One moment in my homestay that I did not really expect was how they always keep the dog outside. In the United States, everyone, for the most part, treats their dog like family. I am not saying that they don’t, but I noticed that the dog always stays in the backyard during the day and at night, and even when the sliding door is open, it chooses to stay out there like it was trained to. I have also noticed that a lot of other houses keep their dogs out front within the gated area every time we walk by. It was just really eye-opening to see new cultural norms.
Today in the Mercado Central, when we were doing the scavenger hunt, I noticed how friendly the workers were. Anytime I asked them a question, they were very willing to help me, and it was interesting that the store owners all knew where the other things were. It was like their own little community. This kind of confirms my first impression of how Ticos live because of the whole “Pura Vida” saying they have, which gives off a very friendly and welcoming vibe. But overall, seeing the market and being able to walk downtown was a really fun experience.
