Valpo Voyager

Student Stories from Around the World

Category: Costa Rica (page 1 of 10)

Costa Rica With Carolyn

November 4, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Name: Carolyn Dilbeck

Program: Valpo Study Center in Costa Rica

Location: Heredia & San Jose, Costa Rica

Lately, I have become more interested in how agriculture can work with and support nature and the environment rather than deteriorate it as industrial agriculture has done. It has increasingly become a topic of interest for me, and one I’ve wanted to learn more about. This is for a variety of reasons, including my family’s background in agriculture, my interest in ecology and conservation, and  my desire to live a simpler life more connected to nature. In fact, one of the factors that drew me to study abroad here in Costa Rica was their commitment to sustainability and the permaculture and regenerative farming practices they have. I have done some reading and seen videos on regenerative farming, but had never been fortunate enough to see it in action. While here I have had the opportunity to do so twice, once at Finca Loroco, run by the BriBri indigenous people and again at Longo Mai, which is run by Salvadoran immigrants.

While both were unique, the common thread was the ingenious (and sustainable) use of the resources that the land provides. In both places people utilized what they had around them to fulfill their needs. Two prominent examples of this at Longo Mai are their use of a biodigester and using the nearby river for hydroelectric power. A biodigester is a machine that breaks down human and animal waste and collects the methane gas that results. This serves multiple purposes: it processes waste, provides gas for cooking in a sustainable manner, and produces fertilizer as a by-product. This fertilizer is then used to nourish the plants without the added expense or harmful synthetic chemicals found in commercial fertilizers, which can contaminate the groundwater and kill beneficial pollinators among other problems. Additionally, the electricity in Longo Mai was generated directly from the nearby river using a relatively simple, low tech hydroelectric system. 

These systems are not only renewable but allow for a greater level of independence and self-sufficiency. However, this focus on self-sufficiency is also balanced by an emphasis on community and providing for one another. For example, in Finca Loroco, fruits and vegetables are regularly brought to the farmer’s market and shared with the community. Similarly, in Longo Mai, a portion of the money earned is shared with the community and invested into beneficial projects such as the school, church, and similar community organizations and projects. Additionally, both organizations function as agro-tourist destinations and aim to educate visitors and the public about the importance of their work and how it benefits both people and the environment. I believe that this education is also a crucial part of their mission and the only way that these concepts will be rediscovered and interest in them revived.

Another defining feature of the sustainable agriculture that we’ve visited is that they aim to live in harmony with nature. This includes eating seasonally and reducing dependence on imports, focusing on growing foods that are native and do well in the climate you’re in, and growing compatible crops in the same space so that they can benefit each other. Many of these were common practices among the indigenous people, and even to a lesser extent in the West before industrialization. By combining this ancestral wisdom with the relevant scientific techniques, we can create regenerative food systems that are suited to local needs and considerations and are also beneficial to the environment. For me, this is the only way forward for our food system in our rapidly deteriorating climate. Although many factors are vastly different between here and the Midwest, I’m hopeful that someday I can be involved to some extent in pursuing regenerative agriculture there.

Costa Rica with Carolyn

October 9, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Hello, I’m Carolyn Dilbeck, a journalism student from Valparaiso University, and I’m so pleased to have you along with me as I document my time here in Costa Rica! During these next few months, I hope I can provide some insight into the culture and what life is like. My first month here has been simultaneously overwhelming and exciting, with having to adjust to the new language and culture, but I have had a wonderful support system in my host family and program director. It has definitely been a journey of learning, exploration, and growth, and many wonderful memories made along the way. For my first blog post, I wanted to highlight what was for me the most memorable aspect of our program’s first excursion out of the San Jose area last weekend. We recently had the opportunity to visit the Nazo indigenous community in Panama. Despite the intense humidity and mosquitoes, we had a wonderful time and learned a lot about their culture and way of life.

We stayed in a village of the Boca del Toros region with an organization of women dedicated to tourism and education. They were incredibly kind and hospitable, and went out of their way to make us feel welcome, and generously shared their homes with us. We had the opportunity to try some of the foods grown on their “finca” or farm, including several types of tropical fruits and vegetables I’d never heard of before. We had the opportunity to see how they were grown as well. The community we went to employs traditional methods of agriculture, such as rotating locations and growing a variety of different types of plants in close proximity for the ecological benefits. This allows the group to be relatively self-sufficient, and allows them to live in harmony with the surrounding rainforest ecosystems. This was especially interesting and inspiring or me, since sustainable agriculture is a topic I’ve recently become interested in. 

