Submitted by Delaney Argo on the 2016 winter session program in Costa Rica sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…
First off, I never thought I’d be getting on a plane with a group of people I didn’t know, to live in a foreign country with a family I’ve never met. Little did I know, these people would end up becoming my best friends. It’s so cool that we will all be able to share these memories and experiences together for the rest of our lives. As I live through my last few days here in Costa Rica, I’ve been doing a lot of reminiscing. So here’s a list of all the wonderful things I’ve learned.
- God is real
I grew up Catholic, went to Sunday school, got confirmed – the whole ordeal, but I never took it seriously or paid much attention. Since I’ve been in Costa Rica, I believe in God now more than ever before. You have to have some sort of faith when you live in a foreign country knowing absolutely no one. When I was at the top of volcanoes, enjoying the beautiful beaches, going through the rain forest – all I could think of was, “wow, God did this”. Such beauty I’ll never forget.
- Pictures never do anything justice
I love social media, and everyone who knows me knows I love posting pictures. Costa Rica is such a breathtaking country that no pictures do anything justice. That volcano that contains a lagoon? Yeah, the picture is okay, but it’s nothing compared to the actual site. Since being here, I truly believe that some things are meant for my eyes only to see in that exact moment, and no one else’s.
- Going with the flow is better than preplanned activities
The best memories are made spontaneously. Plans are good to have, and sometimes necessary, but from my experiences, I’ve always had more fun doing spur-of-the-moment things with my friends. That calls for better stories, anyway.
- The people you meet are more important than the places you go
My study abroad group has been absolutely amazing. We all get along so well and we’ve had the best times together. Somewhere between all the laughs, adventures, late nights, early mornings, bus rides and awkward situations, we became a family. I’ve never met people more like me than on this trip, and I’ve loved every second of it. Also, countries are nothing without their people. I’ve learned so much from my host family; they are some of the nicest people I’ve met. But more than anything, I’ve enjoyed interacting with the locals and learning their stories.
- Do something that scares you everyday
I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for this piece of advice. Going to a foreign country itself is nerve-wracking, especially living with a new family. Over this past month, I’ve gone surfing, hiking, I’ve climbed up huge rocks (not sure I’d make it back down), and the list goes on. The point is, these things terrified me, but I’m so glad I did them because they turned out to be the best experiences of my life to date.