Hello my home

It has been less than 12 hours since I was last in Costa Rica. What a strange transition! When I got to the Fort Lauderdale airport I ordered a coffee, and as I left the stand I said 'gracias' rather than 'thank you'. Every time that I encounter a new person I prepare myself to respond in Spanish, and it takes me a few seconds to realize once again that I no longer need to speak to everyone in a different language, that once again I am in the land of my native tongue.

This is both a good and bad thing, I suppose. It is wonderful to not have to think about how to conjugate verbs and remember vague vocabulary that I learned once upon a time. On the other hand, I worry that not practicing Spanish every day for hours will really diminish the skills I have learned in the last six weeks. I feel like I will begin to forget when to use usted vs. tú, or forget what mantequilla de maní is. I am especially worried that I will deplete my Spanish skills within this school year before I will be going to Chile, where I will be staying for a year.

I guess that this just means that I will have to keep up my skills until I study abroad once more! I have heard that there are several ways to do this. One method is to listen to Spanish podcasts in my free time (Coffee Break Spanish, news in Spanish, etc.) Another is to attend Spanish practice sessions on the NAU campus, like Tertulia and Teletandem. Most of all, I think I need to force myself to practice my language skills on my own- to think in Spanish.

After getting only a brief 6-week taste of study abroad life, I've caught the travel bug. I can't wait until I get to study abroad again in Chile, and hopefully visit plenty of that country along with the surrounding countries. Study abroad is a really beautiful experience that allows students to learn about a new culture, help improve language skills, and most importantly (for me, anyway), get to see what life is like outside of the comfort zone. Despite the struggles I went through, I can't imagine a better way to spend my time as an undergraduate student.

Since my traveling has come to an end (at least for now), I would like to thank all of the people who have shared this journey with me, including my professors, peers, family, and anyone who has read this blog! I hope it has helped you learn something new about the beautiful country of Costa Rica.

Pura Vida,
Nicole

Ciao Costa Rica!

Well my time in Costa Rica is coming to an end! I can't believe that the six weeks I was here flew by so quickly.

Technically I am staying in Costa Rica for 7 weeks total. My family took a trip down to see me and we decided to take a week and explore new parts of this beautiful country. We are currently staying in Guanacaste province, which is absolutely breathtaking!

Coming to realize that this NAU study abroad program was coming to an end was hard for me. Looking back, I can't believe how much I have changed and grown since I first went to pre-departure orientation. At that time, I figured that Costa Rica would just be a good opportunity to practice my Spanish. That's it. I didn't think in my wildest dreams that I would become so attached to this country and make such amazing lifelong friends! This program has been everything that I wanted it to be and so much more.

Our 'graduation' ceremony was held in the Fidélitas auditorium, which was filled with students, host families, professors, and some U.S. families as well! Even now I'm still sort of unsure as to why it is called a graduation...it's really just a ceremony. Hearing the words of the professors about their experiences with the students actually brought tears to my eyes, simply because I think we all knew how special this time was for each individual. After all was said and done, I think that this ceremony was a beautiful way to wrap up our program.

The hardest part for me was saying goodbye to my tican family. From the very start of this trip they were my comfort, especially when I was just beginning to try out my Spanish and get accustomed to the Costa Rican culture. Both my families, tican and U.S., came together for a dinner on Friday night of sushi and birthday cake (as my host sister has a birthday next week that we won't be here for) and sat around the table laughing for several hours. My mamá tica even said that she felt like she had known my parents for years rather than just for 2 days! I wasn't sure if I would cry or not when I had to leave, but sure enough I did. The students and the professors from this program are people that I will be able to see again, but being able to come back and visit my host family will be much harder. Despite all this, it gives me comfort that I will always have another family waiting for me in Costa Rica.

If you are thinking about studying abroad in Costa Rica, I can't recommend it highly enough. You will have the opportunity to not only intensively study a language, but form bonds with students, professors, and a new family! Every day will be a new adventure, whether you are on a weekend excursion or simply exploring the city of San Jose. Even as this chapter of my life comes to a close, a new chapter opens, and I hope that I can use the lessons I have learned in the past six weeks to make my future adventures even better.

