Back to 'Merica

Tomorrow marks exactly three months since I came to Costa Rica. I have officially been here 90 days and only have 9 left before I head back to the U.S. This place has become a home away from home for me and it is so bittersweet to think of all of the memories and people I am leaving behind. However, I cannot help but look forward to all of the amazing people and things I have to look forward to back in Minnesota and Iowa. I've been a little (or terribly) bad at posting blogs about the rest of my time here but I found it difficult to turn away from the minimal amount of time I had left with the people who became like family to me; who, unfortunately, are already back in the states spread all over the country. I am so lucky and so fortunate to have met such amazing people that have affected my life in such positive ways and helped me gain a new perspective on what it truly means to live out "pura vida".

In the past few weeks I've spent not blogging I have been able to try some really cool things:

• SURFING - Yes, I did actually stand up, and even though my arms were dead the next day it was so so so worth it. It almost makes me want to move to California and "shred the gnar" for the rest of my life, or nah.
• Swimming in a waterfall - we hiked, or climbed over 1,000s of boulders, to get to Catarata Uvita

    

•  Paintball - my brother would be so proud. I even received battle wounds to prove it. 
• Experienced St. Patrick's Day - An Irish holiday in a Hispanic country, it was great.
• Hiked a volcano to its crater- Volcán Poas

• Attended a Costa Rica vs. Paraguay national fútbol (soccer) game - we tied 0-0 so it was super exciting
• Finished my study abroad program! Finals are done and now its just traveling around CR

Now that my San José program is done, I am spending the last two weeks in Costa Rica traveling around with my mom and her friend, Kelli. We are currently in Guanacaste and spending the next few days at a hotel that is quite a drastic difference from the small hostels I am used to. The reverse culture shock is already starting to set in as I am not able to speak Spanish constantly, my friends are gone, and I am being pushed back into the American way of life. It will definitely be an adjustment heading home to the crazy U.S. instead of remaining in the laid back Latin American culture, but I cannot wait. I am so thankful for this study abroad experience and although it will be hard saying goodbye to the life that I have known for the last three months, I could not be more excited to say hello to the future ahead of me.

The best abroad friends I could've asked for + Sierra

Pura Vida,
Serena
 

Panama and Friends

This week (written March 9th) marks only three weeks left in my program. I am officially done taking Spanish classes and therefore only have two classes for the rest of the trimester and more free time than I ever could have asked for. What is school again? I now spend most of my week days visiting cool cafes, discovering new areas of the city and spending time with my friends. We only have 19 days left in our program and it has all of a sudden hit us how quickly this time is going to run out.

DysFUNctional friends

This past weekend a large group of us visited Bocas del Toro, Panama (a Pinterest destination) and were lucky enough to swim next to a real live jelly fish, snorkel over a coral reef and visit a beach covered in starfish, Playa de las Estrellas (beach of the stars). I have never seen something so gorgeous in my entire life. It was one of those moments that made me realize that I am actually in a foreign country, on a casual weekend trip to renew my Costa Rican visa, and on a vacation that people dream (or pin) about visiting. Now after seeing all of this I want to visit pretty much every country in the world to see what the whole world has to offer. Now accepting applications for a travel buddy!

On Saturday we visited Red Frog Beach on another island off of Bocas. Here we saw the biggest waves and the strongest currents I've ever experienced. The water was perfect bath water temperature and life could not have been greater. For lunch however, we ordered pescado con papas (fish and chips) where I was met by an entire fish. It literally had the head, eyes and tail still attached. After covering and wrapping the face in a napkin, we somehow managed to enjoy the fish even though I am forever scarred. When abroad try new things I guess, right?

Delicious, am I right...?

Find Kappa sisters abroad? Check!

This next weekend we are visiting Uvita which is on the coast of Costa Rica where I am going to learn how to surf! I am beyond excited and can't wait to head back to the states as a pro surfer, or at least a girl can dream. With the clock counting down on our time here, I am trying to try everything I can and learn as much about this culture as possible. Here's to the next few weeks!

Pura Vida,
Serena

"Studying" Abroad

This past Saturday marked the halfway point of my study abroad program in San José, wow. Time really does fly by when you're having fun. I cannot actually believe that I have less than 6 weeks left of school and then only a few days traveling around afterwards. Looking back over the past month and a half, I am amazed at everything I have been able to do.

So far I have:

• Zip lined through the tree tops on the longest zip line in Central America

• Stayed in a hotel on a volcano
• Seen monkeys in the wild from less than a foot away
• Learned how to use public transportation (I can now easily use the public bus and taxis with ease - yes, this was hard for me before)
• Slept in a hammock by the beach and woken up at 5am to watch the sunset
• Eaten rice and beans for 95% of all meals I've eaten here - gallo pinto, white rice, yellow rice, red beans, black beans - you name it, I've eaten it.

If that's not a pretty good list for a six week span then I don't know what is. However, I refuse to leave Costa Rica without trying to learn how to surf so we shall see how that goes. 

