By Harry Liu

  • Photo of students shopping at market in Costa Rica
Visiting a fería, or local market, with my host family—just one of the many unforgettable memories that I have had this summer

Studying abroad in Costa Rica gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in an entirely new culture. The Ticos, what the Costa Ricans refer to themselves as, live by the motto "Pura Vida,” or Pure Life. Staying with a Tico family for a month allowed me to experience and live out the Pura Vida lifestyle.

The photograph was taken during one of my visits to a fería, or local market. The first thing I did with my host family was visit a nearby fería. Going to the market is truly a social experience. 

We chatted with each other the whole walk to the fería. In addition, I met some neighbors there, and my host mother introduced me to them. Afterwards, we inspected the locally grown fruits and vegetables of each stand and talked to the vendors. For dinner, in addition to the rice and beans, I had a full plate of fruits, which we just bought together. There were papayas, mangos, pineapples, and watermelon slices!

The Pura Vida lifestyle is best summed up as the combination of the many daily experiences that Tico has. The experiences I’ve had taught me that in order to fully immerse yourself in and understand a culture, you have to keep an open mind, be flexible, and completely embrace it. In other words, you have to challenge yourself to try new things. 

The photograph of the fería shows just one of the many unforgettable memories that I have had this summer. It is the everyday interactions with my host family that I cherish and will miss the most!

Harry Liu
Duke in Costa Rica
Summer 2016

MORE STORIES

Sofia Labrecque-Nieves

Read More

Study Away Impacts Career Trajectory

My travels have built my courage and inquisitiveness and made me a global thinker.

Read More

Viva y Libre (Alive and Free)

"Creative writing, on the spot, in my second language, presented to strangers- home definitely felt 4,000 miles away."
 

Read More

Learning from the Boruca

"An experience that I will never forget was our three-day trip to an indigenous community called Boruca: a simple, yet beautiful place that is home to 2,000 people."
 

Read More

Alicante Tea

"I look forward to continuing talking with my Spanish speaking family and friends on campus. Traveling throughout Europe was a blast and has led me to consider traveling again next summer."
 

Read More

Caminos, Castles, and Centering

"Upon arrival, the entire group centered to the top of the castle, but after this, it became a practice that spurred reflection and friendship (and a little exercise after demasiado paella)."
 

Read More

Duke in Costa Rica

"The highlight of my experience in Costa Rica was the quality of the time I spent learning with my classmates and professor. Going on a study abroad in a small group really allows you to learn in depth and in unison."
 

Read More

Duke in Alicante: My First Experience Traveling and Studying Abroad


This was my first time outside of the United States, and my love for this study-abroad experience has sparked my interest in spending a semester abroad in Madrid."
 

Read More

Kristel on Pioneering Duke in Cuba: A Risk Worth Taking

"By the end of the program, a very non-musical pre-med student was enthralled by the history of Cuba and the controversy and richness of Salsa.”
 

Read More

Liat in Alicante

"My favorite part of this experience was really all of it. I especially loved the daily excitement and the constant learning and exploring. I loved living in Alicante, a small, compact city on the Mediterranean. I loved living with my host mom, a feisty, energetic woman who cared for me deeply despite the language barrier."
 

Read More

Duke in Spain Strengthened Jen's Love for Spanish

“Prior to the Duke in Spain program, I didn't have a lot of experience reading or writing in academic Spanish. The program allowed me to improve these areas through literary, historical and artistic angles."
 

Read More

What Happened in Madrid...Prepared Marissa for a Lifetime

“I was surprised by the rigor of my program, which really helped me rapidly improve my Spanish. I essentially took Spanish 204 – a semester-long course offered at Duke – in two months."
 

Read More

Study Away Programs Bridge Global Health Co-Majors

Global health students credit study away for bringing their co-majors together in interesting ways.
 

Read More

Duke in Costa Rica: Linguistics Leads to Global Health

By Cassia Caruth

A linguistics major with a Spanish minor, Cassia Caruth '20 found parallels with her country, Trinidad and Tobago, and discovered new interests in the global health field while studying abroad on the Duke in Costa Rica summer program.

Read More

Jason Finds Alicante a 'Gem of All Cities'

"One memory from this program that will always stick with me is when my host mom complimented me on how much my Spanish had developed. I can still remember how nervous I was walking into her small apartment, stuttering between every word of Spanish I thought I knew."
 

Read More

Katherine on Duke in Madrid: A Family Away From Home

“To be honest, I did not miss the U.S. at all – perhaps in part because there was an election going on – kidding! But really, I did not miss it. I could message or Skype with my friends/family if I needed to, and I think I wrote over 100 postcards while away."
 

Read More

Mistakes Welcome: Let Go, Learn More

By Lucy St. Charles

Before going to Costa Rica, I was a perfectionist. I never wanted to make a single mistake while I spoke. During the program, it didn’t feel like I was making much progress. For weeks, I’d stumble over what I was trying to say. I didn’t notice a change until my last night...the fear that had been constantly holding me back from making mistakes was gone.

