It’s almost midnight and I just finished packing. In about 3.5 hrs I will be leaving Lowell for Logan International Airport. Might as well stay up instead of sleeping. There will be plenty of time to sleep on the plane.

Since I am concentrating my studies in management, I hope to learn more about international management and cross-cultural team management. I am also interested in learning more about Costa Rican culture and seeing as much of Costa Rica’s natural beauty as possible.

Although I am very excited about this opportunity to study abroad, I will miss my one year old son Dexter. This will be the longest that I’ve been away from him. It was a difficult goodnight hug tonight because I knew that it would be the last time I hug him for the next 12 days. I will think of him often during this trip.

I’ll spend the next three hours going over the packing list, making sure I have everything. Rarely does my mind allow me to sleep before a big trip. Tonight is no exception.
Bug spray? Toothpaste? Sunscreen? Raincoat? Passport? All packed. Costa Rica, I am ready for you.

I am so excited to leave for Costa Rica!  Although I am usually a little nervous before I arrive at my destination I am happy to be going with such a good group of people.  Everyone has been so kind, and I am so thankful to have gotten a scholarship towards my tuition.  I cannot thank Mr. David Lewis enough for encouraging me to apply.
I am very interested in learning about the culture in Costa Rica as well as seeing the rainforest. It’s hopefully going to be much different than America. Very refreshing! I will keep all of you posted.

The much awaited day is almost here. I’ve been buying random things for the past month and now I’m finally going to get to use them! I’m not exactly sure how everything will be but I have high hopes for this trip…

Someone told me that even though they never used to drink coffee while they were in Costa Rica the coffee was so good they drank it everyday. I want to see if this is true for me as I usually don’t like the taste of coffee.

Buenas Nochas All

I’ve purchased the sunblock, bug spray, walking shoes and assorted variety of what I believe, is essential Costa Rican paraphernalia. I’m ready to pack! I have lists that have lists and in case I forgot anything, I have an emergency list already in my neon orange backpack.  My office knows I’m leaving as well as my family and friends and, yes, they have lists, too.

In researching Costa Rica in an effort to understand their culture and how they live I quickly discovered they are polar opposite of us. They tend to be laid back, take it slow kind of folks and in comparison to us the United States it seems there is a huge disparity in our way of life and how we approach it.  In Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory Costa Rica is largely a feminine, more passive society, whereas the U.S. is more masculine and assertive.  It will be very interesting to see these differences and experience them to understand if the dimensions are accurate.

I’m looking forward to my trip with fellow classmates and the professors. I had a hard time figuring out how to get all my stuff in a carry-on bag knowing that this was the preferred way to travel. I gave up, I’m checking a bag!

See you all at the airport and 0-dark-30.

Cindy