Everyday life in San Isidro, Costa Rica

One of the places we spend a lot of time is, of course, the school. We are there from Monday to Thursday, the exact times vary a bit. Some start late or finish early, some have free periods during the day.

The campus itself is very large, and there are many different areas where one can spend time. There is a ping-pong table for those who enjoy it, many nooks and crannies if one wants some peace or to make a phone call home, and a cafeteria that serves lunch.

Otherwise, one tends to spend some time at their own student house. All the houses are located on the same hill, and the campus is situated roughly midway between the lowest and the highest house. So it's quite convenient for most people. Many choose to walk to school to get some sun on their face and a nice start to the day before the sun and heat become too intense.

For those living a bit further away, both bus and Uber are good options. The bus runs twice an hour and stops right by the school and close to all the student houses.

Now I live quite far from the school (a 45-minute walk), and sitting on the bus in the morning sun with music in my ears is a fantastic part of my morning. If one wishes to avoid being dependent on whether the bus is on schedule, and also to be driven right to the door, Uber is great.

I have become incredibly fond of the little bubble we have here in Quebradas, which is the neighborhood where most of the houses are located. There is a beautiful river that meanders down, with many great swimming spots to cool off, and a lovely view when you lift your gaze towards the mountains that surround us.

It's incredibly green and nice, plus it's easy to get down to the city center if you have some errands to run or want a bit more life than in our quiet neighborhood.

Even though the center isn't too large, you can usually find what you need. Here you'll find several large grocery stores, thrift shops with lots of cool clothes, a small park in the middle, and a large farmers' market.

In my house, we have usually made a communal dinner a few days a week, and then we have gone to the city to do a big shopping at Pali.

Pali is the cheapest of the grocery stores downtown, but if you want the cheapest (and best) vegetables, you have to go to the farmer's market.

It's open Wednesday and Thursday, and I think it's an incredibly nice place. Here they sell everything from jewelry to mangoes and pineapples.

In addition, there is also the sale of second-hand clothes at a low price. If one wishes to go thrift shopping on other days, just look for “Americanas”, which is what the thrift stores are called here.

Living here in San Isidro is somewhat what you make of it yourself, and I recommend bringing some routines from home. If you like to go for walks, you can easily continue in the beautiful surroundings here!

If you, like me, enjoy reading and drawing, there are many nice places to sit down and relax for a while. For those who like to hit the gym, there are several options for that here.

Many of the students use the City Fitness center and say it's very good. You can even get a free banana after the workout!

All in all, I am incredibly fond of the everyday life we have here, and I look forward to enjoying the last month.

I have also asked some of the other students about what they like best about San Isidro, and here are some of the responses!