Volunteering in Costa Rica with Zoey Hoffman

Zoey Hoffman on Volunteering

“It’s going to push you to see the world a different way and make you a better person” – Zoey Hoffman

Davenport University undergraduate Zoey Hoffman is the first student on the show that went abroad specifically to volunteer, and I’m surprised it took so long to get someone on that went this route, as it is an increasingly popular option. 

Zoey is the second cheerleader we’ve had on the show, but is the first student that was actually recruited to do it. Yes, they recruit cheerleaders (I did not know this)! So in addition to discussing her time volunteering, Zoey also gives us a glimpse into the life of competitive of cheerleading.

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” – Confucius

SHOW NOTES

  • Choosing to volunteer in Costa Rica 🇨🇷 [1:17]
  • Traveling out of the country for the first time with cheerleading teammates 👯‍♀️ [3:53]
  • Living with host families 👨‍👩‍👧 [5:13]
  • Crazy driving with a unique honking language 🚖 [6:31]
  • Eating cas and other Costa Rican foods 🍈 [7:34]
  • Humbled by the social environment 💆‍♀️ [8:33]
  • Recruited for competitive cheerleading at Davenport University 🎓 [10:25]
  • Recommendations and quotes 🙌 [12:55]

Zoey’s Current GoFundMe Efforts 

6 Opportunities To Volunteer Abroad [Infographic]

Language Learning In Costa Rica With Mattison Gotcher

UT-Austin Mattison Gotcher

“Think about it ahead of time and also have money prepared” Mattison Gotcher 

Mattison Gotcher San Jose, Costa Rica

Mattison Gotcher (@mdgotcher) is a communications major at UT-Austin and she wanted to learn Spanish through immersion. So, she did what any rational college student would do; she packed her bags, and headed south to Costa Rica for the summer. Mattison lived in San Jose for two months, but she didn’t just take classes. She also did some volunteer work which she talks about in the interview.

 

 

SHOW NOTES

  • Why Mattison chose San Jose, Costa Rica 🇨🇷 [1:07]
  • Doing volunteer work 😇 [3:30]
  • Why living abroad is humbling 😌 [4:45]
  • Remembering lunches in Costa Rica 🥪 [5:37]
  • Getting into the logistics of Mattison’s trip 🗺 [7:09]
  • Missing gallo pinto and coffee ☕️ [9:06]
  • Mattison’s advice if for students planning to study abroad 🙌 [11:07]
  • Having a perfect day in Costa Rica 🏖 [11:44]
  • Coffee Break Español – Mattison’s podcast recommendation 🎙 [13:05]

3 Ways To Learn a New Language Fast [Infographic]

Learn a new language as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

How To Make The Perfect Gallo Pinto Video

Why Study Away Scholarships Are A Very Real Opportunity with Callie Ronstrom

Callie Ronstrom, Study Away Coordinator at UW-Superior

“Through our foundation we have a handful of differnet scholarships that are specifically for study abroad”  Callie Ronstrom 

Coming to you from the northern most college in Wisconsin is Callie Ronstrom, the Study Away Coordinator at UW – Superior. At the beginning of the interview Callie talks about the driving force behind her first study abroad experience, which happened to be the reason I studied abroad as well. She also does a great job of explaining the plethora study away scholarships that are available to students not just nationally, but at each individual college as well.

SHOW NOTES

  • The reason Callie took her first study abroad trip [1:40]
  • What makes UW — Superior unique [3:10]
  • Reciprocity between Minnesota and Wisconsin [5:00]
  • Callie gets into the scholarships and grants set aside specifically for study abroad students [5:55]
  • Callie’s rat story from Guatemala [8:15]
  • Zesty Guatamalian tortillas [12:23]
  • Who Callie who have dinner with [13:20]
  • Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris [13:50]
  • Callie’s travel quote recommendation [15:00]

Guatemalan Tortillas Video

4 Take Aways From Callie’s Interview [Infographic]

Callie Ronstrom's interview illustrated