So far on this trip, my experience with my homestay family has been great. I have gotten to practice and improve my Spanish skills and learn more about what living in Costa Rica is truly like. One thing that has surprised me from living with my family is that they always have their front door open during the day. In Rochester, NY where I am from, you would never see this from people. It goes to show how welcoming the people of Costa Rica truly are. I asked my mom why it was always open, and she said because she wants people to feel welcomed.
Today during my experiences at the market confirmed how welcoming the people of Costa Rica are. Considering my Spanish is not perfect, I was a bit nervous at first when it came to approaching people about where I could find certain items. After my first few interactions, I realized how helpful people are and how they care about you. All the people I asked easily could’ve said no but they were all so kind. My first 2 days in this beautiful country has showed me that the Ticos are some of the most welcoming people out there.