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!