Packing for Costa Rica

As my trip came to a close, there were some things that I wish I had brought, and some things that I probably could have done without. I would like to share with you some of my accidents so that you don't do the same if you are thinking of coming to Costa Rica in the future! (P.S. I added in some random photos that have nothing to do with a packing list but I liked them)

1. Sunscreen and Bugspray
You probably already guessed that if you are coming to Costa Rica that you will probably have to bring sunscreen and bugspray. For me, the bugspray was a must! Several students looked like they had chicken pox after all the bug bites they got (myself included) and trust me, it wasn't fun. Sunscreen really depends on the person. I myself do not burn very easily, but there were other students that turned into tomatoes after a day in the sun. Word of the wise- sunscreen and bugspray are cheaper in the US! Stock up before you come.

2. Rain Gear
If you are coming during summer break, rain gear is a must. During our summer it is rainy season in Costa Rica, which means constant rain showers each afternoon (very hard rain showers I might add). Rain jackets are often pretty helpful, but mainly I would suggest bringing something to cover your backpack. Even if you have an umbrella, often times it won't cover your backpack when you walk, only your body, so having something to keep your books from being rained on is a pretty nice thing to have.


3.  Toiletries
Obviously the needs for each person will vary, but there are certainly things that I brought that I wouldn't have if I had known. For one, (this is mainly for girls), bringing a straightener or curling iron is useless. I brought my straightener and used it only once- for graduation. Btw, the curls stayed in for about one hour before falling straight again. Save the room in your luggage!

If you wear contacts, be sure to bring more than you think you might need. For me, I brought 5 pairs. I only actually needed three of them, but it was nice to have backups if a pair broke or got dirty in the ocean. Also, be sure to bring contact solution and cleaning solution!

Weekend Adventures (part 2)

Hello again!


I started my last post with some information on what each of the weekend trips consisted of. The last two were honestly probably my favorite trips of the entire experience, so I can't wait to share my experiences with you!\


Weekend 4: Arenal and Monteverde

Wow! What an experience this weekend was.
We started off by traveling to Arenal (4 hours in a bus...not that fun) which is known mainly for its volcano! On this trip we took time to go to a hot spring resort, where there was a gorgeous view of the volcano, a ton of different pools to swim through, and even some waterslides! What I enjoyed most about this part was getting to go down the waterslides; I wasn't a huge fan of how industrialized the natural hot springs were. However, I know that a lot of the other students absolutely adored the hot springs (p.s. we ate a giant buffet for dinner). The following morning a few of the students decided to hike out to a swimming hole area and just spend the morning there, which I liked much more than the hot springs, simply because it was an example of what natural beauty can be found throughout Costa Rica. We also got to visit a beautiful waterfall in Arenal! All of Arenal was absolutely breathtaking, and I had some of my favorite experiences here.

The same day we traveled to Monteverde. First off, the cabins we stayed in in Monteverde were amazing!! A few of my friends were commenting on how they wouldn't mind honeymooning there just because the view and cute setup of the cabins was so perfect. The area we stayed in was tucked into a secluded part of Monteverde with no neighbors that we could see, which I know that I adored. The main attraction of Monteverde is that it is the ultimate adventure spot! Day two in Monteverde we got to go zip lining through a beautiful rainforest, which included high speeds and a Tarzan rope. I opted to also go bungee jumping, and I am so happy I did! I think I would have regretted it if I hadn't.

Basically, this weekend is the perfect choice for you if you love adventures and the outdoors, even though it isn't set at the beach.

Weekend 5: Bocas del Toro, Panama

Panama seemed to be the favorite trip for many of the students this summer, and for good reason! Bocas del Toro is a beautiful area of Panama, and almost every store and restaurant is right on the water or very near to it. It was really cool to be able to have dinner and then go for a swim by jumping off the dock right next to our table! 

Panama is a rather expensive trip, but it does include a lot of amenities. Lodging, snorkeling, beautiful remote islands that we take a boat to...all part of what we paid upfront. I think part of what made Panama so special to me was that it was our last weekend before everyone was going to go their separate ways for summer break. Being able to spend our last weekend together in such a beautiful area made it all worthwhile. 

Some of the other activities we did included going on a boat to see dolphins (they were adorable btw) and visiting a starfish beach, where every 10 feet or so you would spot a starfish. Being able to relax on beaches and soak up the sun was a well deserved reward for all of us after spending 6 weeks struggling to communicate in Spanish in a country very different from our own. 

