Anna Hedrick
Yesterday, I may hardly consider my research overseas program was coming to an in depth. At this time, I’m sitting on the gate in Juan Santamaría Worldwide Airport, getting ready for my flight dwelling to Washington state. I really feel able to return, however it’s a bittersweet feeling to go away behind the folks and locations which have develop into your own home for the previous ten weeks.
I’ve dearly missed my family and friends within the US; throughout my program, I usually considered them and envisioned telling them about all my adventures. I can hardly wait to see them once more, and provides them a giant hug! One thing else I’ve missed in regards to the U.S. is pedestrian security and site visitors norms. All through my program, I bought used to crossing the road actually each time potential, and placing my religion within the driver’s arms each time I bought into an Uber or bus. It wasn’t all the time a snug feeling, however I realized to just accept it. I’m trying ahead to driving my automotive once more after I return dwelling.
As well as, I’ll miss my mamá tica (host mother), housemate Clarissa, my wonderful pals (each from the U.S. and Costa Rica), in addition to the households and professors at SiNEM, the music middle the place I did my service-learning.
Additionally, I’ll fondly keep in mind points of every day life in San José. Each morning, I woke as much as the sound of birds chirping, distant automotive honks, and sunshine streaming by my curtains. I’ll miss being in my enjoyable dwelling keep and chatting in Spanish with my mamá tica earlier than breakfast. I’ll keep in mind strolling by the busy streets of San José, taking the bus each afternoon to service-learning, happening thrilling excursions each weekend, and squeezing in powerful morning exercises at Gymnasium ProSalud. However most of all, I’ll miss Costa Rican tradition: the inviting ambiance, the love and care towards others (hugs!), the scrumptious meals (gallo pinto!) and the positivity and happiness expressed in Costa Rican frases, expressions, and attitudes. I’m so grateful for all of it ❤️
After I return to the US, it’s potential I’ll expertise reverse tradition shock. For instance, I in all probability received’t greet strangers with “buenos días” and a smile after I stroll down the road. It’s probably that I’ll expertise physiological adjustments in response to variations in food regimen, train, and local weather. Washington is way colder and drier. It is likely to be tough to regulate to a quicker paced life-style as properly, and adapt to variations within the *notion* of time (Costa Ricans are just a little extra relaxed and forgiving in terms of schedules and the idea of time.)
My plan is to share my tales and images with family and friends, in addition to my weblog, in fact. I’m considering of making a mini documentary with my pictures and media, or designing a slideshow presentation. Fortunately, I’ve two weeks of break earlier than beginning spring quarter, so I plan to relaxation and steadily readjust to my life in Bellingham, WA.
I feel that staying in touch with my pals from Costa Rica can be important in maintaining research overseas a key consider my life. Fortunately, I can talk by way of WhatsApp or iMessages with mamá tica, my music professors, the Costa Rican college students and households, the ISA workers and my greatest pals. Additionally, sustaining and bettering my Spanish is essential. I’ll proceed talking Spanish with my pals in Bellingham, in Costa Rica, and from all around the U.S. I’ll incorporate Costa Rican phrases into my every day speech, and attempt to prepare dinner one Costa Rican dish per week. My research overseas program might have ended, however my Spanish journey continues to be blooming. I really feel very bilingual now, and I sit up for rising my language expertise and cultural competency lengthy after I depart Costa Rica.
Learning overseas in Costa Rica has been a gorgeous expertise and I’m grateful that I had the privilege of visiting this nation and assembly such great folks. The social connections that I’ve made are probably the most helpful to me, and I really feel like I’m a part of a particular, various group. Muchas gracias to WWU EdAbroad, Worldwide Research Overseas, the ISA on-site workers – Adriana and Xinia, my host college – Universidad Veritas, my host group – El Sistema Nacional de Educación Musical, together with my supervisors Esteban and Guiselle, in addition to my mamá tica – Guiselle, and the group of pals I made alongside the best way. ¡Que les vaya muy bien!
Hasta la próxima y pura vida 🌺🫶🏼😄 ~ Anna
