Hi everyone! I’m posting this blog a little later than halfway through the trip, but I will still go into detail about my experiences at the midway point, living “la pura vida” in Costa Rica!
Halfway through the trip, I reflect on everything I have done so far and can’t help but feel incredibly appreciative of this study abroad opportunity. Costa Rica is a beautiful country full of humble people who care deeply about the environment and their community. So far, we have spent time in Heredia and Monteverde, two very distinct provinces of Costa Rica.
Heredia is a lively urban province, home to many historical sites and neighborhoods, while Monteverde is known for its lush cloud forests, biodiversity, and eco-tourism activities. Heredia is similar to Pitt in the sense that it is lively and has ample green space to sit around and enjoy the beautiful weather. During most of our trip, we will be staying here with our homestays! I have enjoyed cruising around Heredia, learning about everything, whether it be the history behind cultural sites or finding the best parks with courts to play soccer and basketball with my peers. My homestay family has also made a world of difference in making me feel welcome.
Our Mama Tica makes breakfast for my friend Giuliana and me early every morning, and we sit down to talk about our plans for the day and what we are excited for. We also have dinner together around 6:30 pm every evening, and she always checks in on us to help with anything we may need. Whenever we talk or sit down to eat together, we speak in Spanish, which is normal for me since I come from a Spanish-speaking household. However, I am not used to certain Costa Rican phrases, so talking to her helps me broaden my Spanish even more. I am also not used to waking up early to eat breakfast, especially eating altogether, since my family and I all wake up at different times back home. Here in Costa Rica, people start their day at around 5 am when the sun rises and take pride in sharing their meals together. I appreciate my Mama Tica so much for cooking delicious meals and taking the time to get to know Giuliana and me!
The pace of life here in Costa Rica is very relaxed compared to daily life in the U.S. Walking through the streets, we constantly hear the phrase “Pura Vida,” which means “pure life,” and locals are very welcoming and open to helping tourists out. No one seems to be in a rush, and Costa Ricans live on what is called “Mañana time,” which means they will do things tomorrow or later. One of the main differences I noticed while walking around Heredia is that the streets are busy, and pedestrians do not have the right of way. This was something we had to adjust to quickly, as there are no walk signs or street lights like there are in the U.S. I also noticed that there weren’t as many children out during the week as there were on weekends, and that is because school is in session from May to February in Costa Rica. That is completely opposite from our schooling season, so I thought that was interesting!
All in all, Costa Rica is an incredibly unique country with a distinct culture and way of life compared to the United States. Nevertheless, certain parts still remind me of my life back home. I am so grateful for the places I have seen and the incredible people I have met. I can’t wait to see what next week has in store for our group!
Here are some highlights from the first week!
