Culture Shocked!

An SUU student travels out of the country for the first time to study abroad
31 October 2014, San Jos, Costa Rica

What is culture shock? Everyone has their own comfort-zone that envelopes their respective culture, so what
happens when this bubble bursts? Is it really a shock? We all suffer from it when we travel abroad, get
acquainted with new cultures and meet new people. Sometimes it can be difficult to adjust to unfamiliar
atmospheres or new languages. Take Jesse Hyatt, for example. He is a 25-year-old student attending Southern
Utah University (SUU) who has never travelled outside of his home country, the United Statesuntil he decided to
study abroad this fall in Costa Rica.
Yes, its true that Ive never travelled outside of the U.S. before, says Hyatt. What I really wanted to do coming
to Costa Rica was to immerse myself completely in a new culture and improve my Spanish skills. While spending
his time studying at the Latin American University of Science and Technology (ULACIT) in San Jos, Jesse has been
able to do exactly what he wanted, but he never expected what he encountered. To tell the truth, I had no idea
what to expect in San Jos. I guess I pictured the city I was used to in Utah, Salt Lake City. But its way more
congested in San Jos!
Jesse is in his last semester at Southern Utah University and will graduate with a bachelors in Spanish. When
contemplating his future career, he decided that studying abroad would not only help him with future
employment but with his Spanish as well. He is currently living with a host family for the duration of his stay and
practices his Spanish everyday with them. They are all very nice and helpful with my Spanish, adds Jesse. Im
always able to learn new vocabulary and correct my grammatical errors with them, not to mention the culture I
learn from the family.
Although Jesse is residing in San Jos for his studies, he has had many opportunities to travel to other areas of
Costa Rica. The country is covered with beautiful flora and fauna, a variety of wildlife, and mountainous
landscapes. As he has visited Uvita, Puntarenas, Cartago and La Fortuna, Jesse has met many new people, tasted
new foods, and experienced traditions and history that have made his study abroad experience priceless. He is glad
that Costa Rica has taken him by surprise. Certainly he was a bit culture-shocked when he arrived, but now he is
getting used to the Costa Ricas culture and nature.
In order for Jesse to graduate from SUU, he needs to complete his EDGE project, a requirement to be fulfilled
before the end of December. The project is an experiential education opportunity and allows Jesse to travel
abroad and report on his experiences in Costa Rica. I guess I look at it as two birds with one stone. While I can
study Spanish at ULACIT in San Jos, I can also fulfill my EDGE project requirement through SUU. Up to this point,
ULACIT has been a faithful partner university with SUU and has provided Jesse with exceptional assistance with his
Spanish.
So, what is culture shock? Well, it certainly isnt studying abroad and travelling abroad for the first time,
simultaneously. It isnt studying first-hand a foreign language as a future career. Nor is it fulfilling graduation
requirements in a foreign country. However, all of these qualities are a shock for Jesse Hyatt, but it has been an
eye-opening life event. Not everyone will experience these things to such an extreme. Thus, due to these aspects
and accomplishments of Jesses study abroad experience, he doesnt see it as culture shock. Its a cultural
enthrallment.
Contact Information:
Jesse Hyatt
(435)262-1151
jesse.hyatt89@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/jesse.hyatt.39