Destination: Costa Rica

The intro of my Lonley Planet in-depth country guide begins like this:

Surfer dudes, bird nerds, hiking friends, mountain trekkers, back-to-the-land fans, beach bums and party animals have all found something in common in Costa Rica. The waves are prime, the natural beauty staggering, the pace of life slow, the beer plentiful and the locals friendly. A stronghold of peace in a region torn by strife, this tiny nation attracts a stream of more than a million eager visitors annually.

Lucky me, eh?!

It goes on to describe additonal uniquenesses to the Central American country, which is bordered to the north by Nicaragua and to the south by Panama. Costa Rica stands apart from its neighbors in that it has no army. Costa Rica boasts of an enlightened approach to conservation (thus enabling and sustaining great amounts of eco-tourism).

All this and more, I am sure to find out in the months that await me.

Although I am certain (well, greatly hoping!) that I will have opportunities to benefit from the acclaimed pristine beaches and the lush rainforests and national park system, I journey to Costa Rica with a bit of a different focus.

I have been awarded a scholarship from Rotary International which allows for me to spend an academic year as an Ambassadorial Scholar. Essentially this means that I will be equally spending my time as an ambassador of international understanding and goodwill on behalf of Rotary International and my Rotary District 5970 (Iowa) while also studying at the graduate level.

I have been admitted to the Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica in Heredia (located 11 km from the capital of San Jose) to study in a Master's Program for Human Rights and Education for Peace. I will be living with a host family, to which I am very much looking forward.

Please join me on this exciting journey beginning the 29th of December--I will be sharing with you about my experiences, the people I meet, what I am learning, and maybe even my personal recommendations of the must-see beaches of the country if we're lucky! :)