¡Hola, todes! I wanted to give a brief update as I head into week three of studying abroad. So much has happened recently and although I won’t be able to describe every bit in detail (phew!), I aim to share some recent highlights, lowlights, and some things in between.

Last week, I went to two Latin dance classes; one of them was a beginner salsa class at a local dance studio Írimo, while the other, advertised as a “Tropical Dance Class”, was hosted through Universidad Veritas. The main styles I learned were salsa, bachata, and merengue. Both classes were exciting and completely different than anything I’d tried before. I’m not used to dancing in pairs and being in close contact with people I don’t know. However, I know that maintaining physical contact and intimacy is part of the dance style & tradition, so my qualms and hesitations are a reflection of my own personal and cultural biases; in short, it’s a “me” issue, and I aim to be open minded and step outside my comfort zone. During the second dance class I felt a little more at ease, since I’d learned similar steps in the prior class, and my friend, who has years of salsa dancing experience, was my dance partner. Dancing is definitely a workout! I’ll be back next time.

Last weekend, I visited Punta Leona resort and Carara National Park with my study abroad program (24 students). Punta Leona is a very tourist-y and grandiose destination on the Pacific coast. I was impressed by the stunning plant and wildlife (macaws! toucans! monkeys!), beautiful beaches with warm, clear waters, and a variety of activities (I played tennis with a friend). Swimming was one of the highlights of the trip, as was hiking the park trail, which stretches about 2.8 miles long.

Also, I loved eating meal after delicious meal (fresh papaya, watermelon, pineapple, some traditional Costa Rican dishes). I did notice that since Punta Leona is targeted toward tourists, including those from the United States, many of the buffet dishes were Americanized. In addition, I’m not as fully immersed in the Spanish language as I would have preferred. Many students default to speaking English, and while I understand that everyone is at different levels (perfectly fine!), I wish that I was speaking and listening in Spanish the majority of the time, rather than 50% of the time. In addition, many Costa Ricans speak English to accommodate visitors, which is helpful, but I’ve preferred to communicate in Spanish as much as possible. Within the classroom, I’m reviewing grammar concepts and practicing my speaking abilities, so I think the next step is attaining fluency, especially in terms of listening comprehension and managing social interactions at a higher level.

I’m grateful for the time I spent in Punta Leona, and moving forward, I hope to be intentional not only about the food I consuming, but also about the destinations I visit. My on-site study abroad advisor, Xinia López, told me that the best places to visit are off the beaten path and the ones that locals frequent. One of my goals is to explore as much of Costa Rica as possible, and I hope to visit places that the average tourist wouldn’t necessarily encounter.

Hello, readers!

Today I am sharing my recent excursion to the La Fortuna Waterfall, the sugarcane plantation, and Arenal Volcano & resort this past weekend. I went with my study abroad program (ISA) and it was an incredible experience!

Early morning on Saturday, Jan. 12th, we departed from Universidad Veritas, and took the scenic route via charter bus to the La Fortuna waterfall, about 50 miles outside of San José. It was a beautiful day for a swim! The water was very cold, but refreshing – akin to swimming in the Kettle River during my childhood. The hike down to the waterfall was long (400 stair steps), and the walk back up was brutal!

After enjoying the natural beauty of the waterfall, plus an excellent workout, we headed to the neighboring town of San Carlos, and stopped at a sustainable farm. Here, we devoured a fantastic lunch and learned how to make corn tortillas! Starting with a small ball of masa harina (the trick is to gradually add a bit of water as you go), I gently kneaded, spun, and pressed the dough into a flat, circular shape with my fingertips. The tortilla was then placed onto the grill to develop a nice char! See the photo below to see my tasty meal.

A bit later, I enjoyed a steaming mug of fresh coffee and a dessert similar to an elephant ear (oreja) but with a crispy, bubbly exterior and dripping in honey molasses. We also received a tour of the farm and local plants, which was educational.

Near the end of our tour, we were caught in a downpour, so we rushed to the covered area and learned the process of creating juice from sugar cane. I participated in the demonstration, and helped break down the long stalk of sugar cane by beating it with a stick. My classmates hand-churned the sugar cane through a machine and the juices were wrung out into a large jug. You can watch the Instagram video here!

After our long journey, we finally arrived at Los Lagos Hotel & Resort to enjoy the hot springs, pool, and a nice dinner. The 4-star resort is sprawling, not to mention the rooms were huge, and all the landscaping and plants were beautiful and well-maintained.

