Pura Vida means pure life. That's what he experienced for 28 people in a Costa Rica travel study led by the Ministry of Communication and the Office of Global Experience, which offered him the opportunity to travel for 19 days as part of an intercultural communication study.
As part of the course, students learned about Costa Rica's culture, local ecology, and economy, and experienced what it's like to be in a different country. Students were immersed in Costa Rican culture and history. Over the course of 19 days, 25 students and her three instructors had the opportunity to do many activities that gave them new experiences.
La Fortuna has a zipline, with seven different long routes that zipline through the jungle and end with rappelling off a cliff, making us feel like we were in an action movie. They tried a variety of new foods, including different types of fruit, beans, rice, empanadas, and different types of tacos. The group visited a chocolate farm and learned how to cook all kinds of chocolate using tools, sometimes accompanied by dancing.
“Costa Rica was an eye-opening experience for me. I consider myself quite well-travelled, but I was very excited to be here with 25 other students who were feeling the same excitement and nerves as you. There’s no comparison to traveling,” said Makayla Haight, a senior communications major. “The best part of this experience was that not only was I able to travel to six different cities and experience all of their cultures, but I was also able to connect with my classmates and make many new close friends. Travel research was unique because not only did I get to learn about culture and communication, but I also got to see the ocean, swim with sea turtles, and hike through the clouds. It's one of the most beautiful countries I've ever had the privilege of visiting, and the locals made me feel at home for three weeks.”
Students learned how to make empanadas and cheese-filled breads and took in the spectacular views from the mountains. They snorkel in the ocean and observe marine life such as dolphins swimming alongside the boat, whales jumping out of the sea, turtles swimming towards them, and sharks resting on the ocean floor. and walked on the island's beach.
The study abroad group also participated in a fair with a rodeo. In Costa Rica, rodeo was considered an exciting sport, with spectators cheering as the bulls charged and participants dodged them. The students visited many national parks, including the Suspension Bridge of Místico Park, Cano Negro National Park, Rincon de la Vieja National Park, and Manuel Antonio National Park. The group visited a bat house in Monteverde and learned about bats. They went on a coffee tour, which also included a jungle tour, where they observed toucans and mother sloths hanging in trees and learned how to make coffee naturally. The study abroad group visited the tribe and explained its culture, ecology, tribal history, and important traditions such as respect for animals, respect for the environment, and warrior values.
“I love to travel, but I have never been to Central America, so I decided to participate in a travel study trip. I think studying abroad is a great opportunity for students to expand their horizons and experience new things.” said junior business administration major David Zimmerman. “One of the things that stood out to me was the local people I met during my stay. For the most part, everyone I met was very friendly and happy to help if I had any questions. . Some even told me which neighborhoods were safe and which streets to avoid when walking somewhere.”
The group visited several cities in Costa Rica, including San Jose, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Liberia, Quepos, Uvita, and Heredia. The memories you make while traveling abroad will surely become the highlight of your university life.
