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Costa Rica: Student Comments
“I wish my experience in Costa Rica could be forever and not just a quarter. I have been in many different countries with different people. I still think Costa Rica and all the EAP program experience has and still is the most valuable experience of my life. It has helped me with my career decisions and my thoughts about doing biology. It has shown me how wonderful life can be and how you can follow your dreams and reach them. After this program I will become a behavioral biologist. This is my dream and now I know I can make it true. I love Costa Rica for what it has given me. Some day, I hope I can pay it back.” —EAP Student “I can't describe the feeling of waking at dawn to the roar of howler monkeys and seeing the mist rolling in from the dense forest tops!” —EAP Student “I learned far more about natural history and evolution and people and agriculture than I ever had imagined I would. The nature was unbelievable, but of even greater impact on me were the people. Having been back from Costa Rica now for nearly a month, the memories of the program that continually pop into my head all include the people who taught us about the magic of the natural world. Our professors were amazing, they were the most dedicated and enthusiastic with whom I've had the chance to interact.” —Jessica Bray, UC San Diego “My experience in Monteverde, Costa Rica, was one of the most important, interesting, and fun experiences of my life. It has definitely shaped my future, as I am now working in Tropical Public Health.” —Roland Cooper, UC Santa Barbara “I think I have benefited from seeing the U.S. from the perspective of another country. It really opens up your eyes to the influence the U.S. has in other countries and the people who live there. I have also seen other countries from the perspective of the Costa Rican. It is a different view than you get from the U.S. It is definitely valuable to have an experience like this. Living your whole life in the U.S., your world views are often subject to American media and the people around you. Traveling has taught me a lot about myself and the world around me. Before I had only traveled within the U.S. and to industrialized European countries. Coming here and traveling around Costa Rica and spending a week in Cuba has shown me a different view of the world. The experiences I have gained from traveling have made me want to visit other parts of the world. We took a trip to Puerto Viejo and it rained for most of three days and nights. They closed the roads and our return bus got pushed back another way, so we were stuck there. Despite the weather and the inconvenience, we had a great time. We rented mountain bikes and tromped through the jungle in the pouring rain. Don't let the rain get you down. You can still have a good time when it is pouring rain as long as you think positive. ” —Tyson Fulmer, UC Santa Cruz “My experience at Mesoamerica [Central American news magazine] was eye-opening. It made me aware not only of current events in Central America, but also of all of the events that have shaped the region for the past 20 years. Although writing for the magazine was humbling and time-consuming, it was well worth the effort. The editors at Mesoamerica are incredibly informed, interesting people, and the interns all had different perspectives on issues that enriched the experience as a whole.” —Elizabeth Gibson “In this time of international conflict, I think it is more important than ever for us students to help show the world that our generation has righteous ideals of justice and nonviolence. Speaking from experience here in Costa Rica, there is no better way to influence the world's conceptions of Americans than to be out in that world studying abroad. ¡Pura vida!” —Benjamin Goldstein, UC Berkeley “On top of my academic experience I did volunteer work in a small village at an animal center working with monkeys, toucans, pumas, and macaws. Although I am a Global Studies major this experience enriched my life in Costa Rica in ways I could never have imagined.” —Julie Helmus, UC Santa Barbara “The opportunities are endless. The music in this country is awesome! At the end of the program I'm going to do an internship doing Spanish language work in a coffee-growing region. I'm a Spanish lit major, so the language experience is priceless to my life goals.” —Michael Hofstetter “My EAP family rocked! I absolutely couldn't have had a better living experience. My host mother and sister were very open and helpful with my adjustment.” —Jessica Kanat, UC Santa Barbara “Be careful when traveling in Costa Rica, you may never want to come back. I liked it so much I extended to a full year as soon as I got there. Costa Rica provides a great balance of city life and tropical adventures. The city of San Pedro is near the capital, but is very much a college town, which is home to the University of Costa Rica as well as several other private universities and arts colleges. This town has ample nightlife, arts, and cultural productions within walking distance or a short taxi ride from wherever you may live. Also, since the capital, San José, is located directly in the center of the country, you have easy bus access to every part of the country. Be adventurous and explore