I love you Shanae, my Tica Amiga!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Tica.
A few years ago, my really good friend Shanae and I decided to study abroad for 10 weeks in the beautiful country Costa Rica. We got the opportunity to be completely immersed in an entire different culture. It was amazing. We lived with our very own "tico familia" and built relationships I never thought I would build in another country. The locals are called ticos and ticas, and Shanae and I became known as the "munecas." That means "the dolls" in English, everyone in the small town of La Fortuna knew who we were and we knew them. I love the people there, I love the animals there. Even the obnoxious birds that would wake us up REALLY early each morning. I love the green trees and grass, and the rain. Especially the rain. I love the Arenal Volcano, I love the rivers and waterfalls. I miss the home cooked Costa Rican meals from our tica mom, the Sodas (the small local cafes on every corner). I love Tabacon and the hot springs, having slumber parties with Yaudieth and Christopher. I miss running, hiking, biking, and four wheeling in the beautiful rain forest. The 3 o'clock in the morning bus rides to the beach with our family, Marcus our cute neighbor that would get all the bugs and and even bats out of our room. I miss the discoteque, and our dance classes with Grego. Me and Shanae became true Ticas during this experience, spending every minute together (LITERALLY, our bathroom was even inside our tiny bedroom, at the end of my bed to be exact). You get to know someone really well when you spend that much time with them, especially that far away from home. Costa Rica will always feel like my second home, and I thoroughly plan on going back regularly.
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I think that it's really great that you were able to study abroad, especially with another great friend. I think that studying abroad and getting to know the world outside of our little box is much more important than anything a plain old college education can give you. In this entry, you used effective repetition with the I love and I miss and that kept me interested. You told a great story that made me feel like I'd like to study abroad in Costa Rica.
ReplyDeleteI've been to Costa Rica, and I have to say its the most beautiful place on earth. I've been to a lot of places but Costa Rica holds a special place in my heart. I hope one day to live there. I fell in love with the lifestyle, it was so carefree. "tica time" I remember them calling it, which means they will get to it when they get to it.
ReplyDeleteCosta Rica is definitely on my list of places to travel. I've already spent time in Belize and Peru, though, so maybe it's time to travel to Asia first...
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