For the spring semester of 2024, I studied abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica. This was a partnership between The Ohio State University and the International Studies Abroad program that placed each student with a host family while we studied at the local university (Universidad Veritas). Throughout the experience, I had the opportunity to go on multiple program excursions throughout Costa Rica as well as travel with friends I met there. I was also able to practice Spanish with locals and explore various aspects of Costa Rica’s culture and history.

            I had never studied abroad previously and my primary reason for going started from me wanting to be completely immersed while completing my Spanish minor. I was hoping to learn more about the culture through things like cuisine, music, history, etc. I came into this with rather general expectations but can now gladly say that I was blown away. I am glad that I maintained the mindset to simply go with the flow of things and be open to new experiences. This allowed me to learn a lot about Costa Rica’s rich history and formed some unforgettable relationships along the way. The way I view the world and look at my own way of living has changed completely. I enjoyed the relaxed and more present pace of Costa Rica compared to the U.S. and have brought aspects like this back with me.

“Pura Vida” is a Costa Rican phrase I had heard before and knew it generally meant to take things easy and not worry or stress over them. I learned that this phrase was truly an integral part of Costa Rican culture. Nearly everyone says it multiple times a day whether it be to describe your day, greet someone, show appreciation, etc. I found out that this wasn’t just a phrase to use but was indeed a way of life. Similarly, there is another strong way of life that many people describe as “Tico Time”. This relates to taking life slow and living in the present. My teachers and host parents would describe this as not stressing to arrive at an event at a pre-determined time. This doesn’t apply to professional activities, but it is expected for locals to arrive at casual events later than the agreed-upon time. I have kept both of these notions with me since my return to the U.S. as a constant reminder to live in the moment and not stress over small things, especially the larger things that are out of my control; instead, find the brighter side of any seemingly bad situation.

            Another exciting piece of my study abroad was meeting new people. Looking back, it seems obvious, but I did not plan on meeting and building such strong relationships with the other students studying abroad from different schools or with my host parents. My host family was exceptional and surpassed my expectations; we ate meals together, went shopping, bought each other gifts and they even met my family. From talking with other students there, I know that many of them had a similar experience of becoming part of a family that expressed their love verbally and through so many kind acts. This encounter from the start really got me through any stages of homesickness or negative culture shock very quickly. The other students I met have become close friends of mine as well and we still keep in touch.

Although I was studying in San Jose, I did explore the surrounding 7 provinces of Costa Rica with friends. Traveling allowed me to see Costa Rica’s bountiful nature but also led me to learn about the surrounding cultures and people. Going out of the San Jose province to Alajuela is where I visited the Monteverde Cloud Rainforest which has become one of my favorite locations. Moving down to Puntarenas, I was able to visit some of the National parks as well as the various beaches. Towards the eastern side of the country, I was exposed to an entire shift in the people and language as this was a much more Caribbean side of Costa Rica. These experiences have left me wanting to return and also ignited a desire to discover new cultures and environments in other parts of the world.

Overall, this experience surpassed my expectations of what I could learn from studying abroad. My initial goal of practicing Spanish came easily, and I went on to experience much more aside from this. Most importantly, I was able to actively participate in a culture quite different from my own which has changed the way that I view the world and how I live my life day to day. I have a new desire to explore the world around me not simply to learn a language or for neat scenery but rather to experience a different and enriching way of life. I plan to continue learning about the many differences between cultures around the world and hope to continue experiencing them firsthand.