Dustin DresserInterviewed in 2018
Director, living in Costa Rica since 2011. Founded company in 2012.
What inspired you to found Costa Rica Frika?
I saw I had expertise and local connections and rather than work for a company I decided to start my own and have the freedom to design programs how I want.
Why do you do what you do?
It is my passion. I did it once and decided I wanted to enable others to be able to do the same.
What is your favorite part of your job as the Director?
I love talking with participants and sharing the wonderful experiences I've had and they can have by doing a program.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I have to speak Spanish everyday and be a "bridge" between Costa Rican culture and participants home culture.
What challenges do you often face in your role and how do you overcome them?
I face the risk of working extra hard to develop strong relationships. In a developing country things can change a lot from day to day and I have to stay on top of things to make sure program offerings are current and up-to-date.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
You should have traveled sooner. Had I done a gap year between high school and college I would have done things a lot differently.
What makes Costa Rica Frika special?
We are a small organization and specialize in programs in and out of Costa Rica. We have a very small staff and focus on fewer projects only in Costa Rica. When you talk with us, you are talking right to the company directors who are heavily involved in each program.
Why should someone choose Costa Rica Frika over competitors?
You talk right to the source and cut out all the middlemen. I founded this company and have direct contact with all participants. All the experiences are based on what I experienced the first time I traveled to Costa Rica and I strive to replicated it for participants.
What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?
To continue to grow programs that impact travelers the most.
If you could participate on one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I would do a host stay probably at our sea turtle nesting site. I love the local interaction and learning new cultures and sea turtles nesting is not something you see every day. It's hard for me to get the time off to really immerse myself in that project, but one day I hope to be able to do it.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Just because there is so much information on the internet, doesn't mean it is the best place to learn. To avoid bias and fake news, people need to go and experience things for themselves in order to be able to form their own, independent opinions.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
It's important because you can learn a whole new culture and reinvent yourself in the process. As a language learner you have free reign to make as many mistakes and embarrass yourself as you want. You can totally change your personality in your second language. If you isolate yourself from friends and family you have a great opportunity to experiment with all new people who will be helping you to succeed in the new language/culture.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
The longer you wait, the fewer options you'll have, and the sooner you do it, the sooner it'll impact your life and help you develop your values and life long objectives.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel is when the traveler and the host community are impacted by the visit. Examples of this include volunteering and exchanging.
What issues do you see in the world of international education that don’t line up with your values and expectations for mutually beneficial & educational relationships with local communities?
When the relationships become too commercial. When things are looked at more from an economical standpoint rather than an experiential standpoint is when issues arise.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
I hope for more disruption and that costs become more affordable so more travelers can have access to international education.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLvAm6momZRjsLC5jqKlrZ2iq7amw9Jom66rpJ67brDRnqqsnaJis7DBzZ2cq2WUnr%2Bmr9OoqQ%3D%3D