What It’s Like to Travel Alone as a Woman

In honor of International Women's Day, I'm going to write about a topic I haven't written about in the past because I feel like other blogs have covered traveling as a woman better than I ever could.  However, I've finally thought about it enough that I think I have something to add to the conversation.…

I’m a Senior in College, and I’m Surviving

My mom no longer prods me to post--probably because I'm in the same country with her.  As it happens, though, some of my Tico friends have expressed concern as to if I'm still alive since I don't facebook/skype/post much anymore. It's funny, because one thing that kept me going in Costa Rica, especially in the…

Reasons I’m Glad I Studied Abroad in Costa Rica

Once I decided I wanted to study abroad in Latin America, my only definite criteria was I wanted to speak a lot of Spanish.  Which narrowed down my choices... not at all. I knew little about the distinct Latin American cultures or differences in accent.  I tried to find lists about the "best" places to study…

Things I’m Having Trouble Readjusting To

A year ago today, I had been in Costa Rica for three days.  I wrote a post about differences in customs that immediately struck me as odd.  I went back and read that post near the end of my time in Costa Rica and had to laugh because those customs ended up being the least…

Interpersonal Relationships; Lessons Learned in Costa Rica, Part I

There's something about being in a foreign country that exaggerates the good and bad of interpersonal relationships; perhaps we make crazier decisions or maybe we see their impact more clearly in unfamiliar situations.  Whatever it is, I feel I've learned a lot of the type of lessons that can't be taught, only experienced. I have…

Roots and Wings

"Since when does it have to be one or the other?  You can have roots and wings, Mel." -Jake, Sweet Home Alabama I rewatched this movie a couple of months ago (before all my professors decided to go crazy and assign me projects that would probably be a perfectly reasonable amount of work--if they were in…

Why I’ve Stopped Writing About Costa Rica

As some of you may have noticed, my blog posts have become sparser and sparser.  Part of this is my university workload--in my literature class, I have to read a novel a week (in Spanish!!).  Part of it is I'm lazy and when I'm not studying or doing something Costa Rica-ish, I'm napping or something.…

Being Someone Else’s Daughter; Living with a Host Family, Part III

The picture above is my host family and me on my host dad's birthday (hint: I'm the blonde).  Judging from the shirts, it was also game day (yeah Heredia!). This is Part III of a post about the reality of living with a host family.  You can read Part I about my first impression of…

You’re Not in Kerr Hall* Anymore; Living With a Host Family, Part II

*Kerr Hall is the residence hall I worked in last year at the University of North Texas.  Also known as the best residence hall on campus. This is Part II of a three-part post.  You can read Part I here, and I'll post Part III in the near future! Time has passed since I moved…

Moving in with Strangers: Living with a Host Family, Part I

This post is long overdue.  I've been wanting to write it for a long time, but I've been waiting until I have a picture with my host family.  I've finally decided that may not happen in the foreseeable future since I'm not exactly proactive in asking people to take pictures, and my host family is…