Costa Rica: Kaycia Zimmerman
Program: UW Team Building in Costa Rica, Summer
Kaycia’s Major: Physical Education
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
My most memorable experience from my program was on our first beach night. We had spent a majority of the day traveling in our bus to get to the costal side of the country. It had been a long day, but the journey was so worth it! Our entire group ran out to the waves and just relished in the beauty of the country. I felt so blessed in that moment to experience everything. We ended that evening with a bunch of fun team and trust building activities in the sand. It was a great night with an awesome group. I will remember the laughs and the view all my life.
As a transfer student, this trip allowed me to meet even more individuals who share the same passions and interests as myself. I made some new amazing friends I would have never met!
What challenges or barriers did you face as you prepared to go abroad and/or during your time abroad? How did you work through them?
The language barrier was definitely the biggest barrier I faced while abroad. While I knew Spanish was the primary language of Costa Rica, this did not fully set in until I was there. Everything was labeled in Spanish, everyone was speaking Spanish. Only once I was placed in this environment that was very different from my own, did I start to realize that it might be a challenge. Fortunately, I did take Spanish while in high school. My memory helped me more than I thought it would, and I learned from our bus driver. The locals were very patient and encouraging when helping us better our Spanish speaking.
What is your advice for someone considering your program?
My advice for someone considering the program I attended is – if you’re able, do it. Apply for scholarships, reach out to past participants, attend the study abroad fairs, and talk with your professors. This program was a risk that I am so, so glad I decided to take. As a transfer student, this trip allowed me to meet even more individuals who share the same passions and interests as myself. I made some new amazing friends I would have never met! This was my first time traveling outside of the country, and while I was nervous, I was also extremely excited. You will grow as a person, as a friend, as a peer. It sounds cliché, but studying aboard was an experience that I will never forget. It is worth it and then some.