We are leaving for Panama tomorrow and will be there for the week! Said goodbye to our roommate Brenna from North Carolina (Elon University)! Sadness for sure!!!
Expect some more exciting updates once we return from Panama, since I will be unable to inundate you all on the exciting adventures as they happen because we will not have the computer with us!
But have no fear, the LORD still reigns!! Have a blessed week everyone!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Caleb's house
Monday night we had dinner at another local Tico family’s house. It was at the house of are dear friend Caleb’s house, who we met in Montezuma during Holy week.
We met him downtown and then traveled together on a bus to his house. When we arrived, his mother and sister were standing outside. They were very sweet and welcomed us into their house. Caleb showed us around and then we hung out in Caleb’s room practicing Spanish, playing guitar, and chatting.
This is Caleb’s room.
Caleb works for Coca Cola, and wait for it…. Makes about 260,000 colones a month ($500 US dollars)! He takes 2 buses each day to get to work (each bus takes an average of 15-30 minutes depending on traffic). He is currently saving up to purchase his own house and eventually get married. He has dreams to visit the USA someday but it is difficult to get visas to visit the USA. He is an excellent guitarist and plays 5 nights a week at the church and on Sunday mornings. He has a girlfriend named Jerlyn.
The house itself is around 1000 sq ft. It has 2 stories and is not complete yet. Caleb said a house like this is worth about 20,000,000 colones (roughly $36363 US dollars). It wasn’t even until 2004 that they built the second floor. Caleb, 24 years old, has 4 siblings. 2 of which live outside the house. Living in the house are Caleb’s parents, his younger brother-20 years old, his older sister 32, and her son of 12 years (the father left when she got pregnant and they have not heard of him since).
Here is a picture from upstairs. The house is not completed yet and literally has an opening in the roof/wall above the kitchen!
We had a delicious spaghetti meal! They had some delicious homemade chili that I enjoyed! After dinner, Caleb gave us some of his Spanish music. Then we bordered the bus and headed home.
This is Caleb and Krystle in front of his house!
We met him downtown and then traveled together on a bus to his house. When we arrived, his mother and sister were standing outside. They were very sweet and welcomed us into their house. Caleb showed us around and then we hung out in Caleb’s room practicing Spanish, playing guitar, and chatting.
This is Caleb’s room.
Caleb works for Coca Cola, and wait for it…. Makes about 260,000 colones a month ($500 US dollars)! He takes 2 buses each day to get to work (each bus takes an average of 15-30 minutes depending on traffic). He is currently saving up to purchase his own house and eventually get married. He has dreams to visit the USA someday but it is difficult to get visas to visit the USA. He is an excellent guitarist and plays 5 nights a week at the church and on Sunday mornings. He has a girlfriend named Jerlyn.
The house itself is around 1000 sq ft. It has 2 stories and is not complete yet. Caleb said a house like this is worth about 20,000,000 colones (roughly $36363 US dollars). It wasn’t even until 2004 that they built the second floor. Caleb, 24 years old, has 4 siblings. 2 of which live outside the house. Living in the house are Caleb’s parents, his younger brother-20 years old, his older sister 32, and her son of 12 years (the father left when she got pregnant and they have not heard of him since).
Here is a picture from upstairs. The house is not completed yet and literally has an opening in the roof/wall above the kitchen!
We had a delicious spaghetti meal! They had some delicious homemade chili that I enjoyed! After dinner, Caleb gave us some of his Spanish music. Then we bordered the bus and headed home.
This is Caleb and Krystle in front of his house!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Lazy Week
It's been a very, very lazy week here.. We have rented quite a few movies and are watches old Disney movies in Spanish. We've seen the Lion King, Bolt, Shrek, Monster Inc, The Incredibles, etc. It's like a whole new childhood! haha
For additional spanish practice, I have been reading a book outloud. It's only 120 pages, but because I'm reading it outloud in a foreign language I read about 5 pages in half an hour. It's ridiculously slow! This is very unenjoyable as I am I an extremely fast reader and enjoy flying through books; but it's teaching me alot about being patient and being more detailed.
Krystle has been arranging and planning the rest of our trip, or at least the parts after Spain. We have been locking down the places and people we will visit! We'll spend some time with friends in New Jersey, spend some time in New York City, then hopefully to Buffalo, New York to spend time with Krystle's grandparents and aunt, and then off to Indiapolis and Chicago to hang out with Stacie, our friend who we met here in Costa Rica.
