 |
Profiles |
-> The Journey Home from Costa Rica |
|
Login:
|
|
 |
Click the button to access the login form:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Featured Schools Abroad:
|
|
|
|
|
Bond University represents a remarkable opportunity for students who wish to study abroad. Founded i... [more]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Study Business, Fashion Design and Marketing, Interior Design, Media Production, Visual Communicatio... [more]
|
|
|
|
|
|
...and more
Check out this EI site:
|
|
|
|
Detailed information on grad schools and programs.
[click here]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Journey Home from Costa Rica
Written by: Erin Foley
Three months in Costa Rica was hardly enough time. It's an enchanting country with beauty I had never seen before. I will look back on my incredible adventures and unforgettable friends with happy memories. I will miss the chatter of my host family that woke me up in the mornings, the feeling of my cold morning showers-from a bucket- in Monteverde and the joy of trips to the market with my host mom. I will never forget the waterfalls in the mountains, zip line excursions over the treetops, relaxing on never-ending beaches and of course, the reality check of a midnight trip to the emergency room three days before my flight home.
I had been feeling a little "off" the week before my return and couldn't eat very much. A few days before my departure however, I began to feel weird pains in my stomach that only got worse as time went on. My host family said they would take me to the hospital but I thought I would be fine. Just before midnight, doubled over in pain, I finally gave in. Even though I had money to go to the private hospital, we decided to go to the public hospital in Heredia. As the doctor examined me I was thankful I knew the language because the first thing they all asked was if I could speak Spanish. None of them could communicate in English and I realized how important learning the language had been. Finally, I was diagnosed with a stomach infection (infección del estómago) and treated with an IV.
Although I understood most of what was going on, I was unfamiliar with Spanish medical terminology and had to just trust what they told me. At one point I had to use the bathroom and must confess this might have been one of the scariest parts of my whole trip! The door was similar to an old train door that was incredibly heavy and screeched as I slid it closed. There was a filthy shower and soap and towels seemed to be an afterthought. Touching it, I suspected, would have caused more harm than good. After a very long night, we returned home.
Feeling better the next day, I was ready to get back to the comforts of my own home and if need be, American hospitals. As ready as I was to return though, a part of me didn't want to leave. As I sat in the Costa Rican airport, I listened to CD's given to me by my Costa Rican family and friends. It made me sad that I was leaving so many kind people and beautiful places behind. I had about an hour before boarding time, so I went into a gift shop to pick up some last minute treats for my family. While searching through T-shirts a young man from the store came up to me and asked me about my stay in Costa Rica. After I told him that I was there to study Spanish, he immediately began to speak Spanish. The rest of the store attendants soon joined in and before I knew it, a group of tourists had stopped what they were doing to watch this little American spitting out Spanish like a local.
Just as I had experienced culture shock upon arriving in Costa Rica, I also felt somewhat shocked reentering the Miami airport. The plane I was on had to wait an hour and a half before we could enter our gate and I didn't have enough time to go through customs and catch my next flight. Because I missed my connection the airline put me up in a hotel for the night. Even though I was alone for my first night back in the US, I was so worn out from the trip back that I had the best sleep in what seemed to be the most comfortable bed I had ever felt.
Alone in my hotel room, I couldn't help but reflect on my experience in Costa Rica. I feel as though I accomplished all that I had hoped during my three-month stay. For years I wanted to learn another language and I have finally accomplished that. My last couple of weeks in Costa Rica, I truly felt fluent. I know there is room for improvement, but I'm happy.
Every experience throughout my trip affected me, good or bad. It will be etched in my mind and heart forever. My only fear is that being unable to speak Spanish on a daily basis, I will lose this awesome ability. In fact, even in the short time I've been home I know I've already lost a little. I listen to Spanish radio and talk Spanish to myself in the car but naturally the best method to learn and practice any language is to be in the country where it's spoken. Who knows, I may just have to take another little trip to a Spanish-speaking country this summer to freshen up!
|
|
|
