Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Ashley: See you soon Costa Rica!

“Traveling is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer.”

After stepping outside into the 6-degree air to slide to class on icy sidewalks this past week, I’ve come to the conclusion that I am becoming more eager each day to land in the beautiful, warm country of Costa Rica. Although I do love snowy winters, Costa Rica sounds much more appealing after this past month’s snows torms. So, the countdown begins—12 more days until we depart for our journey!

Before I even begin on my excitement, there are so many unanswered questions I am faced with. What should I pack? Will be able to communicate without speaking Spanish? What will my host family be like? And the list goes on and on and on. What I do know is no matter what I pack, or what my host family is like; I won’t take anything for granted while experiencing the beauty and culture of Costa Rica. 

Traveling requires an open mind and an ability to adapt to new places. I cannot wait to learn so much about Costa Rica by physically being there and experiencing all it has to offer. My sister and also my roommate have both visited Costa Rica before and have informed me about its awesome culture. Most importantly, I will be immersed in the culture rather than taking a typical vacation.  

Most people travel for vacation—spread out tanning in the sand, drinking colorful fruit cocktails, or being pampered in a spa. As a college student, Spring break is normally meant for partying on the beach somewhere with a thousand other students. Don’t get me wrong that sounds very fun, but I am more than excited to spend my Spring break in a much different manner. Living with a host family, visiting farms, and teaching a lesson plan to schoolchildren are experiences I would never get on my own. That’s what makes this trip so unique. Instead of visiting all the tourist attractions, we will be in the rural areas learning about the native culture. 

Adventuring to new places always brings a challenge. For this trip, my biggest challenge will most likely be the language barrier. Communicating with my host family will definitely help me practice and become more aware of the Spanish language. I look forward to hanging out with the family, going to community events, and cooking with my host Mom—maybe I’ll even learn some new recipes! The meals they eat will be very different than American meals and I can’t wait to try them. Luckily, I’m not a very picky eater and am willing to try adventurous foods. By asking questions and using body language, I hope to overcome the language barrier challenge that I’ll be facing. When it comes to traveling, not only do you learn about a new culture, you always learn something new about yourself.

My favorite quote: “Traveling is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer (Unkonwn)” has a lot of meaning to me. Growing up in a family that values traveling very highly led me to the decision to travel as much as I can while I’m young. Traveling is the highest valued thing you can spend your money on. No matters where you go or who you’re with, you will always have the experience of a lifetime. 

See you soon Costa Rica!


Ashley Lansdowne

Alyssa: Mucho Gusto Vacas


Mucho gusto vacas. Not everyone gets it but I came from a non-farming background and grew up in the heartland of Pennsylvania agriculture. I still remember those summer nights when my dad would open the door, whistle and then say “Alyssa and David it’s time for dinner!” My brother and I would get home as fast as we could with the promise of playing on our neighbor’s farm the next day. Growing up like that lead me to Penn State where I am a junior in animal science. My PASSION is making agriculture the best it can be to feed our growing world. I am always on the side of aiding the farmer and in Costa Rica I want to know how that is being done. Everyone hears SUSTAINABLE and thinks something different. Some may think organic or small farms but I think every farm can be sustainable. How does Costa Rica want to achieve sustainability? Do they want to achieve it at all? Being a global community we have to know how to work together and make the world a better place. We can start in agriculture by making sure everyone has food to eat 3 times a day 24/7.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Amanda: Finding a Major

Hello! My name is Amanda Krakovitz and I’m currently a junior studying International Development at the Pennsylvania State University. A lot of people ask me what exactly it is we learn about in my major, or what I plan on doing with it. But I’d like to first start off with a story about how I found my major. Growing up, I’ve always had a wide range of interests. In school, I loved music and art, and even English and Math (sometimes). When it came time for me to come to college and explore my options, I still couldn’t seem to decide on one area of interest that I really connected with. I got really demotivated by it all, honestly, by the fact that I could only pick ONE part of life to study. That’s when I realized it was because life doesn’t come in separate parts; you can’t just learn about one thing, because life is about EVERYTHING, and everything is connected! I wanted to learn how everything fits together, not how everything is separated.

So this got me really conflicted, and I didn’t know what to do. Then I took a class in the spring of my freshman year called Eco-Food writing. While it was an awesome class, the reason why I am telling you this is because there was this girl in it that really inspired me, and she was a CED major (the major I’m in now). Her goals in life seemed to be similar to my goals in life. When I found out her major, Community, Environment and Development, I became really curious. Doing research on the major, it seemed like CED combined a little bit of everything; it was about how the world came to BE, how the world developed, and continues to be developed! This seemed fascinating and I felt like through this major, I could really make a difference on how this world is and how people interact with each other. I finally understood that my passion is for life, humanity and for the world as a whole. In college, this translates into how to create a more beautiful world where people (as well as all living things) can live beautiful lives in this remarkable environment that we are given.

Even though some people may not believe it, everyone has the power and potential to create a positive change in the world. Small actions go a long way. Everyone takes part in development. In a sense, development is a path of self-discovery; discovering our potential within ourselves, and within our communities. Throughout my college career, and even through doing volunteer work, I have come to this realization. While I’m slowing coming to terms with the fact that I can’t fix everything, and it definitely isn’t my responsibility to do so, I’m learning that everyone has the ability to inspire change and create a more positive and healthy world for everyone. This stuff is contagious. 

