Studying abroad might seem a bit nerve-wracking as you begin to prepare for a semester or summer away from home. Being away from your usual routine and, above all, the ability to speak without second-guessing what you’re about to say can be intimidating. However, I’m here to ease your nerves and reassure you that you will be 100% okay. Why am I confident in what I’m about to tell you? Well, I’m a native Spanish speaker who is about to wrap up her second week in San José, Costa Rica.
So here’s a rundown of some key phrases in Spanish that you will consistently use during your stay in South America, starting with your flight.
Navigating Layovers in Central or Latin America
I had a layover in El Salvador, and some of the phrases I used to communicate with Salvadorans included:
- Hola, ¿dónde puedo encontrar la puerta/sala (#)? → Hi, where can I find gate (#)?
- Tengo un vuelo de conexión a… → I have a connecting flight to…
- Muchas gracias por su ayuda, que tenga un buen día. → Thank you so much for your help, I hope you have a great day.
- Buenas, ¿sabe dónde está el baño más cercano? → Hello, do you know where the nearest restroom is?
These phrases will help you navigate your way through airports and make your journey smoother.
Landing in Costa Rica
When landing in Costa Rica, you’ll go through customs, where you’ll need to provide your homestay address, reasons for your arrival, and duration of your trip. Afterward, you’ll head to the baggage claim area to pick up your checked luggage. Once you have your luggage, proceed to the final baggage screening. From there, you can either join your ISA group at the designated meet-up location or, if you arrive outside the scheduled pick-up time, request a taxi from the taxi hut located within the airport to take you to your homestay.
Immigration & Customs Phrases
- Propósito de tu visita → Purpose of your visit
- Estoy aquí como turista/estudiante. → I am here as a tourist/student.
- ¿Por cuántos días va a estar en Costa Rica? → Duration of stay
- Voy a estar aquí por # meses. → I will be here for # months.
- ¿Dónde se va a estar hospedando? → Accommodation
- Me voy a estar quedando con la familia (Olivera) en (location). → I will be staying with the (Oliver) family at (address).
- ¿Tiene un vuelo de regreso? → Do you have a return or onward ticket?
- Sí, tengo un boleto de ida y vuelta. Me regreso el (# y mes). → Yes, I have a round trip ticket. I return on (date).
If you are traveling as a beginner or intermediate Spanish speaker, some of these phrases might be challenging. It’s a good idea to make a card with your homestay parents’ full name, address, email, and phone number, and keep it in your wallet for easy access during customs.
Baggage & Transportation to Homestay
- ¿Dónde puedo encontrar el cargamento del vuelo (nombre de aerolínea)? → Where can I find the luggage from (airline)?
- Necesito un taxi que me lleve a (address). ¿Cuánto sería? → I need a taxi to take me to (address). How much will it be?
Once you meet your homestay family, you’ll start to get to know each other. They might ask about your flight, where you’re from, and your food preferences so they can plan meals accordingly.
Common Questions from Your Homestay Family
- ¿De dónde eres? → Where are you from?
- Yo soy de (state/town/city). → I am from (state/town/city).
- ¿Cómo estuvo tu vuelo? → How was your flight?
- Mi vuelo fue muy largo y agotador. → My flight was long and tiring.
- ¿Estás cansado/a? → Are you tired?
- Estoy muy cansado/a y necesito una siesta. → I am very tired and I need a nap.
- ¿Qué te gusta comer? ¿Qué frutas y vegetales te gustan? → What do you like to eat? What fruits and vegetables do you like?
- A mí me gusta comer (foods). → I like to eat (foods).
- Me gustan mucho las (fresas) y el (elote). → I really like (strawberries) and (corn).
This is a great time to practice your Spanish and ask questions, whether it’s about their hobbies, jobs, music tastes, etc. Don’t worry about sounding silly—embrace the Spanish language, as you will be using it daily. Remember, failing is part of the journey to succeeding. And if you don’t say something exactly right, join in the laughter, just as I did a couple of times while trying to communicate with my host family.
Estrella Rivera is a student at California State University Fullerton and an ISA Featured Photo Blogger. She is studying with ISA in San José, Costa Rica.