However, their simple and down to earth way of life has increasingly been threatened by the government’s intrusion, ironically in the name of environmental preservation. For example, one of the women in the organization explained that they had reluctantly allowed the Costa Rican government to build a hydroelectric dam on their land, with the promises that their villages would reap the benefits of it. However, that has not been the case, and meanwhile they are no longer able to fish there. Hunting, another traditional source of food for the tribe, has also been threatened. One of the young men in the tribe took us on a hike through the jungle and described that he was no longer able to hunt there as his ancestors had done due to stricter regulations protecting the wildlife. While beneficial, it’s clear that the government’s approaches have harmed the very people who are doing the most to care for the land.

Overall, it was both an incredibly enjoyable and informative experience. It was a reminder of how precious and beautiful our natural environments are, but also of our responsibility to protect it in a way that works for the long term and doesn’t harm others. For this, I can’t think of a better model than the Nazo community. Their example has never been more important than now. It truly gave me a new perspective, and inspired me to continue to work toward a simpler, more sustainable lifestyle. 

Visit to Boca del Toros with a women led tourist organization.

Costa Rica with Ray

September 13, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Ray’s Final Weeks in Costa Rica

Name: Ray Jackson

Program: Valpo Study Center in Costa Rica

Location: Heredia & San Jose, Costa Rica

Finishing Marketing Class

The fifth week is when I ended my marketing class. It didn’t feel like we did much in this class, but in general, I like how it turned out. Including me, there were only three students in the class, so we interacted a lot with one another. There were even several times when we got to have a treat, watch movies, or go to the ice cream shop courtesy of the university. A lot of the time class can be stressful, so I’m glad I was able to get through this one with ease, while making some friends along the way.

Soursop Ice Cream from Class Ice Cream Date

Internship Update: Explosion in the Kitchen

My internship did get a tad bit more interesting than what it was before. In the last couple of weeks, the only thing I did was take inventory. But one day, while that was happening, the pressure cooking exploded in the kitchen leaving a huge mess. Luckily, I wasn’t in the kitchen when it happened, but I was still close enough to see the whole thing. Too bad for my ears though 🤯. Pieces of the pressure cooker flew throughout the kitchen and even broke the walls. But very fortunately, no one was harmed. Everyone was rather frightened, and we had to call the ambulance for one worker who was having a panic attack. But by the next day, everything was up and running like normal.

In all, it didn’t feel like I was very involved during my internship because most of the time, I was just sitting around waiting for something to do. Even the people who worked there sometimes had time to watch whole movies on their phone, do homework, or even take naps. But I’m glad that I was able to form a connection with most of the people who worked there. If there is one business skill that I know well, it’s networking and getting to know people.

Firefighter and Wall Damage After Explosion

Volunteering

I also volunteered at a small organization called Fundacion Mujer during my last two weeks so that I can get more experience in the realm of business. This organization helps guide immigrants in Costa Rica in their adjustment to a new community. In my time there I did a lot of inventory, and I wrote down a lot of customer requests so that the organization can help them at a later date. But I was also able to streamline the process a bit by making digital forms and simplifying some of the documentation. There aren’t many workers there, so what I did will free up some time that they can use for other things. 

Fundación Mujer Office Space

I didn’t have much time with this organization, but I’m glad that I was able to contribute to their cause and connect to everyone working and volunteering there. They were all very welcoming to me, and it means a lot that they took the time to hear my ideas and make me feel comfortable. I think this shows that it doesn’t take much for you to make a difference.

More Fun with the Program

One part of my journey that I haven’t talked much about was spending more time with everyone in my program after the Limon excursion. Every week we liked to reunite and have dinner together and talk about how our week was. We would also sometimes do something random like go shopping, walk around town, or watch a movie. This time was pleasing for me because it was nice to not feel like the only foreigner in town, and everyone trusted me and welcomed me with open arms.

My last dinner with everyone was nice, but also a little bit sad. I usually fall in love easily, and everyone, either in the program or working for it, had already won my heart. It will probably be a long time before I see everyone again, but it’s always nice to know you have people looking out for you even from other parts of the world.

Statue of a man with a walking stick and cloak

Statue from University of Costa Rica

Coming Back Home

When the day came around to go home, it was bittersweet. I didn’t expect to make so many connections out there. But since I did, I found it a little hard to say goodbye. But that’s why I’m glad we are still connected through social media and things like that. I was also ready to get back to a bunch of unfinished business back in the states and to see my family again.

