It’s your boy, Desmond back at it again with another blog entry! This week we’re talking about Costa Rica.

5. Tico time, everyone is late to everything.

From classes to grabbing coffee with friends, prepare to never be on time for anything. Costa Rica is a very laid back and chill country, so nothing is done with urgency. Coming from the U.S. it can and most likely will be shocking and hard to adjust to. Just know that its normal to have your professor show up 30 minutes late to class.

4. It can get cold.

People think of Costa Rica as just being this warm paradise year round because, well its Costa Rica. However, temperatures can and do find themselves falling into the mid 50s at night. Now for us here in Springfield right now in the dead of winter, that sounds amazing. Just stop and think though, that when you have highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s during the day, and that then fall down into the 50s at night, that it feels cold! like, coat and scarf cold! Keep this in mind when packing your suitcase.

3. Gallo pinto.

Or in English, rice and black beans. Get ready to eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday. Okay, its not that bad but you will be eating this a lot because its basically the pancakes, bacon, and eggs of Costa Rica.

2. Sloths aren’t everywhere.

Though there are places where you can go to interact with them. The Toucan Rescue Ranch and The Sloth Institute are places that our graduate assistant Emily Wheeler recommends. She spent a semester and in Costa Rica and fell in love with the culture and yes, the sloths.

1. Pura Vida

Translated to “pure life” , this is a way of life in Costa Rica. Locals use this to say hello and goodbye to one another. It also is used to just convey that everything in life is cool and to not worry. Be thankful for the things that you have and don’t dwell on the negative things. This is the Coasta Rican way.

You made it to the bottom, congratulations, see you in the next blog!