Traveling to Costa Rica was a challenging experience both mentally and physically. Even so, it was one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever gone through.

My time abroad was extremely reaffirming with regards to my academic pursuits and career goals. I went into the program thinking that marine biology was the path I wanted to follow and came home knowing that marine biology/wildlife biology was what I wanted to do with my life.

I had never experienced what It was like to be doing field work in any environment. The experience I gained was invaluable, and ultimately allowed me to secure a job post-gradation doing field work in Michigan.

Coming from a divorced household with very limited funds, I never thought I would get to experience traveling out of the country. Having done so now, Costa Rica has become my favorite place in the world.

The most memorable part of the program was also the most difficult. The first week we spent at Campanario biological station on the coast of the Osa Peninsula. The beach and rainforest behind the lodging were equally mesmerizing and beautiful alike. It was here I renewed my love for snorkeling and came face to face with a green sea turtle. This is also where I faced my fears and contracted my first tick.

In normal day-to-day life there is a distinct separation between the outside world and the inside of your home. On this program I got as close to nature as I had ever been, and that boundary was continually muddled as the program progressed. The longer I spent there the less I felt homesick. Even now I find myself wishing I could go back and experience the whole thing again for the first time.

The culture in Costa Rica was not as different as I was initially expecting, but at the end of the program I found a great appreciation for American grocery/convenience stores, air conditioning, and hot showers. A lot of local people I interacted with were bilingual to some extent, and it provided some perspective as I didn't know any Spanish. After the program I began to slowly incorporate Spanish words into my life, such as teaching my dog how to sit in Spanish.

My time in Costa Rica taught me that I needed to be less apprehensive to potentially new and scary experiences, while also teaching me that being close to nature is what makes me the happiest. After the program I spent less time on my phone and more connected to the world around me, and this has been a continuous habit since.

I would recommend a study abroad to any student even remotely interested. My time in Costa Rica was invaluable and one of the most memorable and exciting things I have done in my life to date.

Name: Allison Garrett
Status: Senior
Major: Zoology with a concentration in Marine Biology
Hometown: Grass Lake, Michigan
Program: Ecology and Environmental Studies in Costa Rica