Seven Medicine Hat College students spent week in the jungle with part of Costa Rica's largest Indigenous community during a study-abroad trip to the country's Talamanca Mountain Range.--HANDOUT PHOTO
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Recently seven Medicine Hat College students spent a week with part of Costa Rica’s largest Indigenous community during a study-abroad trip to the country’s Talamanca Mountain Range.
In the jungle the seven students immersed themselves in the daily traditional life of the BriBri people and discovered how they preserve and maintain their traditional way of life in a remote village.
Before the trip students met as a group to establish connections and prepare for their journey together away from the comforts of North America.
Along with discovering the traditions of the BriBri peoples, the trip allowed students to explore Costa Rica’s rich jungle and discover wildlife unlike anything found in Canada.
The trip provided students insights on the many differences between the countries, as well as the similarities.
“It opened my mind to different world views and I was super curious,” explains student Alex Hammond. “There are parallels between (our cultures) … and how important it is to reach out and connect to other people.”
Hammond spoke about how the BriBri people are able to utilize all available resources that “shape their world and their values.”
“That was very interesting to see how certain resources in an area are directly tied to the culture and their worldview.”
“The BriBri are all close-knit,” said Ian Baumann. “There aren’t as many individualist views and they do things for the benefit of their community.”
The group of seven came from different backgrounds and fields of study, including nursing, science and environment biology, but say they formed a deep connection throughout the trip.
“For one week we slept in really tight quarters and ate every meal together. I felt like being there opened the door to grow closely with the people that I went with,” says Jaxson Jangula.
Over the past three years the college says several study-abroad learning opportunities, including this, have been funded by Global Skills Opportunities. Information for more travel-abroad opportunities to countries including Japan, South Korea and India can be found by visiting the college’s website.
