A wonderful experience, especially being out of my comfort zone and just not knowing what to expect
I was met by a member of the Language School at the airport and immediately taken to the family with whom I was going to stay for the next three weeks. A lovely family: Mary and Danilo and their five grown up children, all greeted me warmly and sat me down to a delicious lunch washed down with gayaba juice. In my diary I have written "I should have then gone to my room and rested after the long journey but no, Mary took me by the arm and led me down the road to a party!".....first cultural experience in Costa Rica. I spent the first week at the language school with very helpful and kind staff and a friendly bunch of students of all ages....including mature students like me and from all around the world. During that week of lessons I was interviewed by the person who arranged volunteering positions and she found me a placement in a little state run orphanage near the school. Also an interesting experience. As expected the other staff members were all kind and friendly and the children just loved us for they were away from their own loved ones for various reasons and loved individual attention. During the first weekend I walked into San Jose to the shops, markets and museums (the Jade and Gold Museum was exceptional) and just sat in a bar and people watched. Other weekends I went on trips around Costa Rica:Poas Volcano National Park in a tropical cloud forest; the still active Volcan Arenal and the Aguas Calientes to name but a few. But for me it was the unexpected surprise of the flora and fauna that bowled me over. That was the experience I never expected. Kaya had organised everything well and I never felt "lost" at any time during my stay in Costa Rica.
