Isabela P.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

I first heard about the Peace Corps through my older sister, who served as an English teacher in Mozambique. Her stories made me curious about what it would be like to live and work closely with a community. That interest grew when I spent three years at a service-learning focused high school in Madagascar and often saw Peace Corps Volunteers in rural areas. Growing up between the U.S., Bolivia, Panama, and South Africa also gave me perspective on the challenges people face and how they create opportunities for themselves. Those experiences pushed me to study business and entrepreneurship, and the Peace Corps felt like the right next step to keep learning, growing, and working with communities in a meaningful way.

2. What projects are you working on?

I’m at the halfway point of my service and have had the chance to work on some exciting projects alongside my community:

• Supporting a group of entrepreneurs to strengthen their businesses, organize fairs, and find more opportunities to sell their products through workshops and one-on-one guidance.
• Partnering with the local high school to facilitate Junior Achievement’s entrepreneurship program, where students are developing a cacao smoothie business using local cacao.
• Working with the community development association on a catering business idea that could help reinvest in their organization and spark new income-generating initiatives.
• Helping to promote my community as a cacao hub through events like the Festival del Cacao and partnerships with tourism boards.

Each of these projects has been a chance to support entrepreneurship, youth, and community-led growth, while also learning so much from the people I get to work with.

3. What strategies have you used to integrate into your community?

To integrate into my community, I’ve tried to go where people naturally gather. I attend sporting events and community leader meetings, and I’ve gotten to know local business owners and teachers, who’ve also become good friends. The gym has also been a big part of my life here; I found a close group of friends, and together we sign up for races around the country. I eventually moved closer to the town center to feel more connected to the daily rhythm of life. Along the way, I’ve picked up Tico humor, which always makes conversations more fun.

4. What is a highlight of your time in service so far?

A big highlight was helping organize the first Festival del Cacao in my community. It started as a small idea in our entrepreneur group and ended up becoming a beautiful event with local businesses, students, and municipal support. Seeing everyone come together to celebrate something so rooted in the community’s history and identity was really exciting. Another highlight has been being part of a like-minded group of Volunteers to share ideas, challenges, and laughs. It has made the experience so much richer. We’ve supported each other through the ups and downs, and those friendships feel like they’ll last long after service.

5. What have you enjoyed most about the community where you are serving?

I’ve really enjoyed the warmth and generosity of people here. Even though I came in as an outsider, I’ve been invited into homes, celebrations, and daily life. I’ve also come to appreciate the slower rhythm of a small town, which makes it easier to build real relationships. I love the connection people have to nature, agriculture, and traditions like cacao. But what I enjoy most is how people show up for each other — there’s a strong sense of community that feels very different from what I was used to back home.

6. What are some of the most important things you’ve learned from your community?

Humor shows up everywhere in Costa Rica! Whether it’s at the gym, in local stores, or at community events, people find a way to laugh and make things lighter, which has helped me connect more easily.

I’ve also learned that action speaks louder than long discussions. In meetings or projects, people often prefer to just get started and figure things out together along the way, which has taught me the value of being practical and moving forward instead of waiting for the “perfect” plan.

7. How do you spend time when not working on a project?

I usually do weight training at the gym, which has become a big part of my routine and a way I’ve made some really good friends. I also love playing guitar and making music; it’s one of my favorite ways to unwind that I sometimes share with friends. A lot of my free time is also spent visiting neighbors, sitting for coffee, and catching up. I’m also involved in Volunteer-led initiatives like the Peer Support Network, the Peace Corps Costa Rica Radio Show, and the Costa Rica Calls, where we invite Returned Peace Corps Volunteers from around the world to share their stories.

8. What are you looking forward to in your remaining time as a Volunteer?

I’m looking forward to seeing the entrepreneur group grow stronger and more sustainable so it can continue after I leave. I’m also excited to see how the catering business project with the community development association evolves and how it can help them create more self-sustaining initiatives for the community.

9. Once you finish service, what will you do differently when you return to the U.S.?

Once I finish service, I think I’ll be more conscious about sustainability — paying closer attention to where my food comes from and how I spend my money. I’ve also seen the value of strong community here, so I hope to join local groups like a community garden or book club when I’m back in the U.S. And I plan to keep a connection to Latin America and international development in whatever I do next.

Learn more about serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Costa Rica.