My time studying abroad in Costa Rica was truly life-changing, and I strongly encourage others to embark on a similar experience to broaden their horizons and gain a deep, in-depth global perspective on cultures and nature. 

Two of my roommates and our “mamma-tica,” Catalina, on our last day. My friend Ava and I traveled to Costa Rica together and were able to be roommates, but we loved getting to meet our other roommates, Scout and Kianna (not pictured). 

First, I was able to immerse myself in a culture that was completely new to me and gain insight into other people’s ways of life. Within Costa Rica, I experienced a variety of cultures. Growing up in the Midwest, I had not been exposed to many different cultures. Spending time abroad truly showed me what life is like outside of the small bubble I grew up in.  

Our group of CEA CAPA students became very close during our time abroad. During this excursion to La Fortuna we went on a tour of a chocolate farm and then made our own chocolate. This was a great opportunity to experience the Costa Rican culture and appreciation for the environment, as well as a chance to become close friends with the other girls in my program. 

People spoke different languages, had unique mannerisms, and lived their lives in ways completely unfamiliar to me. A significant adjustment was the lack of air conditioning—something I have taken for granted in the United States. Living abroad was a unique experience that I couldn’t have had if I had simply vacationed there. Studying, traveling, and living with “ticos” immersed me in the “pura vida” lifestyle in an unforgettable way. 

The CEA CAPA organized excursion to La Fortuna was one of my favorite things from my experience abroad. This photo is from the La Fortuna waterfall. We hiked down to the waterfall and got to immerse ourselves in the cool rainforest. 

Me and the friends I made from CEA CAPA on our first day! We ended up hanging out whenever we had free time and became good friends.

Second, Costa Rica is an incredibly biodiverse region with countless organisms and ecosystems. With over 500,000 species in this small country, there is so much to see in every environment. While studying in San José, the capital city, I still encountered new birds, insects, and animals I would never see in the United States.  

After 4 weeks of class, my Tropical Marine Biology class went on our field trip to Cuajiniquil, Costa Rica. We boated, toured the mangroves, visited the intertidal zone, and collected data about different organisms and ecosystems.

Outside of the city, I saw even more incredible wildlife—monkeys, big cats, lizards, fish, exotic flowers, dolphins, trees, sloths, and more. Experiencing nature on this level and connecting with unique species from around the world was deeply meaningful to me.  

During our field trip to the Pacific Ocean, my class got to see a ton of cool aquatic creatures. In this photo there are corals and fish, but we also saw an eel, stingray, and starfish. 

As an environmental science major, I strive to protect the environment and advocate for organisms across the planet, so having the chance to observe these creatures firsthand was remarkable. 

During our field trip we collected data at different locations. This photo is of me and one of my classmates' collecting data in the mangrove forests. We learned about the importance of mangroves and their roles in the ecosystem, as well as learned about the variability of aquatic environments. 

Visiting Manuel Antonio was my favorite thing that I did while abroad. Organized by CEA CAPA, the excursion included a tour of the Manuel Antonio National Park. The guide carried a telescope so we could see all of the cool organisms. This photo was taken by my phone being held up to the telescope, so this is the same thing we could see while there. 

I am incredibly thankful for this experience and feel that I wouldn’t have the same outlook on life or global perspective if not for my time studying abroad. 

Spirogyra Butterfly garden was one of my favorite places to go in San Jose. A short car ride from our house was this incredible place that had hundreds of butterfly species and a huge forest of hiking trails. Here I am sketching some butterflies as one came to rest on my foot.

In Manuel Antonio National Park, after our tour of the park and all the wildlife, we spent some time at the beach. It was a nice break from being in the city of San Jose.