Sixteen and Abroad: Hannah’s Exchange Year in Costa Rica- with Hannah Elam (Alaska) Artwork

hanna_worldwide&friends

This is a podcast about people who have left their home country to live abroad or have an abroad experience. There are so many different reasons why we choose to move countries and become an expat and so many interesting stories of amazing people. Having relatable struggles, amazing adventures and new beginnings! Be excited about getting to know great humans with individual experiences. It is about getting to know new cultures, learning about different countries, having compassion and inspiring people to follow their dreams. If you have any questions regarding a specific topic or if you want me to cover anything in particular in the podcast, please leave a comment or message me directly! Can't wait to hear from you! :) If you want to be a guest on my show or you want to work with me, please send an email to: hannaworldwideandfriends@outlook.com Love, Hanna

All Episodes

hanna_worldwide&friends

Sixteen and Abroad: Hannah’s Exchange Year in Costa Rica- with Hannah Elam (Alaska)

November 08, 2025 • Hanna • Season 1 • Episode 64

Click here to get in touch

Hi everyone,

Please welcome with me Hannah Elam from Alaska, USA. Hannah went on a student exchange to Costa Rica when she was sixteen, and today she’s taking us down memory lane.

In this episode, Hannah shares how her dream of doing an exchange year began after a family trip to Mexico, where she met an exchange student from Chile — a conversation that sparked her curiosity about life beyond the US.

Determined to make it happen, Hannah researched programs, fundraised through garage sales, and had the full support of her family — including her dad, who even worked extra to help her dream come true. She talks about her experiences with her host family, including changing families midway through the year, and reflects on moments of challenge, like navigating cultural differences, language barriers, and getting constant attention for being foreign.

Hannah shares valuable advice for future exchange students: be open to new experiences, embrace the culture, and don’t let fear stop you from speaking a new language — mistakes are part of learning. She also highlights the friendships she built with other students from around the world, and how the experience taught her independence, resilience, and courage.

The episode also touches on her perspective of having a dad living abroad in New Zealand, exploring the beauty and challenges of long-distance family life and reconnecting after years apart.

Thank you so much for being here. I appreciate every single one of you!

Love,
Hanna 🌏❤️

🌍 Enjoyed this conversation?
Don’t forget to follow the podcast, share it with a fellow adventurer, and leave a review — it helps others discover these inspiring stories from around the world.

✨ Stay connected:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hanna_worldwide_and_friends/

website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110137

or on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Podcast Index, iHeartRadio, Podchaser, Deezer and PlayerFM