Before this summer, Costa Rica, known for its biodiversity, astounding natural beauty, and pioneering conservation efforts, was only a place on a map for Raya Hodges ‘22. But after participating in a service-learning trip through National Geographic, the country now holds a brand new meaning for the sophomore.

As part of her two-week long trip, Raya traveled to a Costa Rican village in the northwestern province of Guanacaste to work alongside other international student volunteers and community members on a variety of eco-service projects. Her volunteer work included painting roofs and benches, constructing walking paths, restoring community buildings, planting trees, and teaching basic English to children in the village. In addition to volunteering, Raya had the opportunity to explore the country’s beaches, rivers, mangroves, and tropical forests.

“This trip made me reflect on my life and taught me the importance of being in the moment. In Costa Rica, a common saying is ‘Pura Vida,’ which means ‘pure life,’” said Raya. “The country, as a whole, isn’t concerned about materialistic things or the latest designer clothes or technology, whereas in the U.S., we are constantly worrying about what we want and what we feel like we need to have.”

“Because of the environment at Moravian, where everyone is positive and high energy and focused on community service, it made it easier for me to be outgoing and connect with volunteers from all over the world, including Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, London,” said Raya. “I highly recommend this experience to anyone interested.”

To learn more about the student expeditions offered by National Geographic, visit https://www.nationalgeographic.com/student-expeditions/.

This article originally appeared in the 2019 Moravian Academy Fall Journal.