Howdy!
Throughout the past two weeks, I’ve had the privilege of spending my winter break abroad in Costa Rica. Though just a mere few months ago the country was the furthest thing from my mind, upon completion of this trip, the people, culture, and scenery of the country now hold a special place in my life.
The best aspect of the trip was learning more about the people and how they approach life, which in turn allowed me to grow in a personal sense. Costa Ricans entertain a much more simplistic and frugal lifestyle that nearly perfectly contradicts the stereotypical “materialistic” society that many Americans enjoy. This, in turn, helped me strip down to my roots and helped me revisit what is truly important in life: faith, family, friends, and setting oneself up for long-term survival. The bonds that I formed with my host family, my fellow classmates, the faculty, and individuals I met during my stay are some that I will treasure for a lifetime.
While the trip was nowhere near perfect, the pros without a doubt made up for any slight nuisances that came up throughout the journey. Without a doubt, this ranks as one of the best things I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of in my time at Texas A&M University. If you are reading this and waiting for a sign on whether you should take a leap of faith and study abroad, here it is!
Until next time,
Will Leonard