Costa Rica: Kennedy Young
Program: UW Spanish Language in Costa Rica, Winter Intersession
Major: Biomedical Engineering
How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?
The program academics in Costa Rica differed in what they wanted you to get out of the class. I found that in Madison, classes prioritize learning the information for assessments and exams. Whereas in Costa Rica, the program really wanted us to understand and immerse ourselves in the culture. There were days where rather than doing coursework, we would take a field trip to learn more about Costa Rica and hear Spanish in a more natural environment.
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 largest barrier I faced were my preconceived notions of what Costa Rica would be like, especially in terms of food. Because I had never tried Costa Rican food, after hearing that they ate rice and beans and plantains, I assumed that the cuisine would be similar to Mexico and Puerto Rico. As a result, I was greatly shocked when the food was nothing like food in those countries at all. Because of this , I had to spend a large portion of my study abroad experience trying to erase the preconceived notion from my mind. I worked through these challenges by learning to stop comparing Costa Rica to places I had visited before because Costa Rica was unlike any other place I had been.
I found that in Madison, classes prioritize learning the information for assessments and exams. Whereas in Costa Rica, the program really wanted us to understand and immerse ourselves in the culture.
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
I had the opportunity to travel to Manuel Antonio during the short break we had off for New Years. This was by far the highlight of my experience in Costa Rica, especially because Manuel Antonio is a national park and one of the most visited areas by tourists in Costa Rica. There, I was able to experience the natural beauty of Costa Rica. I saw wild monkeys in trees, parrots and parakeets, sloths, as well as beautiful beaches. I was also able to see how another culture celebrates the New Year. It was a very remarkable experience.