Today marks one week before I leave for Costa Rica. All of the formal plans have been set. I know my host family’s names and address, my cell phone arrived in the mail, and I even have the names and a picture of the Costa Ricans who will be picking me up at the airport in San Jose. So, when it comes to these details, I feel ready.

At the same time, however, I don’t really feel as if I am actually leaving. Maybe it will sink in as I pack in the next week, pulling out my summer clothes in the days before New Years. According to the weather channel’s website, in San Jose today it is 81 degrees Fahrenheit.

The warm weather is something I’ll definitely enjoy. The things I am most excited about are the beautiful scenery and weather, learning about the culture, and making friends. I think the biggest challenges will be quickly improving my Spanish and learning to live with a local family.

I’m having a hard time forming a clear image of Costa Rica in my mind. I think it will be sunny. I picture women selling vibrant colored fruits in markets and old men resting outside of cafes in the middle of the day. I also imagine people to be generally very jolly and outspoken.

When I return, I hope to have a better understanding of the Costa Rican culture and a much improved ability so speak Spanish. I know that traveling isn’t always easy and that culture shock might complicate my ability to adjust, but overall, I think I will have an exciting, eye-opening, and enjoyable experience abroad.