By Katie P., Guestblogger from Coronado, Costa Rica Independent Teen program
During my
first week in Costa Rica my host mother told me that another student was coming
to live with us for two weeks. On Monday at school we did our introductions for
the new students and afterwards I approached her with a hug and excitedly
asked, ‘Do you speak English?!’ She is from Germany and like all the other
European students she speaks English very well. I wish that they made us learn
more languages in the US… but anyways, she and I have gotten to know each other
very well in the past week and I really like her a lot.
As I’ve written about
before, I have not traveled many times out of the US and at home I hardly know
any foreigners. It has been so much fun hanging out with my new German friend.
We talk and laugh about all of the American and European stereotypes and
compare our lifestyle and hobbies. We make fun of each other’s languages and
taste in music but it’s all in good heart. It is really great that we were put
in the same house because we really are very alike and I have been learning a
lot from her in just this past week.
So far
this trip has made me much more globally aware and has definitely sparked a
cultural curiosity in me. I have been able to observe not only the Latin
American culture but also that of Europeans teenagers and young adults.
Experiencing different lifestyles from my own has been one of the most
interesting parts of my trip. I know I will want to continue my travels all
throughout my life.
Between my
German housemate and I, the stereotypes have deceased. She has realized that
not all of America consists of bratty, blonde cheerleaders and I have realized
that not all Europeans are rich, uptight and snooty. Just one week has passed
and we can talk about anything, and that is what makes good friends. Tomorrow
we will celebrate her 20th birthday and in another week she will
leave to meet up with her boyfriend and travel around Costa Rica for another
6weeks. She is so much fun to have in the house as she, my host mother and I
end up laughing about everything.
Last night
I asked for salt so that I could gargle with saltwater for my soar throat. Both
of them just stared at me for a good five minutes…. ‘Hot water and salt…EWW?!’
This, a tendency so common at home, was so strange to them. For me, this Costa
Rican experience has been fantastic so far, and now I feel as though I have a
home in Costa Rica and now even Germany if I want! I feel like we have been a
latino-northamerican-german family forever…and it’s been just two weeks!
Click for more information on AmeriSpan’s Independent Teen program in Coronado, Costa Rica.
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