Costa Rica: Study Abroad 2021

 After three months abroad, it can be difficult to return to life in the states. I have been back home for about two weeks now, and there is still the occasional thing that takes some getting used to again.      As soon as the plane landed in Dallas, Texas, I could immediately feel a shift in energy. While Costa Rican culture tends to be laid back and very go-with-the-flow, I think we all know that the culture of the U.S. is almost always fast-paced and sometimes stressful. It took me about 4-5 days to adjust back to this different way of viewing time.      Although no one in my household speaks Spanish, I do still find myself thinking and speaking in Spanish at least once or twice a day. While this can be slightly annoying at times, I don't see it as a problem. My brain changed while abroad, and my Spanish skills are something to be proud of.      While it might sound silly, slight cultural changes can trip you up sometimes, and that's okay. For instance, it has been difficult

 As a part of the NAU Costa Rica program, we have had the unique opportunity to meet some incredible people here, including famous athletes, poets, and musicians.     The first person we met was one of our very own NAU Program Staff, Ronulfo Morera Vargas (aka. Ro). Ro is one of the two men who own and run ABC de la Vida, the finca where we have been living. Ro is a published poet, psychology researcher through the University of Costa Rica, and dedicated community advocate and spokesperson. His book of poetry Alas en mis sueños  was published in 2006 and has helped him form relationships with important writers across the country.      Next, we met Hannah Gabriels, two-weight world champion boxer. This was one of the most fun experiences we have had since we not only got to watch Gabriels box against her husband, professional boxer Tiquito Bryan Vasquez, but we also got a private boxing lesson with her. She taught us the basics of boxing, which was difficult yet so thrilling. Gabriels t

     One of the most interesting and exciting things to experience in Costa Rica is the incredible wildlife. In fact, Costa Rica contains a whopping 6% of the world's biodiversity, even though it accounts for only 0.03% of the earth's surface. Below are just a few of the amazing creatures I have seen here in Costa Rica: 1. Parrots and Toucans: They live nearby ABC de la Vida and come to visit every few days, especially in the mornings. It is easy to see their bright colors as they soar across the blue skies. One morning, about five parrots were eating fruit from a tree right above our heads! My favorite fact about both parrots and toucans is that they mate for life. That's why you almost always see them in pairs. (For more information about the parrots and toucans of Costa Rica, visit my post "A new alarm clock: Roosters, Macaws, Toucans, and More." 2. Monkeys: Watch out for these little tricksters! Although they are adorable, many of the monkeys like to still f

 This post is dedicated to general information about the traveling process and what it was like to arrive in Costa Rica. I have included tips throughout that should help prepare you for your journey.      Be sure to pack light. For me, the hardest factor while packing was the weight of my suitcase. The airline required that checked bags be 50 pounds or less and carry-ons be 20 pounds or less. While 70 pounds total might sound like a lot, it goes by quickly when you're packing for three months.  I suggest packing only the things you use on a daily basis, and keep in mind that you can buy some things, like certain toiletries, after you arrive in Costa Rica.     Find a reliable and fairly-priced airline. I chose to use American Airlines, which worked out fairly well. Due to the pandemic, I did not have very many options since only a handful of airlines had available flights from Phoenix to San José on the available dates. Before going through customs, you'll have to have proof o

 How can I even begin to describe the amazing variety of food in Costa Rica? It is so rich and exciting! Overall, the food is fresh, flavorful, and fruity.  1. Fresh: The majority of Costa Rican food is made with natural, organic ingredients. For instance, people from neighboring towns and cities all visit the weekly fruit and vegetable markets in San José and Santa Ana. In fact, most of the food we ate on a daily basis came from these local markets or was grown in the garden at ABC de la Vida. (For more information, visit my blog titled "Life of a Tico: Interview with a Local.")  2. Flavorful: Although the food of Costa Rica might not be very spicy compared to the rest of Latin America, it is still very rich in flavor. The blend of spices and herbs, especially in salsas, are incredible. *chef's kiss* 3. Fruity: As mentioned above, using local fruits and vegetables is very common, especially in things like frescos and batidos (fruity drinks), salsas, and salads. Costa Ric

