STUDY ABROAD IN COSTA RICA

What’s it like to leave Catawba County and take the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study aborad?

Last summer, CVCC’s Biology Professor Kristen Smith wanted to give students a new perspective. Growing up in a military family, Smith moved all around the world and developed a love for travel and cultural awareness. She enjoys sharing her passions with students and is eager to provide them with eye-opening journeys that go beyond expectation. During her former career as a high school teacher, Smith connected with Education First, an international study abroad organization. This educational partnership allowed Smith to take high school students to places such as France, Greece, or Australia.

“It’s an experience I’m not willing to give up,” she says. When she transferred to CVCC’s biology department, Smith was eager to bring a study abroad curriculum to our college students. With the help of other instructors, Smith designed an 11-day trip to Costa Rica. This destination, situated in Central America, is rich with diverse wildlife and captivating environments.Faculty and students flew to Costa Rica prepared with a full itinerary. From hiking, to sightseeing, to snorkeling, the biology department traveled across Costa Rica for an all-immersive approach to education. three years. He’s already connected with this new community and accepted a job within the university, so he can fund his education while earning this new degree. It’s been a win-win situation all around.

Isaac Ramella was one of the students who joined the group to Costa Rica. An active member of the Biology Department, Ramella engaged in several activities and wasn’t afraid to branch out and meet students from other tour groups. “I got to experience a whole new culture,” he says. “I made some really good friends, from Pennsylvania to Arizona, that still keep in touch with about every other day.” Travelling outside of the country was nothing new to Ramella, but he didn’t expect the busy, packed itinerary that Smith and her colleagues prepared for the department.

One stop, Tortuguero Island, provided a wealth of unique experiences. Students observed how rainfall, fresh water, and the Caribbean Sea influenced Tortuguero’s biodiversity. Most exciting was Tortuguero National Park, a sea turtle nesting site, and an opportunity to zipline across the region’s Sarapiqui rainforest.

Another highlight was a visit to Arenal volcano, one of the largest active volcanoes in Costa Rica. The Arenal region was full of water activities, and students had the chance to soak in natural hot springs, feel mist roll off the 200-foot La Fortuna Waterfall, or kayak down Lake Arena for a serene look at the local wildlife.

As if these excursions weren’t enough, Smith and her group also visited the Guanacaste province on the beaches of Costa Rica. Students went snorkeling with aquatic life off the Pacific Coast, and took a hike through the cloud forests and rainforests of Rincon de La Veja National Park.

Ramella also had the opportunity to participate in a whitewater rafting race with other student groups. “This was a fun adventure,” he shared. “My raft came in 3rd because we had someone go overboard because of how rough the waters were!” But the rafting partner eventually got back on, and the two finished the race with lasting memories.

Ramella graduated from CVCC in 2022, but he appreciates his time in Costa Rica as well as the relationships he built with Biology instructors. Through Smith’s encouragement, Ramella applied and got accepted to the University of Menoa in Hawaii. “It’s been a smooth transition,” he says, “which is nice and gives me a peace of mind.”

He aims to get a degree in Marine Biology, and expects to live in Hawaii for the next

Smith has high hopes for the future of her department and for CVCC’s study abroad. She hopes trips like this will continue, and plans to offer a CVCC study abroad trip every two years. At the 2022 Fall Fling, Smith setup a table to showcase the next potential destination—the United Kingdom—as well as talk with students about their study abroad dreams.

“I’m planning a UK trip in 2024,” Smith says, “but the students who will travel in a few years most likely won’t be here anymore. collected votes during Fall Fling to see what our current students wanted.”