Winter Break 2024 Participant
The most rewarding part of the trip for me was hearing about how firms in Costa Rica are working to create a cleaner and better country in which the people can live.
Winter Break 2024 Participant
This program moves all around Costa Rica, and some places we stayed have a much cooler climate than you would expect. The nights also tend to cool down, so packing some warm clothes is important! Be prepared to walk a LOT. Take a smaller bag to carry what you need for a day around. Be prepared to pay for almost every meal. Getting sunburned is easy, and while you might think it would be nice to go back to Lawrence with a fresh tan, it is NOT worth it - being stuck in an airport and a plane and coming back to sub-zero temperatures already sucks, and it is ten times worse when you're burnt. Also, be prepared to stay in hotels that are of a lower quality than ones in the United States. Staying at a variety of hotels/hostels/resorts is part of the program experience, so be ready for some good and not-so-good stays!
Winter Break 2024 Participant
What I found most rewarding while studying abroad in Costa Rica was overall learning the vast differences of their culture compared to American culture that I have grown up in and been surrounded in my entire life. This trip was the first time I have ever been out of the country, so it was extremely awarding to be able to learn about different cultures outside of my normal life. While being abroad, I grew very accustomed to Costa Rican currency, dishes, work life, and language. All of these aspects I found were pretty different from what I normally live through on a daily basis, which really allowed for me to gain a new type of understanding and appreciation for not only Costa Rican culture but for American culture as well.