Perhaps my favorite part of our stay was the Sunday morning hike. Many students complained about waking up early and doing the (optional) 4 mile trek, but I loved it because it was excellent exercise, the weather was perfect, and our view at the top was spectacular.

Overall, I enjoyed this excursion and I’m grateful for the opportunity! As wonderful as San José is, I think it’s important to get out of the city and see more rural areas. My goal is to explore as many places as I can and the list is long! Next weekend I head to Punta Leona, a hotel resort with a beautiful beach on the Pacific coast. I look forward to this excursion, and I’ll keep you all posted! In the meantime, I am studying at the university throughout the week, practicing my Spanish as much as possible, and meeting new people!

Have a great week! ¡Pura vida!

Tues. Jan. 9, 2024 — Today was my second day of class and my fourth day of being in Costa Rica! Everything is very new and I’m liking San José so far. My favorite aspects about San José are the historical sites, the weather, and the food options.

There are many sites to visit, including El Teatro Nacional (The National Theater – see photo below), which is an elegant, revered building that hosts plays, classical concerts, dance, and other major events. It was built in 1897, and architecturally reflects the lavish, neoclassical style of the 19th century. On my tour, we didn’t stay for long and saw only the lobby (see photo of statue below). I hope to return!

Also, the weather has been wonderful, since Costa Rica is located near the equator and is experiencing summer. It’s been a relief to escape the wind, rain and cold of Bellingham, and soak up the sun in Costa Rica. The humidity isn’t too bad either, as I originally thought. Temperatures and humidity may increase in coming months, though. I’m excited to develop my tan and break out my shorts! Some locals wear shorts, but it’s more common to see pants and nicer attire.

In addition, I’ve been enjoying the home cooked meals from my host mom (Mamá Tica) for breakfast and dinner. Lately, she’s made refried-bean stuffed empanadas, spinach omelettes wrapped in warm tortillas, yuca, and gallo pinto – a traditional Costa Rican dish of beans and rice. Mamá Tica is so sweet! I can’t wait to try some of the local restaurants too, and probably avoid the U.S. chains like KFC and McDonald’s. There’s a surprising amount of U.S. consumerism everywhere that I want to escape.

Everyday, I have a Spanish class from 9am-12noon at the University Veritas. This first week is just for international (study abroad) students, and next week, the local students officially start their semester with us. My Spanish class has only 7 people, and we’re squished into a tiny room on the second floor. The university is like a labyrinth with its confusing room numbers. Take this number for example: “225”. Unlike in the U.S. and other places, “225” does not mean the room is located on the second floor. The first number denotes the “zone”, the second number indicates the floor level, and the third number is the specific classroom number. On the first day of school, it took me a long time to find the classroom 229, because it was in an entirely different area than I thought. I went to the second floor and saw only classrooms in the 100-level, and had to ask someone for directions (in Spanish). Luckily, someone pointed me to a separate wing of the university, where zone 2 is situated. I’ll get the hang of it!

In terms of student life, I look forward to joining the tropical dance classes and cooking classes! They start next week. Also, University Veritas is an art and design school. Unfortunately, I cannot take more classes due to the structure of my program, but maybe there is a club I partake in. I’ve made several friends from different host universities across the U.S., so I’m building a community. I’m excited to meet local students in the coming months.

As mentioned earlier, one culture shock is how difficult it is to navigate the city. In Costa Rica, the streets are not labeled well and small signs that say “Avenue 32” for example, are plastered to the exterior walls of houses. Google Maps and Apple Maps are not very accurate, either. There have been multiple times when I’ve turned down the wrong street and headed in the wrong direction. Locals usually give directions using landmarks and the distance of how long it will take to commute from one reference point to another. My homestay is located in a neighborhood close to the university, and it took me a few days to learn the route, simply by memorizing the turns and reference points, and learning to cross the street (see earlier post for that explanation).

I did as much research as I could about the transportation in Costa Rica, and I knew before arriving that navigation might be a struggle. One can prepare and research for a trip, but first-hand experience is the best teacher. I’m trying to be patient with myself, because I’m in a new city and doing my best to adjust to these changes. It’s comforting to know that I’m well-supported by my program’s staff, as well and other students who are going through the same things. I’m lucky and grateful to be here! Tomorrow is a new day!

