“Despite how drastic the change was for me, I was fully indulged in Costa Rican culture. I was able to experience the Costa Rica and Nicaragua soccer rivalry in person, I ate tons of “Tico” (the nickname for Costa Ricans) food, and did a lot of other adventurous things. I climbed mountains, swam in rivers, and most of all grew as a person. The rural farm life in La Paz and the urban coffee city of San Marcos both helped me grow in terms of Spanish language skills and I grew connections with both of my host families.”
– Brendan, Costa Rica