Excited or Nervous? My Trip is Just One Month Away


I am one month away from leaving to spend almost 4 months in the tropical Costa Rica. So what am I feeling? 
(Arenal Volcano. Photo Source: http://deluxetravelcr.com/la-fortuna-san-carlos/)

I'm Excited About:

- Meeting my host family. We don't find out who they are until about a week before we go, but I am really excited to find out who I am going to be living with.

- Meeting my classmates. There are 25 other study abroad students who are living in San Ramon with me and I am looking forward to getting to know them and hang out with them. 

- Going to Cuba! This was a big factor in making my decision to study abroad with this program. Cuba is very secluded, but every picture I've seen or stories I've heard make Cuba sound really beautiful and culturally rich. Someone told me that it's like travelling back in time, which is something I am looking forward to experiencing myself. 

- Going to Arenal Volcano! This is one of the included excursions for the USAC program. The area and the hikes look really beautiful and I am excited to see it in person. 

- Going to Jaco Beach! This is another included excursion for the program. I love the ocean and cannot wait to go snorkeling and swimming in some tropical water. Also, I am excited and nervous to try surfing. 

- Going all over the country! My goal is to explore as many of Costa Rica's treasures as possible. Especially Manuela Antonio, Tortuguero, and Montevideo Cloud Forest. 

- My classes, especially my field studies classes. I am taking Environmental Policy, Natural History of Mesoamerica (with a field study), Tropical Ecology (with a field study), and Sustainable Development:Women and the Environment. Looking over the syllabus for each class, there are quite a few field trips included in them and it will be interesting for see how Costa Rica deals with the environment through the lens of local industries and field researchers. 

- The fresh fruits and vegetables. San Ramon especially is in the heart of an agricultural region. Many people have said that their local farmers market on Fridays and Saturday brings in many fresh foods. The tropics especially are known for having really flavorful fruits and vegetables and I am excited to try them all. 

- See all kinds of animals. Costa Rica is known for having a diverse and unique biodiversity. This includes animals such as sloths, monkeys, tapirs, jaguars, and many kinds of birds. I love zoology and hope to see as many animals as possible. 

- Meeting all kinds of people. I am looking forward to getting to know some of the locals and perhaps adopting a little bit of that pura vida lifestyle. If anything, I would like to maintain friendships with other people abroad. 
But I'm Nervous For:

- Not gonna lie, I'm very nervous about the cuisine. Beans and rice are just not my thing but hopefully I'll learn to love them. 

- The weather. Heat and humidity are two things I don't think I will ever get used to having grown up in the Pacific Northwest. Good thing I have lots of dresses, shorts, and sandals!

- The bugs. I'm totally fine with spiders and bees (I'm actually kind of excited to see a REALLY big spider). But ants and mosquitoes? No way. That's what bug spray is for though.

- Speaking entirely in Spanish. Don't get me wrong, I know a lot of Spanish and I practice every day. I am just nervous about understanding the locals if they talk too fast or me forgetting how to say something. 

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