It was life changing in more ways than one, and it is hard to put into words how much this trip meant to me. The Lord I serve used this experience to show me how to feel truly alive, step out of my comfort zone, and see life from a new perspective. Being in Costa Rica let me experience the culture through the food, the language, the people, and the beautiful everyday moments. As a CODA with Deaf parents, this trip connected deeply to who I am and how I see the world. I was able to grow not only as a traveler, but also as someone who has always lived between the Hearing and Deaf communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am super grateful that I was able to experience such an amazing trip, and honestly, I wish I could go back. I see the world much more differently now because this experience helped me understand culture, language, and identity in a deeper way. Learning about LESCO, Costa Rica\u2019s sign language, showed me how many different versions of sign language there are and helped me connect it back to my own life as a CODA. It also deepened my understanding of the Deaf and Hard of hearing community and what Deaf people experience in another country, beyond what I knew from growing up with Deaf parents. This gift of a trip made possible through study abroad and the scholarship, changed me in ways I never expected and opened my eyes far beyond the small bubble I was in before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 Ezria, SPC Costa Rica (ASL) Study Abroad Program, May 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"