Overall, Costa Rica has matched my expectations pretty well. The buildings and local areas look similar to what I had envisioned. One thing that did surprise me was how many people were in the central area of Heredia just hanging out and talking to one another. I knew Ticos were generally more laid back than the people in America, but it was still different to see people just relaxing and talking in a city-like area rather than the majority of people minding their own business or rushing off to their next destination. The people are also very friendly, always ready to strike up a conversation with someone whether they know them or not.

Another thing that I didn’t expect was how similar the interior of the mall looked to those in America. Many of the stores were typical American chains, and the names on some of the signs were even spelled in English. It had a very different vibe from the market and the rest of Heredia, so it was very interesting to see.

The amount of mountains around here has also been shocking. I knew that Costa Rica is a very beautiful and mountainous country, but I did not realize that anytime you looked outside, there would be a mountain that you could see in the background.  The aesthetic photo opportunities have been endless and have left my phone begging for more storage space (absolutely not complaining about this).

My time here has been wonderful so far, and I can’t wait to see what else this experience has to offer!