One moment from my homestay that I did not expect was how comfortable my host family seemed with silence. During meals, I felt pressure to keep the conversation going because in the U.S., silence can feel awkward or like the conversation is failing. Here, it did not feel that way. My host mom (Maria) would talk, eat, pause, and then continue naturally. At first, I thought I was doing something wrong or not being social enough. After a few meals, I realized that she may not treat every quiet moment as something that needs to be fixed. Sometimes sharing the same space is enough.

The Mercado Central and walking tour confirmed that first impression for me. The market looked crowded and a little inefficient at first because there were small stands, narrow walkways, and people stopping to talk instead of just moving quickly. From a Tico point of view, though, that slower pace makes sense because not everything needs to be rushed or filled. The market is not only a place to buy food. It is a place where people know each other, ask questions, talk to vendors, and stay connected to daily life. What might look inefficient to an outsider is actually part of the culture. Heredia showed me that Ticos seem to value relationships and presence more than speed, which connects directly to what I noticed during my homestay meals. Furthermore, when we went to the University of Costa Rica, the professor was explaining that Ticos care about relationships more than anything, and he also mentioned their lack of emphasis on time. Both of these ideas can be seen in how the market was operated, so I think even if sometimes things are inefficient, it is still useful.