Today marks one week since we arrived in Costa Rica and I can’t believe we only have one more week left. Costa Rica is a country that runs on tourism and that is seen as soon as you arrive at the airport. There were souvenir shops and signs showcasing the wildlife that Costa Rica has. When entering our host city of Heredia, I thought that it seemed very much like Mexico. The houses and stores looked so similar. I noticed that many of the houses have locked garages for their cars. I imagined Heredia to be much smaller than it actually is. There are also so many people in the mornings that are walking their dogs and also in the afternoons. Also, dogs are allowed in the malls! I was very surprised to see many types of stores/restaurants that are in the U.S are also here. I also thought it would be way cheaper here, but it is not much cheaper at all. One difference between the U.S and Costa Rica is that people seem to appreciate family a lot more. In a household, it is very normal for the grandparents, parents, and children to live under the same roof. Another difference I have seen is that in Costa Rica the lifestyle is very different. We are used to very fast, always on the go but here people seemed much more laid back and not as stressed. I feel like I’ve already learned so much from this trip, but I really hope that I keep in contact with my host family and am able to recreate some of the meals our mamatica has made for us. I also hope that I am able to go back home and be inspired to learn more about other countries because it is so important to be knowledgeable about other countries when in an international market.