the city when you are in town, and branch out to the various ecological wonders in your free time. At the university you are well taken care of by the Campus EAP Office, which will guide you through all your administrative responsibilities and help you get acquainted with the culture. While the academic resources of UCR are not the same as what we are used to in the UC, they produce much intellectual work and the students will show you what it means to be invested in school work. As a foreign student, you will have to strike a balance between schoolwork, travel, and adapting to a new culture. This is a challenge, but one of the most rewarding and fun parts of study abroad. Always remember: Traveling is about change, open yourself to whatever you may encounter and allow yourself to change while leaving a bit of yourself behind as well. ¡Pura vida! ” —Idin Kashefipour, UC Los Angeles “Studying on EAP in Costa Rica truly changed the direction of my career as a biologist. Before I went, I was simply a student of biology who learned about abstract ideas and theories. In Monteverde, my teachers showed me how to question and test those ideas, and taught me how to observe nature for myself. They transformed me from being a student into a real scientist. I spent so much time with my professor thinking about a project of my own design-very different from experiments in a typical lab course that has been repeated countless times by generations of students. I would always ask him about how he would interpret the data or his opinion on an aspect of my project. He would always tell me what he thought, but then he would return the question to me: 'What do you think is going on here?'” —Shine Ling, UC Santa Barbara “I had the most amazing experience. My program was very structured in terms of how we spent our time. For the independent research portion, I studied bat diversity at different elevations and reproductive status. The diversity of flora and fauna in general was amazing. The program was highlighted by a flood in the middle of the night during our field trip/camping portion, seeing a tapir in the wild, participating in a home-stay. The professors were also amazing. They were so knowledgable and willing to help.” —Kimberly Lo, UC San Diego “EAP has benefited me in many ways; however, the primary benefits include significant solidification of my career goals. I largely benefited from the students, professors, and professionals with whom I met and shared ideas in a way that quickly accelerated my development of graduate school research interests. I chose Laguna de Alfaro Ruiz to do a study comparing organic agriculture and conventional agriculture of vegetables. There I met the most amazing people. One family invited me into their home, gave me food, and offered me a bed to rest. The incredible acceptance and warmth that flows from that family warms me and makes my memories of Costa Rica golden. No other experience except living abroad can teach a person as much about another culture. I learned that my culture has taught me to accept luxuries in such a way that I do not see them as advantages. My culture may be fast and efficient but Costa Rican culture demands patience and appreciation. ” —Meghan McGinty, UC Davis “There are a lot of things I've gained from studying abroad in a Central American country. The first is becoming bilingual, something that will be incredibly useful when I go back to California. The second is really coming to understand how the rest of the world lives. Getting frustrated by the 'inefficiency' of some of the institutions makes you appreciate some things from back home. But it also makes you see things more critically and helps to evaluate the negative sides of a fast-paced, highly technological lifestyle. And the third really important thing is you develop a better understanding of how the rest of the world views Gringos. I've had people hate me and be rude to me without knowing me simply because I was American, which provides a good insight as to how we are viewed by others. And I have also had people grant me more perks than I deserved or than other Ticos got simply because I was American. Lastly, it has made me understand how it feels to be a foreigner in an unfamiliar world, far away from home-something essential to understand now that there are so many immigrants in the U.S. It really makes you respect their sacrifices and struggles. Highlights from my study abroad experience include making it to the top of Chirripó; going on a three-day field trip with my cultural geography class and getting to really know my classmates and getting to see a part of Costa Rica I never would have been able to; and being here for the madness of elections and the World Cup, and being able to participate in it.” —Katie Messina, UC Los Angeles “During a biology camping trip in Costa Rica we went to an island off the northwest coast. When night fell the hills starting lighting up with fireflies, the stars shone brightly and the phosphorescence twinkled in the ocean. The entire place was sparkling, it was amazing.” —Mary Moore, UC San Diego “As an art major, I had the opportunity for technical training that allowed me to really progress in the doing of art. The semester system gives you more time to spend on projects. You really feel like you own your