Chepe Chico (Site Assignment)

Ever since applying to the Peace Corps over a year ago, I’ve been constantly asked where exactly I’ll be in Costa Rica. I’ve always had to be coy in my responses, because we don’t receive our host sites until after 9 weeks of training on the ground in-country. Naturally, particularly in a country as diverse as Costa Rica, speculation about where we might end up ran rampant in the group. As for me, I’m moving to….


Right around the corner! I’m not permitted to give away many specifics about my new community, but I am now in a town just outside of San Jose. My new house is just a 30-minute drive from Escazu and is located in the canton of Desamparados. I’m not going to lie - this was pretty surprising to me. The image I always had of the Peace Corps was volunteers serving in remote, rural, and exotic communities. In Costa Rica that could range from the mountains to the jungle to the beach. However, I’m staying here in the Central Valley and in the San Jose province. Ticos affectionately refer to their capital city as “Chepe”, so I will be a Chepeño for the next couple of years. (Hence the name of the blog)

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