Janika Berrdige, Spring 2012  

For the first week that I was in Costa Rica, I could not believe it. I reminded myself every day that I was here and it seemed so surreal. It is amazing to walk outside and see all the houses but then look up slightly and see all the mountains in the background. The view surprises me each day and reminds me that I’m living in the tropics. I live about five minutes away from my university which is great—just a nice walk out of my house and around a corner. I live with a host mom [who’s 29], her daughter [9], brother [26], and my housemate, who has been here since September. 

 Costa Ricans [or Ticos as they’re called] are not as pressed for time as we are. Before class begins, everyone usually hangs around to talk about things that have happened. I leave for my 4 hour Spanish class at 7:55 each morning. The students at my university were not at all what I expected. Most of them are “hipsters.” I did not expect so many students here to look like students in the states but they do—all so fashionable. I should not have been surprised—I attend a design and art university filled with future architects and artists. The same thing happened when I went to the park—I did not expect to see so many skateboarders. San Jose is a big city so you find many different types of people here. Sometimes I’m not sure if people are Costa Rican or not. I saw a little girl at a carnival with red hair. It’s amazing how different a lot of people look. Another thing I did not expect was the drop in temperature at night. You can still wear a short sleeve at night if you can handle a little chill but if there’s one thing I should’ve packed–it’d be sweaters. I sleep with two blankets at; it gets really cool. However, I have a queen bed to myself so my nights are comfortable.