Leah Kook spent five weeks in San Jose, Costa Rica, the capital city of a beautiful tropical country located in Central America. She lived in a homestay with a Costa Rican mother, father, their two daughters, and two other American girls. She attended classes at Veritás University in San Jose, an art school bursting with local talent in architecture and design. There she took an intensive Spanish class and a cultural photography course, which included trips on foot through the capital city to study the social aspects of Latin Americans. During the time she was in-country, a famous annual pilgrimage took place, and thousands of Costa Ricans traveled on foot to the Basilica de Los Angeles, which was the site of several religious miracles in years past. She was able to witness these people crawling on their knees with adoration once they reached the large and beautiful church. On days off, she was able to appreciate the lovely natural elements of the country. Costa Rica is filled with butterfly forests, live volcanoes, and fresh rainforest waterfalls, all of which are both awe-inspiring and educational. Costa Ricans intend to preserve their natural forests for many years to come, and by spending five weeks in San Jose, Leah learned ways to be greener, including how to conserve water and energy, for the benefit of all. Also, Leah’s study abroad program, International Studies Abroad, gave her several opportunities to visit the different provinces of Costa Rica, including Guanacaste, which celebrated its annexation to Costa Rica during Leah’s third week in the county. Leah learned about the foods and traditions Costa Ricans use to celebrate special events, much to her delight.