Pura Vida and Perspective – Olivia Skaggs
If you ever have the chance to study abroad or attend a trip with students, I highly recommend that you take advantage of this opportunity. Entering the second week of the semester, finally settling into my school routine, I am reminiscing on my time in Costa Rica. I had never traveled abroad before, and my…
First Impressions of Barcelona – Valentina Blanco
Howdy! My name is Valentina Blanco, and I am currently studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain for the Spring 2026 semester. I wanted to share my first impressions of the city and the university for any students who are considering doing a study abroad on their own. It’s hard to believe it’s only been two weeks…
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Learning to Slow Down: A New Perspective on Business from Costa Rica – Brooke Heath
Studying abroad in Costa Rica has been one of the most grounding and perspective-changing experiences of my life. Before arriving, I expected to learn about international business practices, but I did not anticipate how deeply this experience would reshape the way I think about work, relationships, and success. Being immersed in Costa Rican culture showed…
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Part 2: Reflections on Business, Culture, and Government – Alexander Bastia
My time abroad in Australia and New Zealand deeply broadened my perspectives and enhanced my knowledge of culture, business, and the people in both countries. Through interactions with locals, visits to companies, and engaging meaningfully with ethnic culture, I was able to learn so much during just my two week visit to these countries. From…
Continue Reading Part 2: Reflections on Business, Culture, and Government – Alexander Bastia
Second Week Study Aboard Blog – Duyen Bui
After coming back from the UAE, all the cities we got to visit were Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Dubai and some small islands. Before going to the UAE, I thought that businesses over there felt more formal and transactional. However, while we were doing company visits, I learned that relationships and the culture are…
From Auckland to Sydney: A Journey of Culture, Connection, and Growth – Ryan Wu
This trip to New Zealand and Australia was truly transformative and exceeded every expectation I had. In Auckland, we explored the historic grounds of Waitangi and experienced traditional Māori dances and songs, celebrated New Year’s by watching fireworks from the Sky Tower, and gained insight into the global business landscape by learning about the New…
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UAE trip reflection – Connor Porter
While on this trip we learned many new aspects of how the UAE performs business. One main idea that we’ve learned is how the UAE does not want to be one dimensional and over rely on their oil industry because they understand that they have a finite amount of it. Some of the main industries…
Costa Rica – Final Reflection – Julian Torres
Returning to the United States after two weeks in Costa Rica has given me time to reflect on my experience. Through visits with local businesses, multinational corporations, and interacting with Costa Ricans, I come back home with a new perspective pertaining to work culture and relationships that will have a lasting impact on me throughout…
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Reflecting on my Time Abroad – Jedi Jones
Having returned back to the United States, I have been reflecting on the past two weeks that I spent abroad. After spending a week in New Zealand (as described in my first blog post), my group traveled to Sydney, Australia. This was a surreal experience, as we witnessed the unique Australian wildlife, the beauty of…
Tico Time to Grind Time: Adjusting to American Pace and Culture – Yasmin Alicea
This winter I was blessed with the opportunity to attend a study abroad trip in Costa Rica that has changed my perspective on life and business in America. The statement might be odd given the fact I was only there for a little under 2 weeks, but it was all about how I had immersed…
Continue Reading Tico Time to Grind Time: Adjusting to American Pace and Culture – Yasmin Alicea
Reflecting on the Trip of a Lifetime – Libby Sanders
My time abroad in Australia and New Zealand significantly reshaped my understanding of conducting business and engaging with individuals in a global context. One of the strongest lessons I learned is that culture, values, and relationships play a much larger role in business success than I initially realized. Before this trip, I believed that international…
Continue Reading Reflecting on the Trip of a Lifetime – Libby Sanders
My Thoughts After Australia & New Zealand – Natalee Guajardo
My time out of the country has changed my perspective in a multitude of ways. Although I was only gone for two weeks, I feel I have grown a lot as an individual and a professional. Seeing how businesses function with a different government system and business culture really opened my eyes to other perspectives.…
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Blog Post Two – Mary Gill
During the two weeks I spent studying in Costa Rica, I was able to see firsthand the differences in workplace culture, business relationships, and communication style between Costa Rica and the United States. In the U.S., businesses tend to be fast-paced and very professional. In Costa Rica, there is a much stronger emphasis on the…
Final Reflections of New Zealand and Australia – Arabela Grijalva
Throughout this study abroad experience, I gained firsthand exposure to how our government and international relations operate in practice, including learning about the role of the U.S. Consulate and the collaboration between the United States and local governments. Seeing diplomacy and public service in action helped me better understand how global policies shape economic and…
Continue Reading Final Reflections of New Zealand and Australia – Arabela Grijalva
Studying Abroad in Australia – Leila Roberti
After experiencing New Zealand, it was time to explore Sydney Australia. After the plane ride, the group attended a cricket match where we learned more about the sport culture in Australia. It was fun to compare the similarities and differences between cricket and baseball and also learn the rules of a new sport. The next…
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Final Reflection of conducting business in Costa Rica – Dennis Morfin
Studying abroad in Costa Rica has reshaped my perspective on business, relationships, and what long-term success truly entails. While my first impressions centered on the pura vida lifestyle, spending more time immersed in Costa Rican culture revealed deeper contrasts between how business is done here versus in the United States, especially in workplace culture, communication,…
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Blog Post #2 – Reagan DeBorde
Costa Rica has reshaped how business feels to me, moving it from something purely efficiency driven to something grounded in relationships, patience, and quality of life. Through my time abroad, work, family, and community started to feel less like separate worlds and more like parts of the same, interconnected experience. Workplace culture differences In Costa…
The Greatest Experience of my Life – Jaydev Moparthy
When I say that this was the greatest experience of my life, I don’t mean it lightly. Since my last blog post, I have learned so much about the business culture in both Australia and New Zealand while exploring some of the most amazing places this world has to offer. When it comes to expanding…
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