It is sad to see our adventures together come to an end, but the great thing is that we will all always have these memories to look back on and remember fondly. Plus, it helps that we all go to the same school!

Weekend Adventures (part 1)

Hi friends!

After now having gone on every single weekend excursion offered (!!!), I have some pieces of advice to give to each person debating each weekend.

Weekend 1: Puerto Viejo, Limón

The first weekend was probably one of my favorite excursions! Puerto Viejo is a small town with a very Caribbean vibe- lots of vibrant colors, a relaxed atmosphere, and really wonderful people. Most of the time there we spent exploring the beaches and visiting cute shops around town. Probably my favorite activity was the bike ride we took down the main street of Puerto Viejo, simply because there were so many animals and natural beauty to see! If you really like relaxing and enjoying the wonders of nature, then this trip is for you.



Weekend 2: Doña Rosa, Jacó, and Cartago

The second weekend consisted of a lot of traveling. Each day we took a trip to a different area of Costa Rica. Friday we traveled to Doña Rosa, which was a farm focused on giving as much back to the earth as they took from it. Out of the entire weekend, this was for sure my favorite day, just because I learned so much about farming and the idea of keeping our world safe for future generations. Day two consisted of some hiking through the beautiful Carara park and spending time on Jacó beach (I got to surf!!) If you really want to see some beautiful scenery, this is a great day to do so. Carara national park is a sanctuary for macaws and also is filled to the brim with iguanas! Cartago was probably the day that consisted the most of traveling, just because each place we went to had to be driven to. First we visited a botanical garden, followed by the Basilica de Los Angeles, and we even took a trip to a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. All of these trips in between places took a while, and toward the end of the day I know that I was pretty tired. Just a heads up for anyone thinking about doing the day 3 trip, be prepared for lots of travel!


Weekend 3: Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio was an adventure to say the least. Naturally, all of Manuel Antonio was beautiful; it is surrounded by beaches and lush green forests and animals all around! However, it is also a very tourist-heavy spot. If I'm being honest, all of the areas we went to were pretty tourist heavy; however, Manuel Antonio was even more so. I am not personally the type that enjoys visiting the touristy areas, so for me that was sort of a turn off for this trip. That being said, I still really enjoyed the activities in Manuel Antonio and the beautiful beaches we got to visit!

Pura Vida Mae

Hello everyone!

I would like to start this blog off by explaining the meaning of "pura vida". As some of you may or may not know, this phrase is sort of a trademark saying in Costa Rica. I have encountered the "pura vida" phrase in a million different situations. For example, when you ask someone, "¿cómo estás?" they can respond with "pura vida." In contrast, when you are saying goodbye, the same phrase can be used. Or when you run into someone at the store. Or if you are asking about someone's children.

You probably get the point; "pura vida" is a go-to-phrase here. Well this saying directly translates to signify "pure life." Beautiful, right? The culture here is very much a go-with-the-flow, don't worry about the small things sort of a place. At first this sort of lifestyle takes some getting used to, especially if you are accustomed to the fast-paced lifestyle of many Americans as I was.

The first weekend when we were traveling we weren't given an itinerary until the night before, and none of us had a clear idea of exactly what we were doing. However, as one of my teachers explained it, "we have a plan! However, when our plans have to change, we don't sweat it." I am very much a person who is comfortable when there is a set plan and hourly explanation of what is going on. At first, this sort of a lifestyle made me more nervous and paranoid than it made me relaxed. However, as I have started getting used to my life in Costa Rica, the "pura vida" setting has become easier, and I have started to really enjoy it!

This expression displays a distinct difference between Costa Rican and United States culture. Rather than fighting against it, I've found it's easier to embrace it and enjoy it!

The adventurous Manuel Antonio weekend

Describing the past weekend as an "adventure" is really an understatement. Also, it has perhaps too happy a connotation.

I'll start this tale from the beginning. As all our trips seem to begin, we started with a bus ride. The bus ride was actually not too bad; I enjoy the scenery as it flies by outside the window. I mean, how can you not enjoy the scenery when you're in Costa Rica? We arrived in Manuel Antonio at around midday and decided to hit the beach.