     While the majority of tourists might expect Costa Rican music to be very different than music in the U.S., the truth is that many of the songs and genres that we love in the U.S. are played on the radio everyday here. Of course, there is music that is traditional to Costa Rica, but rock, reggae, and pop is the daily choice of most Ticans.      In order to give you a taste of what you can expect to hear in Costa Rica, I have created a playlist below of some of the most popular songs here right now. These are the songs that we have heard on the radio multiple times and eventually learned some of the lyrics to. They are listed in no particular order. Note that although the majority of these songs are in Spanish, there are still many that use English, too.  Playlist:  1. "La Noche de Anoche" by Bad Bunny and Rosalía 2. "Bebé" by Camilo and El Alfa 3. "Location" by Karol G, Anuel AA, and J Balvin 4. "Quiéreme Mientras Se Pueda" by Manuel Turizo 5

 Disclaimer: I am not an avid coffee-drinker, so take my opinion accordingly. 😅     Costa Rica earns millions of dollars every year by exporting coffee. About two weeks ago, we had the amazing opportunity to visit Finca Integral Doña Rosa, a local coffee farm, where we learned all about how coffee is grown, harvested, prepared, roasted, ground up, and packaged for export. While at the finca, we got to make our very own bag of coffee, starting with the freshly-picked beans and ending with a sealed and labeled bag of medium-roast coffee. It was very interesting to experience the process of making coffee and seeing where exactly our morning brew comes from.      We also learned about how Ticans tradition ally transport coffee. They use large wooden carts with beautifully painted designs. The carts are usually pulled by a horse or bull, but if those animals are not available, people can pull it, too. Smaller versions of these carts are often sold in souvenir shops around Costa Rica. I had

 So obviously the current COVID-19 pandemic affects how study abroad works, but the good news is that this program and the NAU staff have taken every possible precaution to protect us and others from the virus. Below is a list of a few of the precautions we take against COVID-19 here in Costa Rica: 1. COVID-19 tests before and after travel: Both before and after traveling between countries, we have gotten COVID-19 tests and/or quarantined for ten days to ensure that everyone is healthy and safe before interacting with others. Luckily, we students quarantined together after arriving in Costa Rica, which was much more enjoyable than doing it alone.  2. Masks: Just like in the U.S., masks are mandatory in most public areas in Costa Rica. Unless you are exercising or eating, masks are required. Fortunately, masks are not controversial here. Over my three months here I have never seen someone refuse to wear a mask. 3. Hand-washing: Washing one's hands before entering an establishment or

 Whether you have already decided to go to Costa Rica or you are just curious about the program, these eight tips and tricks can help!       Always carry around at least quinientos (500) colones in change in case you need to pay to use a public restroom while away from the finca. Sometimes the price will vary slightly, but it is usually between 400 and 600 colones.  Always assume that there is a hike ahead! Costa Rican roads and paths tend to be long, winding, rocky, and slippery, so always be sure to have tennis shoes or hiking boots on hand.  Avoid online shopping or anything that requires shipping costs. I ordered one package while abroad, and it was NOT worth it. The postal system in Costa Rica can be confusing and expensive, so it is much easier and cheaper to buy things from a store rather than online.  Be sure to get an international phone plan before you travel. I originally tried GoogleFi, but I ended up going with Verizon. While that worked fine for me, I often did not have a

