I have officially arrived in Costa Rica for my first study abroad experience. I am so fascinated with this beautiful country already. In just three short days, I have stood atop an active volcano, taken a traditional dance and cooking class, and attended my first classes at La Universidad Latina de Heredia. This experience has already been life changing. As anticipated, it has taken some time to adjust to the language, culture, and pace of Costa Rican life. The locals truly embrace the nearly untranslatable phrase “pura vida” which equates to a laid back attitude and stress-free environment. The food is delicious, minus the 10+ fruits I’ve already tried, and I have successfully navigated the city by bus to get to our home that is approximately 30 minutes from the university. Some things are quite different, however, such as the lack of respect for meeting times and deadlines and the fact that you can’t flush toilet paper because they do not have functioning septic systems. Luckily, the water in Heredia is potable and I haven’t experience too many problems with eating and drinking well. My roommate and I are becoming incredibly comfortable moving about the city freely and our host mom, “Mama Tica”, is one of the most loving individuals I have ever encountered. My course in literature is certainly going to be intense and challenging during this next month, but I am excited to be part of such a small class with a fluent student population. I can’t wait to see what this next week has in store!
With love from La Universidad Latina,
Sarah Alexandra
