Today was a long day for all of us. Most of us started early in the morning and met up at the Krach Leadership Center. We were excited for the journey ahead of us and what awaited for us in Costa Rica. All the pre-departure meetings equipped us with the necessary skills and tools in order to be ready for this trip. After we checked in with Brittany or Marquetta we got on the shuttle bus and made our way to the airport.
First, we had to hop onto a ttakinghplane towards Dallas Texas. The plane ride was smooth and not too long. Then, we had about an hour and a half layover, which seems like a lot but it really wasn't. We had to get off the plane, get on a train to go to another terminal, then most of us had to order and eat food. We ran into Whataburger, and decided to make a pit stop because this didn't exist in West Lafayette.
After making some quick errand, we finally boarded onto our second plane of the night. From around 7 til 10 we relaxed on the plane anxiously waiting to land. Once we started landing, the sight outside the window was breathtaking. I noticed so many lights from yellow to orange everywhere. I'd imagine just the big cities being lit up this bright, in clusters. But, Costa Rica was bright everywhere, I couldn't see where the lights started or ended.
After we landed, we passed through customs and got our luggage without a problem. We were able to travel together in a shuttle bus and meet our Mama Ticas or Papa Ticos. I learned a lot about my Mama Tica and her son. Both are super sweet and love having exchange students at home so the house doesn't feel as empty. My Mama Tica made my roommate and I a light dinner. We ate sandwiches and talked about rules, schedules, and ways to communicate. We ended up unpacking and going to bed after dinner because everyone was tired and had a long day. However we were excited for the next few days by being able to connect with one another more. We hope to cook together Costa Rican traditional meals. Embracing the culture, food, and traditions is what I'm most excited about for this study abroad experience.
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