Riding the Wave: Surfing through history in Costa Rica
Dr. Scott Laderman (History) will soon embark with UMD students on a study abroad program to Costa Rica where they will explore global surf culture. The program will take either place in May 2018 or January 2019 depending on when enough students enroll.
Laderman previously taught the study abroad course in Nicaragua. The idea for the program originated with research questions explored in his book Empire in Waves: A Political History of Surfing (University of California Press, 2014). The shift to Costa Rica will provide students with more opportunities to connect with rural citizens rather than touring museums and other landmarks.
The program focuses on global perspectives through considering history and international relations. Students will learn about the United States’ relationship with and influence on Central America as well as modern surf culture (approximately the past one hundred years) and how global developments have influenced the pastime.
Students will visit three locations: Avellanas, Nosara, and Playa Grande in the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica. Within those places, students will spend their time analyzing conservation of the natural environment, meeting local villagers for community engagement, and on the coast surfing.
While in Costa Rica, students will meet with local people, see the lack of development (as compared to the United States), and (Laderman hopes) gain an appreciation for the fact that not everyone lives or thinks as they do. In addition to residing in a less modern location than they are familiar with at UMD, students will be “unplugged” while in Costa Rica and record their ideas and research in a journal. Once they come back to the U.S., students will then be responsible for composing a research paper.
Laderman believes that students who take a chance on this non-Europe study abroad will come away with both a new skill and a new appreciation for surfing’s influence on culture.