From left, Elliott Castillo ’09, Manuel Ortiz ’11, and Dr. Edward Twyman, dean of multicultural affairs in the Balfour Center for Multicultural Affairs, help rebuild a bus stop during the recent International Educational Exploration (IEE) experience in Costa Rica.

Despite temperatures that were surely a welcome relief from the January chill, this wasn’t a vacation for the group of PC students who traveled to Costa Rica on winter break. It was a learning experience.

The inaugural International Educational Exploration (IEE) experience, which was sponsored by the Balfour Center for Multicultural Affairs, was both an opportunity for 15 multicultural scholarship recipients to learn about social and political issues affecting the Central American country and a chance to gain a valuable understanding of cultural differences.

Accompanied by Dr. Edward Twyman, dean of multicultural affairs, the students also chose a social justice issue to research and performed a community service project that centered on rebuilding a bus stop in the city of Cristo Rey. The bus stop had been demolished by community leaders because it had been a bastion for drug use and prostitution.

The students also donated pens, clothing, and shoes to local residents and purchased an asthma nebulizer for a local medical clinic.

“This was not a vacation to Costa Rica; this was a trip focused on service and learning,” said Kristina Reardon ’08. “We made a lasting impact on a community in Costa Rica in the name of Providence College. Simply put, we could not have learned what we learned in Costa Rica from a book or in a classroom.”

Another student who took part, Jen Kha ’09, said the experience introduced the group to the “interdependent state of human beings” and highlighted the notion that geographical boundaries were no excuse for human indifference, especially as the world becomes more globalized.

“Regardless of who you are or where you’re from, there’s a need to help,” Kha said. “This experience exposed us to a culture less fortunate in ways we’ve never understood, and a culture far more fortunate in ways we never realized. It opened us up to a different perspective on the value of land, community, and culture.”

Experiencing treasures
Although a significant amount of time was focused on service, the students were able to enjoy some unique Costa Rican treasures. They visited the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, where they were briefed on major issues between Costa Rica and the United States by a cultural affairs officer.
Members also visited a rain and cloud forest, which was some 2,400 meters above sea level.

In addition, the students and Twyman climbed the Arenal Volcano, which had a minor eruption while they were hiking up it, and visited the Trimbina Rainforest Center and its chocolate plantation, where cacao seeds are transformed into the sweet delight.

“It was really incredible,” Twyman said. “You can be in a tropical forest one day, climb a volcano the next, and finish the trip in a bustling city. I left Costa Rica with a good impression about its people and their commitment to protecting the environment.”

Aside from the geographical beauty of the country, Prida Rodriguez ’11 said after experiencing the humility and graciousness displayed by Costa Ricans, she quickly came to fully admire the Costa Rican way of life.

“So many times you see people in the United States working because they need a car, or because they need money to go shopping,” said Rodriguez. “In Costa Rica, they work because they love what they do. Everything they do comes straight from the heart.”

Though this was the first year for the IEE experience, Twyman said he’s hoping to carry on the tradition for future students and believes the opportunity to acquire functional knowledge of geography, cultural practices, and cross-cultural communication is a valuable learning experience for PC students.

Kha agreed with that assertion, saying, “What we were able to learn dealt with far more than just educational nourishment; this experience was not simply for our enjoyment but for an understanding of community and interdependence.”