¡Hola! My name is Liam Bastian and I’m a business major. As an outsider I view Costa Rica’s initiatives as impressive and very cool. To be honest, it makes me want to visit the country more. I love environmental conservation efforts and to see a major country coming up with a plan for a better tomorrow makes me hopeful for big countries like the US. Plus, the fact that the people of Costa Rica and its government work together in trying to improve itself makes me wonder what we (the United States) can do differently. I’m very excited to talk to locals about this! Because of this, I think Costa Rica’s environmental efforts serve as a big draw for its tourists. Whether you’re coming to view the beautiful countryside or studying its biodiversity, the nature of the country is what makes it special.

Furthermore, when looking into Costa Rica’s environmental initiatives I found 2 things that I found quite interesting. First was the fact that Costa Rica uses a lot of renewable resources to power the country. Specifically, hydro power from their dams due to the immense amount of rainfall the country gets. This is a major source of the country’s electricity and helps cut back on fossil fuel usage. This led me to an article from UNEP that stated Costa Rica’s energy is 98 percent renewable energy, which is amazing in itself! Another cool initiative I found was the fact that the company has a goal to become carbon neutral by 2050. Meaning that it would commit nothing to carbon emissions in the ozone. Although, everything I’ve read has said this is quite ambitious. Despite the difficulty, Costa Rica trying to reduce their carbon footprint is amazing. They plan on using more effective transport and reducing waste in the country. As a whole, both of these initiatives are challenging (especially becoming carbon neutral), but the country’s dedication to making their environment a better place is still very impressive.

Lastly, I’m excited to go to Costa Rica for a bunch of reasons. Since I was a kid I always wanted to travel the world and explore. This trip is the perfect opportunity to do that. Plus, like professor Teeter said, this is the perfect test run to see what a semester abroad would be like. I’ll get to see new things, try new foods, learn new customs, make new friends, and hopefully broaden my perspective on the world. I’m especially excited about the food. I can’t wait to try all the different fruits and unique meals that Costa Ricans eat everyday. Also, I would love to watch a soccer game/ fútbol match, and maybe play with the locals. Soccer is something I’ve played and watched since I was little so to see the beautiful game across the globe would truly be awesome. Then there’s the environment. The hikes through the jungle and trips to the volcano look like they are going to be amazing. Lastly, the beaches of Costa Rica look like they are out of a movie and I love the beach! Overall, there’s so much I’m excited for on this trip.