I didn’t know what to expect when coming to Costa Rica to stay with a host family. Was my host family going to speak English? Was I going to like the food? Would they like me? All these questions were running through my head, but I had no need to worry because my host family is lovely. Our host mom, Julia, is the sweetest and her food is delicious. Even though she doesn’t speak much English, we talk with her at the dinner table through broken Spanish, pictures, and acting out what we are trying to say. It is a bonding experience like no other, both for my roommates and me, as well as with our host family because, even though it is unspoken, everyone knows that we are all trying our best.

On the first day we arrived, our host mom’s son Diego came and helped us through our conversations and interactions, and we have met other friends and family during our stay so far. Today, the house was being cleaned by Daniella, and our host mom told us that she was our second mother. I didn’t expect everyone to be so family-centered, not just with immediate family but with anyone close to them. It is refreshing to see and experience the strong relationships that exist in Costa Rica and how friendly and welcoming people are towards one another.

At the Mercado today, while completing our scavenger hunt, when we stopped to ask locals where items were or what they were called, they were all so welcoming and willing to help. If they didn’t know the exact answer, they were more than happy to point us toward someone who could. The sense of community in Costa Rica is front and center in every interaction I have had so far. I am looking forward to seeing what the rest of the trip brings and the people we will get to meet.