work. I feel like I've been at an art academy.” —Jenny Promack, UC Santa Barbara “Living abroad is the best present you can ever give yourself. You will learn more about yourself and the world than in any classroom, and make lifelong friends. Leave your judgments at home and go exploring. Stay for a year because it will go faster than you think. Integrate into the culture and your host family (if possible) and don't hang out with other Americans too much-that's not why you are there. Become a human sponge, absorb everything, and you can live in your memories for the rest of you life. After living in Costa Rica for a year, I feel I have a better understanding of who I am and where I come from. I also have a new confidence in my abilities to adapt to a completely foreign lifestyle. By the end of the year I didn't want to leave. I had a job, friends, and family in Costa Rica that I didn't want to leave behind. Now that I'm back, I know I am truly a Californian, but I will always be part Tica.” —Amy Sabbadini, UC Santa Barbara “My EAP experience changed the course of my entire life! The language proficiency that I attained through living in Costa Rica has opened a rich world to me in terms of meeting friends, diplomats, artists, etc., with whom I would never had been able to communicate without having acquired this language skill. My current job is a direct result of this language ability, and I am currently considering getting married to a man I met five years ago while on the program! Can any one experience change one's life more than this?” —Jennifer Swanson, UC San Diego “Costa Rica spring 2005 was beyond awesome in every aspect. The professors were great, the places we went were amazing. Camping and hiking through the rain forest was my favorite part of the trip. The home-stay was great also, except that I was too busy working on my independent project that I didn't really have time to hang out with the family much. I participated in a 28-kilometer race while I was there, and that was a blast to run! Overall it was an experience for which I would not trade anything.” —Binh Ta, UC Davis “Living with a family of another culture has broadened my mind and solidified many thoughts and ideas that weren't quite concrete. I lived with a beautiful family who taught me the foundation for living a happy, fulfilled life. Through EAP I was able to experience the routine of a Costa Rican coffee farmer, a Costa Rican mother, and their sons. I awoke at the crack of dawn to milk cows; I helped build fences, pick coffee, cut down sugar cane, make tortillas, and learn about the beautiful community and familiar network that exists in a rural Costa Rican town. This family taught me the simplicity that is needed for a healthy outlook in life; namely, they showed me how to achieve inner personal goals through hard work, determination, and pride. I carry each of their spirits in my heart as I complete my daily tasks.” —Chad Warren Steiner, UC San Diego “EAP provided me with the opportunity to meet and work with wonderful teachers who taught me to respect our fragile earth, how to think like a scientist, and how to walk with honor. They were the first professors I came to know on a personal basis, and they treated me as an equal. Their incredible dedication to the students, their knowledge, motivation, and constant mentorship has been unparalleled in the entirety of my education.” —Chad Warren Steiner, UC San Diego “I went on the Tropical Biology and Conservation program to Monteverde, Costa Rica. The experience that I had was absolutely amazing. There was a group of 23 students and a couple of wonderful professors and TAs. I not only made some great friends, but also learned so much from everyone on the program. There really is no better way to study biology than to actually be in the forest, surrounded by and touching the plants and animals that you are being taught about. I learned so much and really enjoyed every minute of it. Costa Rica is a beautiful country in which to study. I wish that everyone could have the opportunity to study abroad. Besides the subjects that you are studying, I think that you learn a lot about yourself and what it is that makes you happy.” —Allison Wickland, UC Berkeley “Costa Rica was awesome. It has definitely become one of the places I would go back to live. There are a plethora of memories I could share but the most memorable was the first week of camping by the Pacific Ocean. We had our tents pitched up 10 feet from the ocean and fell asleep to the waves crashing. We almost had the island to ourselves; we shared it with the local people and the monkeys. The wildlife we saw was astounding. Nowhere else do you get to see or touch so many exotic species. It rained so hard one night that several tents were flooded. Our hike to Peñas Blancas, about midway through the program, was the biggest challenge of the trip. Having never gone backpacking before, I had to carry 25 pounds on my back for six hours. When we arrived, I was in awe because we had hiked right into the middle of the rainforest and the view was breathtaking. Though I was exhausted, I have to admit that I learned so much about myself and how I work under pressure and take on challenges. I've definitely grown.” —Shirley Wong, UC Berkeley
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