Today we got a tour around Heredia and did a scavenger hunt in Mercado Central. During our walking tour and our scavenger hunt I noticed the same kind of energy everywhere we went. The market was busy and loud but people were still patient, friendly, and willing to help us when we got confused trying to find items. I had an amazing time trying to communicate with the locals and we even made it on the news! I also noticed how important community seems here. People knew each other, stopped to talk, and supported small businesses instead of rushing around like people usually do at home.

One thing that honestly surprised me during my homestay so far was how welcoming and caring my host family has been. I expected them to be nice, but I didn’t expect to feel so comfortable so quickly. Even with little language barriers sometimes, they still make an effort to include me in conversations, meals, and everyday life. It made me realize that the kindness we learned about in class really is a big part of how Ticos live. Everyone seems to value family, connection, and making people feel at home.

The walking tour and market definitely confirmed my first impression of Tico culture. Before coming here I thought Costa Rica would be very welcoming and community focused and so far that has been true. We learned in class that for people in Costa Rica seeing somebody else on the street is a sense of relief and is calming to them. Seeing the way people interact with each other in everyday places made everything we learned feel more real. It’s cool to actually experience the “Pura Vida” lifestyle like an authentic Tico!