Making the most out of your time and opportunities

ICADS STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

Esther Kang is an undergraduate student at Scripps College majoring in human biology on the pre-health track. Aside from her passions to improve access to healthcare and higher education, she collects and sells secondhand clothing online, as well as going to the beach at sunset. – She will be writing weekly blogs from her perspective about being involved in the Summer 2024 Pitzer Costa Rica Summer Health program at ICADS

Week 4

Time will probably fly by when you’re studying abroad.

One day, you’re settling into your classes and the area, and next thing you know, you’re saying your farewells to the those who shaped your experiences the most.

Sound familiar?

For me, the fall semester feels as though it’s dragging on for too long. However, time flies during the spring semester (not sure why), and I did not want either to describe my concept of time while studying abroad during a part of the summer.

So, how did I make the most out of my time?

Weekday mornings, except for Fridays, were allotted for internships, Spanish class, and weekly lectures or workshops.

During my internship, I shadowed a physician and observed patient encounters. Because I made it clear that I wanted to intervene as little as possible within a clinic, I took my time to listen carefully, take notes, and ask questions to the physician I was shadowing. I really only wanted to absorb my surroundings, learn more about the physician profession, and improve my Spanish listening skills.

Each Spanish class only consisted of three students and the professor, so they were very focused on speaking. This was ideal because I wanted to improve my speaking and listening skills, and conversations always went both ways, and I knew I could thrive in an intimate class environment to advance my Spanish easily.

Weekend trips were really the opportunity to further my intercultural understanding. Going to the cloud forest (Providencia de Dota) during the second week was not only good for relaxation but also to learn more about sustainable practices regarding farming, which I knew Costa Rica was known for.

I believe being intentional throughout the experience was most helpful in making the most out of the short time I had. Though I believe planning every single thing is probably not necessary, it definitely helped to have visions to make sure I can say it was worth it. After all, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I didn’t want to risk it.

Nos vemos,

Esther

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Spanish

Learning Spanish at ICADS is more than just learning a language. Our classes offer a unique experience to go beyond just grammar, and move towards a deeper understanding of the Central American reality