Jennifer Villanueva, Seminar and Field Trip Costa Rica, Summer 2026
One of the best things about my study abroad experience was learning about the different foods in the country. I was able to learn and ask questions about traditional homemade meals with my host family, and I was also able to go out on my own to try new foods. Due to the country’s location in a different part of the world, there were many fruits and vegetables that I had never tried before. Being able to share these learning experiences with my host family and friends was fun and exciting.
Going into this trip, I wanted to keep an open mind about all the different foods that I might find in the country. Personally, food has always been a big part of traditions and special moments in my life so being able to learn more about how others experience these moments was something I was looking forward to. To learn more about other cultures, I needed to keep an open mind about the food. At first, I was shocked by the amount of U.S. fast food restaurants in the city area but despite this, I was able to experience authentic foods in “sodas.” In Costa Rica, “sodas” are small, local restaurants that serve traditional meals like casados, patacones and carne de olla; they are always very affordable and delicious. My favorite thing about these sodas is that they offer a variety of freshly made fruit juices like starfruit, mango, passion fruit, guava, soursop, and more. Because Costa Rica is further south and in a warmer climate, they grow a variety of different fruits and vegetables than the ones you can find in the U.S.. While I was in the country, people were very happy to explain the importance of many common foods, which was something that helped me understand the culture better.
Additionally, when I was with my host family, I enjoyed eating breakfast and dinner because I was able to learn something new about the food each time. My host mother was sure to explain the different dishes she would prepare and even include details about the specific ingredients. For example, once she made us “carne de olla” which is a traditional stew that can contain meat and a variety of vegetables. She took the time to explain what each vegetable was and even the region that you could find it in, like “tiquisque”, a root vegetable. I also learned that some meals are more common in different regions of the country due to cultural influences. In the Caribbean area, “rice and beans” is a popular dish that you can’t often find in the city. Although it sounds like a very simple dish, Caribbean rice and beans contain many different ingredients that are a result of the multiple cultural influences present in the region. Throughout my study abroad experience, food was one of the most influential factors in helping me become truly immersed in the culture.
Leave a Reply