Costa Rican morning glory

My departure had been delayed, so the other students were already in place. Sweaty and tired, I showed up with a rolling suitcase and backpack, to a house filled with fellow students.

One of the girls in the house had a birthday, so their evening consisted of celebrating with barbecue food and eating cake. Soon they would head out to the city.

This was the first time I traveled so far from Norway, so there were many new impressions.

As a beginner in Spanish, I was dreading finding my way from the airport to the student villa, but with great guidance from Kulturstudier's manager Raquel, as well as helpful and friendly people along the way, it all worked out fine.

You can get far with simple Spanish and a smile.

My fellow students welcomed me warmly, but as I was tired and overwhelmed, questions arose in my mind – whether I had made the right choice, and what it would be like to live here for an entire semester.

It took a few days for my body and mind to adjust to the eight-hour time difference. Therefore, it was a very early morning on the first day in San Isidro.

The rainy season in Costa Rica may seem daunting, especially considering that it lasts the entire fall semester. In reality, the umbrella has barely been used so far. It can rain intensely for a while before it quickly clears up again, often in the evening and at night, or while we have classes at the university.

The finest time of the day here is definitely the morning. The morning is mostly sunny, occasionally partly cloudy.

With a glass of water in hand, I tiptoed out to see what the backyard looked like in daylight. Barefoot, I wandered out into the backyard among palms, large green leaves, and pink plants.

I settled into the hanging chair beneath branches laden with citrus fruits. The sun was shining, and the air was warm and humid. Exotic and colorful birds flew among the trees, eating orange berries.

The neighborhood slowly came to life with sounds from people, cars, and dogs. This was the first moment I felt a sense of calm after the long journey, and it was all that was needed to feel that the decision to travel to Costa Rica was the right one.

These peaceful mornings have quickly become my favorite part of everyday life here. For me, coffee with milk, fried eggs, self-picked lychees from the garden, and my notebook have become essential.

It makes me feel awake, prepared, and motivated to embrace a new day with Spanish vocabulary and discussions about conservation. Other students might start their day with a workout, a morning swim in our pool, sunbathing with a good book, or just listening to music.

After three years as a student in Norway, I have learned how important good routines are for the best possible student life, and here it feels easier than ever.

We have gradually become more of morning people. We follow the sun – going to bed early and rising early to enjoy the warm rays before the day's studies begin.

It almost feels surreal to start each day like this. The thought that this will be my everyday life until December 5th, instead of cold, dark, and rainy mornings in Oslo, fills me with so much joy.

Now I can sit under palm trees in 25 degrees Celsius and knit Selbu mittens, so they are ready for cold winter days far ahead in time.