The first thing I noticed when walking out of the Costa Rican airport was that it reminded me of Mexico. The roofs of the buildings were different colors and most of them had a specific style that is very similar to buildings in Mexico. The next, probably most prevalent aspect I noticed was that all of the people just seemed content. We drove past a few parks and there were families relaxing and living their lives with a freedom that was mesmerizing. We even saw a few families napping on picnic blankets together and grandmothers playing frisbee with their granddaughters. I’m in awe of the basically nonexistent level of anxiety in this country, as well as how full of life all of the people are.
In regards to the city of Heredia in which we are residing, the town is smaller than expected and we were recommended not to be out past 6 or 7 pm because it can be dangerous. Heredia is not a very touristy city, so I feel like we are being introduced to what true life is like in Costa Rica outside of the attractions and tourism. The city is not luxurious and there are not many activities to do, however, the Costa Rican woman that I’m staying with for the duration of the trip makes everything feel very at home. I’m from San Antonio and my grandma only speaks Spanish, so staying with my homestay here in Costa Rica reminds me a lot of staying at my grandma’s house in San Antonio.
Lastly, my initial impression of this business program has been difficult to formulate because I did not have many expectations coming into this study abroad. So far, I have noticed that our faculty really cares about the quality of experiences we are receiving here in Costa Rica. They want to make sure that we are enjoying the activities and listening to what the different lectures have to offer us as students. They also care that we are truly experiencing the Costa Rican culture and they consistently ask us about it as well. I did expect more formal lectures from the businesses we have spoken to, but I think not all of the business owners/workers were aware they were going to deliver a speech on the growth of their company. I’m excited for what the rest of the trip has in store for us, and I hope to learn more about Latin American markets and Costa Rica this next week.