For additional spanish practice, I have been reading a book outloud. It's only 120 pages, but because I'm reading it outloud in a foreign language I read about 5 pages in half an hour. It's ridiculously slow! This is very unenjoyable as I am I an extremely fast reader and enjoy flying through books; but it's teaching me alot about being patient and being more detailed.
Krystle has been arranging and planning the rest of our trip, or at least the parts after Spain. We have been locking down the places and people we will visit! We'll spend some time with friends in New Jersey, spend some time in New York City, then hopefully to Buffalo, New York to spend time with Krystle's grandparents and aunt, and then off to Indiapolis and Chicago to hang out with Stacie, our friend who we met here in Costa Rica.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Futbol y mas futbol
Sunday morning was an eventful day as we watch our first live Costa Rican soccer match! Quite exhilirating! We awoke early, the first time in days, in order to arrive on time to the bus stop for Cartago. After allowing two buses labeled Cartago-San Jose to pass us because of our timidness and anxiety of taking the wrong bus, we motioned the 3rd bus labeled Cartago to stop and pick us up. We asked the bus driver to tell us when we arrived at the bus stop closest to the Cartago stadium, and immediately we found ourselves on a street covered with Saprissa uniforms and gear. We sat in the sombra, spanish for shade and enjoyed watching the Ticos enjoy the last regular season game! Speaking of playoffs, Go Coyotes (2-1 ahead of Detroit-1st round) and Suns (0-1 behind Portland-1st round)!!
We arrived an hour and a half early! It was a beautiful day!
Pregame walkout- supporting children's athletes!
Kickoff!!
After the soccer game in Cartago, we headed to downtown San Jose for a late lunch. After lunch we headed to the Alajuelita, south of San Jose, for a soccer game. Last sunday Krystle did not get the opportunity to play, so we set up a girl's game at the same field that I played at last sunday. Krystle's team won 14-4, a wondeful ending to a long day of futbol!
Krystle and the girls before their soccer game.
Krystle busting a move outside, which freed her up to score!!!
We arrived an hour and a half early! It was a beautiful day!
Pregame walkout- supporting children's athletes!
Kickoff!!
After the soccer game in Cartago, we headed to downtown San Jose for a late lunch. After lunch we headed to the Alajuelita, south of San Jose, for a soccer game. Last sunday Krystle did not get the opportunity to play, so we set up a girl's game at the same field that I played at last sunday. Krystle's team won 14-4, a wondeful ending to a long day of futbol!
Krystle and the girls before their soccer game.
Krystle busting a move outside, which freed her up to score!!!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Final Day of the last week
This is it.
School is over. Sigh of relief from everyone, I know! Especially me; it´s relief to be done. It´s like chapter of the trip being closed and aditional adventures being revealed. We have one last futbol game with the teacher today.
We received advanced II certificates. Que bueno! Now we are going places in this world!
School is over. Sigh of relief from everyone, I know! Especially me; it´s relief to be done. It´s like chapter of the trip being closed and aditional adventures being revealed. We have one last futbol game with the teacher today.
We received advanced II certificates. Que bueno! Now we are going places in this world!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Third day of the last week
I spent today playing a game. I had the opportunity to talk all day. It was good practice however it opened my eyes to how much practice I need in verbal communication. Seriously, it's not easy. I know what I want to say, I even know what the words are, but I cannot construct sentences for the life of me. They are like one big run-on sentence. It's honestly quite funny watching the facial expressions of my teacher as I attempt to communicate. Patience; sigh.
Krystle tackled the "impertivo de subjunctivo" today. She has caught to me in Book 3 and is a force to be reckoned with. Surely made for a long day, but rewarding as we'll be able to practice this form during the next months we have left here in Costa Rica. Viva Espanol!
Krystle tackled the "impertivo de subjunctivo" today. She has caught to me in Book 3 and is a force to be reckoned with. Surely made for a long day, but rewarding as we'll be able to practice this form during the next months we have left here in Costa Rica. Viva Espanol!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Second day of the last week
Today I was destroyed by Imperfective de Subjunctive. Not fun at all. I have begun to realize the importance of thinking in Spanish. I often run into problems when I try to think in English and speak in Spanish. I need to think, speak, and live in Spanish! Oh how fun!