I had two flights getting back to Chicago, so my first plane arrived in Houston Texas. Coincidentally, this is where my dad grew up, so I usually go out there frequently to see that side of my family. So, it was very gratifying when one of the first things I heard getting off the plane was a woman talking to me in a rich Texas accent, “Come on now, Honey. Ya got yer passport out?” It felt good to be back.

It felt a little weird going back into my old routine at first, but at the same time it felt like nothing had changed. It only took me a day to shake off the habit of speaking and thinking in Spanish all the time, but it’s been a few days now, and I’m still dreaming in Spanish for some reason. Nonetheless my mind feels at peace now that I’m surrounded by English again.

View out of plane window at night of Houston

Birds Eye View of Houston

Now that I’m back in the U.S. it’s a little hard to believe that I went all the way to Costa Rica and back. And it’s even more incredible just how much I got done and how many new people I met in just six weeks. It was definitely a well-rounded experience and an experience that I will never forget. I would definitely visit Costa Rica again in the future, and now I have friends to spend that time with when I do. If anyone is interested in traveling to Costa Rica or some other country, I hope you’re able to take advantage of the opportunity just as much as I did ❤️!

Costa Rica with Ray

August 23, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Ray’s Second and Third Weeks in Costa Rica

Name: Ray Jackson

Program: Valpo Study Center in Costa Rica

Location: Heredia and San Jose, Costa Rica

Spanish Speaking Update

The third week was when I felt my Spanish Speaking skills become the most natural it’d been. During my walks and train rides to and from the university, I had plenty of time to think and brainstorm. But throughout the second and third week, these thoughts slowly transformed into Spanish, and by about Tuesday or Wednesday of the third week, my thoughts during this period of the day were completely in Spanish.

Not only that, but by Wednesday night of the third week, I started to dream only in Spanish. My Spanish is usually at its best when I’m in a more relaxed state, so my thoughts tend to be only in Spanish before going to sleep and after waking up, which is probably why ever since that day, I’ve dreamed almost exclusively in Spanish.

Then came Friday. This was an exciting day for me because for the whole day I could speak Spanish very easily with very little mistakes. I felt my brain working, but it felt more like the kind of work that you do when solving a fun puzzle and doing it successfully. And all I wanted to do was talk; everyone heard my voice today: my host mom, the random Costa Rican students at the university, the grocery store workers… EVERYONE. I could not stop talking 🗣️.

But the interesting thing is that the next day, it felt like I had lost my ability to speak Spanish. I could barely even understand my host family. I guess my brain eventually burned itself out, but it was fun while it lasted 😅. My Spanish improved again by the next week anyway.

front door of auto mercado, a fancy grocery store

Fancy Spanish Speaking Grocery Store

Host Family

This week I also met several members of my host family. My host mom, the dog, and I are usually the only ones at home, but her relatives like to come and visit often. I first met one of her nephews, who is an English Professor. It was interesting to see how passionate he was about perfecting his English. He even learned how to speak in Jamaican Patois.

Souvenirs including a t-shirt, lanyard, patches, and necklace

My Souvenirs from the Host Family

Next, I met three of my host mom’s children. The younger of the three is very charming and social, and he gifted me a shirt that he made himself. The other two are twins and are both usually very busy working in medicine. I was also able to meet the daughter of one of them, who is a very experienced dancer. I am usually FAR from being an only child, so having more people in the house every once in a while, reminded me of home.

My host mom and I also took a visit to her sister’s house who lives on the corner of the same street. There I met her niece, three more nephews, her sister, and her brother-in-law. The niece sells artisan souvenirs, so I was even able to buy some nice things from her. My host mom and I have a lot in common, and one of those things is that we both have very big families. I think it is beautiful that she values family just as much as I do.

Finishing Spanish Class

The fourth week was the last week of my Spanish class. The class had many assignments on top of everything else I had to do. But it’s a good thing I got ahead on all the assignments before the class even began. This week, we had to do a conversation in front of the class with a partner, present what we’ve learned from a previous trip to the museum, write a composition, and do a presentation on a Latin American historical event. And on top of all that, the train system was messed up twice this week, so I was late to class both times. But, with luck, I did very well on every assignment in the course, and I passed 🥳.

I’m going to miss that class because even though it was a lot of work, every assignment truly boosted my learning, and the teacher is really talented at what she does. Also, all of the students in the class were pretty much one big friend group along with the professor. We were very lucky to have such a good relationship dynamic among so many people, and I’m glad I had the chance to meet everyone.

