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 trip to Costa Rica was definitely memorable.
A key aspect of the program for me was getting to visit with local businesses one-on-one. Here, I witnessed the differences in doing business in the United States versus Costa Rica. Latin American countries have a deeper connection in pursuing their passions. In America, most citizens are driven by money and success. On the other hand, Costa Ricans more commonly pursue what they are passionate about, even if it means success is more challenging to accomplish. I saw this when we visited the Bogarin Trail, a nature park created by local Joanne Bogarin in 2000. He told us how he repeatedly asked the owner of the farmland if he could build a nature reserve on the land until one day the owner finally gave in. Mr. Bogarin hand-dug and carved out the 2km trail without the use of heavy powered machinery. This shows his dedication and commitment to preserving nature, his life’s purpose. Now, the park is home to over 40 sloths and other kinds of creatures. Mr. Bogarin is a perfect example of how many Costa Ricans choose passion over immediate success.
Another key aspect of the program, and perhaps my favorite, was the opportunity to stay with host families. The Costa Rica program is the only CIBS program where you can stay with host families, and I am very grateful I was able to do so. My family was an older couple, and they were incredibly welcoming from the moment we met them. I am very grateful to have been able to communicate with them, as they did not speak English, but this taught me how Costa Ricans truly value relationships. The couple’s children came over often, as did their grandchildren. It was heartwarming to see how close they were as a family. Going forward, I have learned the importance strong relationships hold in foreign countries, both in the personal and business worlds.
All in all, I am incredibly grateful to have studied abroad in Costa Rica. I made new friendships, met inspiring people, and so much more. A big thank you to Arcos Learning Abroad, Dr. Katy Lane, Geraldy Morua, and the CIBS team for creating a great learning experience for students!
