I started off today with a delicious breakfast from my Mama Tica! We ate quesadillas, crackers, mangos, bananas then had orange juice and coffee to drink. What surprised me the most about this was the fact I LOVED the orange juice. Normally, at home I refuse to drink it and strongly dislike the taste, however, the fresh squeezed juice was delicious!!

Walking through the city of Heredia today gave me my first real sense of daily life in Costa Rica. I’ve already noticed a few things that stood out in unexpected ways. One of the most interesting differences is that homes don’t have traditional street addresses. Instead, people give directions using landmarks like “200 meters south of the convenience store” or “next to the green house with the red door.” The more suburban the area is, the more difficult it can be to give someone instructions to a certain house. The homes themselves are very close together and built to adapt to the temperature—there’s no insulation or air conditioning, just a constant breeze that helps keep the inside cool. It’s a very different kind of comfort than I’m used to, but it works well here.

I also found it very interesting the number of small public parks with workout equipment on nearly every corner. It’s a subtle but is the communities way of encouraging people to stay active and spend time outdoors. The greenery here is absolutely beautiful, and the town has such a unique, local feel. We spent some time walking through a central market, which had pretty much everything you’d need to cook a full meal—fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, spices, even sweets—all organized into different stands under one roof. I found it really cool that people here go to the market multiple times a week instead of stocking up all at once. It’s such a different pace than what I’m used to back home, and it really emphasizes how much value is placed on freshness and quality in everyday life.

Overall, my time here has definitely come with some culture shock—but in the best way. Communicating with my homestay family has been a challenge, but we usually end up laughing through it. After a few attempts (and help from Google Translate), we always manage to understand each other. It’s been a fun and humbling part of the experience that’s making me appreciate language and connection in a whole new way.