Costa Rica: Post-Program Reflection: “Being Back” by Alexis Bryson

A man stands on a surfboard in shallow, tropical water
Because of everyone I encountered who tried really hard to ensure that I had a good experience, I would love to pay it forward any way I can from just helping an exchange student find something on campus to reaching out and being their friend to maybe eventually being a host myself.

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Costa Rica: End of Program: “Saying Goodbye” by Alexis Bryson

Dramatic Sunset in Costa Rica
It will never be like how it was in that last moment together because none of us will be the same again after this experience. That’s OK though, because we will always have memories of our time together, and that is enough.

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Cuba: Arrival: “Seeing the Sights, Classes, & Hurricane Irma” by Questen Inghram

 

Seeing the sights, classes (briefly), and Hurricane Irma: Arriving in Havana

My flight between Miami International Airport and Jose Martí International Airport had to be booked through a charter company, which gave rise in my head to the idea that we’d be taking a puddlejumper, but it turned out to be like any of the three Delta flights I took the day before to finally arrive in Miami. The flight to Havana was over before I realized it was happening. Barely waiting in line, my passport was stamped with not a word spoken. The wait for the baggage claim, however, took longer than the flight itself. As I left the airport, stepping into the Havana sun, my eyes fixated on the nearest old blue Chevy.

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Costa Rica: Pre-Departure: “Departure Anticipation” by Savannah Daniels

https://wp.wwu.edu/puravidadaniels/

Departure Anticipation!

Here are some things I’ve been thinking about:

  • What do you hope to gain and how much research have you done on your host country and culture that will better prepare you for this experience?
    • I hope to gain many things, mostly knowledge of Costa Rican historical impacts, the social dynamics of the Costa Rican people and a deep appreciation for Costa Rican Culture! I have done an immense amount of research in several areas surrounding Costa Rican life, food, historical context and current legislation. I know that this research is not the entirety of the country, as well as surrounding countries.
  • What are you most excited about? What are you most scared or nervous about?
    • I’m most excited about the food, language, and people. Specifically, I am very excited about Afro-Latinx communities in Costa Rica. I know that within Costa Rican culture there are different segments of the culture that vary between populations, and I intend on learning about this differences. I’m also nervous about the entire experience! An excited, joyful nervousness, but nervousness none-the-less.
  • What strategies have you implemented that will allow you to overcome these challenges and take full advantage of your opportunities?
    • Since I have completed so much research on Costa Rica, I have a better basis of comfort for myself. Things like gestures, cultural norms, slang, and social disparities are all things in the back of my head to the coming experience. These researched areas will not overshadow my interactions but they will give me a little more confidence with social interactions.