Museum entrance shaped like a castle

El Museo de Los Niños (Children’s Museum)

Mis Majes de Moda

I definitely have to say that one of the highlights of my stay in Costa Rica was spending time with “mis majes de moda”. In Costa Rican Spanish, that roughly translates to “my fashion friends”. Right underneath the foreign studies floor was the “fashion floor”, where most of the fashion design students took class and made their clothing for class projects 🧵. And that was one of my favorite places to linger when I was on campus.

Mannequins with unfinished projects pinned on them

Fashion Floor Mannequins

At first, I didn’t talk to anyone because I was scared to speak Spanish with the natives. But by weeks three and four, I was all up in everything that they were doing 👀. I loved getting to know the students, and it was easy for me to connect to their interests because I’ve always been fascinated by fashion. I even learned some easy techniques that I can use when tailoring my own clothing. Even though I was the only foreigner in the room most of the time, I didn’t feel all that foreign when I was around them. As long as I moved with confidence, no one treated me any differently than just another classmate. I’m definitely going to miss interacting with them, but it’s a good thing that we have social media these days. I can’t wait to see their future work.

With just two weeks left of my adventure, I was beginning to feel the end approaching. My Spanish class may have ended, but I still found ways to keep myself busy. Next time I will talk about how everything wrapped up for me. Hasta Luego 👋!

Costa Rica with Ray

August 13, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Ray’s Second Week

Name: Ray Jackson

Program: Valpo Study Center in Costa Rica

Location: Heredia and San Jose, Costa Rica

Spanish Speaking

During this week is when I started noticing some unusual changes in my Spanish speaking abilities. I was already surprised by how well I was doing in conversation shortly after I first arrived. But over the weekend my mind was starting to get exhausted from it. I found that I couldn’t maintain a high level of fluency for an entire day. So sometimes I would be very comfortable and fluid in my Spanish, and other times my brain just refused. I also started to realize the fear and guilt that I would sometimes feel for not being able to talk in the same way as everyone around me, so in moments when my Spanish didn’t feel comfortable, I had a tendency to avoid talking all together.

All of this may sound bad, but I’m pretty sure it just meant that my mind was adjusting to something new. And I was lucky to have many people around me who consistently reassured me that my Spanish is already fine the way that it is even if it’s unique. People from my university, the praxis center, my internship, and my host family reminded me that I have nothing to fear when I’m talking to people I trust.

Colorful graffiti with writing in Spanish "Chepe Coidad de Colores"

Public Graffiti with writing in Spanish

Getting Sick

After everyone came back from the Limon excursion, most of us started getting sick one by one. I was one of the lucky ones because my only symptom was stomach aches, so while it was a very uncomfortable experience, it didn’t get in the way of anything I had to do. And my lovely program director Heidi made sure that we were all getting better with the help of a doctor.

I’ve heard from other students at Veritas that the same thing happened to them after visiting Limon. I don’t know what it is, but my advice to anyone who is traveling, would be to wash your hands, don’t drink tap water, and consistently DISINFECT. You best believe that after that experience I had spray and hand sanitizer with me at all times, and I washed my hands every time the thought popped into my head. It was uncomfortable, but I’m glad I wasn’t alone. Everyone in my program was there for one another, and we got through our problems together.

Internship

This week I found that I was connecting a lot more with the other workers from where I intern. Before, I avoided talking to most of them because no one spoke English except for my supervisor, and I was uncomfortable speaking Spanish. But this week, while I did have my moments of discomfort, I also had moments when I would speak Spanish freely so that I could interact with those around me. A lot of the people who work there are in the same family, so I think it is beautiful how much their affection and trust permeate throughout the restaurant.

woman holding half of a fresh papaya

Host mom fixing fresh papaya

 Through conversations with my supervisor, I learned a little bit about how it was for him to start his own business as an immigrant from Venezuela. And I think this is valuable because maybe starting my own business is something that I could do in the future. However, I did find it a bit strange how little I was doing in my internship so far. Up until this point, the only things I had done for the company was translate the menu and organize receipts, and I would help clear off tables when I could. I heard that this was relatively normal for interns in Costa Rica because of the more relaxed culture, and I was advised beforehand to be patient if at first, I found myself lacking things to do. But later, I will talk about how I also did other things to learn within the realm of business once I had more time on my hands.

plate of plantain sushi

Plantain sushi from Ray’s Internship location

The First Time it Rained

I came to Costa Rica during the rainy season, so I was already expecting it to rain almost every day. But I learned that the rain out here isn’t like the rain back home. When I first arrived it was in the middle of the “Veranillo” which is a very short dry period that happens during the rainy season. So, it hadn’t rained much at all since I’d been here until Thursday of my second week. I had a relatively far walk to the train station after class, and that day I THOUGHT I was prepared.

