These past two days have been eventful and exciting, to say the least. While I was initially nervous, bonding with my host family has proved to be not as difficult as I feared. With my intermediate skills in Spanish combined with my Mama Tica’s patience and physical gestures, everything has run smoothly with moving in and communicating. Their house is beautifully decorated with plants and flowers everywhere. Upon arriving, I chit-chatted with my Mama Tica as she gave us a house tour. I learned we have a couple of shared interests, such as painting and gardening. Once dinner rolled around, I got to know her husband, Juan Carlos, as well. I was surprised to learn that he was a huge American basketball fan, and he loves to play basketball with his friends in his free time. Juan Carlos was eager to know more about our families, where we were from, the basketball teams we supported, and our itinerary. Likewise, it was interesting to learn this information from him.

This morning, after a lovely breakfast of eggs, ham, fruit, and warm, chocolatey Costa Rican coffee, we made our way around Heredia, where I noted several observations. Initially, I was taken aback by how social and lively the culture is. Instead of hanging out indoors or meeting at someone’s house, there are more alternative locations in Costa Rica designed for physical fitness and socializing. As I walked last night with peers, I noted how there seemed to be a park on just about every corner. Before arriving in Costa Rica, I hadn’t expected to see as many people as I have out and about.

In addition, I knew that businesses in Costa Rica employ sustainable practices, but I did not know how greatly sustainability weaves into the culture here. For instance, instead of taking weekly or biweekly trips to a supermarket, Costa Ricans prefer to go to the markets daily to buy exactly what they need. By doing so, they reduce waste, prioritize fresh produce, and have another outlet to socialize. Additionally, many of their buildings get repurposed to save space; buildings that act as schools can be commercial businesses by night and vice versa. Similarly, we passed many buildings that had been converted from residences to schools to museums.

With dance lessons, hikes, and more tours on the horizon, I am looking forward to learning more about Costa Rican culture as we continue our trip!