Before departing for Costa Rica, I sat down and thought about all the benefits this trip offers my personal, education, and overall life development.
Education: I am excited to take a course in another country. Having the study abroad credit will allow me to graduate earlier than expected with my MBA. I believe that participating in study abroad sets a student apart from others when applying for jobs post graduation. Study abroad gives students the opportunity to see how other cultures value knowledge and education. The logistics of this specific study abroad program also fit well with my current lifestyle. 10 days is the perfect amount of time for my to leave my full-time job and be able to gain course credit in another country.
The Class: International has always been an interest of mine. My concentration in the MBA program is International Business. I believe this class and concentration will help me better understand the origins of different business worlds and fulfill my want to learn about various cultures. I hope this class will give me a better perspective on how Costa Rica competes at the same level of developed countries in their production, trade, and sustainability. I am most excited for the Don Juan Coffee tour because that is what I believe Costa Rica is known for. Everyone that I have told that I am visiting Costa Rica and who have also traveled to the country has had the most positive comments about the coffee.
Personal: I absolutely love traveling and especially immersing myself in the country in which I am in. I can not wait to participate in the nature walks, zip-lining, boat tours, etc. I plan to engage myself in the true value of Costa Rica as much as possible. My favorite aspect of the trip that I have learned about so far is how we are mostly staying in locally owned hotels. Staying in the cabins that overlook the Volcanoes has sold me on the experience. I can’t even begin to image the beauty we will see when we are able to wake up in the morning and step outside to see the landscape of the country. This is a true dream of mine.
Companions: This trip also brings a unique aspect to me because of who I will be joining. Being able to travel with individuals who share my love for learning, exploration, and adventure excites me. I like that our group also will be partnered with Nichols which gives us the opportunity to network with other professionals in our degree plan. I also like that Dr.Lanier has so much experience with traveling to Costa Rica. I believe we have so many advantages with our travel group that I would not have if I decided to take this trip alone.
Overall Hopes: My goal of this trip is to come by and share how countries outside of the U.S. are thriving based on their native products and environment. I am extremely interested in learning more about the unique aspects of operating a business in different cities in Costa Rica. I have questions which include- How does a day look for production in factories and farms?, What differences do you see in the business culture between Costa Rica and the US?, and lastly, How does the motto “Pura Vida” play into the Costa Rican Business world?
Public Relations and Marketing 