I was sure that my coat and shoes would keep the water out; but with all the rain, it seeped right though. The ground also had a lot of running water, so I walked a little more slowly to not slip, and I ended up missing the train because of it. So, I had the pleasure of waiting at the train station for a half an hour soaking wet before the next train came. And to top it all off, I accidentally left my umbrella on the train.

So, after all that, I learned my lesson. I now have a plastic poncho that’s big enough to cover my backpack, and I have a new umbrella. Additionally, my professor was nice enough to let me out of class early whenever it rained so that I had time to reach the train. So now I’m actually prepared 😁

Heavy rain flowing over the road and sidewalks

Rain on the way to class

So, besides being sick, I’d say that this was a pretty good week. It was nice to see my learning develop, in both my classes and in my internship. I feel like I know the country better, and I know what to look out for in the future. It was also really nice to have companions by my side to help me through my struggles. But little did I know, I would have the pleasure of developing many more relationships within the next couple of weeks that really made my experience special. Until next time!

Costa Rica with Ray

August 5, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Name: Ray Jackson

Program: Valpo Study Center in Costa Rica

Location: Heredia and Limon, Costa Rica

Excursion to Limon, Costa Rica

Heading out to Limon

On Fridays I don’t have my evening marketing class; I only have my Spanish class in the morning. So right after I got out of Spanish class, I began my journey to the Caribbean coast. Everyone in my program met up before we left, so I had the opportunity to meet everyone. The other students in my program were doing internships only, so I never got to meet any of them at the University. I also had the pleasure of meeting a lot of people from the praxis center and their families.

Rock formation on coast of Caribbean Sea

Rock formation next to Caribbean Sea

We spent a couple of hours on the road driving to Limon, and when we arrived, we had a place for all of us to stay for two nights. It had an outdoor kitchen and pool included. There were only a few bedrooms though, so we shared with one another. 

Eating out in Limon

I was quite tired after the car ride because it was starting to get dark, so I was ready to relax. But not long after we arrived, I heard that we were going dancing that night after dinner, and all my energy came back to me. So, soon after we arrived, we left to have dinner at a nearby restaurant.

My time at the restaurant may have been one of the first culture shock experience for me because when I say that food took FOR👏-E👏-VER to come, you better believe it. We sat there waiting at that table for so long that I almost went back in that kitchen and cooked the food myself. I learned later that in Limon, people are generally, more relaxed and easier going, so the workers there were likely just taking their time. I think it’s cool that they have a more relaxed atmosphere in Limon. But next time I’m making my own food😅.

We didn’t feel like dancing after spending so much time in that restaurant, so most of us just relaxed in the pool back where we were staying. However, I’m an early bird, and I didn’t want to mess up my hair. So, for me, it was time to hit the hay.

Colorful entrance to the restaurant in Limon

Restaurant in Limon

Playa Negra

As the early bird that I am, I woke up pretty early the next morning, and so did one of my companions from my program. He had the spontaneous idea of walking to a nearby beach before anyone else woke up for breakfast, and while at first, I was hesitant, I could resist the temptation.

Waves washing up on beach in Limon

Beach in Limon

The first thing I noticed when we got there is that the sand is a dark gray color. I later learned that the land’s volcanic nature gives the sand its dark color which is why they call this beach “Playa Negra” which is “Black Beach” in Spanish. My companion wasted no time going far into the water, so I couldn’t help but to get in myself. This water is very different from what I’m used to. It was green, and the temperature was warm and comfortable. The water was salty, and after every wave, bubbling seafoam slowly sizzled away. Too bad for my hair but getting a chance to experience that water was definitely worth it.

 

 

Flora y Fauna

After everyone else got up and ate breakfast, we went on a nature tour in Cahuita. Our super smart tour guide Fernando gave us a great look at the plants and animals of the area. We saw monkeys, sloths, frogs, birds, crocodiles, and more. We really learned a lot. And after the tour, Fernando led us to another beach where we could swim and relax for a bit.

