Costa Rica is best known for its nature — volcanoes nestled in rainforests, national parks bursting with biodiversity, and warm, sandy beaches. But from the moment my host family picked me up at the airport, my favorite moments in Costa Rica were defined by the people, language, and culture. I still vividly remember the drive from the airport to my new home as my host dad pointed out local sodas (small restaurants that sell quick and affordable traditional food), described the fruit trees shading the fenced in houses, and joked about the winding, hilly streets I soon found myself lost in.
Through the next few days, not only did I learn to navigate those twisting streets, but I also met the kind people who walked them with me. My host family, my Costa Rican church, my classmates, and my program staff all helped me feel right at home in San Pablo of Heredia, Costa Rica. I was about a 10-minute bus ride from my school and a 30-minute bus ride from San José, the capital. I had this great placement thanks to my program, Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA), which matched us with host families with similar interests and helped us choose our classes at the Universidad Nacional. There, we took classes completely in Spanish alongside local students — it was like we were any other “tico” or “tica” (a popular word to describe a Costa Rican person). IFSA also planned weekly events and monthly outings to different parts of the country.
Living with a host family was my key to feeling connected to Costa Rica. It was so reassuring to have fantastic advice from locals and to know that, at the end of the day, there was someone I could talk to about my adventures. My host parents and my two host sisters, both near my age, did far more than simply keep me safe — they treated me like family. I had so much fun cheering for my host dad during one of his “mejengas” (community soccer games), celebrating a “quinceañera” with them, and going to a baby shower for one of their relatives, and then later getting to hold that baby when it was born a few months later!
My host family was especially helpful when they connected me to their local evangelical church. There, I truly felt like I’d found a home away from home. Though the songs were in Spanish and there were some cultural differences — such as the organized dances often included beside the singers during worship — it was easy to feel at ease around people I shared my faith with. Sunday services, special events, and weekly classes helped connect me to my community and meet other people from the surrounding areas.
One of my favorite aspects of seeing Christianity through Costa Rica was how it influenced their language.
"In Costa Rica, they frequently greeted each other with 'Blessings!' and said goodbye with some version of 'May God be with you and protect you.' A common reply to 'How are you?' was 'Good, thanks to God,' and they would often mention 'If it’s in God’s will,' when talking about future plans."
I learned these phrases and others thanks to the amazing effects of language immersion — speaking Spanish day in and day out was difficult at first, but also made every moment feel like an adventure. Whether I learned to order food by saying “me regala…?” (would you gift me…?) or to constantly say “permiso” (excuse me, pardon) to be polite, I made progress little by little — even if I often felt that I wasn’t. Progress was slow and at times, strange. Sometimes I’d find myself using a word I didn’t even remember learning, or I’d become so accustomed to the Tico accent that my own English accent began to sound odd.
All in all, Costa Rica welcomed, entertained, and changed me. I learned how to live more eco-friendly, step out of my comfort zone, and eat healthier, fresher food. Every challenge was worth the experience — and if I had the chance to do it again, these would be the five pieces of advice I’d give myself about Costa Rica:
- Learn some traditional recipes from your home country. With the best intentions, people may expect you to be an “expert” in all things related to your country — this may include food, as was my case in a culture that valued fresh, homemade food. I ended up making pigs-in-a-blanket, no-bake cookies, and pumpkin bread in Costa Rica with little to no prior practice — brush up on your culinary skills while you can!
- Be social right away! It’s easy to fall into the mindset of “I’ll ask people to hang out later” and make a mountain of requirements for yourself — once I’m speaking the language better, once I’ve adjusted to the culture, once I’ve gotten to know people better. I personally found that, by getting rid of those personal barriers, making friends was exactly what made me more confident in the language and culture!
- Carry an umbrella. In the rainy season, it rains nearly every day. Just like Midwesterners always having a snow brush in their car during winter, “ticos” need to have an umbrella with them at all times!
- Be prepared to find yourself having to relearn parts of Spanish. Because there’s so much linguistic diversity in Spanish, there are certain words that are different in every country. For example, what Mexicans would call a taco is what Costa Ricans would call a “gallo”. Also, don’t forget the “voseo!” (Costa Ricans often use “vos” instead of “tú” for the informal, singular you).
Be careful with food allergies. Read the food labels of every single thing you eat, as you’re completely unfamiliar with the foods and brands. It’ll take some time to find what your Costa Rican safe foods are.
The Global Access Ambassador Scholarship program provides awards to study abroad for a summer, semester, or academic year. The scholarships are intended to support students who study abroad with the intent to serve as Global Access Ambassadors upon return to the UI campus. Upon completion of the study abroad program and return to UI, award recipients are asked to submit a photo and an open letter to prospective students or suggest an alternate means of sharing with prospective students.
Please note that the opinions and views expressed by ambassadors are solely those of the students and do not reflect or represent the views of International Programs or the University of Iowa.
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.