The Friendships That Made Costa Rica Feel Like Home
My experience studying abroad has changed everything for me. I remember being so anxious the night before my flight to Costa Rica and trying to imagine who my friends would be. It’s hard to think up people who you have never met, let alone understand the incredible impact these people will forever have on not only your life, but your outlook on it as well.
Because I made the jump of going abroad, I have met people who constantly showed up for me and supported me. I have learned so much about myself and improved as a person because of these people that I met. They have encouraged me to change the way that I think about the world and myself, and for that I am eternally grateful.
I have never felt so wholeheartedly welcomed and accepted by a group of people than I was by my people in Costa Rica. My host mom and her kids and grandkids welcomed my roommates and I with open arms. My housemates always lifted each other up. My friends were loyal and loving. I will never be the same.
This photo was taken on one of our weekend trips to Manuel Antonio, my favorite place in Costa Rica. My two best friends and I stayed on the beach for sunset and talked about how lucky we were to be experiencing this and to have met each other.
This photo was taken in Uvita on a beach day with my sweet-treat bestie. We stopped at this little ice cream shop before starting the rest of our day.
My host mom’s granddaughter, who I became close friends with, brought guitars over on this day. We all played and sang together in the dining room.
On this day, we went to watch a soccer game at the national stadium. The game was Costa Rica vs. Panama and was so fun to watch with my closest friends.
This picture is of two of my roommates in one of my classes. It was amazing to have such close friends in every class.
This picture was from CEA CAPA’s Thanksgiving dinner and is of my roommates and our host mom. I was lucky enough to get five amazing housemates and an amazing host mom.
This photo is of my roommate, host mom, and I around the dinner table. We were so lucky to be placed with a great host mom, and we all got very close.
This picture was taken after our roommate's Secret Santa took place. We left shortly before Christmas but still got to decorate our house and have a Christmas together.
This post was written by Olivia Daniels, a CEA CAPA Fall '24 Content Creator, from Chapman University and studied abroad in San José, Costa Rica.
