Tamarindo

This past weekend, we went to Tamarindo.  This is on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and was absolutely breathtaking (see below).  One of my friends here, Lexi, is a surf instructor and lives in Long Island, NY and she showed me how to surf.  I can not say that I was very successful, it is very difficult to actually stand up and keep your balance.  However, I now know how to surf and want to practice next time I go to a beach somewhere.  I also rode a horse on the beach during sunset which was pretty magnificent. 

The food there was outrageous, $10.00 for a 6" sub meal at subway, I am very cheap so I hate spending my money on food!  Also, on Saturday night my friends and I met two Texans on the beach.  One was rather cute :) haha.  He is an ESPN sports broadcaster, which I thought was pretty cool.  He did his broadcasting voice for us :)

Our entire group hung out on the beach Friday night and just relaxed, it was such a great time.  Looking at the stars and having a fire on the beach.  Pretty cool.

As far as the rest of my trip, haha, no I am not always on the beach!  I am adapting more to the culture here and do not feel nearly as scared to walk alone.  However, I DO NOT and WILL not walk alone at night.  Definitely not safe.  My host brother got mugged 3 months ago by 3 guys and they stole his phone, and pulled a knife on him :( I was not exactly thrilled to hear that news.  But I know God is with me and will watch over me always.

My first Spanish class ends this Friday, we have a final thursday and project due Friday.  I begin Int. 2 classes next Tuesday.  We get a 3 day weekend this weekend, woo hoo.  I have yet to sleep in since coming here.  For those of you who know me, you know how much I need my sleep.  So getting up every day at 7 a.m. is killing me haha

Anyways, I think that's most of the updates so far :) Things are going well on my part, definitely missing aspects of home though.  The best part of this trip thus far, for me, is that it has given me a whole new appreciation of the United States.  I am so grateful for my country and the safety I feel there.

P.S. today I got in a debate with my Spanish teacher, in spanish, about why President Obama is not a good president.  Costa Rica is a liberal country, so he kept saying "I love Obama" haha.  He is a cute professor so it was all in good fun, but just thought that was cool that I could attempt to debate with someone in espanol.  However, my spanish communication still needs LOTS of practice.

God Bless,

Miss you all!

Volcan Poas & La Paz Cataratas

Hola all :)

This past weekend we went to two coffee plantations, a volcano, and waterfalls and a butterfly garden.  This past weekend was not as exciting as the beach, for me, but still great nonetheless.  Unfortunately, it was too misty to see the volcano.  We were in a "cloud" forest as our guide said, meaning we were up high enough to be in the clouds and it was SO rainy/misty, we were drenched.  The temperature went from 75 degrees to 30-40.  Cloud forests are at the elevation of 5000-8000 feet.  We were up pretty high.

On Sunday, we saw how the coffee in Costa Rica is made.  I bought a couple bags for my parents.  Costa Rica is one of the best places to buy coffee, our tour guide said "It is illegal to leave home without it" :)

On the bus ride, one of my guy friends, Josh, was cracking jokes and saying cheesy pick up lines the entire time.  However, my friends and I were in tears because it was so funny.

Also, on Friday night I went to a futbol (soccer) game with one of my Tico guy friends and some of my American friends here.  It was so much fun!

Things truly are getting easier for me, still struggling with some aspects and hoping/praying my spanish improves more than it has but for the most part, no complains here.

Have a splendid week :)

Puerto Viejo

We went to Puerto Viejo this past weekend, it was a blast! We arrived there on Friday night.  That night my friends and I walked around and walked on the beach.  The next morning we woke up and due to the weather, we could not snorkel, however we went on a nature park with some "rastas", this is what Costa Ricans call African Americans with dreads in their hair.  After the nature walk we went on a private beach and hung out.  The beaches were like nothing i've ever seen.  No hotels, nothing.  Just mountains and forests all around.  It was gorgeous.  It reminded me of an exotic, private island that you see in movies.  Later that night, we all went out to dinner which was delicious.  I have been eating two meals a day so I am hoping to lose some weight while here :) haha.  After dinner, we went to a bonfire on the beach which was something i've always wanted to do.  Then, we went to some salsa clubs/bars and one of my Costa Rican friends, Ale, taught me how to salsa dance! Woo Hoo haha.  It was such a fun night.  Hanging out on the beach with my new friends, dancing, and just being near the ocean.

Now I am back in San Jose, I found that I love the traveling part of this whole experience the most.  I like it here, but I enjoyed this weekend so much.  I am still struggling with the location of my house and debating on whether I should move to a closer house or stay where I am at.  I love my family here, but I want to be closer so I can do things with my friends.  Either way I am praying for God's discernment.  If you could please pray that he will make it clear for me, that would be great.

I hope you are all doing great.  I miss and love you guys.  One thing I am grateful for is how this trip has showed me how truly blessed I am.  It is beautiful here, but it is not home.

Have a great week!

We found the supermarket... finally!

Hola todas mis amigas y familia :)  Te extrano mucho!

Today my friends and I decided to take a trip to find the nearest supermarket/wal mart... well this was my first taxi ride ever ( I believe ) and it was in espanol only! Woo hoo : )) Anyways, it was about 5 minutes from campus and for two things it cost me $10.00 so very expensive but we were just happy to have an idea where to get stuff... my roommate has been without a notebook for the past week lol so now we have the things we need.

I was originally in Intermediate II here but after being surrounded by spanish 24/7 I didn't want to have to push myself anymore than need be so I decided to drop down into Int. I but I LOVE it... probably one of the best parts of my day, as weird as that sounds.  The teachers here are so wonderful and my professor is from Cuba! He is awesome haha and so funny.  I seriously love that class, one of our assignments today, during class, was to ask a local Costa Rican what certain idiomas mean so I got to practice my spanish.

As far as my home situation goes, my roommate and I have a system worked out where we wait for each other each day to walk home.  I felt 100 times more safe walking home with her! I just pray we can figure out a way to get home safely by ourselves or at night, so please pray for that :)

I honestly miss you all and love you all so much and am so grateful to have the friends and family that I do.  Thanks for your prayers!


My roommate Katie y Yo

                                                            My new friend Katie!

 

Hasta luego!

Mi primero dia de las clases

Well, today had an interesting start... I got to the international offices where they posted our student schedules, only to find out that I wasn't on the list.  By mistake, my study abroad coordinator forgot to put my name on the list so I didn't have any classes but then I emailed her (thank God for wifi) and we got it figured out.

I am serious when I say, I have never been more out of my comfort zone than now... it is terrifying not knowing what to do or how to convey your ideas.  I really am praying/hoping by the end of this trip I know a LOT more espanol :)

It is honestly so gorgeous here... I am grateful to God to be here but still adjusting.

I ask for your prayers always :) My host family's house is further from the school than anyone elses and I have to walk alone sometimes... last night my roommate and I got rocks thrown at us :( It was scary so I am asking for a ton of prayers because I don't really feel safe and they told us muggings happen all the time...

Anyways,

Miss you all! See you soon!

Let the adventure begin

Today was my second official day! I had orientation, learned a little about the school but for the most part I am still going in blind so wish me luck.   I get my classes tomorrow, I am going to the school with my roommate, Katie, at 7:30 and we start class at 8!! Eek.  I have about a 15 minute walk to school.  It is absolutely gorgeous here.  I also really enjoy my host family.  For the most part, this is all so new.  Kind of scary to be 100% honest... the language barrier is what gets me the most but I guess that's why i'm ultimately here!

Goodnight! There will be more to come :)