Tuuli was on an exchange year in Costa Rica

Hello! I'm Tuuli and I spent my exchange year in Costa Rica in the academic year 2021/22. The exchange year had been a long-time dream of mine, as I had been dreaming of living abroad and becoming independent since primary school. My social skills improved, and I became more courageous. Now I am planning my future in languages.

My host family

I spent my exchange year in a town called Naranjo, where I lived with my host parents and three siblings. In addition, the family had three lovely dogs. In less than two weeks, the family felt like my own and my host siblings had become my best friends.

My school

My school in Costa Rica was very small. All the students knew me, and they were very interested in learning more about Finland, especially about the Finnish language. There were only eight students in my class, which kept the atmosphere friendly and nice, and we became close to each other.

Friends

The best way for me to make new friends was through school and the sports teams. I played basketball at my school and football in my village’s football team. Apart from my local friends, I also got to know a lot of other exchange students. Now I have friends all over the world and that's really cool!

The Spanish language

Before I left, I didn't speak a word of Spanish. Of course, at first, it was a bit of a problem, because people in Costa Rica speak very little English. However, learning Spanish is quick, especially if you have the motivation to actively practice the language. . I received a lot of support from my school in learning the language. Personally, at the end of five months, I felt that I was already fluent.

Snorkeling and octopus

One of my favorite activities was snorkeling. During the year I saw sharks, turtles, and many amazing species of fish. Once we even found an octopus. I didn't even know that one of my dreams was to hold an octopus in my hand until I got to experience it for myself. I even got a scar on my hand – this will forever remind me of that amazing experience.

Positive effects for the future

I believe that my exchange year will have many positive effects on my life, especially on my future career and study path. I also improved my social skills and I became more courageous during the year. I also learned that making mistakes in a foreign language is not embarrassing at all and I don't feel nervous about talking to new people anymore. I am currently studying Spanish to maintain my language skills while planning a future career in languages.

Tips

Here are a few tips for future exchange students. I would recommend Costa Rica to anyone! You will have a completely different experience in a completely wonderful and unique culture. But, wherever you go, be open to new experiences. Be social and start conversations on your own, even if it feels a little weird. Respect your host family's customs and traditions. Be grateful that they open their home, introduce you to their culture, and strive to make sure that your experience is a successful one. Don't stress too much about the language, it will come naturally. Good luck!

Find out more

• Read more student stories from Costa Rica
• Read more about a high school exchange in Costa Rica
• See all our high school exchange destinations