Outside of my host family, the people who had the greatest impact on my Costa Rican experience were the seven lovely women I had the pleasure of exploring the country with and two amazing members of the ICDS team, Naya and Nina. The special bond created with each of them is one I will cherish forever.
Studying abroad in Morocco and Greece introduced me to friends from many different backgrounds who expanded my life perspective beyond the Emory bubble. They became my abroad families, and they continue to influence my worldview today.
I can easily say that the reason why I loved my time abroad was because of the kind people I met. My host mom, the Emory students and advisors in my group, and students in my classes created a supportive community around me, making every day exciting and memorable.
During my time abroad, food was always more than just food. It was a chance to be with friends, have conversations with locals, learn culture, and, in the end, say goodbye to the most important people to me in the program.