After school today we played soccer with some of the other students. It was exhausting. We only had 7 people, 6 guys and 1 Krystle. We played 3 on 3 and had 1 sub. Each time a team scored, the team scored on subbed a person out for the fresh person. It was an exhilarating hour.
After school today we played soccer with some of the other students. It was exhausting. We only had 7 people, 6 guys and 1 Krystle. We played 3 on 3 and had 1 sub. Each time a team scored, the team scored on subbed a person out for the fresh person. It was an exhilarating hour.
Monday, April 12, 2010
First day of the last week
Today was the first day of the last week of school!
We have done 2 months of spanish school. A month of 5 days, 5 hours a day. A month of 4 days, 3 hours a day.
After this week we have another week in San Jose, head to Panama for a week, then rent a house in San Ramon of Alajuela. My parents also come visit during May!
We have progressed into the third book (advanced) and are learning some intense history of Central and South America! We have been breaking down the complexities of the subjunctive tense in Spanish. In English we have 6 verb tenses, 3 simple, 3 compound. In spanish there are 14. 7 simple, 7 compound. The subjunctive is a special tense that uses emotions and feelings to express doubt, desires, beliefs, opinions, etc.
Today I did a presentation on global warming. My topic: The problem is not global warming, the problem is people serve themselves and don't care about others. It was alot of fun. I had 15 minutes to present and afterward my teacher and I spoke for 30 minutes on the topic.
Krystle got to explain why she goes to church and what values dictate the way she lives here life while using the subjuctive. Not a small feat by any means!
We have done 2 months of spanish school. A month of 5 days, 5 hours a day. A month of 4 days, 3 hours a day.
After this week we have another week in San Jose, head to Panama for a week, then rent a house in San Ramon of Alajuela. My parents also come visit during May!
We have progressed into the third book (advanced) and are learning some intense history of Central and South America! We have been breaking down the complexities of the subjunctive tense in Spanish. In English we have 6 verb tenses, 3 simple, 3 compound. In spanish there are 14. 7 simple, 7 compound. The subjunctive is a special tense that uses emotions and feelings to express doubt, desires, beliefs, opinions, etc.
Today I did a presentation on global warming. My topic: The problem is not global warming, the problem is people serve themselves and don't care about others. It was alot of fun. I had 15 minutes to present and afterward my teacher and I spoke for 30 minutes on the topic.
Krystle got to explain why she goes to church and what values dictate the way she lives here life while using the subjuctive. Not a small feat by any means!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Futbol
Played it up with some local ticos-some boys from The Tabernaculo and beat against another team!! Scored the first goal in a tight 12-11 game!
Krystle had planned to play and then we found out that she probably wasn't going to play. She would have been much better than I at handling the ball, and probably would have scored multiple goals!
We are having an extremely fun time spending time with the "jovenes"/young people that we met. They are making our time here so rewarding as they want to speak to us in Spanish, correct our mistakes, and practice "trabalenguas" in Spanish and English. They enjoy trying to say the "Sally sells sea shells".
Mi favorito trabalengua!
Si yo como como como,
y tu comes como comes.
¿Cómo comes como como?
Si yo como como como.
Krystle had planned to play and then we found out that she probably wasn't going to play. She would have been much better than I at handling the ball, and probably would have scored multiple goals!
We are having an extremely fun time spending time with the "jovenes"/young people that we met. They are making our time here so rewarding as they want to speak to us in Spanish, correct our mistakes, and practice "trabalenguas" in Spanish and English. They enjoy trying to say the "Sally sells sea shells".
Mi favorito trabalengua!
Si yo como como como,
y tu comes como comes.
¿Cómo comes como como?
Si yo como como como.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Tico Churches
We are now attending 2 different churches. We have attended Ciudad de Dios and now are attending El Tabernaculo as well.
We went Tuesday night to a main service and friday night to a main service. Stacie went with us on Friday. A young man named Jose and his sister gave us a ride home on Friday, since it was about 10pm and we would have had to take a bus to downtown San Jose then to our home in Sabanilla. We stopped for ice cream at McDonalds and they practiced their english while we practiced our Spanish! Great times!
The sermon friday night was on 1 Kings 2:1-12!!!! Which i loved because I believe that the fathers and men, especially Christians, must stand up and mentor their children in truth, honor, and discipline. And not wait till your deathbed! Fathers/men, you have alot of wisdom-PLEASE SHARE IT WITH YOUR SONS (AND DAUGHTERS)!
