When I was a small girl my mother would tell me stories of when she grew up in her country. She would tell me of colorful parrots and how they would sing to her while bathing. She’d describe the fruit as if they were edible jewels on treacherous trees. Her stories of swimming in warm beaches full of fish and rocky waterfalls lingered in my ears. I was so amazed that after each story I would always ask her when she would take me, and the answer was always the same, when we could afford it. Finally, by the summer of 2006 my parents had worked very much and saved enough money to take a trip down to my mother’s country for a week. Before I knew it I was on a five-hour plane from San Diego to San Jose, Costa Rica. Little did I know that this trip would change my future.
I had always imagined Costa Rica like my country, full of cars, buildings, paved roads, and people hurrying to everything, but as soon as walked off that plane, my whole perspective changed. Everyone greeted me as if they knew me! I saw green trees everywhere and could actually feel the moist air on my face. I had officially entered a foreign land.
As the days ended peacefully my trip began to shorten. Leaving Costa Rica was very difficult because I loved it all, the people, the animals, the beach, the food, and my new friends and family. I witnessed the poverty people lived in, but saw that it didn’t really matter. Everyone was close, happy and optimistic, just like their motto, pura vida. Costa Rica’s 100% natural, which inspires me to respect and appreciate more of Mother Nature and has influenced me to pursue a career in and study marine biology.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
