Julia Hanby spent the summer completing a six-week program in San Jose, Costa Rica. Through a program organized by the International Center for Development Studies (ICDS) that took place at La Universidad Latina de Costa Rica, Julia took intensive Spanish courses directly related to her future field of work, international development. In the course, “Spanish and Sustainable Development in Latin America: Challenges and Perspectives,” Julia studied political, environmental, social, and health issues in Latin America, with a focus on Central America. Through conferences, film-forums, and applied exercises, the program focused on a different topic each week such as migration, poverty, and political development. Julia’s rich experience strengthened her ambitions to build a career improving the standard of living in developing countries. Julia lived with a host family in San Pedro, which gave her the opportunity to build new relationships and immerse herself in the rich Tico (Costa Rican) culture, as well as advance her proficiency in the Spanish language. Although her program was located in an urban area, she also spent much time in rural areas and visited a friend’s family in the province of Guanacaste. Each weekend, Julia traveled to different parts of Costa Rica. She explored tropical forests, hiked to a natural waterfall in Rio Celeste, zip-lined near the active Arenal volcano, and enjoyed the biodiversity of Costa Rica. As a perfect close to her trip, Julia was immersed in Central American culture by traveling to Nicaragua with Ticos and reuniting with her Nicaraguan and Panamanian friends!