 Sounds crazy, right? How could toilet paper possibly be so different in Costa Rica? Well, the actual toilet paper is the same, but where you put it will take some getting used to. 😅 Let me explain:     To get straight to the point: most Ticans put their dirty toilet paper into a trashcan rather than down the toilet. While this may sound strange, there is a logical reason: the plumbing pipes in Costa Rica tend to be smaller than those in the U.S. because smaller pipes are cheaper to install. Therefore, in order to avoid clogged pipes, most people do not put toilet paper or feminine products down the toilet. There is typically a small trashcan right next to the toilet for this purpose.       Although it seems like a small difference, it can be difficult to break your current habit of flushing toilet paper. Luckily, most establishments kindly remind you to use the trashcans by posting signs on the back of the stall door or on a nearby wall. This is especially useful for tourists who ma

 I admit, I was that student who thought, "Study abroad? No way, that's just for people who study international relations or a second language or whatever." Yeah, needless to say, I was very wrong.  I originally chose to study abroad during my sophomore year after visiting my counselor for a completely unrelated topic. While planning out the rest of my classes, my counselor asked if I had considered adding a minor since I had some extra room in my schedule. I immediately knew that Spanish was right for me since I already took two Spanish classes, which I really enjoyed. Two weeks after adding my Spanish minor, I stumbled across a study abroad fair held in the NAU Honors College. I chatted with the study abroad advisor from Latin America, Mikaela Terry, who described the program and all of its amazing benefits. I scheduled a one-on-one appointment with her the following week, and the rest is history!      Of course, learning Spanish is the primary reason to study abroad in

 For my interview with a local, I decided to interview Sergio, the chef and housekeeper of ABC de la Vida. Over our three months here in Costa Rica, Sergio (aka. "Flaco," which means "thin") has been like a parent to us. He is always available to talk to or play dominos with.      One of my favorite activities to do is to cook with Flaco. He has taught me over ten different Costa Rican and Salvadorian recipes, including patacones, pupusas, gallo pinto, and more. (For more information about Costa Rican food, read my posts titled "Gallo Pinto: the National Dish of Costa Rica" and "Food, Food, Food!") Flaco is a fantastic chef, and he puts a lot of time and care into his food. I especially love how he uses natural and organic ingredients from his garden and/or the local fruit market. For instance, while most of us in the United States buy our eggs from the grocery store, Flaco collects fresh eggs from the chicken coops every morning. Most of the foo

What exactly is a "finca?" The closest equivalent in English would be a ranch or country home. Essentially, any home that is not downtown or in the suburbs is a finca.  While studying abroad here in Costa Rica, we are staying at a finca called ABC de la Vida (the ABCs of Life) in Ciudad Colón. We all have our own bedrooms and bathrooms here, and we share a communal kitchen, dining room, and large outdoor patio space.  The bedrooms are slightly different, but all of them contain a full-sized bed; two large, open-faced bookshelves/closets, a trashcan, a fan, a full-length mirror, and some other piece of lounging furniture (a desk, chair, small sofa, etc.). Most of the bedrooms have large windows with colorful curtains, which can provide privacy when closed and fresh air when opened. One important difference here is that everything in the bedroom has a function. Unlike in the U.S., many rooms here only have the essentials for daily life. In other words, there is not a lot of art

 So you're now in a new country and have no idea where to go or how in the world to get there. Don't worry; Costa Rica has great public transportation and opportunities to use private transportation like taxis or Ubers. Public Transportation: The city buses are the most common method of public transportation near San José. For the equivalent of about $3, you can travel from Ciudad Colón to San José, which is about 13 miles! We used the bus on the weekends to visit different places around San José, like barrio Escalante and the local mall, Multiplaza. While we usually stayed on the same one or two bus routes, there are many routes that travel all around Costa Rica, especially to tourist locations.  Traveler's Tip: Bus stops may not always look like the standard bus stops in the U.S. Keep an eye out for the words "la parada," which means "bus stop" in Spanish. Private Transportation: Private transportation is usually easier than the bus routes because it

