We arrived in Costa Rica yesterday, but today was the first day of guided activities. Yesterday was a chance for us to get accustomed to the weather and meet our host families. Our Mama Tica, Maria Elena Vargas Romero, was as friendly as the pre-departure meetings made them seem. She gave us sandwiches as soon as we arrived at her house, which was very welcome since we barely had time to eat on the flights from Pittsburgh.

Costa Ricans don’t show their machismo (nationalism) the same way we do in the US. Driving and walking around, a couple houses have flags, but fewer than one would see in the more patriotic stretches of our country. Instead, it shines through when they talk about their neighbors. They call themselves a peaceful people, unlike those Nicaraguans and Colombians smuggling drugs through their country. Compared to some Americans’ sentiments about Mexico, it’s relatively tame, but it was surprising to hear it so upfront and to this degree.

Their claim that they’re peaceful and friendly (at least to Americans) seems correct. On the street, strangers were waving to us, asking if we were enjoying our visit. One took a picture with us in front of the most touristy sign in Heredia. We even played a game of football with some kids from the neighborhood of one of the other homestays.