I have so far been most surprised by how nice and friendly most locals are. I was easily able to start a conversation in some broken Spanish with a cab driver about the city and his family. While the ride only lasted 2-3 minutes it was still interesting to hear Spanish outside of the classroom actually being used as a real language. While most people do know English, it was still fun to know I have learned some Spanish from high school.

While we had talked about locals being willing to help us learn and willing to talk, I was a bit wary in believing it until I tried to do so.

The other surprise to me was the diversity in food. I was not expecting to find such a fusion in cultures. From the Latin American beans and rice, to the Asian style noodles, to American burgers among many other dishes. Although we are still in an area made for tourists so I am curious how this will change when we go to slightly more remote areas.

Lastly while not a surprise it was nevertheless amazing to see the rain and the plants it produces. To me there is something peaceful about rain, and the rich plant life that accompanies it is truly beautiful .