I have definitely adjusted to the slow, easy pace of living here and am really loving it. In the US, everybody (or most people at least) are always in a rush and multitasking in order to get everything done. Here with tico time, usually people are late and behind schedule. My Spanish professor

Typical Costa Rican food

didn't show up till 30 minutes after class was supposed to start today but none of us Americans were complaining. Life is so laid back, people seem to be a lot less stressed and I'm kinda loving it.

To anyone still on the fence about studying abroad or possibly considering it, I would highly encourage it. While there have been trying times, my new outlook on the world since leaving the US is truly priceless. Living in a foreign country has been such an eye opening experience and I believe that no matter where someone travels abroad (I will convince anyone I can to visit Costa Rica), they will gain an understanding of the world beyond any they could have had living in the United States. Being taken out of your comfort zone in a new and strange country is definitely hard, but it rewards you with more than you could ever ask for or realize, and for that I am so grateful.

Just kinda happy

Pura Vida,
Serena

Life is Good

I have now been in Costa Rica for 20 days. Life is good, God is good, and I am so thankful to have been given this opportunity to study abroad here. I have been blessed with some amazing new friends, an awesome host mom, and memories I wish that every person that the chance to have. Each day is even better than the last and each weekend brings even better beaches along with it. So far these 3 weeks have been non-stop going places and trying new things so it is nice to finally be getting in a routine.

This past weekend we visited one of the most popular beaches in Costa Rica, Tamarindo, where some students through the program along with myself went on a day-long catamaran ride. Food, drinks, snorkeling, and a phenomenal view included all added up to create an unforgettable day. Minus the gallons (little exaggeration) of salt water I ingested while snorkeling and fighting the current, it was definitely one of the greatest days yet. I was even able to hold a porcupine (puffer) fish which was pretty neat.

Clearly having the time of my life.

Never before have I been more appreciative of my friends and family back home in the states than I have been this past week. As much as I love being here, being away from both of my homes (Prior Lake and Drake) has become somewhat difficult. Let me tell you, Skype is a beautiful thing. To anyone back home reading this, I appreciate you. I have become so thankful and realized how lucky I am to have such fantastic people in my life, both here and in the states. Life is not always easy, but I am fortunate enough to have people who make it fun and worth loving. If there's one thing I have learned while being abroad so far it's that I need to appreciate where I am and who I am with in the moment. As cheesy as it sounds (very cheesy I know, sry 'bout it) it is making me value each second of this trip even more.

On another less sappy note, I recently went out and did some mission work with the group of missionaries my roommate, Kelli, works with. In Costa Rica prostitution is legal and there is an abundance of prostitutes out on the cold streets at night. For about 4 hours, we drove around downtown and stopped when possible to talk, hand out cookies and coffee, and prayed for all of the men and women prostitutes we were able to. It was such a crazy night but I cannot wait to go back out and talk to those people again. Although it was a little intimidating at first, it ended up being so cool getting to talk to and love on people who really need it. We definitely could never do that in the US!

This weekend we are traveling to Monteverde and I finally get to cross off another thing on my bucket list. We are going zip lining above the trees through the forest on the longest zip line in all of Central America. I'm just a little excited. It's so cool to be able to travel all over the place every weekend and get to see more and more of this beautiful country. 78 more days to see every bit of it possible. :)

Pura Vida,
Serena

Manuel Antonio

This weekend was definitely one for the books. Not only did I get the chance to spend a few days with some super cool people, but we also were able to see one of the prettiest sights I've ever seen in my entire life. Floating in the warm water and taking in the breathtaking view, I think it finally hit me that I am actually in Costa Rica, like this is actually real and not just a dream. Although, it definitely still feels like it.

This is what we walked up to on the end of a park trail

 

 

Staying in a hostel was definitely an interesting experience. Compared to "cold" San José (70 degrees actually feels pretty chilly here), Quepos was hot, humid, and very different. A few of my friends and I ended up going to a bonfire on the beach with the kids from the other study abroad program at our school, AIFS. Hanging out by the bonfire on the sand and standing in the ocean were not even the least of it. A huge group of kids saved a puffer fish that had washed up on shore. This involved around 7 people scooping the fish up with flip flops and a jacket and tossing it back in the water as I stood by, watched, and gave moral support (lol).

Drake takes Costa Rica

On Saturday we had to pay to go into Manuel Antonio National Park. It was $3 for locals and $16 for tourists so I'm pretty sure we got ripped off, but oh well. Pura Vida, right? However, as soon as we started walking, it was totally worth it. Not even 10 minutes in we were surrounded by monos (monkeys). They were all around us in the trees and around our feet. It was so cool and I felt like a little kid when I got super excited and took probably 1,000 pictures.

The rest of the day we spent on the beach. We walked around on the sand, climbed rocks and eventually ended up napping in the shade once we realized how burnt we were. Forgetting my sunscreen at home and ending up looking like a lobster on Sunday was definitely not one of my proudest moments... Although I'm having to pay for it now, the day was more than worth it.

S/O to Maddie Kyle for actually taking pictures while I sat

 

I also ate my first Costa Rican casado (or two) this weekend which is pretty much just a huge plate of food consisting of salad, plantains, meat, rice and beans. Like I said earlier, food is life and thanks to my mama tica and the abundance of food served here I am certainly not going hungry. However, I did just finish the last of my American food that I brought with me so granola bars and dark chocolate pomegranate seeds are sadly out of the picture.