So what does this have to do with this class and going on a trip to Costa Rica? Well, because I believe that perspective is everything. How can we know the “best” way to develop if the only way we’ve ever known is our own? I remember finding out a while ago that Costa Rica is one of the happiest countries on Earth, and ever since then, I’ve been curious to finding out why. How does the way they live their lives create their happiness? I believe that in the United States, we need to adjust our development goals in a way that meets the requirements for happiness, not GDP. What does GDP really measure, anyway? Definitely not happiness. And isn’t happiness – or “success” – the biggest thing that should matter when it comes to development?


Briana: Goodbye Fear

Dear Fear,

I will no longer be afraid, for I have come to realize there is no need to worry. For which, I am a strong, capable individual. In my road to success I have pulled through three years of college as a biological science major. Obtaining biological and health professional knowledge on the way. This class offers me the opportunity to apply the knowledge I have obtained to an outside setting. Costa Rica’s healthcare system is what I am most interested in. Specifically the programs implemented in the health care system, efficiency of managers, the difficulties Costa Rica’s citizen face with the health care system. All while enjoying the beautiful agriculture and lands which have contributed to the Costa Rican culture. Something that desire to see. Although, thanks to you I am constantly questioning myself and if I will be able to survive in this new environment. I worry of how this trip will turn out. Will I be able to truly adapt to the culture, and will I be accepted into this new environment? However, I am still willing to take this opportunity, so I can step out of my comfort zone. Gaining a new perspective on the world and the differences in lifestyles, and societal roles. Therefore, I must say goodbye. I will not need you on this adventure.

Yours Truly,
Briana McLeod

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Heather: Dear Costa Rica

Dear Costa Rica,

I am so excited for this trip. I look forward to seeing your rich beautiful lands and taking that first breath of air when I get off the plane. I’ve been doing so much reading about you and I can’t wait to see it for my own eyes.

I look forward to meeting Ticos, whom I’ve heard so much about. I want to learn firsthand how friendly and hospitable they are. I want to hear what stories they have to share and listen to their dreams they might seek after.

I am eager to hear the language and discover a new culture because in the back of my mind, I’ll be comparing it to my own. I want to witness how different our two cultures are, yet I will also be searching for the similarities.

I want to explore the mountains and see the spectacular views. I wonder what little treasures and secrets you might hold just waiting to be rediscovered if the Ticos decide to show us something spontaneously.

I love the idea of having so much to learn that I feel content and exhausted when we get back from a long beautiful day. I look forward to sitting in silence on the porch with my host family as I write my thoughts and experiences into my journal. I want to document my memories with photos and journal entries, hoping to take home an experience of a lifetime.

I am excited to learn about the farmers, and going to the farms to taste fruits I’ve never tried before. I can’t wait to see the little children in their schools and see how they react to me being there. How fun will it be trying to communicate with their tiny little minds full of endless imaginations? 

Speaking of school, Earth University is going to be amazing. I have such a rare opportunity to walk the grounds being that it isn’t open for the general public. I am curious to meet new people from all around the world who have come to study agriculture. I wonder how different their world of education is from mine.

The food I think will be the best part. I love trying new foods. Food has a way of bringing people together, even with a language barrier. How many people will be able to say that they had a real authentic home cooked Costa Rican meal?

I was going through my itinerary today. Having a plane ticket just makes everything feel so official. It is literally all I can do to not scream my excitement to every bystander. 

Well Costa Rica, I hope you are ready for someone like me. I hope you are as welcoming and warm as I hoped you to be. I hope that my expectations of how awesome I find you are greatly exceeded. I hope this is the first of many learning experiences with you. And lastly,
I hope that Costa Rica falls in love with me too.

Pura Vida,

Heather  

Katie: My Journey to Costa Rica

In less than a month I will be leaving for my first trip to Central America. I can’t believe I will actually be traveling to Costa Rica. The focus of my studies has always been on West Africa and I am so excited to experience a new part of the world and a new culture. I am a dual-degree graduate student at Penn State Law and Penn State School of International Affairs. My undergrad major was in Peace and Global Studies. I have always had an interest in experiencing and learning from new cultures. The more I have learned about other cultures, the more I realize how little I really do know and how much room I have to grow.  

Every year for the past three years I have made it a point to find a way to enroll in an embedded course and it has completely changed my life. I am eager to see the world through a different lens and to work on taking off my own shoes before trying to walk in someone else’s. It is a life changing experience to travel –each time I have been confronted by someone or something that causes me to see the world and myself in a different light. 


My aspiration is to work in international social development with a focus on youth programs. After graduating from Penn State I am planning to enroll in the Peace Corps. I am eager to meet the Peace Corps volunteer on this trip to Costa Rica. I am also eager to experience the schools in the area and see how Costa Ricans define youth development. I hope that this trip will open my eyes and my mind to a new way of looking at and appreciating the world. I also hope it will expand my understanding of development by allowing me to experience what development means to another culture.