So I have been here in San Jose, Costa Rica for three days now and I can already tell it’s going to be one of the best months of my life. As a person who thoroughly enjoys world travel, this trip is truly a treat for me. I can’t wait for all of the things I will inevitably experience in the next three weeks.
We arrived on Saturday at approximately one o’clock local time (two hour difference from EST), and the weather was rainy and overcast, just as I had expected. The majority of the group was on the same flight as me, and there was a charter bus waiting to pick all of us up at the airport. When we arrived at Veritas University, my housemother was already waiting for me. Her name is Elizibeta and I soon found out that she doesn’t speak a word of english. For me this was a blessing because it provides an opportunity for me to improve on my spanish speaking abilities. I was surprised to see how neat and clean her house was, garnished with nice wood furniture, hardwood floors, and tacky ceramic dolls. Divorced, she lives alone, but has plenty of family living next door and down the street. My roommate, Dan, arrived about two hours after I did, and he also speaks a little bit of spanish. We get along flawlessly as we use teamwork to translate conversations and get through the countless awkward situations with our Señora. My spanish has already improved significantly. Dan and I were quick to find the local, family owned bar down the street, ¨El Pescadito¨ where we soon ran into other thirsty Miami students. By the end of the second night, all 30 of us Miamians seem to be good friends.
The next morning I awoke to a blaring sun and the sound of many strange birds. Surprising enough, waking up early isn’t too difficult for me with the birds and car horns (the Costa Ricans are crazy drivers) outside my window. Sunday, we took a bus tour around the city of San Jose, which was fun and informational. We saw all the traditional tourist sites as well as other points of interest, unfortunately I forgot my camera. The city itself is quite beautiful (at least in the mornings when it is sunny) and is filled with diverse people and activities. San Jose is, for the most part, very modern and economically prosperous, though there are some slum-like areas. Another thing I noticed was the fact that it is quite dirtier than the United States, mainly because of the litter that can be found on some streets. The area where we are living is called Zapote, a mainly residential neighborhood with lots of nice people. The ¨Ticos¨ (what the Costa Ricans call themselves) are all VERY nice and VERY laid back. They do not rush to do anything, except when driving. A guest speaker told our class today that the Ticos have two personalities, one when they are behind the wheel and another when they are not. Everyone I have met, both in and out of the university have been friendly and helpful. I look forward to meeting many more Ticos on my trip.
So that was my first impression of Costa Rica. I have taken some good pictures which I hope to upload, once I figure out how.
Hasta Luego and Pura Vida.