Read More

The Professor Made All the Difference

By Andrew Padilla

I decided to participate in Duke in Costa Rica due to raving reviews from previous students on the program. They talked about how incredibly immersive the program was and how much fun they had. I was looking for a unique way to spend my summer and this program was the perfect opportunity.

Read More

Amazing Connections and Friendships in Just One Month

By Carter Lovvorn

The great thing about this program is that you get a full overview of the way the public health system works in a different country. You don’t have to be super into global health—there is a breadth of study and opportunity on the program. And you will still have plenty of time for activities with your host family and to explore Costa Rica!

Read More

MORE STORIES

Sofia Labrecque-Nieves

Read More

Study Away Impacts Career Trajectory

My travels have built my courage and inquisitiveness and made me a global thinker.

Read More

Viva y Libre (Alive and Free)

"Creative writing, on the spot, in my second language, presented to strangers- home definitely felt 4,000 miles away."
 

Read More

Learning from the Boruca

"An experience that I will never forget was our three-day trip to an indigenous community called Boruca: a simple, yet beautiful place that is home to 2,000 people."
 

Read More

Alicante Tea

"I look forward to continuing talking with my Spanish speaking family and friends on campus. Traveling throughout Europe was a blast and has led me to consider traveling again next summer."
 

Read More

Caminos, Castles, and Centering

"Upon arrival, the entire group centered to the top of the castle, but after this, it became a practice that spurred reflection and friendship (and a little exercise after demasiado paella)."
 

Read More

Duke in Costa Rica

"The highlight of my experience in Costa Rica was the quality of the time I spent learning with my classmates and professor. Going on a study abroad in a small group really allows you to learn in depth and in unison."
 

Read More

Duke in Alicante: My First Experience Traveling and Studying Abroad


This was my first time outside of the United States, and my love for this study-abroad experience has sparked my interest in spending a semester abroad in Madrid."
 

Read More

Kristel on Pioneering Duke in Cuba: A Risk Worth Taking

"By the end of the program, a very non-musical pre-med student was enthralled by the history of Cuba and the controversy and richness of Salsa.”
 

Read More

Liat in Alicante

"My favorite part of this experience was really all of it. I especially loved the daily excitement and the constant learning and exploring. I loved living in Alicante, a small, compact city on the Mediterranean. I loved living with my host mom, a feisty, energetic woman who cared for me deeply despite the language barrier."
 

Read More

Duke in Spain Strengthened Jen's Love for Spanish

“Prior to the Duke in Spain program, I didn't have a lot of experience reading or writing in academic Spanish. The program allowed me to improve these areas through literary, historical and artistic angles."
 

Read More

What Happened in Madrid...Prepared Marissa for a Lifetime

“I was surprised by the rigor of my program, which really helped me rapidly improve my Spanish. I essentially took Spanish 204 – a semester-long course offered at Duke – in two months."
 

Read More

Study Away Programs Bridge Global Health Co-Majors

Global health students credit study away for bringing their co-majors together in interesting ways.
 

Read More

Duke in Costa Rica: Linguistics Leads to Global Health

By Cassia Caruth

A linguistics major with a Spanish minor, Cassia Caruth '20 found parallels with her country, Trinidad and Tobago, and discovered new interests in the global health field while studying abroad on the Duke in Costa Rica summer program.

Read More

Jason Finds Alicante a 'Gem of All Cities'

"One memory from this program that will always stick with me is when my host mom complimented me on how much my Spanish had developed. I can still remember how nervous I was walking into her small apartment, stuttering between every word of Spanish I thought I knew."
 

Read More

Katherine on Duke in Madrid: A Family Away From Home

“To be honest, I did not miss the U.S. at all – perhaps in part because there was an election going on – kidding! But really, I did not miss it. I could message or Skype with my friends/family if I needed to, and I think I wrote over 100 postcards while away."
 

Read More

Mistakes Welcome: Let Go, Learn More

By Lucy St. Charles

Before going to Costa Rica, I was a perfectionist. I never wanted to make a single mistake while I spoke. During the program, it didn’t feel like I was making much progress. For weeks, I’d stumble over what I was trying to say. I didn’t notice a change until my last night...the fear that had been constantly holding me back from making mistakes was gone.

Read More

The Professor Made All the Difference

By Andrew Padilla

I decided to participate in Duke in Costa Rica due to raving reviews from previous students on the program. They talked about how incredibly immersive the program was and how much fun they had. I was looking for a unique way to spend my summer and this program was the perfect opportunity.

Read More

Amazing Connections and Friendships in Just One Month

By Carter Lovvorn

The great thing about this program is that you get a full overview of the way the public health system works in a different country. You don’t have to be super into global health—there is a breadth of study and opportunity on the program. And you will still have plenty of time for activities with your host family and to explore Costa Rica!

Read More