Sage Coffman
How did you learn about your study abroad programs?
During my freshman year introduction class, I heard from the study abroad office about opportunities to travel internationally and specifically the Antarctica program. I knew this is something I wanted to do and was hoping it would be offered during my time at Iowa State. I also learned about study abroad opportunities from my professors, who encouraged me to participate. Specifically, Dr. Mary Wiedenhoeft for the Farm to Fork program and Dr. Lee Burras for Costa Rica.
Why did you choose to participate in each specific study abroad program?
For each program, I wanted to get a better understanding of the place and its culture. For Antarctica, I wanted to understand the place, the environmental science aspects, and its history. Within environmental science there is a lot of research done in Antarctica. I have always been fascinated with science and research and wanted to get a better understanding of climate change, wildlife like penguins and humpback whales, and to see all that ice!
In Costa Rica, I wanted to gain a better understanding of where food comes from. I'd seen pineapples being grown but only in the greenhouse in Bessey Hall, so actually traveling to Costa Rica to see fruit production on a farm was something I was interested in. I also wanted to learn about tropical soils and experience Costa Rican culture.
Had you traveled internationally before studying abroad?
Yes, I had the opportunity to travel to Japan on a family trip. Comparing Japan to other countries, it is very technologically advanced, and it was interesting to compare that to my other study abroad experiences. We did get to see some rice farms but didn't interact with farmers in the way you can on a study abroad program. But riding the bullet train was pretty fun!
In the future, I hope to backpack through Europe with my sister, and travel to eastern Africa, India, or Nepal.
Do you think your experience benefitted you personally, professionally, or academically?
All of them. Professionally, I now have a well-rounded understanding of other people’s cultures and am more open-minded to trying new foods and activities. In Costa Rica and Argentina, I was able to play soccer with the locals and gain more interest in the sport, whereas growing up I was only interested in football and basketball.
Most memorable experience?
In Costa Rica, it was playing soccer in Santa Maria with Costa Rican kids, who were the family of our in-country host. The Iowa State students mixed in with the Costa Rican students and we played with two different teams. Additionally, it was a unique opportunity to visit areas of Costa Rica that a regular tourist wouldn't see. Some participants in our travel course spoke Spanish, so I would write down my questions in Spanish and check them with others, and then communicate with the farmers in Spanish. It was a unique experience and helped us connect more with the farmers by speaking in their own language.
Additionally, some of my favorite foods abroad would be the fresh fruit juices, specifically passion fruit and watermelon. I also enjoyed the fish, rice, beans, and plantains.
Did you experience any difficulties?
Not really, but adapting to the local food or water is something you get used to. It’s worth it to try new things and is part of the experience. I did experience a bit of culture shock when we visited a mango farm in Costa Rica. The farm was very labor intensive, and workers had to pick 3 or more mangos a minute to earn $60/day. This is very different than the type of farming we have in the Midwest and opened my eyes to the differences in technology and resources available for tropical farming systems. Additionally, some of the mangos were transported off the farm and to markets via moped, which is not something you see in the US!
Have scholarships impacted your decision to study abroad?
Receiving scholarships towards my study abroad programs aided me, but I wouldn't have been deterred to go without scholarships. Being an agronomy major, I received an Agronomy Travel Award that greatly reduced the costs of my travel programs.
What advice would you give to students interested in one of your programs or study abroad in general?
Definitely do it- or at least consider it strongly! If you have any interest in studying abroad, talk to people who have participated in a program, reach out to the program director, check out the picture on the program website, or see if you can find photos/stories on the CALS Study Abroad Instagram!
Anything else you want to share?
Visiting Antarctica was super cool, I'm still processing that I was even there. Our group stayed on a boat through most of the program, having two excursions off the boat each day. There were lots of scientists traveling with us that gave presentations on topics including climate change, whales, birds, penguins, etc., which was very impactful because it was followed by seeing the wildlife during the landings.
During one of the stops, we hiked up a mountain during a snowstorm to see a colony of chinstrap penguins. The penguins build their nests out of rocks and in doing so, they also steal rocks from each other to build up their nest for their mates. I spent 1.5 hours just watching the penguins interact and steal the rocks because it was so entertaining.
