We checked in with Eric, a student from Elon University in North Carolina and our current Fall semester program, after the international excursion to Bocas del Toro, Panama. We also talked about academics, life in Costa Rica, and his plans for after graduation.

ICDS:  How’s your study abroad experience going so far?

ERIC:  My study abroad experience has honestly been one of the most amazing experiences that I’ve had in my life just because of the opportunity I’ve had to not only learn about other people, but learn about myself and learn more about my passions and what I want to do for the rest of my life.

ICDS: What are you studying and how is studying abroad fitting in with that?

ERIC: My major at Elon University is International and Global Studies and then I have minors in Poverty & Social Justice and Spanish. The study abroad program fits into that because the concentration of my major is in Latin America and so the kinds of classes that I’m taking here satisfy requirements of my concentration.

ICDS: Before you came to Costa Rica, you went to Spain right? Can you tell us a little about that?

ERIC: I don’t even know if there are words to describe how amazing it was. In Spain, I worked at YMCA of Spain and I lead a summer camp there and I loved it. I didn’t know anyone going into the program, so it was kind of like coming here. I lived in an apartment with six other people and we all had different internships and just learned Spanish.

ICDS: Culturally, what are the biggest differences between here and Spain?

ERIC: I feel like it’s the experience of living in the homestay that’s made a big difference in my experience here. It’s been great. Another difference that I’ve heard has definitely been the dialectic. There’s definitely been a difference with that, but also just kind of the friendliness of people. Here, they’re a lot more friendly and willing to talk to you, whereas in Spain, if you don’t speak Catalan, there’s definitely some barriers you have to get over. Here, it’s just a lot more laid-back and I really enjoy that.

ICDS: One of your minors, and themes of the program, is Poverty & Social Justice. Have you observed anything about social justice issues since being in Latin America?

ERIC: Just a little something from today in my gender class, Aqueliana presented on sex work in Latin America. There’s something like seventy thousand sex workers just in Bolivia alone and I just thought that was wild- the magnitude of some of the issues that we’re seeing in Latin America. I also think we’re living in a really interesting time and just to be a part of it in a different country and to be able to hear about those issues from a Latin American context has definitely been interesting.

ICDS: Do you feel or see a difference in the representation of social justice issues in the media here?

ERIC: There’s a different perspective than what you hear in the United States. If anything, I feel like the current events have been become more real here because at school, that’s my major and it’s just like a constant waterfall of information and current events and everything happening, but at school you really only hear about it. Here, it’s more the reality of those issues because I’m seeing them on different levels here. I think that’s been something that’s been different because in the states, it’s more like mass information, but here I get the chance to see those issues up-close and experience them more.

ICDS: So you just went on the biggest excursion that we have during the Fall semester program, a trip to neighboring country Panama and the Bocas del Toro islands. How was the trip?

ERIC: If I had to describe it in one word: wow! It’s paradise and it’s a unique paradise because you’re on the water and it’s the clearest Caribbean Sea and in the background you see these beautiful mountainous, landscapes. The town is like the Venice of Latin America because you have to take a boat to get everywhere and go between the islands. Also having the opportunity to go snorkeling there was so beautiful. We went to Playa de Estrellas and we saw beautiful starfish and I got the chance to see a lobster, lion fish, giant mackerel.

ICDS: Did you notice any cultural differences going from Costa Rica to Panama?

ERIC: As far as differences go between Panama and Costa Rica, once we got to Bocas del Toro I did notice a heavy influence of the Caribbean, probably because it’s a tourist area, but it made it seem more lively in a way. The food definitely had more of a Caribbean influence as well. Some of the best food that I’ve had!

ICDS: What advice would you give to somebody that wants to visit Bocas del Toro?

ERIC: Well if you want a challenge, one day we went paddle boarding in the main bay area and there were boats passing by you every ten minutes. If you’re trying to stand up, you’re going to fall! But it’s a great place, the water feels nice, and if it’s a warm day, it’s nice to just see the traffic on the island because boats are passing by all day long.

Also, I would recommend that you definitely carry American cash because that’s all they give back to you, plus some change in the Panamanian balboa. The Panamanian coins are some of the coolest.

I would also recommend Playa Estrella 100% and then Playa de Trago which is like a fifteen minute walk from Playa Estrella. The walk between them- I can’t even describe how beautiful it was and the beaches there are breathtaking.

ICDS: After all this excitement in Panama and Costa Rica, you’re returning to North Carolina and you’ll be graduating this year. What do you plan to do after graduation?

ERIC: I’m applying to a program in Latin America. It’s a yearlong fellowship and if you’re accepted, you work for a human rights organization somewhere in Latin America. If not that or the Peace Corps, I’ll go to law or graduate school and I plan to get a degree in international human rights and global health.

ICDS: How is being in Central America and learning about sustainability and social justice preparing you for your future plans?

ERIC: I feel like it’s been my dream for so long to help people. It all started when I was in high school and I went on a mission trip, which is so cheesy, but ever since then I’ve just been pursuing that and pursuing that. I feel like ICDS has prepared me because it’s been a stepping stone that will get me to where I want to be in the future, and it’s prepared me by learning about new issues from all the people I’m meeting. Every experience has something about it that you take with you and for me and that has been interacting with the people here. Of the people that I’ve met, I’ll hopefully keep in contact with them for a long time after this.