Charting Unknown Streets and New Beginnings in Costa Rica

After weeks of packing, planning, and saying my goodbyes, I finally made it to Costa Rica. The flight went smoother than I could have hoped, and even going through customs felt surprisingly calm. Honestly, I half-expected some kind of intimidating scene out of a movie, but it was just me, my passport, and a few friendly exchanges. Finding my shuttle wasn’t too hard, and I quickly met some other exchange students who seemed to share the same nervous excitement—like the first day of school, but with way more luggage.

I won’t lie, it took a lot for me to step out of my shell at first. Funny enough, the older I get, the more introverted I feel, but I pushed myself to stay open and even met a couple of classmates. Otherwise, I really used that shuttle ride to take a few deep breaths and watch this new country roll by my window, reminding myself that this isn’t just a trip—it’s my life for the next few months.

Let's talk about life leading up to this and why I chose Costa Rica...

From the first time I traveled abroad with my family to Italy, I knew that at some point in my life I wanted to live abroad. I wasn’t sure when or where, but I knew in my bones the world was too big to experience just one culture or way of life. So when studying abroad became a real possibility, I knew I needed to take it.

Choosing Costa Rica actually felt easy—and comforting. I knew this was a country that

valued biodiversity, sustainability, and, of course, pura vida. For my non-Tico friends, pura vida is the infamous Costa Rican way of life, one that embodies gratitude, simplicity, and prioritizing genuine happiness. As someone who loves the environment and also struggles with anxiety, this seemed like the perfect culture to learn from and immerse myself in.

When I got accepted into the program (woohoo!), I was so proud of myself for doing something that younger me would’ve only dreamed of. But as the departure date crept closer, the nerves set in. I’ve never been out of the country on my own, definitely not for four months, and certainly not without my people—my whole support system (aka all of you reading this). On top of that, no one from my college has ever done this program before. Beyond the generic info I got, I was basically told to “go in blind” and enjoy the adventure.

Let me tell you, accepting that whole “go in blind” part was hard.

There were many nights where my inner monologue debated whether I was actually ready for this. But with the encouragement of my family and friends, plus some serious prayer, I knew I could do this. I kept telling myself, “I don’t know exactly what’s waiting for me, but I know there’s something there.” So, after a few (okay, more than a few) tears and long hugs, I boarded my flight bound for this tiny Central American country with no army, ready to find out what that “something” is.

As it turns out, there was one person waiting for me.

When the shuttle finally made it to school, we were introduced to our host families. That’s when I met Cecilia. She told me right away to call her “Mamatica” and wasted no time getting us on the path home—though not before yelling at our Uber driver for not helping with the luggage. Cecilia is a 74-year-old Costa Rican native, probably two feet shorter than me. She doesn’t speak English, doesn’t drive a car, but she makes incredible fruit juice and, even from the very first moment, I could tell she wanted me to feel at home.

Of course, “home” here looks a little different than what I’m used to. There’s no air conditioning, no hot water, navigating is a whole different ballgame, and, as I quickly learned, flushing toilet paper is a no-go. It’s going to be an adjustment (don’t worry, I already secured a fan), but honestly, I think these quirks are part of the adventure—and part of what will make this whole experience so memorable.

Today we also had orientation and took a tour of San José. It was fun to explore and I loved seeing the energy of the city. People-watching is next-level here—everything from the way people greet each other to how they work the markets is fascinating.

The city itself is beautiful in its own way, like everything was thrown together without much rhythm or reason, yet somehow it all works. It’s definitely cramped, though—the streets are slim, the sidewalks even slimmer, and I have a feeling finding my way around is going to be… let’s just say, “interesting.” Still, walking through the city gave me that little rush of excitement that makes the nerves worth it.

Right now, I’m still in that mix of shocked, overwhelmed, and excited. Classes start tomorrow, so I’m using these first couple of days to adjust and settle into this new home.

Pray for me, and wish me luck!