Pura Vida
Trip Start
Jun 26, 2006
1
16
50
Trip End
Aug 14, 2008
Accosta,
Costa Rica
Monday, July 3, 2006
Yesterday, we were all dropped off at our new host families´ houses. It was almost emotional and entirely sentimental. It felt like we wouldn´t see each other anymore. We all hung out of the bus windows saying goodbye to each person as they got off. But we have classes in San Jose every Friday, and some Saturdays.
I was apprehensive about meeting my family because we recieved a short family bio and my family is not Catholic. I was nervous about whether or not I´d be able to go to church, but tranquila, it was okay. I was able to go with a relative.
Also, I had heard that in the past, some volunteers have had breakdowns when leaving the bus. Nothing of the sort happened on our bus. I was also expecting the houses to be different. The houses are middle class houses, I believe. From what I gather, a typical house has 3-4 bedrooms and the kitchen-living room-dining room form one large room. So small by US standards, but normal here. My family has a fridge, microwave and old fashioned washing machine. But we only have cold water in the house. I guess you can´t win them all. I used to take quick showers, but I think while I´m here, I´ll break my current record.
About my family, they are the nicest people. The mother is a housewife and the father is a taxi driver, I think. They have four children, but only two live at home. The two ones who live at home are on vacation visiting the eldest, so I only met one of the daughters who lives in this town, also. She is really cool.
And the food is pretty normal, considering I grew up around Carribean food. We eat a lot of rice and tropical fruits and veggies. One dish that the mother made was ¨chop suey con verduras¨, in her own words. The name made me giggle. It was noodles with carrots and some other veggies with a light, watery tomato sauce. It was delish, but definitely not an Asian chop suey.
So today was the first day of class. Turns out we only have spanish class in the mornings. In the afternoons, we have one-on-one sessions, so if you don´t have an afternoon session, you have the rest of the day off. However, we have lots of assignments, so I guess we´re to do those. One thing PC is big on is integration in the community. That´s another thing for the afternoon, integrate. I haven´t yet had a chance to really explore the town, but I´m excited to do so. There are so many little shops here! Also, all the kids are on the equivalent of X'mas vacation, so there are tons of kids about. My house-sister is 16, so when she gets back, hopefully she knows lots of young people I can meet. I find it easier to converse with younger people because of common interests and they don´t seem to mind if you don´t get the words right all the time.
My Spanish is okay. There is still so much I don´t know, and I can only use present tense. I know a few verbs in past tense, but that´s about it. I need a lot of practice. But I really like this immersion thing PC has going on. It really helps. When you don´t know a word, you get really creative.
Trivia for the day- Ticos don´t use the ¨tu¨ tense. (¨Tu¨ is the informal ¨you¨.)
Anyhow, !pura vida!
Comments
Hablando como los nativos!
Dear Kira,
You know you can always count on me to help with the Spanish, especially the tenses. La mejor manera de aprender un idioma es vivir en el mismo pais.
A.K,