HOW DID YOU ENGAGE WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WHILE ABROAD?
Some ways I stayed engaged with the local community while abroad was to attend the local events that my host country had like the independence day parade in Costa Rica on the 15th, or going to the central market and buying from local businesses. The best way to stay engaged is to live like a local, buy groceries from the market across the street, attend a dance class, explore different coffee shops and museums, and walk around the city or town. I always bought my melocoton tea from the grocery stories nearby like ‘Fresh Market’ by Veritas, Musi or la Pali.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS WHILE ABROAD, AND WHY?
My two favorite classes were Advanced Spanish for Health Professionals and Holistic Health Approaches. I really liked most of the courses done in my host school because they allowed hands-on experience in these topics like Patient Simulations in Spanish for a doctor’s appointment or trying alternative therapies like Biomagnetic Therapy. We also had field trips to different parts in Costa Rica which were my most memorable moments. For the advanced Spanish class we went to Cartago and learned more about fruits and herbs and their benefits to one's health. For the Holistic Health Approaches class, we went to Volcan Miravalles and got to experience different alternative therapies such as forest bathing, creating tinctures, and enjoying spring and mud baths.