Samantha Harden - Costa Rica
As I have a 0% teaching appointment, the primary purposes of my scoping trip were 1) protected time to develop the course; 2) build confidence in navigating through Costa Rica and to the Costa Rica Yoga Spa; 3) establish partnership and connection on site (for billing, scheduling, and contact); and 4) observational learning of leading a group of people through experiential learning of yoga practices. I feel confident that scoping trip will continue to have a return on investment as this course and related programming grow. I have signed up for my faculty leader training in March. I will complete my 500-hour yoga teacher training in March as well. I was able to use the GEO rubric to map out the course while on site. I am set on a trajectory to successfully apply for and implement this course.
In my role as the co-director of a summer fellowship program for undergraduate students, we bring 10 students to DC / Bethesda to visit the National Institutes of Health. My experience with that trip included learning that young adults may not know how to get a Metro pass, traveling as a flock across intersections, and splitting the bill at meals. This built apprehension for bringing 15 undergraduate students to Costa Rica. Therefore, I wanted to experience first-hand stateside departure to stateside return.
Booking the trip to Nosara, Costa Rica was easy. Dates, times, location, credit card, done. Getting there, however, was a different story. The most important thing I learned on day 1 was to include in the study abroad information to “leave your Western expectations stateside.” Upon arrival in Liberia, there is no air conditioning and a one stall bathroom, yet just on the other side of customs is a multi-stall bathroom, a convenience store, and air conditioning. This was a seemingly small learning lesson, but I believe it will spare negativity among the students when they arrive.
Next, students will be asked to congregate in a crowded taxi waiting area where folks wait for their assigned shuttle times. On my scoping trip, the shuttle was anticipated to take 2 hours, but with an accident on the one road that leads to the destination, the shuttle ride took five hours. The shuttle driver did not speak English, I do not speak Spanish. Therefore, we may be served best to have someone Spanish speaking on the trip for navigation and advocating for pit stops as needed. Secondly, we need to make it clear to the students that there are two days of travel (with limited expectations on academic progress on those days). Finally, transportation is the only service Costa Rica Yoga Spa (CRYS) does not include in their pricing. I still need to confirm if we can coordinate transportation through them and they can pay the shuttle on our behalf. There are also many hotels close to the airport if there are delays (e.g., not taking a late shuttle through the jungle).
Arrival at CRYS included fresh fruit, cool cloths, and a meal before orientation. Onsite orientation includes CRYS rules and recommendations as well as the role of staff. My role would need to be shared prior to departure and reiterated during orientation. In my goal of shadowing Kunga Yoga School instructors, I learned many strategies for healthy boundaries. We discussed use of an opening circle to discuss needs and supports while in a mind-body exploration. We will also share local (in Blacksburg and CRYS) mental health support options.
The biggest take away was that the partners at CRYS helped mitigate any concerns for feasibility and implementation of the study abroad. The staff has previous experience hosting undergraduate study abroad. For example, I had ideas of coordinating meaningful experiences with the students integrating their research project with a variety of Blue Zone dwelling individuals. When I met with our on-site coordinator, all my ideas came to life as she mentioned opportunities and contacts. She was particularly happy and impressed that our goal was to integrate culture and values of Costa Ricans rather than 1) simply study them or 2) not interact with them.
However, these conversations also prompted new challenges when CRYS described their payment options. First, the CRYS needs a $1500 deposit to book the week 1-year from travel. This means a $1500 reserve from previous study abroad cohorts needs to be available. For the first year, there is the potential of having Foundation Funds float the $1500 (to be reimbursed). Then, the CRYS needs 50% payment 60 days out and full payment 30 days out. The only concern here is if the course does not fill. And, secondly, needing to book the week a year in advance to ensure the timing provides days in winter course for predeparture lectures.
One remaining challenge is the number of course credit hours for the scope of work. I find it challenging to try to balance the “tico time” culture (e.g., laissez faire) with the need for empirical outcomes. I have strategically developed a mixture of field work, lectures, and lab that should provide a well-rounded and meaningful experience that shapes future areas of scientific inquiry for the students. I have and will continue to work with key personal of GEO, CALS, and HNFE to ensure that this program meets respective expectations.
Before, during, and after announcing my receipt of scoping trip funds from the CALS Global and the Global Education Office, the enthusiasm, shock, and support of friends, practitioners, and colleagues abounded. Coworkers in the yoga space want to apply to be a co-facilitator. Academic coworkers are inspired to write their own study abroad. Visitors of Costa Rica share their experiences and recommendations. Friends cannot comprehend how I am fortunate enough to combine my love of travel, culture, yoga, and research into one seemingly seamless course. My professional development was one such that I feel pulled to spend time during sabbatical in this space—learning about longevity, mind-body practices, and the value of a connected culture. My own personal experience was prolific. For the first time in 11 years as an academic, I unplugged for most of the day, which gave space for creativity in the development of the course objectives, how I want to teach, and what I plan to do in the next stage of my professional journey.