We started the morning with the sun shining throughout the house and our host family making us breakfast. We had eggs, toast, and gallo pinto, which was a great way to begin our immersion into the Costa Rican way of life. We then enjoyed a walking tour of Heredia, visiting the market, the square, and the mall. 

The market was a new experience for me, as it was very crowded, had an immense amount of fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats, and also closed at noon. We learned about some native foods, such as the yuca root and yucca flower, and we even got to try passionfruit. While walking around the city, I found it interesting how there was an absence of crosswalks, and intersections seemed to be a free-for-all. I also appreciated how many of the buildings, especially the churches, were very old but had unique architecture. Our guide, Jorge, mentioned how these buildings were protected to keep their unique designs. Finally, the mall was very different than the US since it was crowded with people and was open-air. There was a ramp to the top with a great view of San Jose and beyond. Jorge told us that about half the population of Costa Rica was within our view at around 2.5 million people. 

My impression of Costa Rica after one day has changed dramatically. I didn’t envision such a friendly culture with so many people out and about. There was a greater sense of community, and everyone seemed to be in a joyful mood. I was surprised that streets also don’t have road signs with names, making traveling around a bit difficult. My expectations about the availability of tropical fruit and the amount of food that we would be served were met. I also was expecting all the colors that were around. In the US, everything seems so much more minimalist than here. There is a lot of character in each house and each store, especially in the market and the mall. I also enjoyed the wildlife, the birds, and the plants that differed from the US.