Submitted by Asia Coleman on the 2017 winter session program in Costa Rica sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…
Being in Costa Rica has changed me for the better! I can now say that I am more confident to speak Spanish to people and my level of understanding it is at a higher level. Living with a host family is one of the reasons for that and I am going to miss my host family immensely! My host mother Noylin was always willing to talk and ask how our day went. I was not able to talk much in the beginning, even though, I could understand what she was saying so a conversation was not held for very long. If I was to do something differently, I would talk more! I am afraid to make mistakes when speaking, especially in front of native speakers, so it took me a week or two to just speak and not worry about the errors. Another way that I have been changed is my idea of beauty. Costa Rica is not the richest country in the world, but there are so many naturally beautiful places here in Costa Rica. Going into the mountains, volcanoes, waterfalls and other naturally beautiful features of Costa Rica made me realize the beauty of a city is beyond nicely paved cement and bright lights which is depicted in many cities in the United States. I walked to school in the streets of Heredia and admired that walk every day! The journey never got old. I would like to visit other locations as well in order to experience the entire country like the provinces of Guanacaste and Limon. All together, I loved my experience and would love to come back and experience this life again. Pura Vida.
