Kristin Sutter is a student at Huntington University and an ISA Featured Blogger. She is currently studying abroad with ISA in San Jose, Costa Rica.
My decision to study abroad initially developed from deep desire to be able to communicate fluently in Spanish. While I had studied the language for years in the US, I still didn’t feel as though I had fully grasped it. Studying abroad seemed like the perfect opportunity to accomplish this dream. By immersing myself in a country that spoke Spanish, I would have ample opportunity to learn and wouldn’t be able to slack off, as I would need the language to communicate for three months.
As I continued to contemplate my potential study abroad experience, however, another reason to embark on this adventure began to develop. I have lived the majority of my life in the comfort of familiarity, a comfort that not everyone is privy to and that allows me to stay within a neat little box where I am, seemingly, in control. However, life isn’t meant to be lived inside of a box, and I could sense a yearning to be pulled outside of my comfort zone and into unknown territory where I would have to discover more about myself and about the world around me.
I determined Costa Rica as my destination because it met my own personal study abroad criteria–Latin American, Spanish-speaking country–as well as the criteria from my home university–transferable credits. Costa Rica is a beautiful country with lush vegetation, beautiful beaches, unique animals, and so much more. I am excited for the opportunity to be pulled outside of my proverbial box and to explore this country and its rich culture!
The world awaits…discover it.
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