Kyrsta Girardi, Plus3 Costa Rica Summer 2023
Our housing arrangement was probably one of my favorite aspects of the trip. Rather than just staying in a hotel, we got to stay in a homestay, meaning that we lived in a Costa Rican house throughout the trip. My house consisted of me, two roommates, the host mom, and her son. This arrangement made the trip so much more immersive, as we got to get a first-hand glimpse into life as a true Costa Rican. Although there were some challenges surrounding this arrangement, I am so thankful for it as it made the trip so much more insightful.
One of my favorite parts of this trip was getting to know our host mom. We talked to her every day, both over meals and when we would have spare time at the house. However, communication was made a bit difficult because she only spoke Spanish and we all only had a base level knowledge of the language. We still talked to her every day, though, and by the end we could hold a conversation and understand most of what she said. We picked up on a lot of the words and phrases that she used often, and she acted out a lot of what she was saying so we could better understand. Through my conversations with her, I learned a lot about Costa Rica, the culture and lifestyles there, her personal life, and the Spanish language. Had we not had this housing arrangement, I wouldn’t have nearly as much knowledge on these topics as I do now.
Another benefit to this housing arrangement was the food. Every day, our host mom would make breakfast and dinner for us, giving us the whole Costa Rican dining experience. All of the food was so delicious, and mealtimes became one of the best parts of the day. This part was a bit of a challenge for our host mom, though, as all three of us had some sort of dietary restriction/preference that she had to work around. However, she worked hard to ensure she was providing a diverse range of meals that accommodated all of our needs, and I am so thankful for that.
It was also really cool to see a Costa Rican home. The houses there are different than they are in America, and this is an aspect of the country I may have overlooked had it not been for this housing arrangement. For one, neighborhoods are arranged differently, with houses being closer together and often brightly colored. All of the areas with a lot of houses have small playgrounds every few blocks. The houses themselves are also structured differently, being smaller and usually two-story, with an entrance below and most of the house upstairs. Although it was small, it was extremely cozy and nice inside. I actually think I prefer the housing style there to the ones in America.
Overall, I am so glad that we got the opportunity to spend this trip in a homestay. It was a bit challenging at times, especially with the language barrier, but it was so worth it. I loved getting to connect with my host mom, more deeply immerse myself into Costa Rican life, and enjoy lots of delicious home-cooked food!
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