So where to begin? Started my journey to Costa Rica early, waking up at 5:30 am to catch a 7:52 am flight after two hours of sleep because I decided to start packing at 1 am. Don’t know why I decided that was a good idea, but it happened, and I suffered the consequences. I managed to catch my connecting flight from Charlotte (CLT – 704) to Atlanta but was hit with a mean 4-hour delay en route to Costa Rica, but that gave me a chance to get Panda Express which hit the spot since I did not have an opportunity to eat breakfast. The flight to Costa Rica was smooth, and I spent most of it watching Tom Cruises’ magnum opus, Top Gun. If you have not watched it, you should.
Top Gun
So what happened in these first couple of days in Costa Rica? The night of my arrival in Costa Rica on Friday, May 26th, those of us who had arrived at the hostel decided to look for a gym because, as young people, we all wanted to stay physically fit even while away from the US. We were able to find a fine establishment called Smart Fit. The gym had all the amenities I could ask for to stay in shape for the next two weeks, and all the employees were very welcoming. The next day we returned, got memberships, and started our summer grind early in the morning. This was followed by going to a local farmers’ market. The market was lively, with many people buying and selling different fruits, juices, and candies, but the best part of the experience was where this blog’s name came from when I was given a free coconut.
Smart Fit Gym
So why does a free coconut deserve its own blog title? It’s because I had not had a fresh coconut since I left Ghana as a kid. I used to eat them almost every day, drink the milk, and then eat the jelly, but that joy had been lost since my move to the US. But on this day at the farmers market, I went to one of many coconut stalls and asked for one coconut. The stand owner gave me a coconut, cut it open, and gave me a straw and a spoon. I took it and waited for him to tell me how much it cost, but that moment never came. I started drinking from the coconut and not knowing what to say because I didn’t speak Spanish, waited a little bit longer, and then eventually walked away amazed at my good fortune. When I told everyone about my free coconut, they were also surprised by my good luck.
Free Coconut
The next day the GMI cohort decided to take a trip to the Starbucks Coffee plantation. We learned a lot about cultivating, growing, and processing coffee and its importance to the community and the region. We had also planned to go to Poás Volcano, which I was really excited about, but it was close, so another day.
Starbucks Plantation
Overall, the first few days in Costa Rica have been amazing, and I can’t wait to learn and explore more about this country.