Its been a while. Ive been really busy getting adjusted and spending time with my host family, but I am loving every minute of it. It has been challenging, but a lot of fun. Where to begin...
The first few days with my family were pretty hard since there is such a huge language barrier. I realized that I didnt know as much spanish as I thought. They were very understanding and patient with me, which I am very thankful for. Im now able to communicate a lot better and am able to carry a very basic conversation about my day and what I am planning on doing. It has been very interesting to say the least. I have a host cousin who is about 8 years old and thinks that I am the best thing ever. She tries talking to me and teaching me things withher rapidly chattering spanish, and I do my best to understand. She is so cute- the other day she bought me an icee type thing and then gave me bubblegum and a sucker. Shes my little friend. (by the way, the reason I am not using apostrophes is because I dont know where to find them on a spanish keyboard)
Sunday. I was able to go to the ocean with my friend, Korenas family. The beach was a little bit dirty but it was still very beautiful. I learned how not to get pushed over and drown in the waves. It was pretty crazy. I also met more family and earned the nickname "duck" and it makes me laugh because my aunt Mary used to call me Duckie.
Monday was my first day of classes. The way of teaching here is so much different than in the U.S. I felt like I wasnt in class because we just sat there and had a group discussion about the topic of the day. There was not lecture. Even in Spanish class, all we did was converse in spanish. I learned a lot more than having a lesson or lecture. We have classes outside in a little hut, which only has a roof. It is nice and cool under there- because it is usually in the high 80s and humid everyday. My host mom packs a lunchbox full of fruit for me everyday. They have the best pineapple ever. Then for lunch I come home and have more food. It is crazy.
Tuesday through Thursday are a blur for me. Everyday blends together because it seems like Ive been here for months. During these days I went to a Costa Rican wake because my host dads uncle died of prostate cancer. It was very different and similar to visitations in the U.S. The biggest difference is that the visitation started around 10 PM and went until early the next morning, such as 6 AM. It was crazy, but I didnt stay there for a long time because my host brother was falling asleep standing up. What else? I went swimming inbetween classes on Thursday and got burnt. There is a pool at the place we have school, so we can just jump in whenever we want inbetween classes. Its the life. I also went on a walk with a friend yesterday and saw the most beautiful, hidden stream I have ever seen. I need to go back and take pictures because it is gorgeous. I love the unspoiled beauty of this country!
Anyway, after classes today I was able to go with my friend to a house that had 2 pet monkeys. They were so cute and would hold your hand through the cage. There were also parrot-like birds that would say quiero comida...which means I want food. It was cute. The house that these monkeys belonged to was gorgeous. It looked like a recently built house, but was about 36 years old. After playing with the monkeys for a long time I drove up into the mountains with a friend and her host family. We went down a very steep, scary road and I thought we were going to die. Then we drove way up in the mountain and saw the most beautiful view Ive ever seen. I took a picture or two, but it isnt even close. You could see the ocean and mountains that were part of the bay. I cant even explain. Now I am home writing this and hoping to do something with my friends tonight. I might go out dancing with my friends host sister.
The food here is so delicious. Ive been fed way too much and they actually want me to gain weight before I go home. They think that if I go home skinnier that my parents wont think they fed me. But every morning I have gallo pinto which is rice and beans, every midmorning I have fruit, every noon I have a meat with rice and beans, midafternoon I have coffee and a dessert and at night I have more rice, beans and meat. And thrown in there is food that my family is constantly feeding me. Its crazy. There are somethings that I am learning to love, like avocados with every meal (yum), and new fruits like agucates and mamones. I dont even know how to explain them....they are very different. It has been interesting eating the new food- and thank God I havent gotten sick yet.
I should probably get going. I need to take a nap. Learning all these new things and having a completely different environment to explore is so tiring. As well as the warm weather and having to wake up early everyday. However, I am absolutely loving it here.
As the Costa Ricans say "Pura Vida"
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