Sidebar #44 - Homesickness (or lack thereof)

I get asked almost on a daily basis in Costa Rica whether I miss home. My answer is a pretty emphatic “no”. (In reality, I say something like “No, estoy en paraíso. Pura Vida.”) Living in Costa Rica, I’m in a high-developed, democratic country in which all of my basic needs are met. It’s also beautiful. However, I acknowledge that my upbringing, prior experience abroad, and location in an urban site may be a big factor in my lack of homesickness. If this was my first time out of the country, and I was placed somewhere much more rural and remote, I may feel differently. 

With that being said, I think going abroad for an extended time is interesting, because it allows you to think about the little things you may miss that you hadn’t anticipated. Obviously I miss family and friends, but thankfully with social media, no one is ever too far away in 2025. Surprisingly, one of the things I yearn for the most is colder weather. Costa Rica’s climate is the envy of most of the world - here in the Central Valley, it’s between 60 and 80 degrees pretty much year round. Especially as a runner, I would love to enjoy a run in which I’m not drenched in sweat or rain. Other than those, the only things I really miss are related to sports. There’s something that’s great about catching a baseball game as the sun sets with a hot dog and a beer. Otherwise, I’m lucky - I can get the American food I crave pretty easily, I can travel frequently, and I’m constantly connected with a network of family and friends. With that being said, I’m making my first trip back to the US next week for a wedding, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited for some creature comforts like Southern food.

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