Group of people on a wooden viewing deck holding a Purdue banner with a mountain and blue sky in the background.

Sustainability in Costa Rica

Six students from the Department of Agricultural Economics joined 16 other Boilermakers on the “Agricultural, Environmental, and Community Sustainability in Costa Rica” program. The trip included visits to coffee, pineapple and cacao farms; hikes to waterfalls and natural hot springs; snorkeling in the Pacific waters and a view of the Arenal Volcano.

This was freshman Lillian Stewart’s (Agribusiness; Tipton, IN) first time out of the country. She stated, “At first, I was really scared I would lose my passport or not be able to understand the locals, but after adjusting, I was able to fully immerse myself in learning about their culture and having fun.” One of her biggest takeaways was the new friends she made during the week. Lillian added, “This trip was one of the most impactful experiences I have ever had. Getting to see how products like pineapple, coffee and cacao are produced really helped me fully understand the entire product process, from seed to stores in America. This trip has also convinced me that I need to go on more study abroad trips!!”

Lillian is under palm fronds, holding a green coconut, with people and a coconut tree in the background. Steep volcano with thin white steam rising from the summit under a clear blue sky, seen through a circular lens.

Costa Rica was also the first time out of the country for freshman Perrin Gates (Agribusiness; Liberty Center IN). Some of his favorite stops included the Night Wings Project, a research center on Costa Rica’s bats; a tour of the cacao farm, where they tasted fresh-ground cocoa beans and chocolate and learned about chocolate’s extensive history; and swimming in the ocean with his friends. He commented, “This was my first trip out of the country, and it was an awesome experience; it was eye-opening being immersed in another culture.”

Curved backyard pool overlooking green valley, distant city and blue mountains under a bright sky with scattered clouds.

Sophomore Riley Baker (Agricultural Economics; South Windsor, CT) had been out of the country before, but this was one of her favorite trips. She shared, “Being in the country, touring the farms and co-ops and experiencing things firsthand is incredibly beneficial to learning. Every time I have studied abroad, I have learned incredible amounts of information about the agriculture and culture of each country. As someone who aspires to work in international agricultural development, this experience has had an incredible impact on my knowledge.”

Freshman Kiersten Haynes (Sales and Marketing; Butler, IN) enjoyed trying the fresh pineapple at the Paradise Pineapple Farm tour, looking for wildlife (especially the different monkey species) as they hiked the Tirimbina Rainforest and getting near the Arenal Volcano. She explained, “The volcano was so beautiful to look at, and we got to see it super up close. Being able to see something like that in real life is something I will never forget.”

Three young women standing on a wet sandy beach at sunset, smiling with ocean waves and a colorful sky behind them. Kiersten and a friend are standing at a wooden railing with a tall waterfall and lush green cliff behind them.

This trip was senior Abraham Kennedy’s (Agricultural Economics; Brookston, IN) third and final study abroad as a Boilermaker. He chose this program because he had “never been somewhere warm before outside of the country, so this was a pretty easy choice, and the diversity in agriculture and wildlife also made it an easy decision.” His favorite memory was the send-off dinner, where they experienced Costa Rican culture through dancing, music, and traditional dishes. He concluded, “This was very impactful on my overall Purdue experience. I don’t think I could put together a better trip on my own if I tried, and definitely not for that price. I met a lot of other people in Purdue Agriculture on this trip that I probably would not have met if I had not gone. All around, from the country, people and tours, this study abroad was very impactful on my Purdue experience, and I am extremely grateful I had an opportunity to go.”