“My room is a disaster!” I told my friend, just mere days before I jet-set to another continent for my study abroad adventure. Recently, my days have been filled with packing and errand-running, so naturally my room is completely cluttered as I gradually fill my suitcase and carry-on. This Friday, Jan. 3, I embark on a 2-day journey to arrive in San José, Costa Rica.
I’m excited to study abroad with International Studies Abroad (ISA) for winter quarter. Here are the goals that guided me in selecting this program. I questioned myself, “What am I hoping to get out of study abroad? What are my goals and interests?”
- Improve my Spanish language skills and proficiency
- Develop greater cultural awareness and understanding
- Explore Costa Rica and visit as many places as I can
- Connect with and support the local community through service-learning
- Experience self-growth, personally and professionally, by pushing myself outside my comfort zone
The list has evolved over time. To this day, I continue to reflect upon these goals and how I will implement them into my study abroad experience. As a Spanish major, I aim to develop fluency in the language, especially in terms of conversation and listening comprehension. I’m grateful to take the course “Advanced Grammar and Conversation” – my final elective for my degree – and participate in service-learning, which is similar to volunteer work with a local organization.
I will be volunteering at a music and cultural center, called SiNEM (Sistema Naciónal de Educación Musical), which translates to “Nacional System of Music Education”. The center provides music education to local youth, and is located in the Desamparados area of San José, is part of a larger public park – Parque de Libertad (“Liberty Park”) – dedicated to providing opportunities for education, recreation, and cultural growth for the all ages in the community. I applied and was accepted to volunteer there, and I am grateful to learn more about Costa Rican music and traditions, and to engage with native-speakers and locals.
Throughout my studies at WWU, I’ve learned about Latin American history and culture, and I strive to deepen this knowledge. I’ve already absorbed some information about Costa Rican history and culture by reading articles online and attending my orientations. One aspect of Costa Rican culture that stands out to me is the concept of pura vida which translates to “pure life”. Essentially, it is a phrase that means enjoying a relaxed life and appreciating the simple things. In a social scenario, one might ask, “¿Cómo estás?” or “How are you?” and the other person might reply, “¡Pura vida!” The phrase evokes joy, well-being, and peace. As someone who is quite used to a fast-paced, productivity-driven existence, I think that embracing pura vida as a mindset and lifestyle is just what I need.
I’m most excited about meeting new people and practicing my Spanish every day. There is only so much one can learn within a classroom, and I believe that linguistic and cultural immersion is critical for attaining language fluency. I look forward to meeting my host mom, eating meals with her, and asking for advice. In my classes, I hope to make friends, both local and international students. We all hail from diverse walks of life, and broadening my perspectives is a fundamental part of this experience.
I’m most nervous about transportation and making my way around the city. Costa Rica has a bus system throughout the country, but bus stops are not always clearly marked, and arrival/departure times can vary. While I will walk to school everyday, I will need to use public transportation to arrive at my service-learning site. My plan is to ask ISA on-site staff and my host mom for recommendations. After living in San José for weeks, I think I will get used to getting around the city.
In addition, I’ve developed a “toolbox” of skills or strategies to manage challenges that may arise, including:
- Flexibility when things don’t go as expected; maintaining an open-mind and adapting to the situation.
- Patience with myself and others; this is a new experience and being kind to myself is important – even in difficult moments and especially when I make mistakes.
- Gratitude for each experience, moment, etc.; it’s important to remind myself of how lucky I am to travel and visit another country. This is a rare opportunity and I express gratitude toward the people and places I’ve encountered.
After months of planning and preparing to study abroad, I’m thankful to be able to study and live in another country. Studying abroad has been one of my dreams since high-school, and each passing day makes my travel aspirations seem more real. This blog will share my journey and experiences while I’m in Costa Rica. Thanks for reading!