The beaches in Manuel Antonio are absolutely stunning. Crystal clear aquamarine ocean, cream colored sand, and cute little colorful umbrellas spotted all across the beach. So naturally this was the place where things decided to go wrong. If you don't know me, I am actually a very spacey person...I would probably forget my head if it weren't attached to my body. Knowing this, it will make sense that during our lovely time spent on the beach, I lost my phone!

However, I can't stress enough how small a problem this is in the grand scheme of things. At first I was naturally devastated; I was worried about paying for a new phone and trying to get around without one (sounds very millennial of me doesn't it?). Eventually, I realized that it could have been a lot worse. I still have my health, communication, a family, my life- so many things to be grateful for that this small loss doesn't matter too much.

Actually, losing my phone might have been a blessing in disguise. I was able to disconnect for a while and get to really try and figure things out without the aid of a handheld computer. I took a trip to Mall San Pedro to buy a cheap phone that I can use to make calls and text; I actually completed that trip successfully! It was wonderful to realize that even without something that I rely on heavily on a daily basis that I am still easily able to function and get around a foreign country.

Basically, the moral of this story is it's okay if some small things go wrong on your time abroad! It's not the end of the world.

To Make a House a Home

If I've learned anything while in Costa Rica it is that a house isn't a home without the love of a family. I have been in houses before that feel empty and almost lonely, even with people living within them. Luckily, neither of my homes (Pinetop and Costa Rica) are just houses. I have felt the love of people both in Arizona and in Costa Rica.


Aside from the adventures that we have on the weekends, I spend the most time with my mama tica. She is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Costa Rican mannerisms and culture, and almost every night she teaches me something new about her home. This week, mama tica taught me about a few "tican" words, including "jale (let's go!)", "macha (blonde)", and "cosi (cute or cool)". There are actually a lot of words here that are very specific to Costa Rica, but mean something completely different in other countries, including Mexico! It just goes to show how different language can be depending on the country.

One of the most beautiful things about being in a new country is being able to share cultures. Last night, I was able to make sushi for my family (I am part Japanese). Luckily, my mama tica adores Japanese culture, and I was able to share some of my experiences and culture with her, just as she has been sharing her own with me.

It is sad that my program only lasts for six weeks. I feel as if I can only skim the surface of the rich Costa Rican culture in my time here. Hopefully I will be able to return later (hopefully with better Spanish skills), and share more of my memories and indulge in the tican culture once more.

But First- Coffee

Hi friends!

Have you ever been to a coffee farm? Today, I got the opportunity to visit one! Actually, the entire day was sort of a crazy whirlwind of different activities. First, we took a trip to visit El Jardín de Niños. While we were here we paired up with young children (1-4 years old). How cute is that? I was impressed by how friendly and excited the kids were; I got to be a kid again!

After this short segment of the day, the rest of the trip was focused around La Finca Integral Doña Rosa. I didn't understand the title when I first arrived in the little portion of paradise. However, after talking with our guides and leaders, I learned that Doña Rosa is centered around sustainability and giving back to the earth as much as we plan to take from it. For example, the stalks of corn are fed to the farm animals, like the chickens and goats, and then the animals turn these crops back into fertilizer for the earth. Learning about such a sensible and beautiful process really opened my eyes to the way that agriculture should be run throughout the world.

A part of our tour included getting to learn about the process behind making cane sugar. Since we didn't have an ox to turn the cane machine, we used people instead, which was quite humorous. It was interesting to think about all the work that goes into making sugar- an ingredient that is many times taken for granted. First, the pulp has to be collected, then heated to distill it, and finally left in molds to form into crystals. As an avid baker, I don't tend to think of all the work that went into my ingredients. I hope that in the future I can be more conscious about exactly where my food is coming from.

Finally- coffee. Every morning when I get up my mama tica has brewed a fresh pot of coffee- bless her soul. Today we got to witness the actual roasting process with coffee beans harvested at Doña Rosa. The process was completely mouth watering! As a coffee fanatic, I can tell you that nothing beats sipping a fresh cup of coffee from beans that were just roasted! What made it even better for me was being able to enjoy my surroundings while smelling the enticing aroma of fresh caffeine in a cup.

If I took anything away from our experiences at Doña Rosa it is that there is a lot of care and work that goes into things that I often take for granted, especially when it comes to food. Next time I pick up my morning cup o' joe, I will be sure to think about the lovely people at Doña Rosa!

