Hi, my name is Jake Nolte and I’m an MIS major at Texas A&M University. As someone who hasn’t had previous opportunities to explore a nation’s culture, I had very little expectations coming into the study abroad program. However, there were certain biases and expectations that I had preconceived without even realizing! One of the most notable was that Spanish-only speakers would become impatient when attempting to communicate with people who know very little Spanish. However, I was pleasantly surprised on how keen Costa Ricans can communicate to others that are non verbal cues. Whether it was communicating the cost of an item, or to not touch an object, the Costa Ricans I encountered were patient and understanding. During our study abroad, we engaged with many companies and lectures that painted a picture of what it is like to do business in Costa Rica. With the country being such an eco-tourism hotspot, many of these businesses relied on showcasing the environment as an experience, not a product. One of my favorite businesses that we toured, was a toucan ranch in La Fortuna. The owner had purchased farmland, with the intent of bringing back the once cut down rainforest. Everyone called him crazy, but after 20 years, he had quite literally grown an entire rainforest within his land. Over the 20 years, animals came to live in the rainforest including Ocelots, Toucans, Poison Dart Frogs, and Sloths. It was very inspiring as someone whose dream is to start a business, specifically how to persevere when others doubt. This trip has changed my perspective be making me realize that sustainability is vital for business. The tragedy of the commons, taught in economics, shows what will happen to the nature of this planet without laws and regulations in check. I hope that everyone has an opportunity to get out of their comfort zone through traveling.