¡Hola! My name is Taylor Siegfried and I am a rising sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh in the College of Business Administration. In just a couple days I will be saying “adios” to Pittsburgh because I will be flying to Costa Rica on the Pitt Plus3 Program! This program stood out to me for a few reasons. Firstly, as a student with an intended major in both marketing and supply chain management, I will be given the opportunity to learn about and analyze aspects of a global supply chain for the coffee and banana industries while I am in Costa Rica. I will tour coffee companies like Doka Coffee, Café Britt, ICAFE, Café 1820, and I will also visit a Dole Plantation. On these site visits I will not only be able to talk with company executives, but I will also experience how cultural norms influence business practices. In addition, I look forward to the cultural aspect of this study abroad opportunity. I will be living in a homestay during the duration of the trip, so I can practice my Spanish-speaking abilities. Since I have been learning Spanish for about seven years, I am excited to speak to the locals. Finally, I cannot wait to immerse myself in the unique culture and take in the beautiful views that Costa Rica offers. Before I embark on this journey, I would like to mention some interesting details as well as my opinion regarding Costa Rica’s initiative in environmental sustainability.
It is evident that sustainability is becoming increasingly relevant in Costa Rica. For example, the country produces an impressive percentage—almost 93%—of its electricity from renewable resources. Currently, Costa Rica ranks within the top ten of the World Energy Council’s global “environmental sustainability” ranking. Looking to the near future, Costa Rica has a goal to become the first carbon neutral country in the world by 2021. These facts are not only impressive, but they tell me that Costa Ricans are proud of the beauty within their natural environment and that they want to do what they can to protect their pride and joy. Costa Rica is a leader in this sustainability movement and is currently partaking in major initiatives such as green energy, saving forests and oceans, and banning recreational hunting.
As I mentioned before, Costa Rica has made investments in green energy, making it largely carbon neutral. To decrease pollution, the country relies on hydropower, geothermal power, and wind/solar power. To protect its land and sea, the country has been working on increasing its forest cover after some years of deforestation, and an extremely large marine protected area exists called Seamounts Marine Management Area. Finally, to protect its biodiversity, the country has banned sport hunting by tourists since 2012. In my opinion, I think that Costa Rica’s focus on sustainability makes the country appear quite progressive. Such a focus increases public awareness and involvement in an active attempt to care for the environment and the biodiversity within it. I believe that other countries should view Costa Rica as a role model in its environmentally friendly endeavors. I look forward to learning about how the production of coffee and bananas fits into this eco-friendly culture!
Hasta pronto,
Taylor Siegfried