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<DOCID>Laura_Hohendor8.doc.txt</DOCID>
<AUTHOR>Laura Hohendorf</AUTHOR>
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I began my summer plans with the idea that it was going to be like the past two summers, living at home, working at the store and spending time with the family and my high school friends. Then I decided I wanted something new and exciting, and I found two options; after all life is too short. One option was to work at a camp and the other was studying abroad; both had been long time dreams of mine. The LSSU Spanish Department and International Education Department had organized a trip to study in San Jose, Costa Rica.

LSSU contracted MLSA, a study aboard company, to help organize the trip. Spanish Professor Louann Disney began to recruit students in her classes in late February. After studying Spanish for the past three years, I decided that this would be an excellent opportunity to polish my skills and become more fluent. 

I began to make preparations for my trip, getting my passport, finding the money, shopping, and taking care of the other little details. On June 29th Professor Disney and eight Lake State students flew out of Detroit to start their six week adventure.

We arrived in San Jose, cleared Customs and began our trip with a few minor glitches. After we left the airport we were dropped off at our host familys house. We were each paired with another LSSU student and assigned a host family. From there our six week experience began. 

In the next few days we explored San Jose, found our way around the Universidad de Costa Rica, learned how to catch cabs and stand on buses, and how to adapt to speaking Spanish for all necessary communication. The next four weeks were spent in classes taught by the Universidad de Costa Rica professors. My new-found friends and I also explored several museums, shopped at several of the local markets and enjoyed movies in reclining chairs at the local theater. On the weekends we went on several excursions, seeing beautiful waterfalls and the rainforest on one weekend, one of the beautiful Pacific beaches on another and the Volcano Arenal on a third. In addition, we explored several little towns near San Jose. In the final two weeks, Professor Disney taught a literature class and we explored the cultural attractions of the area. We went to a gold museum, a jade museum, a history museum, an art museum, a children museum, the National Theater for an opera, and other cultural institutions. 

During our stay we lived with a host family who taught us the traditions of the area, helped us practice our Spanish, cooked us two meals a day, and looked out for our general well-being. Our Tica mom took good care of us said one student. 

At the end of our trip we had all learned a lot about each other and ourselves. We all went on this trip for our personal reasons; from the need to experience something new to thinking life is too short; from practicing Spanish, to the love of travel.

We also learned a lot about life in general. We learned about the views Costa Ricans have of Americans; that life doesnt have to fit the perfect mold everyone has planned for you, and that matter how far away you are from home, a phone call is all that separates you. 

Some practical things we learned included: always call a cab, dont just flag one down off the street; how to stand while riding a bus; how to bargain at the market; how to order food in a foreign language; how to take quick showers; that American movies are overpriced; that taking a bus over crocodile infested waters on a bridge that looks to be condemned is a bad idea, and how to appreciate rice and other foods at every meal. Finally we all learned the phrase Pura Vida and how to live it. Pura Vida is to live life to the fullest and that is what we did.

My study aboard experience was one that taught me a lot about life and about the Spanish language. The lessons I learned and the experiences I had are unforgettable and life changing. I would recommend this experience to any student because I came away from the trip with amazing memories and stories that I will have forever.

Pura Vida!

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