When the tide is high
During my final day in Costa Rica, I had the opportunity to do something on my bucket list I had yet to cross off. Surfing. I’ve always been a land person—running, hiking, backpacking and camping. I was raised in Louisville, Kentucky—famed for land sports like horseback riding and rock climbing. To be fair I had spent some time in the water throughout my childhood boating on the lake with my family. Here, I learned how to slalom ski,...
A New Mode of Transportation
As I sat in a rocking chair on the porch of my little Costa Rican cottage, I watched an assortment of cars, busses and bicycles zoom by. With no plans for the afternoon, I hoped to make my way into town via one of Costa Rica’s friendly taxi drivers. Before I made the call, however, an alternative form of transportation caught my eye. Within just a few hours, I found myself zig-zagging through town and through the countryside on a...
(Water)Falling Into Costa Rica
As a writer for VIDA Magazine at UA, I somehow found myself flying solo to Costa Rica less than 48 hours ago. Upon landing among the surrounding Costa Rican mountains and volcanoes, I hopped aboard a bus with a local bus driver, and we began our trek through the busy streets to Arenal, where the rest of the VIDA team awaited my arrival. Considering my driver was native to the country, I quickly discovered he only spoke Spanish. Thus,...
A Weekend in Costa Rica
While studying abroad in Costa Rica, I have found that there is no such thing as a typical weekend. Although most are filled with travel, the activities are as diverse as hiking a mountain, beach hopping, or exploring new cities. One weekend that is exemplary of the diversity here in Costa Rica started with a three hour bus ride north from Puntarenas to Libería. Known as the second capital, Liberia is home to one of Costa Rica’s...
When You Want to Leave, But Also Want to Stay
What do you do when you want to be two places at once? That was the feeling I struggled with the last few weeks of my study abroad experience, when my desire to be home and my desire to stay in Costa Rica were fighting it out. About a month before the end of my program, I started having some health problems that made it difficult for me to eat. I went into the program knowing that my chronic health condition might flare up, but had...
Reflection Upon Returning Home
Having spent a few weeks since returning from my study abroad program, I have definitely had time to reflect upon my experiences. During my six weeks in Roatan, Honduras, I learned so much in regards to marine science and field research. It has truly broadened my understanding of the subject and has allowed me to form real world connections to information I all ready learned. Studying the reef systems there has provided me a...