Marcos Navarrete- May 26, 2013

Costa Rica the country of Pura Vida. Being in Costa Rica has been a great experience that I will never forget. Being abroad in a different country is a great opportunity to experience and I recommend anyone who desires to see new horizons in life to visit Costa Rica. Costa Rica has showed me a whole new perspective on culture opening new customs that I have never knew about. Living with my homestay family has been a really good experience my "mama tica" is absolutely the nicest and most generous person I've met so far in Costa Rica she treats me like if I were her best friend/son because of all the great conversations we have. The people I've met in Costa Rica are really approachable and like to conversate regardless if your Tico or not. Practicing my Spanish with Ticos is going to be a great reward in the end for me, because I'm going to be fluent in Spanish and have no problem in the future.

Working at my service learning site has been a good experience as well. I volunteer at an agency that facilitates adults with disabilities and provides special education. Being in this sort of environment gave me a different view of working with people because I have never interacted with people with disabilities, and so far it's been a fun eye opening experience. I've gained so much social interaction at Costa Rica mingling with the people here and its been a great opportunity hearing stories of all sorts of people. 

Costa Rica is a small country with so much in it, and luckily I've had the opportunity to witness a lot of the country that has been amazing. I've been to many places like the beach in Limon on the Atlantic Coast, Visited Heredia and San Jose, seen the affluent city of Escazu where president Obama visited recently,witnessed many of the biodiversity of Costa Rica, and my favorite place was the Cloud Forest of Monteverde. Studying Abroad with HORIZONS has been a great opportunity to mark great memories and interact with fellow Purdue peers. Being in Costa has been a great experience so far and I know I would like to come back. 
Like Ticos say Pura Vida!

-Marcos

       

My new friend from my service learning site

Sunset in Monteverde

Admiring the breathtaking views