Table of ContentsIntroductionMy Trip Abroad to Costa RicaLiving with a Host Family in Costa RicaOvercoming Challenges on My First Trip Abroad 'abroadConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionFrederick Douglass first learned to read from his master's wife, Mrs. Auld. She then taught Frederick the alphabet and little words before her husband forbade her from teaching Frederick. Frédéric then realizes that reading can be his path to freedom and decides to learn to read at all costs. This essay and this specific quote then made me think about how I studied on board for a year and how difficult it was for me to learn to read and write Spanish. My first trip abroad to Costa Rica exposed me to different cultures, languages, idioms, customs and lifestyles that forever changed my view of the meaning of life. Being seventeen and fresh out of high school, I wasn't sure if I wanted to work or go to college, so I made the decision to study a foreign language and enroll in a Spanish school. abroad. I didn't know what to expect going to a Spanish school in Costa Rica and living with a host family. I was born in Florida but grew up in the Bahamas and then after a while I went to high school in Durham, North Carolina, so I was always used to change. However, Costa Rica is very different from the Bahamas and the United States, the main reason being that its native language is Spanish. Plus, I never imagined living with people who don't speak or understand English. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayMy Trip Abroad to Costa RicaOn the day of my first trip to Costa Rica, I was very nervous about the idea about to study abroad, but I almost wasn't allowed to board the flight from Fort Lauderdale to Juan Santamaria International Airport because I was scheduled to return five months later, but we can only stay in the country for three months. For a moment I was relieved that I couldn't get on the flight until the agents rescheduled my return to the US 3 months before that exact date. My relief was now gone. Upon entering San Jose, all my anxiety hit me at once. Looking around, everything was so different and all the people were too. I felt like an outcast. As I entered my host family's yard, I noticed that there were several houses, five in total, all made up of families related to my host family. From my observation, most Central American families build their homes in plantation form, which makes them very family oriented. The families then gathered around me and started asking me questions in Spanish. I tried to answer as many questions as possible. They then showed me to my room and when I looked around it seemed much smaller than I imagined. As soon as you enter the bedroom, there is the bed, and very close to the bed is the closet. I smiled at the family because I didn't want to hurt them, but deep down I knew I had to adapt to the living conditions. Living with a host family in Costa RicaMy host family consisted of 3 adult children and their mom and dad. All three kids, including me, shared a bathroom, which I hated. Imagine, four of us getting up in the morning and all having to go to the bathroom and shower. Also, I wasn't allowed to speak English at home because they wanted me to learn the language more.. 1845.