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 on the walls or nick-nacks sitting around. This helps the space feel more open and welcoming, especially when its paired with the vibrant colors of the surrounding jungle.
There is a private bathroom attached to each bedroom, too. Not too many surprises here, though. Most bathrooms here look like mirror images of those in the U.S. There is a sink, toilet, shower, towel rack, and trashcan. The only noticeable difference is the fact that the toilets here at ABC de la Vida are on a slight pedestal, which makes it a little taller. There is also an extra bathroom attached to the dining room for guests to use. To learn more about using Costa Rican bathrooms and where to put your dirty toilet paper (it's not where you think!), check out my blog post titled "The Hardest Thing to Get Used to: Toilet Paper."
The communal space includes the kitchen, dining room, and outdoor patio. The kitchen here has a large peninsula countertop with barstools, two large sinks, two refrigerators, a microwave, an oven with stovetop, and plenty of counter space. While we sometimes help Sergio cook, most meals are prepared for us. We only need to wash our dishes afterwards. Like most Costa Rican kitchens, the kitchen here does not have a dishwasher, so we wash everything by hand. Between the kitchen and the dining area is a metal cart and a hutch cabinet, which hold most of the dishes and silverware. A large foldable table with chairs around it fills the dining space.
There is a sliding door between the kitchen and dining room that leads to the communal patio. This area is my personal favorite because it is the perfect space to relax, play a board game, do homework, or chat with friends. There are two hammocks, multiple chairs, and a few sofas to relax on. A small bookshelf lines one wall while folding chairs, two card tables, and a large whiteboard are in the nearest corner. This is where we usually have class in the mornings after breakfast.
Overall, I truly love ABC de la Vida, and it really feels like a second home to me. It is nice to have my own space in my bedroom while still being only a few steps away from a lively patio filled with laughter.
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