蘑菇短视频students hike across Costa Rica on study abroad trip
Casey Ward didn't understand what she was getting herself into this summer when she signed up for a study abroad trip, but that just made her time all the more unique.
Ward and several other 蘑菇短视频 students joined College of Health and Human Sciences professor Elizabeth Wall-Bassett on a coast-to-coast hike across Costa Rica.
Over less than 14 days, students trekked up and down mountains, across and through rivers and in the rain and mud to learn about Costa Rican community, cuisine and health and wellness.
鈥淚t was exciting, challenging, all the above. It was a lot. It was a lot more than I expected鈥�, but it was 100% worth it,鈥� said Ward, a sophomore nursing major from Gibsonville.
鈥淚t was physically, mentally challenging and still just the views and the landscapes and the people were just so unimaginably beautiful and made it so worth it.鈥�
The nutrition study abroad class used the El Camino de Costa Rica, a 174-mile trail, to voyage across the Central American country.
The class walked about 15 miles a day, applying principles of nutrition and dietetics in real-world community settings, examining cultural influences on food and health behaviors, exploring regional food systems and agricultural practices, evaluating the relationship between biodiversity and nutrition and engaging in meaningful reflection on their personal and professional growth.
鈥淭hey came out with a better awareness of themselves and their comfort and confidence too, knowing that things are going to be uncomfortable,鈥� Wall-Bassett said. 鈥淭hat's OK sometimes. It's OK to stick your toe in the water and try it out and surprise yourself that you can do amazing things.鈥�
The students also journaled about their experiences, took photos and went through different ecosystems and some tough terrain. That included the Pacuare River where students had to cross it by way of a hand-operated cable car.
鈥淚t's bigger than the Tuckaseegee. It was like crossing the French Broad,鈥� Wall-Bassett said. 鈥�(We crossed) while it was lightning and thundering, and Daniel pulled all of us across. We went two at a time, because that's all that could fit in the little box, and then (Daniel) pulled himself across.鈥�
Wall-Bassett has led several international ventures, but this one was one-of-a-kind.
鈥淚t is challenging as a leader. You're taking a group of college students and hoping and assuming that things are going to go well, but they did,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here's a lot of support at Western for safety and assurance in that respect, too, so I felt pretty comfortable with taking students abroad.鈥�
Wall-Bassett will lead another study abroad program next summer, this time to Morocco. The three-credit-hour program is open to all undergraduate and graduate majors and will travel May 30 to June 11, 2027.
Students will learn more about healthcare, cuisine, health and social support systems and more in the African country. For more information, go to or contact Wall-Bassett at ewbassett@email.wcu.edu.