Today I woke up around 7:45. I wasn’t sure what to do, and my brain was not in Spanish mode. My host mom, Gina, asked if I wanted to eat breakfast or shower. So I decided to shower. Apparently everyone in Costa Rica showers in the morning. I guess it is weird to shower at night, which is what I usually do. But it’s so humid here, I guess you want to shower all the time. The shower head is literally right above your head, which is kind of cool. There is only one knob, so at first I turned it quite a ways. The water was ice cold, but I didn’t want to waste it, so I endured the ice cold water. I thought to myself, oh my gosh, it’s going to be a long 3 months if this is what showers are going to be like. But I tried turning the knob back toward off, and the water got hot! Such a relief!

            For breakfast Gina made me bread with a butter type substance and jelly. She also cut up fruit for me. I had watermelon, cantaloupe, and I think papaya. It was kind of slimy and was a deep orange. It tasted… interesting. It was so different, I couldn’t decide if I liked it. But I think I figured out that it is not my favorite.

Gina walked me to the museum where we have class and where our class was meeting. The building is named after an important past president of Costa Rica. I learned about how he helped abolish the military use the money to better education. The literacy rate in Costa Rica is actually higher than it is in the US.

I walked home for lunch with Chandler and her host mom. We picked up her granddaughter from school. She was so adorable. Her name was Valentina. She made fart noises with her hands on the walk home trying to make Chandler and me laugh, and it worked. But I don’t think her grandma was too pleased with her. Chandler’s host mom taught me how to get home from her house and I soon saw Gina waving to me from the gate. I’m not sure if she was worried that I got lost because it took me a while to get home. I felt bad. But I think she was just happy I made it. We had beans, rice, and this yellowish food I can’t remember what the name was, but I liked it, and chicken and salad for lunch. In Costa Rica lunch is the biggest meal of the day and many people take a siesta or nap after eating and returning to work or whatever they have to do. I served myself, taking a little of everything so that I could try it and see if I liked it and I didn’t want to waste the food. But my family keeps telling me my plate is so little and I don’t eat that much. Which is a surprise for me haha. For those of you who know me well, you know I am not one to eat “a little”. I watched how Gina and Guillermo washed their dishes and things after eating and tried to emulate them as best I could. I hope I’m doing it right!

After class in the afternoon, Chandler and I walked with Mariah back to her house because we thought we lived somewhat close. We were pretty confused when we dropped her off. We had some idea about where we were, but everything sort of looks similar. We literally walked for an hour from house to house, so completely confused. We kept ending up on the same street that looked so familiar. We tried turning left, right, and going back from the street but we could NOT find our houses! We kept contemplating going back to the church to start over. But when we got back to this street, we still wouldn’t have known where to go. Finally, I said this is familiar! Let’s just keep going straight. So we did, and guess what we found? There was Chandler’s house. Pretty sure we had passed it… We got to Chandler’s house and they let us un. Her mom let me call my mom on their house phone. It was nice to hear her voice, but I think she was very surprised when it was me. Haha. Then I walked home and saw Gina and my host grandma, Tita, sitting on the porch. It was a little embarrassing to have to explain to them how I got lost within a 2 block radius of the house. What is even more embarrassing is the fact that Chandler’s host sister saw us about a block away from the house and started calling her name and waving. But we were so focused on finding our way and thinking that we did not hear or see a thing. It was so embarrassing.

After the long walk, I was sweating up a storm. It’s terrible how much you sweat when you stop walking! It’s not even that hot temperature wise here, but it is so humid that you can’t help but sweat all the time! Well I can’t at least. I decided I should probably unpack and not live out of my suitcase. Are you proud of me mom? So I started to unpack and put away my things. I have a wardrobe type closet in my room with two drawers and a place to hang clothes and then an area to stack clothes. When I opened the closet and found 5 hangers, I was a little concerned. What am a going to do with the shit ton (excuse my language) of clothes that I brought?! But I found a way to be resourceful. I put all my dresses on two hangers, my short sleeve shirts on another, tanks on another, long sleeves on another, and skirts on another. It was perfect.

            While I was unpacking I realized I have a TV! I turned it on and started flipping channels. I found out we get a bunch of American channels! I was so incredibly excited. I direct line to my world! Some of the channels from the states are in English with Spanish subtitles but others are voiced over with Spanish. I even found Pretty Little Liars on TV! I’m sure you can imagine my excitement and enthusiasm. But it was in SPANISH! I guess that will be a good way for me to learn though!

As I was unpacking I heard a knock on the door. I opened it and found two little girls, probably between 4 an 6. The older one started talking a hundred miles an our. She told me her whole (very long) name and the name of her sister. Their names are Amanda and Paula. They were adorable. But I don’t think they know how to speak slowly. They were very hard to understand haha. I’ve noticed when people don’t know how to speak slower they speak louder. That’s probably what we do in the US too now that I think about it. She asked me if I was from Los Estados Unidos, and I told her yes. I think she may have told me that they love gringas… but I’m not sure haha. I followed them out onto the porch and Tita patted the ground for me to sit by her. It was very interesting seeing the interaction between the family and the kids as well as the two neighbor kids who came over shortly. I met Gina’s Aunt, and I think those girls were her granddaughters and they live next to us. Then a little boy came over, probably about 6 years old. Tita kept yelling cuidado! Cuidado! (Careful) Because the drivers in Costa Rica are CRAZY. They do not stop. Doña Mayra told us that in Costa Rica pedestrians NEVER have the right of way. I think my dad may have a difficult time coping with the cars and driving when he comes to visit haha. The boy’s name was Andres and he was soooo cute. All of his words slurred together but I couldn’t stop watching him and how similar he was to kids back in the US that I know. He asked me how to say words in English. Some I knew and some I did not, which is kind of embarrassing. Haha. Then his sister Krystal came over and she was a few years older. They were quite the pair. She asked my lots of question but I couldn’t understand a word she was saying. I felt so bad. Eventually I just looked at her sadly and said in English, I have no idea what you are saying. She gave me a blank stare haha.

            For dinner we eat left overs whenever we get hungry. In Costa Rica no one really eats dinner. It is not a formal meal. People just eat a little something when they are hungry I think. So I had food heated up from lunch. I watched a few Telenovelas with Gina and Guillermo asked me if I liked them.  I said yes, and he laughed and rolled his eyes haha. Lo siento Guillermo.

            So far there have been two very different thing here than in the US. Apparently you don’t flush you toilet paper here? Wish someone would have told me that sooner so I could have been prepared! Haha I had to find out from other people at school. There is a small trash can by the toilet that you put the paper in. I’m not sure how that works in certain situations… but I guess I will have to get used to it. The other thing that is so different is all the stray dogs. It is literally breaking my heart. All I can see is my dog, Catcher, everywhere I go. They walk by you and look up at you with these sad eyes and I desperately want to bend down and pet and love them and take them home and save them but I know not to touch them. But really, it is killing me. Doña Mayra says people can’t decide on whether to kill them or leave them alone. I guess we take them to the pound and if people don’t want them we kill them in the US. But I don’t know what is worse. Because it is so hard to watch! I wish I could help the little perritos :(

            Well that is all I have for now! More to come later.

¡Hasta Luego!

Kristin