I first traveled with Explorica on a school-sponsored trip to Spain during Spring Break of 2006. My Spanish teacher led the group of ten students, and it was fantastic. I had so much fun that I wanted to travel again with Explorica as soon as possible.  Wanting badly to travel to another Spanish-speaking country, when my teacher told me that she was planning to be a chaperone for Summer Academy’s Costa Rica Language, Adventure and Conservation tour, (and because, come on, it’s Costa Rica!) I signed up immediately.

I left for my three week tour of Costa Rica on the 10th of June and met the other 10 tour participants when I arrived. There were so many highlights during my three week trip – everyday was just as exciting as the next – that I even made a website about the trip.  But to name a few, I really loved snorkeling off the coast of Flamingo Beach, dancing on the beach at Las Brisas (a local hangout at Flamingo Beach), coming face-to-face with a colony of White-faced monkeys and having them jump on my shoulders, seeing the beautiful La Fortuna waterfall, and getting to know teenagers from the other side of the world, like Sweden. 

My favorite story to tell is that of the Tarzan Swing, a part of the zip-line tour in Monteverde. Essentially, it is very high platform in which one, harnessed to a rope tied to one of the many huge trees, would jump off and swing high over the Costa Rican rainforest. When it was my turn I was terrified, so much so, that I stalled as long as I could until the two men on the platform harnessing me in seemed to show some sympathy. And so, very sympathetically, they prepared me for the release by counting backwards in Spanish, yelling, “tres, dos…. UNO!” and before I knew it I was off.

Even through the screaming, I could hear all the onlookers laughing. Beforehand, the girls of our group decided we would have a screaming contest. Having screamed through the entire minute-long swing, it was clear that I had won, and when my feet touched the ground again I felt light-headed and very dizzy. People continued to laugh as I walked towards my awaiting group, but now I can just look back proudly on the whole experience. It helps that I also got the whole thing on film.

I was so sad on our last day; I could have stayed there forever. Going so far away really gave me a new perspective on the world and inspired me to travel as much as I possibly can. Luckily, I am still in contact with my tour mates, including our chaperone. Modern technology makes keeping in touch very easy. I consider them great friends, and if I ever have the opportunity, I plan to go visit them, whether they are in the States or Sweden. I also find that keeping up with the friends I made this summer helps me remember everything that happened, which is great, because there’s so much I don’t want to forget.

I would go to Costa Rica again in a heartbeat, but my next destination with Explorica’s Summer Academy will hopefully be Southern Europe, more specifically England, France, Italy and Greece. I also plan to bring three or four friends with me this summer. After hearing so much about my Costa Rica trip, many of my friends were interested in traveling with Explorica themselves.

In case you’re planning your own Summer Academy trip, here are some of my tips:

• Leave room in your suitcase for souvenirs. We all had to stuff our suitcases or carry extra bags for all the things we brought back.
• Bring plenty of batteries, film, and especially water-proof disposable cameras, because these items are extra expensive in other countries (I think I remember a water-proof camera costing $25, when they’re only about $8 here).
• Bring water moccasins! These water-proof shoes were very handy, especially at the beach.
• If planning to get money from an ATM card, make sure you at least have some starter cash or traveler’s checks, because the machines in Costa Rica charge you $5 per withdrawal, and ATM machines aren’t on every other corner like in the States.

When she’s not globetrotting, Becky enjoys playing the saxophone in her school’s marching band and jazz band. She’s in her fourth year of Spanish studies at Boerne High School and enjoys hanging out with friends and shopping. Make sure you check out Becky’s Costa Rica website, which has beautiful photos of her Summer Academy tour as well as more exciting stories about her summer adventure.