A Semester Abroad in Costa Rica

Writing a simple review about my experience doesn't seem possible, but I'll try. My semester abroad in Costa Rica was crazy, wonderful, awful, and amazing all in one! It was so different than just traveling. I actually LIVED in another country for 5 months. Not every day was amazing and happy and crazy. Some days was normal, or even a little rough. But that's when I knew I'm not just a spectator; I'm actually there and living it. I lived in the capitol city of San Jose during the week, attending classes at Universidad Veritas. I took intensive Spanish and some electives. And as intense as those Spanish classes were, I learned absolutely so much. However, I learned so much more at my host home living with my "Familia Tica." These people let me in their homes and treated me like family, and showed me more culture than I could have possibly learned anywhere else. And on the weekends, the oh so amazing weekends, I traveled. I adventured. I explored. With new friends every weekend, I zip-lined through rainforests, I para-sailed over the ocean at sunset, I jumped off waterfalls... The adventures were insane and I couldn't have done them anywhere else besides Costa Rica. And the people I met will forever hold a special place in my heart. I became so close with some students and my housemates, but I also met "Ticos" (Costa Ricans) that it almost broke my heart to leave them. My favorite memory comes from a weekend when I traveled to Nicaragua and went volcano-sledding with my housemate. I fell in a heap at the bottom of the volcano, covered in ash and panting from exhilaration. I slipped when I tried to stand, so shaky but with a smile so big that it hurt my face. My crew at the bottom cheered and clapped as I ran the rest of the way to them, tripping over ash and rocks but never losing my smile. Thank you, Costa Rica, for everything you've shown me. PURA VIDA
-Moeryae