Alexandra in Costa Rica

My story

In June 2022 I left for Costa Rica to do 6 weeks of volunteer work. I was picked up at the airport and taken to the volunteer house in Esparza. In this house I usually lived with around 12 volunteers, and at the peak even 20 volunteers. It was always great fun; we played games, watched films together and went to the pub. If you didn’t feel like joining in, you could retreat to the lounge, where you could read a book in peace, for example.

Andy (the project coordinator) lives in a flat above the house and makes breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. He’s from the UK, and as well as a few traditional Costa Rican dishes, he also cooks pasta, pizza or burgers. He employs a woman who comes to clean every day, and if you’re ill she brings you a cup of tea with honey. They’re really lovely people and they do everything they can to give you the best possible experience.

The project I signed up for was giving football training. However, this project hadn’t got off the ground again after Covid. For that reason I taught PE and English to primary and secondary school pupils. I also helped with construction work during the school holidays (which are 2 weeks in July). I really enjoyed both projects.

We always had Fridays off so we could go on a weekend trip with the volunteers. Costa Rica is a really beautiful country with stunning nature. I saw lots of animals such as crocodiles, toucans, sloths, turtles and raccoons. Costa Rica is also known as a great country for surfing.
The people in Costa Rica are very friendly, and in the tourist areas they speak good English. The culture is laid-back; they’re not too strict about plans and time. The motto of the Ticos (Costa Ricans) is ‘ Pura Vida’, which means you should see the positive side of everything.

I had a fantastic time, an experience I’ll never forget. Pura Vida!

What advice would you like to give future interns and volunteers?

Go with the flow! Don’t worry if the bus is half an hour late or if you arrive at school and there are no children. Just sit in the sun and enjoy the fact that you’re in Costa Rica and don’t have to do anything. I’d recommend taking Spanish lessons so you can also communicate with the children at school. It’s also good to check whether you’ll be arriving in the rainy season. In the rainy season it starts raining every day at around 2 o’clock. Don’t forget to bring your umbrella and raincoat. And above all, enjoy it!