This morning, I said goodbye to my host family for a few days to begin our trip to Monteverde! Our bus ride was about 4 hours, and during it, I got to see a completely different side of Costa Rica. We passed through small towns that felt much more rural than the Central Valley, with more farmland, cows, horses, and open spaces. The views were incredible with lots of mountains and valleys. I spent most of our ride looking out the window.

We stopped at a rest area on the way, and I was surprised by how clean and welcoming it was. The buffet-style restaurant, souvenir shop, and even the animals—cows, sheep, birds, and horses—made it a perfect place to stretch our legs and walk around. Since arriving in Costa Rica on Saturday, my perception of the country has already started to change. At first, I definitely felt out of place and nervous about sticking out as a tourist. I was unsure of how locals would react to us and whether I’d ever be comfortable with sticking out as much as we do. But over the past few days, I’ve adjusted to navigating cultural differences and have become more confident in connecting with people. I’m starting to see things through a more local lens and appreciate the values that shape the way people here live.

One of the most impactful parts of our day was our conversation with Ricardo Guindon, whose father was a part of the original group of Quakers from Alabama that settled in Monteverde. Hearing him describe his families journey and creating what lies here today was very interesting. The community started in 1951 when around 50 people traveled through Costa Rica for months searching for the perfect place to live. Eventually, they built their lives learning to live off the land even creating schools, selling goat products late developing an economy that now thrives off of tourism. It was definitely eye – opening to learn how much of an influence these people had on the area all that started out as a vision. This move significantly shaped not only the economy, but also the culture of this region. Their impact is obviously seen today as the region continues to attract visitors and stays true to their roots through multiple traditions, one being a mostly potluck and square dancing nights.