View from Abroad -- Tori Litardo

 

Going into this semester I refused to set high expectations and goals for myself, scared that I would not leave room for things to unfold like they should. However, as human beings we have a natural tendency to always have some expectations when entering into something new. So I secretly had an idea of what I envisioned for my semester abroad, and a month into my experience, I have been slowly letting go of my own agenda. 

I can begin only by describing my semester thus far with one word: challenging. A good kind of challenge though. As I realize I am not just an American tourist, a mission trip attendee or a “gringa” looking just to have fun, I slowly start to enter another realm of the term “traveler.”

The first realization I have encountered of what it means to be a traveler is accepting discomfort. 

I have had to rid myself of all my silly quirks that are acceptable back home but not here, let go of my narrow-minded ways, and begin truly to live life alongside Costa Ricans (or ’ticos as they call themselves). I have had to stop myself several times from criticizing or distancing myself from the Latino culture when something does not seem to meet my “American” standards. You would think I would have this lifestyle down since Hispanic blood runs through my veins, but it has all been a culture shock indeed. These past few weeks have been a process of eliminating stereotypes, superficial comforts and selfish motives as I begin to live life as a ’Tica and thus far it has felt just as freeing as painful. 

Sitting in on lectures on U.S. and Latin American relations, economic systems, poverty and inequality has been more then enough to wake me up to the reality that I am studying a corrupt system that I myself feed on a daily basis back home. A system where I have physically seen the results it has on the land, the people and the future of Latin America. Yet, I continue to give into the system by living within the barriers I have put up for myself as an outsider, as a U. S. citizen. Now, I am in no way placing the blame on being American, there is much to take pride in and be grateful for. I point it out to reference that I have never taken the time to look outside of myself, my U.S. culture, my comforts, and my consumerism. 

As I begin to bite my tongue in moments of trivial frustrations and thoughts of superiority, the words of Mark Twain remind me of why this journey is good for my soul: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” So as I let go of my judgments, I will continue on as a traveler in this beautiful country where the oppressed long to be freed and the hearts of people long for more, just like the rest of humanity. 

There are stories to be told, people to live life with and opportunities to discover solutions for our future in a world that is so messy. This is a good kind of challenge - I know it.

Tori Litardo can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.