Table with various fruits laid out

Fruits from La Finca

Later on, we went to “la finca”, which I would describe as being a little farm property where we got to see some of the agriculture. Our lovely guide, who lives and works there, showed us the different fruits and vegetables that they cultivate, and we even got to have a taste of a lot of their fruits. We learned a lot about their traditional agricultural practices. Additionally, the family who lives there is a part of an indigenous American tribe called Bribri, so we had the opportunity to learn about the history and beliefs that stand out in that community. The family even prepared a beautiful meal for us using the plants that they grew themselves and the techniques from their tradition.

 

Going out to Dance

That night we finally went out dancing. It was very late in the night, but I still had enough energy to dance. We first went to a place that had access to the beach, so we were able to dance both in the building and by the water. When we got there no one was dancing, but we made sure to get the party started. We all had a blast dancing with each other and meeting new people.

People sitting and dancing on the beach

Beach Party in Limon

We eventually left that place and went out salsa dancing in the middle of the street. It was just me and the people from my program, but luckily everybody already knew what to do. Then after that, we went to another dance party which was also a lot of fun. But it was already probably around one or two in the morning, so we eventually burned ourselves out. Well… at least I did. So, we left to go back to where we were staying the night. Most of the others still had the energy to go back in the pool at three o’ clock in the morning, but you already know what I was doing: I went right to sleep.

The next day we all packed our stuff and left to go back to Heredia to our host families. This excursion was really fulfilling to me because we had the chance to learn new things and spend quality time together. I couldn’t wait to spend more time with everyone, but at the same time, I needed to take this next week easy. The second week definitely came with its challenges, so I’ll make sure to talk about how we got through it all together. Pura Vida!

Costa Rica with Ray

July 23, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Name: Ray Jackson

Program: Valpo Study Center in Heredia, Costa Rica

Location: Heredia, Costa Rica and San Jose, Costa Rica

 

Ray’s First Week in Costa Rica

Traveling
Flight plan from USA to Costa Rica

Flight path from USA to Costa Rica

I had a very early flight during the morning of Sunday, July 7th. I woke up at around 1AM, prepared all my stuff, and by around 5:15, my plane was taking off. After a couple of flights, I arrived in San Jose, and I could already feel the humidity from the airport. My lovely program director, Heidi, picked me up from the airport and gave me a ride straight to my host family’s house. 

 

Host Family
Pinto (Costa Rican Style Rice and Beans), Eggs, Papaya, Orange Juice

Pinto (Costa Rican Style Rice and Beans), Eggs, Papaya, Orange Juice

I had already known a few things about my host family before I arrived. I knew that my host mom lived alone with her dog and had family members who sometimes visited. But it was very interesting to learn that she knew very little English, so I was a little bit concerned about how we were going to communicate. After the first day, I quickly learned that the Spanish I already knew went a long way. A lot of the time, I am away at the University, but I always enjoy chatting with my host mom when I am home. She is also a very talented cook and baker!

Transportation

I started classes on Monday, the day after I arrived, so after having breakfast with my host mom, I was faced with one of my first challenges: getting to the university. The way that I would get to and from class everyday was by train, which isn’t too bad. But it took me a few days to learn my way through San Jose so that I can go from that train station to the University and back. Good thing Heidi was nice enough to walk with me until I felt comfortable. It was stressful at first, especially when it was dark outside. But, after the first week or so, the transportation was hardly an issue. That is, until the middle of the second week when it started to rain and rain and rain. I missed the train and lost my umbrella, but I’ll talk more about that later.

View of a street in San Jose, Costa Rica

San Jose Street on the Way to Class

Class
Flag with University Veritas name hanging in front of the library building

University Veritas library

This summer I am taking two classes: a Spanish Grammar and Conversation course and a Marketing course in English. I quickly learned that I LOVED both of my “profesoras”. My Grammar and Conversation class is very interesting. There is quite a bit of homework, but luckily for me she posted the assignments the week before and I got ahead. The professor’s kindness makes me feel like I belong, and she welcomes learning from your mistakes. She is also HILARIOUS; I crack up every day in her class. My marketing professor is super sweet and friendly too. There are only two other students in the class so we all have fun chatting with the professor and working together to learn new things. And thank goodness I have some time to speak a little bit of English!