Until next time!

Food! Glorious Food!

This is probably my favorite topic no matter where I am- food. I could seriously talk about food for hours! However, this blog is a condensed version of my experiences with Costa Rican food so far. I have already written a little bit about my encounters- the pizza in a bag, the Chinese chicken wings, and those aren't even all of them!

One of the best things about being in Costa Rica that there are so many opportunities to eat fresh fruits and vegetables! Many of the fruits we buy in the U.S. are actually imported from Costa Rica like bananas and pineapples. Yes, the summer fruits we get to eat in the United States are great. But wow. The fruits here are beyond comparison! I have had fruit with every breakfast and many lunches! Especially after coming from Arizona, the freshness is a real treat!

For the first few days, my mama tica served us a lot of "American" foods, as she was afraid that our stomachs needed to transition to Costa Rican food. However, now she is starting to feed us more "tican" foods like gallo pinto! Gallo pinto is a very common dish throughout Costa Rica, and is made of rice and beans, often with onions or chiles and spiced very nicely.

This past weekend I got the opportunity to travel to Puerto Viejo, which is a beautiful beach town planted right on the Caribbean sea. There we were able to do many cool things, like bike through the jungle and relax on the beaches with a view of the crystal clear blue sea. One thing that my friends and I noticed was that the lifestyle, even for meals, is very different in Costa Rica in comparison to in the United States. We went out to dinners and lunches while in Puerto Viejo, and each time it took about an hour to an hour and a half to get our food (for some groups it took longer)! Even when there weren't other groups that were eating, the whole restaurant process just lasted longer. This sort of meal experience wasn't a bad one; in fact I kind of enjoyed the relaxed manner in which we shared meals! However, it seems that in Costa Rica nothing needs to be rushed; people very much live by the idea of "pura vida".

I don't think I will be anywhere close to running out of new foods to try by the time I leave Costa Rica; in fact I think that I will only be scratching the surface of the bountiful flavors the have here! However, I look forward to trying new foods and getting more of a feel for the culture that comes along with meal shar
ing.

That one time I ate pizza from a bag

Yes. I ate pizza from a bag...I'll get to that.


If I had to describe the days leading up to now in one word, I would say "adventure". Every day here is an adventure! Whether it is eating the food, speaking with "los ticos" (Costa Ricans), or exploring new parts of San Jose, there is always something new and exciting to do!

The first day here I was only able to string together a few words in Spanish and hope that my conjugation of each verb was correct. My vocabulary was nonexistent, conjugation of past tense sloppy, and I had problems every time when would go from English to Spanish and back. Now here I am, a mere 3 days later, and I am already so much more comfortable! I am able to communicate (albeit roughly) with my mama tica, I am not nearly as afraid to ask for help from people I meet, and I have successfully rode the bus to the central district of San Jose! If already I feel so much more at home, I can't imagine what it will be like in 6 weeks when I return to NAU.

I have already gotten lost twice in Costa Rica (it has only been 6 days). However, I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing! The first time I was with a classmate who lives in the same house as me. We were coming back from hanging out with our classmates and took a uber to the wrong place. And we repeated the same mistake when we tried to get to the university! After about an hour of asking for help and getting confused we finally found our way home- exhausted both mentally and physically. The other time I was with a classmate trying to find a poster for a project. We were fine when entering central San Jose, but when we wanted to leave it took us 30 minutes to find a bus stop, and then we got on the wrong bus! After calling yet another Uber, we were able to find our way back to La Universidad Fidélitas.

Both of these instances there were times that I felt very lost and scared. But I also realized afterward that it is okay to be lost. Rather than see it as a curse, I see it as a way to grow and experience more of the culture through methods of travel! That being said, I think I will still be able to experience the culture if I don't get lost again (which I hope I don't)!

Okay, so the pizza bag...we have a class here titled "conversación" in which we get to do activities and go on excursions to improve our Spanish and also just have fun! Yesterday we took a tour of downtown San Jose with our tour guide, who showed us the Democratic Plaza, museums, banks, and many more things! When we arrived at a store, I decided that I wanted to buy a piece of pizza. I was confused when the woman behind the counter handed me a bag. However, when I looked inside: there was the pizza! The crust tasted more like a croissant than an American pizza, and was layered with a thick slice of ham and loaded with cheese. Is your mouth watering? It should be.

