Nature Lover

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Yesenia Sosa

<i>Home Institution</i>: University of Texas, San Antonio <i>Expected Graduation Year</i>: 2024 <i>Academic Major / Minor</i>: Public Health & Psychology / Biology <i>Destination</i>: San Jose, Costa Rica <i>"Hello" in your host country's language</i>: ยกHola! <i>Program Provider</i>: AIFS <i>Demographics</i>: Hispanic/Latinx, First-Generation American, First-Generation College Student <i>Future Career Goals</i>: Go to medical school and earn my Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree to become a surgeon, to treat individuals with cardiovascular diseases <i>Top Three Study Abroad Goals</i>: To be more proficient with spanish medical terminology; To learn more about Costa Ricaโ€™s healthcare system; To immerse myself into the Costa Rican culture and challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone

I love nature! Costa Rica is known for many things: its natural wonders, rich biodiversity, aromatic coffee, universal healthcare, and its progressive government. It has the most beautiful sights ranging from mountains, rainforests, and beaches. And honestly, all I can say is, I love this country! On Friday night, we arrived at Baldi Hot Springs where we ate dinner and enjoyed the warm water of the springs. The food was delicious and the hot springs were a dream come true. The following day, we visited La Fortuna Waterfall. It was absolutely beautiful. Cascading 200 feet down into a clear pool, we had to hike to the base of the waterfall. Hiking back up was the most challenging part of this trip. However, the waterfall was definitely worth the hike! Later, we packed our belongings and went on a taxi boat through Monteverde. Once we arrived at our next hotel, we got to see the sunset. We stayed at a hotel that had an amazing nature view. That night, my friends and I grabbed dinner at a restaurant nearby. I ate my favorite Costa Rican dish, chifrijo โ€” it consists of red beans in broth, rice, chicharrรณn, pico de gallo, chili, accompanied by nachos or fried tortillas. Early Sunday morning, we were on our way to Cloud Forest for one of my favorite adrenaline activities – zip lining. There were a total of 10 zip lines, with the last 2 being the longest ones. On our way back to San Jose, we stopped in the middle of the road to take pictures of the beautiful view. I was speechless. This experience has definitely been one of my favorite experiences while abroad.

These past three weeks have made me reflect on how lucky I am to be able to experience studying abroad in a beautiful country with friendly individuals that take me in as their own. I will always be thankful for FEA for choosing me as a scholar and giving me the opportunity to finance my program abroad. Until next time!