My study abroad experience in Costa Rica truly was amazing. I met amazing people, went on fantastic journeys, and made memories I will never forget. Studying abroad truly enhanced my desire to use my engineering degree to make a positive difference in the world, especially in the world of energy. I got to see renewable energy methods such as geothermal, hydropower, solar, and wind, and it was truly remarkable to see how important renewable energy can be to a country. Moreover, I had two incredibly unique projects to work on, one individual and one group. I got to relate the entire experience to my personal interest of nuclear energy, evaluating the possibilities of nuclear energy in Costa Rica. As a group, we studied the impact of pineapple waste as well as ways to convert pineapple waste into renewable natural gas.

While I accomplished so much academically, we also had a fantastic time living “La Pura Vida.” I got to do a nighttime rainforest hike where we spotted numerous amphibians, sloths, snakes, and insects. I got to visit a monkey research center where they were evaluating monkeys’ capabilities to solve certain puzzles for a food reward. I got to visit an active volcano and smell the natural fragrance of the sulfur of the Earth. And among other adventures we got to see the beautiful landscapes of Costa Rica.

If you asked me a year ago if I was going to study abroad, I would have said no way, as it’s too expensive and I don’t want to miss a semester in East Lansing. However, studying abroad for two weeks in Costa Rica is definitely one of the best decisions I have ever made. The scholarships I received from MSU helped me immensely in pursuing my dream, and now I have memories I will never forget. If you are on the edge of studying abroad, from worrying about workload to not wanting to miss anything on campus, I would definitely recommend studying abroad for a few weeks in the summer. While we had times where we had to sit down and get work done, most of the experience was spent exploring the country, learning the culture, eating the local food, and having fun. I even got to try coffee for the first time and saw the expansive coffee and even pineapple fields in the country.

This program was a biosystems engineering program, and even though I am a mechanical engineer, I learned so much and returned with so much insight and knowledge that I can use to propel me to success in my professional career. I am forever grateful for this study abroad experience, and if you find yourself unsure of if you want to study abroad or not, I say do it, as you will make friends and memories for a lifetime.

Name: Paddy Toole
Status: Senior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Elmhurst, Illinois
Program: Ecological Engineering in the Tropics