COMM to Costa Rica 2019

COURSE OFFERING FOR SPRING 2019

COMM289: Framing Pura Vida (3 hours)

How do we talk about culture and present it to outsiders? When do those decisions become conscious and strategic? How do we use those messages to understand our role in global society?

COMM 289: Framing Pura Vida asks students to explore cultural messages about Costa Rica and other international cultures. The course is a deep dive into the concept of message framing as it’s used across communication disciplines and will help students map how theory is used in communication. Illuminating our own lens through which we view culture and the way that it’s presented, students will develop more conscious practices for interacting with other cultures.

Oh the places you’ll go…

Central Pacific Coast

Additional Towns

San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. The capital is named after Saint Joseph of Nazareth. In 2012, San José was ranked as one of the safest cities in Latin America.[1] This modern city has active commerce, eclectic architecture, and booming tourism industry. It is a significant destination for foreign visitors. We will fly into the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), which is located 14 miles west of downtown, in the city of Alajuela. In 2011, the airport was named the 3rd Best Airport in Latin America/Caribbean from the Airport Service Quality Awards by Airports Council International.[2]

[1] (https://thecostaricanews.com/costa-rica-still-one-of-the-safest-places-in-latin-america/12340/)

[2] “ASQ Award for Best Airport in Latin America – Caribbean” Airports Council International

La Fortuna (the Fortune) is a tourist destination located in the San Carlos region of the Alajuela province. This city sits at the base of the Arenal Volcano. Arenal grew in 1968 with a large eruption that killed several people and destroyed several villages. Today, the Arenal region is one of the most visited tourist destinations in all of Costa Rica. Visitors can swim in the pools at the base of La Catarata de la Fortuna, a waterfall that falls from a height of over 200 feet. Natural hot springs are featured throughout the region at several resorts, day spas, and along the side of the road. Visitors enjoy horseback riding, whitewater rafting, hanging bridges, zip-lines, mountain biking, kayaking, stand-up paddleboards, ATV or dirt bike rentals, butterfly farms, zorbing, and canyoneering.

Commonly referred to as San Carlos, Ciudad Quesada is the northern region’s economic and political center. The Green Forest School is one of the highest ranked bilingual elementary and high schools in the region. The Universidad Tecnica Nacional is a trade school serving the San Carlos region. Both schools focus on English education to serve the growing tourism industry in the surrounding areas.

Monteverde is considered a major ecotourism destination in Costa Rica. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is located in the area and was named the “jewel” of cloud forests by National Geographic.[1] It is known as the site with the largest number of orchids in the world. The famed quetzal bird (which is good luck to spot) resides in Monteverde seasonally. Monteverde is known for its canopy tours. These tours consist of trails, suspension bridges and zip lines that allows visitors to observe the cloud forest from a variety of different vantage points – from above, below and within the canopy itself.

[1] (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/)

The Central Pacific Coast makes up a large part of the Puntarenas province and includes Jacó, Quepos, and Manuel Antonio. Jacó is a resort city that lies between several mountains. Our hotel is located just outside of Jaco, on the beautiful beach, Playa Hermosa. Quepos is further south and is the town nearest Manuel Antonio National Park. The Pacific coast provides excellent surfing, dramatic ocean views and plenty of opportunities for fishing, swimming, snorkeling, horseback riding and just relaxing on the beach.

The capital of the Alajuela province, Sarchí is renowned for its arts and crafts, in particular its decorative oxcarts recalling the heyday of Costa Rica’s coffee industry. This town is Costa Rica’s most famous crafts center. The most popular items on sale are “carretas”, elaborately painted oxcarts that traditionally carried coffee from the highlands down to the port on the Pacific coast. Near Sarchí, we will also visit a coffee plantation where you’ll see firsthand how beans are grown, harvested, and roasted to make Costa Rica’s signature caffeinated brew.

The time to study abroad is now!

What’s included in the 2019 program:

Hotels

3-4 per room

Land & Water Transportation

Buses & Boats

Entrance Fees

Select attractions

All Meals

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

(snacks are on your own)

Licensed Tour Guides

Amazing & knowledgeable guides

Meet your prof and leader of the 2019 adventure

Sara Rowe

2019 Trip Leader

CONTACT: sarowe@tamu.edu

Sara Rowe is an instructor in the Communication Department at Texas A&M University. Sara is a communication generalist with particular focus on organizational comm.

Professor Rowe is a quirky, Zooey Deschanel type professor. She made the class fun, and I truly learned a ton. If you want to actually learn how to write speeches, take Rowe.

From ratemyprofessor.com

Sara is an AMAZING teacher! She is very approachable and kind and makes the environment for speeches relaxed, which helps a nervous person like myself! I would love to take another class with her because I genuinely enjoyed her presence! You have to work hard on your speeches and be present in class to do well, but overall this class is great!

From ratemyprofessor.com

She was awesome! I would definitely take her again. She is kind, laid back and if you actually put effort in your work you’ll make a good grade.

From ratemyprofessor.com

TAMU Registration

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