Costa Rica is wonderful! My host family has been nothing but warm and welcoming. As soon as I arrived I was shown my room and offered lunch. My host mom, Adrianna, doesn´t speak English so at first it was a little difficult to communicate but I took out my phrase book/dictionary and that has been very helpful when communicating.
Maria Jose, my little host sister who´s 7, has been my teacher. She would take out a book and point to something in the picture and would say it in Spanish and I would repeat it. I bought my host sisters dresses as a gift when I arrived and for Laura (2 yrs old) I bought a Tinkerbell costume with wings and she has worn the wings everywhere!
My host dad speaks English very well and has been very helpful! From what I´ve seen of family life, it is very laid back. The children are able to go to the stores by themselves for bread or anything needed.
The people of Costa Rica are very friendly. They´ve tried their best to accommodate anything we might need. We visited the school on Friday and talked with the principal.
I´ve been adjusting okay I think. I´m trying to keep an open mind and attitude about everything.
Today there is a huge festival or celebration where the whole town goes to a farm at 3am to cut down trees for firewood for a December celebration of their patron saint.. They have to cut the wood early so it can ripen. I didn´t participate in the cutting of wood, but we all went down town to watch the parade and the oxen bringing back the wood in carts.
One thing that has been interesting is the cold showers. I knew the water was gonna be cold so my showers have been short! I think the more showers I take the better because it is hot here!
The food has been very good this far! I´ve had two traditional breakfasts, one with tortillas, homemade cheese, and sour cream and then this morning I had eggs with rice and beans.
Although the weather is very warm and humid, it´s beautiful. Everything is very green. It has rained on and off. We came right at the end of the rainy season so we´re still getting some rain. Overall, I think I am adjusting very well. The most difficult thing is trying to figure out what I´m being told or asked, but I´m hoping with time it will become easier.
Flight into Costa Rica
San Ambrosio School
The oxes pulling the carts of wood at the Pica de Leña festival.
My host sisters, Maria Jose and Laura.