 One thing that really surprised me about Costa Rica is all of the sounds of wildlife! Without the endless droning of the air conditioner, cars passing by, and planes overhead, the only sounds come from nature. I remember on my first night here, as we were driving away from the airport, we entered the countryside and were amazed to find the chirping of geckos, hooting of owls, and croaking of frog. And to complete the orchestra, the night wind whistled through the bamboo and rattled the bushes. One of the other girls commented that it was like being in Disneyland or Disney World because the scenery and sounds were so realistic.  The next morning, I was awakened to the sound of the two roosters crowing around 6:00am. While the roosters are now living with a neighbor, the first few weeks here were filled with their belting. Needless to say, if the roosters didn't wake me up, the calls of the toucans and macaws usually did! Like the wildlife, the people here in the countryside of Ciud

 " But how exactly do the classes work while abroad? " -almost every student who has ever considered studying abroad Yes, the "study" portion of "study abroad" is important. After all, as much as it may feel like vacation, this  is still college. Below I'll explain how our classes and homework are here in Costa Rica.  Classes: where, when, and how     As I have mentioned in other posts, some things have changed for this semester due to the Covid-19 pandemic, including classes. While students usually live with host families and attend in-person classes at Universidad Fidélitas in San José, we are living together at a finca (see my post "Your New Home: A Tour of the Finca" for more about where we are living) and our classes are right here on the patio! In order to decrease the risks associated with Covid-19, we have all of our classes together here at ABC de la Vida in Ciudad Colón.      For our first six weeks, a professor from Universidad Fid

 The food of Costa Rica is almost always very fresh and traditional. The most popular dish is called Gallo Pinto, which translates to "spotted rooster," because it resembles the spotted feathers on a rooster's chest. According to The Costa Rica Star , the dish was brought to Costa Rica by Jamaican immigrants who mixed rice and beans with the meat of a rooster in order to feed the most people possible. The dish gained popularity over the decades, and now it is a stable of Costa Rican cuisine.         Gallo Pinto is usually eaten with eggs during breakfast, but we have eaten it during lunch and dinner, too. A few days ago, Flaco, who cooks all of our meals here at ABC de la Vida, taught us how to make this delicious dish. Below is his recipe for Gallo Pinto in both Spanish and English. Enjoy, and let me know in the comments if you try this recipe! In English: Flaco's Recipe for Gallo Pinto Ingredients: 2-3 stalks of celery one red bell pepper     cilantro one small onio

While Costa Rica may not seem that far away from the United States, the food can be radically different here. Costa Rica has the most biodiversity in the entire world, which makes for some incredible new foods! For example, the fruit here in Costa Rica are often unrecognizable to tourists because they are so unique. Below are 12 colorful, Costa Rican fruits that we bought from a local farmer's market in Santa Ana. 1. Caimito : Also known as "the Star Apple," this purple fruit resembles a plum or fig. However, it tastes quite dry and sour. It has large, black seeds in the center that should not be consumed. Some varieties come in a shade of green and white and often taste slightly more sweet.  2. Carambola : This fruit is also known as Starfruit, due to its star-like shape when sliced. It is also one of the most colorful fruits due to its bright orange hue. Carambolas become more yellow and sweet as they ripen, making them perfect for a fresco, salad, or jam.  3. Tomate de

The History of Monteverde  A three and a half hour drive from the capital of San José, Monteverde rises above the horizon, a surprizing change in elevation compared to its surrounding beaches. At 4,600 ft in height, it is one of the shortest, yet most popular, mountains in Costa Rica. A direct translation of "Monteverde" is "green mountain," which perfectly describes the lush rain forests there.  Monteverde is now one of the most famous tourist attractions in the country, largely due to its history. In the late 1940's, an American Quaker group called the Meeting of Friends in Fairhope refused to enlist in the draft for World War Two. After serving four months in prison for their refusal, the eleven families decided to leave the United States in favor of a place that did not participate in the war. In 1949, they moved to San José because it had good farming land and, most importantly, Costa Rica had just abolished its army.  Eventually, the Quakers bought 3,500 a