Oh the places you’ll go

“We’re not in West Lafayette anymore”. 

When I first imagined myself as a student at Purdue University, I pictured, as many likely would, my days being spent studying by the fountains when the weather was warm and strolling around *never under* the bell tower. Never would I have imagined that through my time at Purdue I would travel to Costa Rica the spring break of my freshman year, and leave the country once again this upcoming spring break as a sophomore to travel to Slovakia.

Studying at Purdue University has enriched my life in so many ways. I have challenged myself academically, increased my knowledge, made so many new friends, and grown as a person. There are some things however, that you can only learn by leaving home. 

Studying abroad helps open your eyes to another culture and widen your world view as you immerse yourself in the daily life of someone across the globe. On my trip to Costa Rica, I was able to expand my view of agriculture past the large-scale row crops found at home as I toured cocoa, pineapple, coffee, and banana plantations. (Shameless plug: the pineapple in Costa Rica is hands down better than any other you will have in your life. I guarantee it.) Life slowed down as I started fully living it; learning to joyfully embrace the “Pura Vida” or “Pure Life” lifestyle that the Costa Ricans have come to adopt as I went snorkeling and whitewater rafting with the friends I had made on the trip. 

Through studying abroad I had the opportunity to be placed outside of my comfort zone and into someone else’s culture. My classmates and I visited a local school where we talked and ate lunch with the students. In true hoosier spirit, we also played a basketball game against the school’s team that the whole school came eagerly out to watch. 

I could go on about all the memories that this trip to Costa Rica gave me, and all the excitement I have for my upcoming study abroad to Slovakia, where I’ll be helping teach a class of students at an academy there, but I’ll spare you for now :). If you ever have any questions about studying abroad, feel free to reach out to me, the study abroad office, or anyone else that you know has been on a study abroad! There are so many scholarships available, especially within the college of agriculture, which really help to make trips like these affordable. Where will Purdue take you?