All posts by Marissa Olson

Reflecting On My Experience

I truly cannot believe that it’s come to the end of my study abroad. The Healthcare in Latin America program was absolutely amazing, and I am going to miss Costa Rica and all of the experiences that I’ve had while I was here. There are many things that I am going to miss. I’m going ...

Strangers Building Strong Friendships

Living abroad for a couple of months to go to school is an experience that not a lot of people have. Studying abroad involves discovering a new place, exploring, learning, and meeting new people. Study abroad is an amazing opportunity, and the relationships and friendships that are created so quickly are one of the reasons ...

Ways to Cope With Feeling Homesick

One of the scariest parts about studying abroad for many people is being away from family and friends for an extended period of time. I think that people are afraid of FOMO (fear of missing out), and miss their normal routine. Being abroad before I’ve learned what to do when I am especially missing home ...

Weekend Trips!

I think one of the most exciting aspects about this experience in Costa Rica has been exploring Costa Rica’s diverse travel destinations. Almost every weekend we go to a different part of the country. Now, I’ve been in all seven provinces at least once. Some places that I have been to include Jacó, Puerto Viejo, ...

Healthcare in Costa Rica

During my time here I’ve learned a lot about the healthcare system in Costa Rica. Costa Rica has universal healthcare for everyone, but this doesn’t mean that healthcare is free like some people believe. In reality  the majority of healthcare is paid for by the taxes of working people. It is a system of solidarity, ...

Monteverde- So Much To Explore!

Waking up early to see adorable monkeys at the window of my hostel is what happened when I went to the beautiful Monteverde. Monteverde is a place in Costa Rica that is full of nature, animals, and adventure. I really think that it was one of my favorite places to go while I was in ...

Seeing a Doctor Abroad

After my second week in Costa Rica  I woke up in the middle of the night nauseous, and immediately knew something was wrong. The following morning, I woke up to a text from my friend who was also sick. It was time to see a doctor. This is when I had my first experience receiving ...

Sharing My Experience With Family!

I’ve lived abroad before, and while there I wanted to tell my family and friends about everything I was doing. I Facetimed them and took photos to show everyone what my routine was like. Last time I was abroad, I tried to explain where I lived, what I did on a daily basis, the people ...

The Art of Oxcart Painting

Sarchí is charming city in the province of Alajuela, Costa Rica. With the Healthcare in Latin American program in Costa Rica, I went to Sarchí to learn about the stunning art and designs on oxcarts. Sarchí is known for their traditional oxcarts. Oxcarts are a symbol of Costa Rica, and are a symbol of Costa ...

Caribbean Vibes

There are beautiful places all around Costa Rica with a variety of activities to do, extraordinary places to see, and culture to learn about. Last week I, along with the 18 other people in my group, took a 4 hour bus ride to Puerto Viejo, a small beach town in the province Limón. Puerto Viejo ...