Costa Rica, my first trip alone

Costa Rica was my first time traveling alone. Although it's not entirely true since I was going there for a marine volunteering project and would meet other volunteers, I was very nervous. I will always remember the tingling I felt when getting on that plane.

The organization I was with had booked a hostel for me in one of the less recommended neighborhoods of the capital. Moreover, they had warned me that it wasn't very safe to go out. The hostel was huge but was practically empty; still, I ended up sharing a room with a Mexican guy and two Argentinians.

When I settled in, I realized that I had forgotten my phone charger. It was nighttime, so I couldn't go buy one, and they didn't have any at the reception. I put aside my embarrassment and approached the Argentinian guys. Not only did I borrow their charger, but I also gathered the courage to ask if I could go out for dinner with them since I hadn't eaten anything for hours. I remember that first night in San José with a bit of fear, conditioned by the warnings of danger, the nerves of my solo debut, and an environment that didn't help much. But, in the end, everything went well: I rested, had dinner, and prepared for the next day.

The next day I set out on the journey to my final destination: Montezuma. I walked to the bus station. As I progressed, I asked the locals; everyone was incredibly kind, guiding me and warning me which streets to avoid to stay safe. After a few hours combining bus, ferry, and a local shuttle, I finally arrived.

Upon entering what would be my home for the following weeks, I seriously asked myself: