Rachel McInturff
College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: City and Regional planning
Program Abroad: School for Field Studies
Location: Costa Rica
Language Goal: The official language in Namibia is English, but Afrikaans is also very common. I don't know Afrikaans and will try to pick some of it up while I am in the region.
This is a very unique study abroad experience since it is a field site devoted to research projects for the Costa Rican environment. For my session we will be studying ecotourism and how it can be accomplished successfully. We will also be learning about Costa Rican biodiversity, park management tools, research methods, and environmental economics. After the lecture section of the program we will head into the field to conduct research at Cararra National Park, with the goal being to better prepare the park for increased tourism and improved funding methods. During our free time we are encouraged to mingle with the neighborhood of La Presa in Atenas, which is where we are located; we do this by conducting interviews, mingling at local hangouts, and playing the occasional game of futbol o voleibol.
I consider myself a responsible citizen while at home because I am an avid reduce/reuse/recycle follower, as well as an active member of the community. I also try to avoid excessive uses of energy and water while at home. Following my academic passions in sustainable development has also led me to greater awareness of human impacts on the natural system. Volunteerism within the community is important to me as well, so I joined a community service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, on my campus, which volunteers and fundraises for local non-profits.
I feel like this program is going to be very successful in promoting the idea of ecotourism and socially conscious travel. Traveling opens the mind to new ideas, people, and practices, and is beneficial to those willing to invest in it; to do so on the socially conscious level is an added benefit to both traveler and destination sites. Being a member not only allows me to record and share my journey, but to do so in an interesting and educational manner. Hopefully these measures will lead to greater societal awareness of our environmental and social impacts at home and abroad.
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view, may your mountains rise in to and above the clouds." —Edward Abbey (author)