as the local sugar mill, the local elementary school, and the city of San Ramon. My favorite excursion was a visit to a city called Zarcero, where we were able to visit another elementary school, a coffee factory where I won free top-of-the-line Costa Rican coffee, and a pastry restaurant where I had the best latte and guava bread! We were somewhere new every single day and it was such an amazing experience getting to know the people in La Paz and in my cohort. On this study abroad journey, I was presented with a multitude of hands-on, immersive learning opportunities through service, excursions, classes, and group bonding! It felt like I was genuinely a member of the La Paz community. The people were so kind and welcoming while being willing to teach and practice Spanish with us!
This trip was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me! The “Pura Vida” culture in Costa Rica, especially in La Paz, taught me a lesson about slowing down and enjoying the simple things in life, like long drives and walks. Immersing myself in the language and the culture truly paid off, as I feel more confident in my Spanish skills since returning. I have definitely improved my conversational skills! I have a reignited love for Spanish and travel! I also never thought I would meet such amazing people on this trip. My cohort included some great people that I plan on continuing friendships with for a long time! I am grateful that we were all able to have this experience that brought us together as Kentucky students. I truly feel like I have gained so many more connections within the state and among different universities. I also feel like I have gained a strong connection to my family in Costa Rica. The community members told us that we always have a home in La Paz and it was such a beautiful exchange of culture living in my homestay. I learned so much about the politics, history, and geography of Costa Rica from my host mother and the many people who led us on tours and excursions.
Studying abroad was one of the best experiences I’ve had in college! I have always wanted to do it since high school, and I am so proud that I could accomplish it. You have the opportunity to create bonds with so many different groups of people. If you have the privilege to study abroad, do it! Take the risk! It’s so worth it.