I got so caught up in talking about my weekend trips to describe my home stay and school experiences. My home stay is my favorite part of my experience so far. I live with a huge family (honestly, I'm not sure how many people actually live here). There are people always in and out, talking, laughing and joking. I love it! It is such a change of pace. I have 3 other house mates, and we each have our own room on one floor. We call our house mom our "mama tica," and she cooks breakfast and dinner for us. The food here is a lot of gallo pinto, rice and beans. The fruit here is out of this world, it's always fresh. Living with the family has allowed me to be immersed in the culture and forced, for lack of a better term, to speak the language.The first month I was here, I had Spanish class from 8-12 and my elective classes in the afternoon. My elective classes are through March, and in April I will take one more Spanish course. I'm in two history courses and one political science. The classroom environment here is so relaxed. The classes are really small so it's very interactive. A lot of my courses revolve around Costa Rica, which really allows me to learn even more about the country. I have classes with people from other programs along with people in AIFS. The workload is smaller but the assignments are weighed heavier. The local Ticos are in classes, and the University I attend is a small private arts school. There are two buildings that make up the school. Being an international student brought perspective about the exchange students at CofC. I realize how hard it is to be in a foreign country around others who are focused on their studies, and you have to learn to adjust to a new school environment. This environment has really tested my "gringa" way of life, always busy and ready for the next activity. It has taught me to relax and not to be so focused on what I'm doing next. Pura Vida!