I’ve landed back in Pittsburgh, I’ve had a few days to reflect on Costa Rica, and I think my biggest takeaway is that I need a little bit more “pura vida” energy in my life. As I said in my first post, “pura vida” translates to pure life, and, among other things, can be used…

Among average Americans, Costa Rica is known for just about one thing: tourism. It is not just a large part of country’s image, it is the only image I or anyone I know has about Costa Rica. In my research leading up to this program and throughout my stay, it has been confirmed that tourism…

When wondering if I should study abroad this year, the idea of “personal growth” and “stepping out of my comfort zone” was perhaps the biggest draw. I tend to be very anxious and perfectionist, so I almost always hate doing activities that don’t come naturally to me. Every mistake weighs so heavily, whether anyone saw…

In the spring semester seminar that accompanies my study abroad program, many days were spent preparing for cultural differences in Costa Rica. Naturally, this included discussing differences in the university, as many of our projects require us to spend large amounts of time at college campuses. The class confirmed my impression that the student bodies…

Hi there! My name is Ezra Moon, and I’m a rising sophomore studying Ecology & Evolution in Dietrich. I’ve always wanted to be an ecological researcher in Latin America, which is why I chose the Center for Latin American Studies Seminar & Field Trip program. This year the program is in Costa Rica, the perfect…