After more than 24 hours in Heredia, I can honestly say I’m feeling confident about the next two weeks. While initially a little hesitant about how smoothly the trip would go after a long travel day and very little sleep, things seem to be working out very well, and Costa Rica is shaping up to be a great experience.

Arguably the largest barrier for myself, and likely many others, is the difference in language. I speak absolutely no Spanish, only vaguely remembering a handful of phrases and words from my early high school courses. However, my entire host family is very considerate and has been very accommodating. The food so far has been great, and Ben has helped me out big time with working through my Spanish.

The first full day in Heredia went by very quickly. Despite waking up at 7AM, the day flew by. Heredia is a beautiful town with lots to see and do. The markets had a lot to offer, especially in the way of fruit. Heredia’s town square was very lively and vibrant today, between the open door mass occurring in the church and band playing on the street. The view of the mountains was phenomenal, and lunch at Leños y Carbon just topped it all off. I’m hoping to try a Churchill (or their equivalent name in Heredia) before we leave.

After lunch and the mall, the group went and played soccer for a few hours at a park near our homestays. This was a lot of fun, and wasn’t only a great way to have the group all together, but also burn off lunch. I’m looking forward to our visit to Doka tomorrow, and hoping things keep up!