My two first days in CR (July 2025)

Day one - Liberia

It’s hot and humid and shockingly, it hasn’t rained today.

When I first landed in Liberia, I was overwhelmed. I felt touristy and exposed. Like a sore thumb in sandals. Blending in was all I wanted. But the problem was, I’m six-four, pale, and my Spanish was passable at best. Blending in wasn’t happening unless there’s a secret society of tall Costa-Ricans I don’t know about.

Still, I had things to do. So, I grabbed a taxi, rolled up to my hostel, and tried to act like I knew what I was doing (I didn’t). Then I had lunch at an empty restaurant and met some kind folks at the hostel before settling in for what I thought would be a chill, uneventful night.

The real highlight? A Costa Rican family staying at the hostel invited me to chat in Spanish and the mom even brought me a fresh cup of joe. Nothing makes you feel more at home than getting caffeine from a stranger who instantly feels like your aunt.

My night also took an interesting turn when I found a wasp flying around the bathroom while I was in the shower. Boy that would’ve left a mark. Ouchy!

Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but I’m sure it will be weird and interesting.

Adiós, folks.

Day two - Flying local

The next day, I was heading to San José to meet the people I’d hired to help me find a teaching job. To teach in Costa Rica, or anywhere really, you need a 120-hour TEFL certification. I was completing mine in San Ramón, which meant I first had to get to San José.

Pictured here is the little plane I took from Liberia to San José. Flying in a small aircraft is a whole different experience than the big commercial jets.

No assigned seating. No safety demo. Just climb in, buckle up, and off we go.

The flight itself was smooth with amazing views, and it was a great way to see the country.

Plus, there were only three other passengers and two captains on board. The perfect number for a game of twister. KABLAMO!

It was quite the experience, to say the least.