My favorite part of this program was getting to interact with the social work students and professors with the University of Costa Rica. Learning about their emphasis advocacy, the focus on human rights above all else and the promotion of a culture of peace was very eye opening when compared to what is going on with social work in the United States. It was very informative to learn about that different perspective and then to reflect on how if can be applied to my country. It certainly changed the way I view social work and myself as a social worker. This program had the perfect mix of work and leisure time and it was great that we got to learn about the country as a whole, see many of its places and communities, and experience the culture in a holistic fashion.

My favorite part of this program was visiting the different social work sites and getting a glimpse of how social work issues are addressed and treated in a different country.

The State of the Union presentation was insightful and informative.

Exploration and activities that were available for us to do. But, it was the professor who knew the language and listened to what the students want to know/learn. Because of this we were able to have a unique and special experience.

My favorite part of this study abroad program was learning in real life with expert professionals in the field. The experiences I had in Costa Rica have greatly impacted me and changed how I see social work. I loved being able to see first hand the work that people are doing and hearing about the challenges and wins that they are facing in the field.

My favorite part of the program was spending time with other social workers and learning more about their passion for helping their community.

The elements of the program that were most rewarding were when we interacted with the social work students from the University of Costa, when we were able to visit the practicum sites at the local public schools, and the other practicum sites. It really made a huge impact to be able to see how they practiced social work in real life, in a real setting. The social workers in Costa Rica face many of the same issues that social workers in the United States face, like lack of funding for services, overwhelming caseloads, and political decisions that impact the populations we serve. Seeing how the social workers and social work students addressed those issues, with an emphases on community organization and advocacy, made me realize I still have a lot to learn about what it is to be a social worker.

It was all incredibly rewarding. I love the connections I made while on this trip and the glimpse into another culture.

Interacting with students from the University of Costa Rica was very rewarding. It was great to hear about their passion and stories that lead them to pursue a career in social work.

The site visits were very interesting and really showed us parts of Costa Rican life that you might not normally see as a tourist or an outsider. The lectures were also very informative and well constructed.

The most rewarding was the web activity related to the LGBTQI+ community regarding the roles one plays and how the web can be impacted if we do not play our part.

There wasn’t a part of the trip that I values least. Not to say that everyday was exciting, adventurous and fun . But, I was able to find value and connection with mostly everything we did.

I enjoyed immersing with students at University of Costa Rica!

The most rewarding part of this trip was the experience itself. Even though it was a shorter program and there was a lot of academic time each day, there was also adequate time to see and get to know our host country. It was so rewarding the interact and exchange ideas with other students, my fellow classmates and others along the way.

The most rewarding experience was meeting the various social workers in Costa Rica. They all work and advocate for various populations in their local communities

Learning about the TCUs, especially how they helped local farmers, was really rewarding. We saw how other social work students helped change these communities' lives.

Be prepared for lots of learning in a short amount of time. It can be exhausting, but do as much as you possibly can! It will be worth it in the end!

The U.S. carries an enormous amount of weight in the world. As a nation we need to be aware that our policies and decisions not only affect us, but other nations as well. The world truly is flat and we are intertwined.
As Americans we have tight schedules which dictate our lives, this is not the case in other nations. In Costa Rica you have to be flexible and patient. Things change often and at the last minute.

This program is a great introduction to a culture that is more collectivistic than the United States. The trip illuminates the important parts of how interconnected humans are with their social contexts as well as the natural environment around them.

Just go with the flow. People in other cultures are not as obsessed with following a schedule and being exactly on time (a.k.a early) to everything. Just going with the flow of the country really releases some anxiety.

Be prepared to veer off from the itinerary/schedule. Plans change last minute, go with the flow.

I learned that it is important to share this experience with other students in your program and to challenge your way of thinking to get the full study abroad experience. The most helpful was reflecting back with my colleagues and to challenge myself by always thinking critically.

Even though we had an interpreter, it would have been helpful to have known more Spanish. I feel I could have learned more if I had taken the time to learn more about Costa Rica's journey, culture, and future career interests.

With any experience it is up to you , the participant to make connection to what you are experiencing. It is also up to you to find value in the experience as well. My overall reflection that I’m still mulling over is what is my role as an American as I travel and interact in the world. How do I get myself out of the American bubble and work to be positively impactful to other countries.

This experience is a very hands on learning experience, and creates more self awareness for an individual!

Learning from a different cultural view is so valuable! It not only helps you see yourself and your place in the world differently, but also expands your worldview and perspective. It's so interesting to observe the similarities and differences between how two nations respond to the same social issues, and there is so much value in learning in this way.

What I learned on this program that would be the most helpful is how look at things from a different lens. Studying abroad taught me how impactful the social work field is and can be utilized across the world. It also showed me how much work still needs to be done.

I would encourage future students to bring a good pair of closed-toed hiking shoes because the terrain can be very slippery and there are lots of ants and other insects.