What are your first impressions of Costa Rica?

My first impressions of Costa Rica are that the people are kind and the food is incredible. I have never been in a place in which you can be standing in a town square and the locals will ask you to take a picture with them or where locals are so excited to greet and talk to you. It is refreshing, especially coming from a place where everyone always acts as if they are in a great hurry. Another example of friendliness was when the group when to play soccer at a local park. We were greeted by the local children who played with us and were very excited to talk with us in English and Spanish. I also had very high expectations for the food and drinks.

My first impressions match my expectations coming in because I had heard that the coffee and fresh food are very good and today I had the most incredible cup of coffee in my life at my homestay. I did not know coming into this trip how friendly Costarricense people are. I also expected a large language barrier between me and my host family or anyone I needed to communicate with in Spanish; however, once I really had to communicate the words came easier from my memories as an elementary school student in Spanish class.

I am looking forward to tomorrow when we will be taking a tour of the Doka coffee plantation and hopefully trying some more amazing coffee!