I am still learning to expect the unexpected here. Like in this instance with the pizza, I was so confused by the method of delivery when I have only ever had pizza on a plate or in a box! I feel that I need to learn that these differences shouldn't be criticized, but rather be celebrated. I have now had a piece of pizza in a bag! That is not something that many people can say, and when I learn to experience the culture with an open mind I will learn even more than I have and be able to immerse myself in Costa Rica.

First weekend in Costa Rica

I chose to fly into Costa Rica on a Saturday so that I could take time to get to know San Jose before classes started. I am really glad I did! This morning I spent getting to know my host mom and host sister- their hobbies, interests, and experiences. We shared a breakfast of eggs and toast with homemade guava jelly.

So far I have found that I can understand the majority of our conversations, even if I can't catch every word. Yesterday my family took me to a Chinese restaurant, which so far has been the most interesting experience. The food we ordered at the restaurante included fried rice, a vegetable dish... and fried chicken? I told my family that the chicken tasted a lot like that found at KFC! Already I am realizing that things I think I know from the United States could be very different in Costa Rica.

I was a little bit worried about exploring San Jose without a GPS to guide the way (I opted not to get a phone plan while I am here) but exploring without one just made me more aware of my surroundings. I decided to take a walk into the more industrialized part of my host family's neighborhood in search of a supermarket. Mama tica gave me some instructions to find one, saying it was about 4 blocks down the street. Despite these seemingly simple directions, I still managed to get lost several times!

The thing about streets in Costa Rica is that they aren't straight and true like many streets you would encounter in Phoenix or other major cities. They are winding and branching and very confusing! The streets that I explored alternated between segments of neighborhood and stores. However, I did eventually encounter the supermarket! I was able to buy some shampoo and conditioner, and best of all, I was able to find my way back home!

From my exploratory excursion, I noticed many similarities and differences between the streets of Costa Rica and those of the United States. For one, there were a ton of pizza restaurants! I plan on trying one of the restaurants in the following weeks. A major difference I noticed was that there were almost no street lights! I think in total I came across two. Despite the lack of street lights (and also stop signs), it seemed to me that people still drove with high awareness.

Classes start tomorrow! I can't wait to meet all my classmates and get to know my professors!

Until next time-
Nicole

First Application to First Day

I looked down on the tiny buildings and cars that made up San Jose, Costa Rica for the first time yesterday. As the miniature figures started to grow larger as my plane descended, I felt my anticipation grow as well. So many questions ran through my head like, "would my Spanish be good enough?", "what will my host family be like?", "what if I get lost?", and countless others.

A few months ago, when I had first applied to the program, Costa Rica seemed like a distant possibility rather than a fixed future. It didn't hit me that I would be spending my summer in another country until a few weeks ago during orientation. Meeting all the other people I would spend 6 weeks with in Costa Rica made me excited... and very, very nervous.

I decided to apply to study abroad to try and improve my Spanish and also to immerse myself in another culture. Costa Rica seemed like the perfect fit for me; the program was over the summer, allowed me to stay with a host family, and is such a gorgeous country! The main selling point for me was the opportunity to live with a native speaking family. I knew that the best way to improve my Spanish was to live with others who speak it so that I am forced to interact and practice the language.

However, at the same time this was what I was most nervous for in the program. I had no idea if my grasp of the Spanish language would be adequate for communicating with my host family! I knew from short encounters with native Spanish speakers that communicating in a classroom setting is very different from communicating in the real world.

The moment I got off the plane there was absolute chaos in the airport. Luckily, I was with two other girls from NAU and we were able to figure out how to get our bags and find our guide. My heart was pounding as we neared our host families; all I knew about mine was her name and the little she told me in her email (side note, make sure to email your host family! They really like to hear from you and get to know a little about you before you come). The moment I walked through the door, my host mom, or "mama tica" wrapped me in a huge hug and welcomed me like one of her own! She explained to me that she understands some English and that I shouldn't worry if I am having trouble speaking, because she will help me.

I already feel very at home with my new host family. Within these 6 weeks, I hope that I grow close to them and learn from them about their culture and lives!