Going abroad is intimidating and can come with many challenges… discomfort with the language, trouble making friends, and walking around somewhere where everything feels new, exciting, unknown, or unfamiliar. Although these things are intimidating, you gain a sort of confidence and proudness within yourself when you start to push your boundaries and begin to discover what you are really capable of accomplishing on your own. Just journeying to Costa Rica was a scary accomplishment for me as I was arriving at the airport at 1 or 2am which was well before my program’s local mentors/guides were set to pick me up from the airport. Let me share with you two things I find important: making the most of your time abroad and making friends.