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