Internship

Between my two classes, I intern at a restaurant/travel agency near the University. I met my supervisor, Don Luis, on the first day of class with Heidi, and I was fascinated by his warm and energetic personality. I started my first day there on Wednesday, and my job for the week was pretty much just to make an English version of the restaurant menu. PIECE👏 OF👏CAKE👏.  I hadn’t really gotten to know much of the other workers there during the first week because Don Luis was the only one who knew English, and I didn’t feel the most comfortable speaking Spanish yet. But wait until I start getting a little more confidence 😉.

Restaurant table with a view of the counter

Restaurant Portion of Internship location

So, after everything I’d say my first week was pretty alright. I definitely have some more to learn and get used to, but I have a lot more time to adjust. Technically the week wasn’t over because we’ve still got the weekend! I can’t wait to talk about my weekend excursion to the Caribbean coast 🏖️!

Costa Rica Study Abroad Experience

January 19, 2023 / / 0 Comments

Name: Dominic Yanke

Location: Heredia, Costa Rica

Me in scrubs

Staff and I at the Christmas Party

Internship 

My internship was on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-7pm at Dra. Franco’s medical clinic. I took vital signs/patient histories, assisted with minor medical treatments such as wound cleaning and ulcer treatments, brought the requested medicines and checked expiration dates, and helped with various other tasks. The staff and I volunteered at a community health fair, and we also had a Christmas Party with a secret Santa gift exchange. Everyone was sad when my internship ended.

Staff and I at the Health Fair

Classes

I took Tropical Ecology and Introduction to Translation at Universidad Veritas. Tropical Ecology was centered around field trips. One field trip was to La Selva Biological Research Station. The other field trip was to the botanical garden at the University of Costa Rica. During both trips, we sampled biodiversity. My group chose arthropods, and the other group chose birds. 

A colorful crab at Cahuita

At Universidad Bíblica Latinoamericana, I took a class on Indigenous and Afro-American religions. The class involved a lot of writing assignments. The final essay was the hardest part of the class because it was 10-15 pages in Spanish, not including the title page and bibliography. It also required a minimum of 10 sources for the bibliography. The class was very challenging yet rewarding because I had to read and write in Spanish on theological topics. 

I had History and Ethnology of Costa Rica with Prof. Heidi Michelsen, the VU Study Center Program Director. It focused on the history and culture of Costa Rica as well as other Central American countries. The class had two field trips; one to the Caribbean Coast and the Cahuita National Park in Limón and the other was to a small farming community populated by Salvadoran refugees that also included a visit to Manuel Antonio National Park in Puntarenas. Both parks were beautiful and had a variety of wildlife. I swam in the Pacific Ocean at Manuel Antonio Park, and Heidi and I snorkeled at the beach in Cahuita Park, on the Atlantic Ocean.   Both were amazing first-time experiences for me. 

Host Family

I had a host mom, Maritza, and a host brother, Ronaldo. My host mom gave me gigantic meal portions and I eventually had to tell her that I wanted smaller portions. They took me to the farmer’s market (Fería) with them a few times and took me shopping once. Once my host brother got a car, he was able to help drive me to school for a field trip early one morning and to the airport when I left. Overall, my host family was really nice, helpful, supportive, and they enjoyed my higher level of Spanish because we could communicate with each other easier.

“La mejor de Limón es la gente” (The best thing about Limón is the people)

Experience in General

Overall, I very much enjoyed my internship, classes, and my stay with my host family. The main challenges I faced were bus transportation and planning my classes. I recommend, if possible, choosing classes that match the train schedule so that the need to take a bus is limited.  (The train gets you there faster and has a more predictable schedule.) 

Tan pronto que puedo

September 15, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Name: Jenna Johnston 

Location: San José, Costa Rica

During my last few days in Costa Rica, I found myself repeating the same phrase over and over, to myself and to my friends and family — “Tan pronto que pueda.” I will go back to Costa Rica as soon as I can.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from my last weeks abroad.

 

I took a trip to Playa Puntarenas with friends from all over the world that I met in my University of Costa Rica classes, celebrating the end of our month of Spanish classes in February.

When traveling with my ICADS ecology course, one of our first stops was the Páramo ecosystem on Cerro de la Muerte. It’s right in the middle of the country, but from some vantage points, you can see the ocean.

My ICADS class took a boat down Río Sixaola, the river between Panamá and Costa Rica, to visit the indigenous Bribri community of Yorkín, which is only accessible by foot or by water.

The ICADS travel course was unexpectedly cut short. One morning in Puerto Viejo, which ended up being one of my last days with ICADS, I woke up to see the sunrise.

More Puerto Viejo gorgeousness, and wishing I didn’t have to leave.