¡Hola, todes! (Hello, everyone!) I can’t believe I am finally in Costa Rica! After two long flights from Seattle Dallas/Fort-Worth, TX to Alajuela, Costa Rica, I’ve felt exhausted, anxious, and excited all at once. I enjoyed the flight from the DFW Airport to Juan Santamaría Airport, because I ended up sitting in a whole row by myself! I think there were three no-show passengers, and the flight attendant allowed me to sit in the vacant row, even though I already had an assigned seat in the adjacent row. No complaints at all! Here is the photo from the window as we approached Costa Rica:

When I arrived in Costa Rica Saturday afternoon (Jan. 5th), I went through immigration and customs (very quick!) and they were less intimidating than going across the Canadian border, which I didn’t expect. I met up with some other U.S. students from my study abroad program, and then took a shuttle bus to my homestay. Automatically I felt very excited to be in an environment that primarily speaks Spanish! Many of the other students are beginning to intermediate Spanish, so I’ve been conversing in English with them more than I’d prefer, but luckily I speak and listen to Spanish all the time with my host mom and housemate.

My host mom (Mamá Tica or Guiselle) is a retired, middle-aged woman, who lives in Barrio Córdoba, a short distance from the university. She is very sweet, kind and accommodating! She picked me up from the shuttle and we ate dinner together, which was probably the best meal all day after munching on airport snacks. Dinner consisted of pasta de ajo y albahaca – garlic pasta with basil – as well as a fresh side salad. My housemate, Clarisa, and I are both vegetarian, and our host mom generously prepares us two meals a day: breakfast and dinner. There is also a cat named Asha! So cute!

Clarissa is from Arizona State University, and is originally from Tucson, AZ. She is very kind, funny, and we share many of the same attributes. She studies sustainable food systems, and loves running and drawing, among other hobbies. She’s a good Spanish conversation partner, and has a positive mindset when it comes to learning Spanish; I appreciate that she is enthusiastic about conversing in Spanish and isn’t afraid to make mistakes. I think we’re a good fit in terms in living together and being friends!

On Sunday, Jan. 7th, I attended an orientation and tour of San José. We visited multiple sites, including El Museo Nacional de Costa Rica (National Museum), the congress building, El Parque Nacional (National Park), and more. Please see the photos below, which correspond to the aforementioned sites in order.

Here are a few interesting facts I learned from Adriana, our Resident Director and tour guide: Costa Rica has no military, as it was abolished in 1948! All funds that would support a military are instead allocated toward education. Costa Rica has an accesible and equal education system, as it is free for everyone. Also, Costa Ricans do not have insurance, since a portion of their salaries are allocated toward health-related expenses. Costa Ricas call themselves “ticos” and are very warm, inviting and generous.

After our tour, a group of students and I went to lunch at a local restaurant, called Las Leñitas. I ordered a plate of platacones, which are fried plantains with beans, tomatoes, and cheese. The waiter was so kind when I requested no meat (I’m vegetarian) and offered to serve it with avocado instead. I wasn’t expecting this, since my orientation mentioned that “special requests” when dining aren’t very common. I was pleasantly surprised, and the dish was delicious! Also, it is not customary to provide tips, and this is something new for me.

Later that day, a group of students and I walked around the fair (la feria) which was a bright, colorful and crowded event. Many food trucks, vendors, carnival rides, and a bull fight were happening. Very overstimulating! Also, being hyper-aware of my surroundings in a large city is new to me, since pickpocketing is an issue here. Also, crossing the street is nearly impossible, as there are very few marked crosswalks. I joked that crossing the street is like the app “Crossy Road”, in which you must run across the highway when no cars are coming, or when they’re stopped in traffic. I did it with my host mom and Clarisa this morning, and it’s just a part of daily life here, as scary and uncomfy as it seems. This has been a main culture shock for me, but I’m just rolling with the punches.

So far, everything has seemed so surreal and I feel giddy with excitement much of the time. The other portion of the time, I feel exhausted. During study abroad, the first stage or the arrival period is often referred to as “the honeymoon stage”, because similar to when someone marries for the first time, you’re filled with joy, excitement and love for a new place and situation. Only later does one begin to have doubts and mixed emotions – some negative – and it’s all normal, natural and part of the experience. I haven’t reached this part of roller coaster ride yet, but I have ten weeks ahead of me to have diverse experiences and “feel all the feels”.

Tomorrow I begin class, and I’m going to rest before my busy week ahead. ¡Pura vida!