Costa Rica

Each student has a unique and individual experience on their Experiment program. The following essay is a single glimpse into a program from one student's perspective.

Amanda Benjamin -- Costa Rica (CSS)

I didn’t know what to expect as I made my way to the Miami airport to meet my EIL group on that first day before we left for Costa Rica. I was excited but mostly nervous about what I was getting myself into. In fact, I had become so nervous that I became homesick even before I left Philadelphia. I had no idea that the most amazing experience of my life was only a plane ride away.

One of the things that surprised me most was my group. I didn’t expect them to be such a significant part of my experience, but they were. Without them, my experience would have been nothing like it became. For over four weeks, they were all I had. We had to bond, support, and grow with one another to make our Experiment work. We became a family, La Familia, and just like in every family there were arguments and fights, but we had to work through them, together. In our little family, we were all so different, which is what made our time together so interesting. In every conversation we had there was always someone with a different view or idea. In that way, I learned a lot about myself through them. It’s ok that we’re different, God made us that way. We can learn from each other and become better people because of it. I was able to be myself with these people and by the end of this experience I felt closer to my aardvarks, our group name, than I do with some of my closest friends. The memories and the friendships I have with them are some of the things I treasure most about Costa Rica.

The days lending up to the homestay, I was so nervous. I literally felt sick to my stomach as we approached the town. I had so many fears, but mostly I was afraid that my host family wouldn’t like me and that I wouldn’t be able to communicate or understand them. But by the second day all my fears had disappeared. I didn’t feel like a visitor in their home. They talked to me and joked with me as only true family and friends can. During my homestay I learned that you don’t have to understand what someone is saying to understand that person and to make a connection with them. Of course there were plenty of times when we didn’t understand anything the other had said, but they were so patience and kind to me that after a while words didn’t seem to matter. A smile can say a lot.

I took a lot away from my homestay and I learned a lot about people in general during it. For instance, one night my sister, Andrea, and I took a walk around the town. We started talking and she told me that she wants to be a marine biologist when she’s older and that she wants to leave Costa Rica to visit Paris one day. The fact that she has hopes and dreams just as I have hopes and dreams really affected me. That night made me realize that even though we’re all different, we’re all similar as well. I already knew this, yet I never truly understood it until that very moment. And although they’re not all the same, we all have fears, hopes, and dreams. And what makes her dreams any better than mine or my hopes any superior to hers? Nothing.

There hasn’t been a day that has gone by when I don’t think about Costa Rica. Although I loved white water rafting and zip lining across the tree canopies, it’s the little things about my experience in Costa Rica that I miss the most. Like, the fact that many of the stores close for an hour or two in the middle of the day. I loved that they actually take the time to rest and have a break. I wish we did that more in America, just take time to appreciate the day.

I had an unforgettable experience in Costa Rica. This program was a blessing and I’m thankful I was given the opportunity to be apart of it. I’ve taken away so much more than just pictures and souvenirs. The lessons I’ve learned, the things I’ve seen, and the people I’ve met in Costa Rica will live in my heart for the rest of my life. Thank you EIL and Philadelphia supporters for this special experience.