I spent my last week in Costa Rica working in the garden at Casa Adobe. Heidi tells me that the house is now harvesting and eating what I planted back in March. That week, I also managed to spend plenty of time with Don Quixote (nicknamed Quijo), Casa Adobe’s beautiful cat.

A few of my favorite pictures I took of my tico siblings: a trip to a park in San José back in February, playing outside in the backyard, and saying goodbye.

Expectations and Reflections

September 15, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Name: Jenna Johnston

Location: Santa Rosa, Costa Rica

It is impossible to summarize everything that I learned or took away from my experience in Costa Rica in a blog post. Over a month after returning to the States, I’m still untangling this mess of emotions, from gratitude and love for the experiences I had and the people I met, to profound grief for the seven weeks I lost. So far, what’s helped me has been reflecting on some of the little things, from dinner table customs to the treatment of time, which then allow for me to draw greater connections and reflect more deeply about my experiences.

I noticed one difference between my culture and Costa Rican culture during my first meal in the country. Heidi picked me up from the airport and brought me to my host family’s house, and we all ate lunch together. While we were eating, Heidi explained to me that, in Costa Rica, it is respectful to leave your hands on the table while eating. In the United States, it’s rude to do that, so this was the first small behavior that I changed to respect Costa Rican culture. This situation also helped me to pay attention to the subtle differences — hand gestures, table manners, daily practices — that were not as obvious as the dramatic changes in climate and language, but still had an impact on my life.

I found out about another cultural difference before getting to Costa Rica. I have friends who have already studied in Costa Rica, and they told me about the big difference between “gringo time” and “tico time”. They told me that, in Costa Rica, the exact start time of meetings and activities matters less, and there are only a few exceptions to this rule — some classes, medical appointments, some religious services, and train schedules. In Costa Rica, I frequently had to ask Heidi if a class or activity was going to start at “gringo time” (exactly on time) or at “tico time” (a little later). In my culture in the United States, I frequently heard the phrase “early is on time, on time is late.” In my high school, during the school day and in my extracurricular activities like marching band and theatre, there were consequences for students who arrived late. As a result, personally, I try to be punctual, so I don’t inconvenience others. It stresses me out when things don’t start on time. Gradually I learned to relax with respect to time in Costa Rica — it’s not necessary to know exactly when something is going to happen. I hope this new attitude doesn’t cause too many problems for me now that I’m going to have more “gringo time” meetings in the future!

In my semester abroad, I also learned a lot about the religious differences between my part of the United States and my part of Costa Rica, which I’ve talked about extensively in other posts. Out of everything I learned about religion in Costa Rica, the most important thing was not something academic — it was very personal. I had often heard that Catholics in Costa Rica did not accept LGBTQ+ people. However, after a few weeks living with my host family, I told my host parents that I have a girlfriend. I was nervous, but everything was fine. My host family is very Catholic and religious, so I was afraid, but they are very inclusive and love all of their “gringa daughters” (as they affectionately call us), more than anything else. The first question my host mom asked after I told her was “well, what’s your girlfriend like?”, showing me that everything was normal and okay. And afterward, nothing changed between me and my host family — we’re still very close, and we love each other a lot. From all of this, it reinforced for me not to judge or stereotype people based on their religion or culture. Everyone is capable of prioritizing love.

Before I went to Costa Rica, a professor gave me the advice to not have any expectations about my experiences: just to observe, learn, and stay in the moment. Even after taking this advice to heart, I still had some basic expectations about how my semester was going to go — introductory classes, travel course, then internship — and these were not met because I had to leave seven weeks early.

But as much as I can sadly reflect, I can also remember my wonderful memories. The most important thing I took away from my experiences wasn’t from my classes, the trips I took, or the Spanish I learned — it was from my time with my host family. I don’t have younger siblings in my US family, so with my tica family, I learned how to be an older sister. I re-learned how to play, how to relax after a difficult day of classes, and how to appreciate the small moments with my little siblings. I cannot express all that my tica family means to me, but one thing I can take away is to value my time with family and loved ones, and to remember to make time to play and laugh, even in the difficult moments.

In Costa Rica, I learned that I am capable of doing more than I thought I was, in both my classes and in my life. I hope that now, I will listen as well as I can, think more critically, not be afraid to try new things, value my time with my loved ones, stay empathetic, and keep asking questions. Moving forward, I will continue to untangle the web of what I learned, what I can change, and what I can stay curious about.

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