There have been many things about the homestays that I did not expect. One of the first things that surprised me was the layout of the house. The front door and garage are basically the same entrance, and the back door to the patio is constantly open all day. I also learned that homes here do not really have exact addresses like they do in the United States. Instead, directions are usually based on landmarks and the locations of nearby places. At first, these things felt unusual to me because I am so used to things being more structured. However, I am beginning to see that Ticos focus more on familiarity and community.

Another thing I did not expect was how welcoming and trusting our host families would be. They are opening their homes to us, even though we are basically strangers. This morning, our host mom and her son both had to leave early for work and school, but before they left, she had him send us a video in English explaining where breakfast was and how to use the microwave and toaster oven. I thought that was such a thoughtful thing to do because it showed how much they cared about making us feel comfortable. Whenever we struggle to understand something in Spanish, she also takes the time to type it into Google Translate so we can communicate better. She is always looking out for us and making sure we are doing okay.

That same friendliness continued into the Mercado Central and throughout the streets of Heredia. Everywhere we walked, people greeted each other and seemed genuinely willing to help or talk. Instead of people quickly grabbing things and leaving, many people stopped to talk, eat at sodas, or interact with vendors. During our scavenger hunt, people were also always willing to help us. At one point near the end, we asked a very nice lady about one of the items we were trying to find, and even though she did not know the answer herself, she went and found someone else who could help us. In the end, we were able to find it and win the challenge, which made the whole experience even more fun. The market felt less rushed and more community oriented. Seeing that helped confirm my first impression that Ticos place a strong value on relationships and kindness in everyday life.