Orientation

The students in my study abroad program

The view from my university

Initial observations:

• I live with 4 other international students studying at Veritas: Macey, Lainey, Katie, and Jessica
• My host brother, Diego, just graduated from Yale and speaks excellent english (thank goodness...)
• Warm showers are a luxury that I don't seem to have in Costa Rica
• I thought I walked a lot at Cal poly… that was nothing in comparison to San Jose
• Getting lost is so much easier when nothing actually has a formalized address
• The main landmark that I use to get from my university to downtown is a KFC
• I love my host mom and I am pretty sure I am already on my way to gaining 10 pounds, her cooking is excellent and yesterday she made me gluten and lactose-free cake. She spoils me
• I am going to learn Spanish no matter what, especially since my spanish teacher doesn't even speak english
• You can hear geckos squeak at night, but I have yet to see one...
• Cars will NOT stop for a pedestrian regardless
• One of my favorite parts of San Jose is that it is surrounded by volcanoes and mountains
• My roommates and I made our host mama s'mores last night and she freaked out as the marshmallows expanded in the microwave
• It's a good thing I like rice and beans
• Graffiti here is everywhere!
• I still am not sure how to tell the bus driver when to stop... yelling "parada" hasn't worked
• "Pura vida" is the most versatile expression in Costa Rica
• It is really windy here...
• Our leftover food goes to the birds in the courtyard of my host home
• San Jose has all these little parks tucked away between the busyness of the city
• Staying with a homestay is one of the best parts of this adventure so far, my host mom walks us to school and kisses us goodbye

The past two days consisted of orientation to my new home, San Jose, and to my new university, Veritas. There are 12 students in my study abroad program, however there are around 300 international students at Veritas that study through other programs or independently.

Walking tour of San Jose

Two days ago, we were given a long walking tour of San Jose and downtown that lasted for about 3 hours. Our tour guide took us basically everywhere of significance... important parks, the national center with the Supreme court and library, restaurants, the city center with a park and cathedral and theater, the downtown walking mall, the artisan market, and much more. My roommates and I took the afternoon to walk ourselves all the way back to the artisan market. After our shopping, we decided to risk our luck and take the bus back to our neighborhood. Fortunately we located the right bus.... however, it was slightly difficult getting off.

Downtown walking mall

National Theater

Yesterday, we had Veritas orientation and tours for several hours in the morning. My university is very small and weirdly divided into 7 sections. It is traditionally an art and architecture school, although the international students take separate classes than the ticos (locals). Although the school itself is small, it has everything you would need from computer labs to cafeterias and a library and auditorium. In the afternoon, we were given a tour of the National Theater, which reminded me very much of a European building with elaborate gold leaf lining huge paintings of angels on the ceilings. We also went on a bus tour of our neighborhood, called Zapote. There are so many things to see and places to explore! My roommates and I tried to go to a supermarket after we finished our orientation before dinner. Unfortunately after walking for quite a while and watching the red sun dip below the volcanoes to the west, we had to hail a taxi to take us there. They actually had a gluten free section! Even though it was only a few items, I was impressed. It has been such an adventure already just getting to know this city. I know each new day is going to present a whole new assortment of new experiences...

Graffiti

Three of my four roommates: Macey, Lainey, me, and Katie (left to right)