Studying abroad in Costa Rica has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. The trip wasn’t just fun, but educational! I got to learn Costa Rican Sign Language (LESCO) and used what I learned to converse with the local Deaf community there. It was a very interesting experience as we were using four different languages to communicate; English, Spanish, ASL, and LESCO. Learning LESCO and being able to talk with the Deaf community there was an eye opener as they shared their experiences of growing up Deaf in Costa Rica with us.

As for the fun adventures, we went on a lot! First, we went to the La Paz Waterfall which was gorgeous! Then we went on a hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, I got to see various species of birds that we do not have in Florida. The most adventurous thing we did was zip lining… I almost let my anxiety keep me from doing it, but I did it anyway; and I don’t regret it! Zip lining was the highlight of the trip for me, as I could see the vast green mountains of Monteverde. Costa Rica is known for their beautiful scenery and I now see why. I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to go on this study abroad with the ASL program at SPC and I hope there’s another one in the future!

– Zoe, SPC Costa Rica (ASL) Study Abroad Program, May 2026