Un Casado con pollo = heaven

Life is definitely not boring down here in Central America and each day just keeps getting better and better, minus the painful sunburns. I am beginning to miss everyone back home more and more but knowing that I have less than 3 months left in this beautiful country only makes me want to cherish each moment I have. With my improving Spanish and growing friendships, I know that my time here is only beginning and there is so much to come. Life is short and I don't want to waste any minute of it here in Costa Rica.

Pura Vida,
Serena

Culture Shock

So many people warned me prior to beginning this trip about the huge culture shock I would experience once going abroad. Visiting a developing country, living there for 3+ months, and being away from the culture that I have been surrounded by my entire life would be a big awakening I was told. However, I have not experienced this "shock" at all yet. So, either a) I'm completely oblivious to the fact that I am in a new culture, b) People just wanted to scare me, or c) This place actually is the happiest place in the world and I finally get to live in it. I choose option c. Life in Costa Rica is better than I ever could have imagined and even though the first week isn't even over yet, I know I have made friendships that will last a lifetime.

Before leaving the U.S., someone close to me showed me the quote by John Steinbeck, "A journey is a person in itself, no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip, a trip takes us." Being here, I now realize how true this really is. Looking at the past few days and seeing the best moments, I never could have planned a single one of them. The other day my friend, Maddie, and I snuck out onto a patio upstairs at our school and stumbled upon one of the prettiest sunsets I have ever seen. Although pictures cannot even give the slightest hint at how beautiful it was we definitely tried our best.  I have learned that the best moments here in Costa Rica happen when I least expect it. I am not taking this trip anymore, it is definitely "taking" me and showing me all that life really has to offer.

Please ignore me photobombing the amazing sunset

We also began classes this week which sort of reminded me that although this feels like vacation I actually do have to attend school and do work (or try and fit it in somewhere). How could I possibly want to do homework when the beach is calling my name? However, we've managed to find a balance, and praise the Lord for professors who do not give homework on Friday's here. Professors at Drake really could learn a thing or two from "Pura Vida"... lol jk. Another thing that they offer at la Universidad Veritas are Spanish dance classes at night where we try to learn how to salsa, etc (key word: try). Unfortunately, my previous dance "skills" from high school have disappeared and do not help me whatsoever. Maybe someday...

My home

 This weekend a few of my friends (yes, I have made friends) and I are also traveling to Manuel Antonio which is a National Park and beach where I am told I will be able to see monkeys, sloths and toucans. We have not visited the beach yet or stayed in a hostel out of San José so this weekend shall prove if we are good travelers or not. Wish me luck.

Downtown San José, roommates are on my L & R

With almost a week into this trip I cannot wait to see what the next few have in store. Although I miss my family and friends in Minnesota and Iowa, I know this opportunity is once in a lifetime and I am so excited to see what I am going to learn and experience in these coming months.

Pura Vida,
Serena

Life in San José

So day number two is already coming to a close and I figured I might as well start a blog to keep whoever in the US would actually like to know about my life in Costa Rica up to date (or at least try). In no way do I promise this to be well written or entertaining because I'm pretty much the farthest thing from being an English or Journalism major but here goes nothing...

After arriving yesterday I was immediately thrown into and immersed in the tico (Costa Rican locals) culture. My mama tica is absolutely wonderful and does not speak any English which has already forced me to pull out the remaining Spanish I have stored away somewhere. After a few awkward incidences of nodding and smiling when instead I was supposed to be answering a question, I have finally begun to remember the language and speak a little better. With school starting on Tuesday and having Spanish classes Monday-Friday from 8am-12pm hopefully that improves and I won't be so clueless in my own home... whoops.

Today we spent most of the day downtown in San José (which is about 15 minutes from my home by bus) walking around and trying to get a better feel of where we will be spending the next three months. I can already see myself falling in love with this country and cannot wait to go exploring on our future excursions and trips to the city. Clearly us Americans stick out like sore thumbs because we were being stared at constantly  by locals. Dressing differently, speaking English, and traveling in a pack of 6-8 international students definitely attracted quite a bit of unwanted attention, but hey mom at least I'm making friends, right?

Life is certainly going to be extremely different living in Costa Rica compared to Des Moines or Prior Lake as I have already become completely aware of. Even after two days spent in this country I have already learned several things:

• "Tico time" is a real thing - life moves slow here and things do not start on time compared to fast-paced life in the US
• I am a "gringa" - it is very obvious that I am a girl from the US and according to the locals I will not be losing that label
• Food here is amazing - Food is life and I am sure to be happy here because of it

My lunch today and you better believe I finished it.

•  Unlike the United States, cars do not stop for you, much less do they care if they hit you
• Life is about experiencing - I have learned more in the past two days experiencing a new culture and country than I have in the past six months (sorry professors)
• Costa Rica is one of the most underrated countries ever. If you have never been, put it on your bucket list. I guarantee you will fall in love.

Pura Vida,
Serena