The author, visiting the mountain tribal village of Telamance, Costa Rica. (Photo by Sonia Barth)

As I stepped out of the airplane, exhausted from a 10-hour overnight flight, I let my senses awaken to my new surroundings. The air smelled and tasted different, and never had I heard so much Spanish all at once. Excited and nervous at the same time, I suddenly felt my stomach flip-flop inside as my mind raced with questions. What in the world was I doing here in Costa Rica by myself, a thousand miles from my friends and family? What would my host family think of me? Would I be able to get by with my limited Spanish? How would I survive eight weeks in this new and strange place? Thus began an exciting adventure, a mountain of rich experiences and memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

In February, while weighing different summer options, I desired to have some kind of adventure. Having attended various festivals for as long as I can remember, I wanted something new and different. I wanted to branch out and broaden my horizons, to try something new. So when the possibility of staying in San José, Costa Rica, came up, it sounded like the perfect fit for me. My love for Spanish and Latin-American culture, coupled with the possibility of playing and teaching in a foreign environment using a language I barely knew, drew me in at once. Without knowing exactly what I was going to do once I got down there, I packed up my bags and viola and headed south.

One of the first things that struck me about the people of Costa Rica is how friendly and generous they are. The family I stayed with took me in like one of their own, making me feel immediately at ease. For the most part they spoke no English, so our first day together I sat tongue-tied, trying to remember all my high-school Spanish. Soon, though, hearing the language became commonplace, and I found myself thinking and even writing at times in Spanish.

How would I survive eight weeks in this new and strange place?

What I didn't expect was an invitation to play in the viola section of the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional (I always knew that the world needed more violists!) and my days soon filled with rehearsals and concerts. Costa Rica is one of the many Latin-American countries that have extensive youth programs for students of all ages and levels. Besides playing with the orchestra, I spent my time observing private lessons and group classes. Toward the end of my stay, I was able to interact with several of the young viola students, guiding them in tuning their instruments and maintaining good posture, among other things.

Some of my favorite parts of this expedition were all the opportunities to explore and experience the beauty of Costa Rica, aside from music. Mountains, volcanoes, beaches, tropical rain forests, caves, and waterfalls are among the countless natural wonders of the country. I have come away from these eight weeks inspired and richer in experience, having broadened my horizons and explored new territory. I stepped off that first plane nervous and questioning; eight weeks later, I stepped back on, sad to leave my new friends. Sometimes you just need to risk taking a leap of faith, try something new, and go for it. I did, and I will never regret it.