Tomatoes are abundant in Costa Rica and are used in many of our favorite tipico dishes. That’s why it’s no wonder the production of fresh tomatoes in this country is responsible for many jobs and also for supplementing the national economy (around 30 billion colones annually, which is approximately 58.6 million U.S. dollars). Take a trip to any of the country’s seven provinces and you’re likely to find a farmer gathering the cosecha (harvest)!

We just finished reading an incredible story about 25-year-old Ronnie Dickson who, is his young life, has accomplished a great deal thanks to his determined spirit. Ronnie, who is employed as a prosthetist, had his leg amputated when he was 18-years-old. This does not appear to have slowed him down in the least bit as, in addition to his day job, Ronnie travels frequently to give lessons on rock climbing to the disabled. He loves that learning the sport gives inspiration to his students and builds confidence as it did for him.

This piece, written by Columbia University undergraduate Leo Schwartz, underlines the limitations of classroom learning. College courses are tied to theory without the opportunity for learning through action, Schwartz explains. This disconnect became more real for Schwartz when he spent a summer backpacking through Latin America, discussing Latin American history topics, among other subjects he had learned about in his college courses, with locals. Schwartz hopes to “embrace thinking through experiencing” in his post-college life. Act and reflect on a course with Outward Bound Costa Rica; we are committed to learning through experience!