Wow, do I love it here. It’s only the first full day, and somehow, it already feels like home… minus the small detail that I keep forgetting which direction to walk and almost got lost within 30 seconds. Spoiler alert: I confidently marched off on my own before realizing the group took a right instead of a left. Off to a strong start, Kate!

The day began with a breakfast featuring the BEST cheese quesadillas I’ve ever had (yes, for breakfast, and yes, I now fully support that lifestyle), along with crackers, fresh fruit, coffee, and orange juice. Then we made our way into Heredia, and I honestly felt like I had been dropped into a real-life travel commercial. The central market is basically a Latin American Costco, minus the carts and free samples, but packed with personality and community. Everywhere you look, there’s vibrant color, something new to try, and air that somehow smells like fruit (with just a hint of raw fish and meat) mixed with pure adventure of course.

My first impressions of Costa Rica have far exceeded anything I imagined. I knew it would be beautiful, but I didn’t expect it to feel this alive. There’s an energy here that’s hard to describe until you’re in the middle of it, dodging cars, testing out your Spanish, and being greeted with a smile at every corner. The people are incredibly warm, the atmosphere is contagious, and the food? Let’s just say I may never look at Pitt’s dining hall the same way again. I came in excited, but I didn’t expect to feel this connected so quickly…or to be sweating this much before 10 a.m.

Meeting my host family was both heartwarming and slightly nerve-wracking. They’re beyond kind, generous, and wonderfully patient—even when I pointed at a bowl of rice and confidently called it queso (I wish I were kidding). But today taught me something important: the fastest way to connect isn’t through perfect grammar or a great sense of direction—it’s through effort, humility, and a willingness to laugh at yourself. Costa Rica is already teaching me to loosen up, embrace the awkward moments, and trust the journey. Because sometimes, going the wrong way in Heredia is exactly the right way to begin.

See you tomorrow, Costa Rica!