Costa Rica, with a bountiful amount of vegetation, rugged terrain, and beaches, is one on the most biodiverse countries in North America and even the world. However, as my family and I drove through the cities of La Fortuna, Liberia, and San Jose, the rich culture and tradition presented at every turn impacted me the most.

I tried new cuisine and learned new facts from the locals every day. From the traditional food of Gallo Pinto to the wildlife, including the many sloths and birds in the forests, I gained so much knowledge. The events that I really remember vividly, though, were when I got to speak with the locals. As a student who has been taking Spanish for more than four years, being immersed in an environment where everyone spoke the language really allowed me to understand the foundations of the Hispanic culture – something I couldn’t get in a classroom. The ability to communicate with a completely new demographic and understand their views, which could be completely different from mine, exists as something only language can provide.

Concepts of age, race, and religion were forgone, and I saw others for who they were without any preconceived assumptions. I felt the impact my conversations had on the locals. As soon as I mentioned I spoke a little Spanish, their faces instantly lit up, and they immediately started asking my name, where I was from, and where I had learned the language.

This experience will continue to be one that I look back on, especially as I’m continuing my journey of improving my Spanish and even learning new languages. I hope to visit Costa Rica again in the future.

Gallery • 7 Photos

Anisha Mandem

On December 19, Mandem and her family took a four hour flight to Liberia. "I thought this was a cool view," Mandem said, "because we were crossing the coast." Liberia is the fourth largest city in Costa Rica.