Costa Rica has some of the greatest biodiversity I have ever seen. The amount of wildlife that inhabits the rainforests and beaches is amazing. Not only are the animals unique so are the vegetation and flowers around the country. Never have I seen so many bright and wonderful colors in my life. The flowers are so vibrant you don’t think they are real and the macaws and toucans are surreal.…
My study abroad experience in Trujillo, Spain came to a close a few weeks ago. I miss my host family, my time in the plaza with friends, and of course, my siestas. As the seemingly unreal time in the city ended, I was left with so many so many lessons and skills. Above all, I am left with a greater understanding of how culture is shaped by geographic positioning. Trujillo…
Although the time I have spent travelling around Spain has been wonderful, nothing will beat the slow, relaxed class days in Trujillo. We really do have a global classroom in a historic convent called La Coria. Each morning, myself and the other students leave our host families’ houses and walk up the long, winding hills to La Coria. Here we learn about Spanish and sustainability in the most immersive ways…
While living in Costa Rica for the past month there have been large differences in the way people live here compared to the States. For instance, many people here do not have cars rather they take motorbikes or four-wheelers because they are easy to fix, cheaper, and can get up the mountainous roads much better. The traffic here is crazy where everyone drives around haphazardly and typically does not follow…
During my time in Costa Rica, it is very clear that the emphasis on spending time with their families is highly valued. During the last week here I was able to stay with a host family, they share every meal together and are very kind to each other. Every family member is expected to work to help provide for their family which is very clear here. At my host family’s…
I have been living in Bonn, Germany for about a month now. Bonn, also known as the city of music, is a small town in the west of Germany. It was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990. Bonn is well known across Germany for being Beethoven’s birthplace. The people of Bonn have a deep appreciation for the music history that surrounds them. Naturally, the…
During the last month of my time abroad I did more traveling to London, Ibiza, Granada, and two cities in the north of Spain called Logroño and Pamplona. Logroño is Spanish wine country and is a small town whereas Pamplona hosts the “running of the bulls” and a tomato throwing festival called la Tomatina. Throughout my traveling experiences I have realized that you really do not have to bring that…