The pastor spoke on how the people in our lives influence us. He asked the youth "is your girlfriend/boyfriend influencing you for good or evil"? He touched on the importance of being in the world but not of the world! It was awesome hearing this message of encouragement and strength preached in Spanish!
Here are our new friends!
We went Tuesday night to a main service and friday night to a main service. Stacie went with us on Friday. A young man named Jose and his sister gave us a ride home on Friday, since it was about 10pm and we would have had to take a bus to downtown San Jose then to our home in Sabanilla. We stopped for ice cream at McDonalds and they practiced their english while we practiced our Spanish! Great times!
The sermon friday night was on 1 Kings 2:1-12!!!! Which i loved because I believe that the fathers and men, especially Christians, must stand up and mentor their children in truth, honor, and discipline. And not wait till your deathbed! Fathers/men, you have alot of wisdom-PLEASE SHARE IT WITH YOUR SONS (AND DAUGHTERS)!
The pastor spoke on how the people in our lives influence us. He asked the youth "is your girlfriend/boyfriend influencing you for good or evil"? He touched on the importance of being in the world but not of the world! It was awesome hearing this message of encouragement and strength preached in Spanish!
Here are our new friends!
Grandmama
There's Grandma!
So Marilyn and Grandmama just finished their sight-seeing tour of Costa Rica.
We were fortunate to see them twice during the 12 days they were here. The day they arrived in San Jose and the day they returned from their travels. Traveling mostly in the Guanacaste region they stayed on average 2 nights at one hotel and visited the local sights, especially the birds, before heading to a new location. I was told they met many new friends in the group and had excellent guides in each of their stops.
Grandmama let me borrow her bandana but verified first that it looked good on her.
Here's our closeup.
So Marilyn and Grandmama just finished their sight-seeing tour of Costa Rica.
We were fortunate to see them twice during the 12 days they were here. The day they arrived in San Jose and the day they returned from their travels. Traveling mostly in the Guanacaste region they stayed on average 2 nights at one hotel and visited the local sights, especially the birds, before heading to a new location. I was told they met many new friends in the group and had excellent guides in each of their stops.
Grandmama let me borrow her bandana but verified first that it looked good on her.
Here's our closeup.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Classmates
The school we have been attending has a a wide assortment of students. Each week new students arrive from all around the world and others return home or head off to voluteer sites stationed around Costa Rica.
They has been a high amount of German women, while very few German men. Random young men/women from other countries: Sweden, Netherlands, Scotland, England, Italy, Switzerland,
A elementary school of students from Bermuda arrive this week. They are around 8 years old, very loud and obnoxious-just like kids should be!
There had been a U.S. group of students from a college from the Northeast U.S. They were traveling around Costa Rica on a study abroad program centered on biology.
We've also had some interesting characters in our classes. Krystle had a very talkative American woman in her class for 1 hour, but she removed herself from class and started taking 1 on 1 classes. She talked alot about her life instead of the material that the class was about. She had recently lived in Mexico and was very interested in flexing what she believed to be good spanish. At least it was good if you like Spanish with a southern drall.
I had a american woman studying at the University of Florida in my class. She came for a week to refresh her spanish. She was completing a master degree in Geography and had plans in October to travel to Venezuela and live with a local tribe for 2 months. She was going to study an economic role of a local product the woman of the village created. It was very interesting and she was very fluent. It was great practice for me to listen to her speak, because she spoke clearly enough for me to understand! That was a fun week!
Next week will be our last week in school. We are both close to finishing book 3, the final book of the school. It's exciting to work so far through the Advanced book as we will still be in Costa Rica for another 2 months after class ends and have plenty of opportunity to study the books in more detail and review important concepts.
They has been a high amount of German women, while very few German men. Random young men/women from other countries: Sweden, Netherlands, Scotland, England, Italy, Switzerland,
A elementary school of students from Bermuda arrive this week. They are around 8 years old, very loud and obnoxious-just like kids should be!
There had been a U.S. group of students from a college from the Northeast U.S. They were traveling around Costa Rica on a study abroad program centered on biology.
We've also had some interesting characters in our classes. Krystle had a very talkative American woman in her class for 1 hour, but she removed herself from class and started taking 1 on 1 classes. She talked alot about her life instead of the material that the class was about. She had recently lived in Mexico and was very interested in flexing what she believed to be good spanish. At least it was good if you like Spanish with a southern drall.
I had a american woman studying at the University of Florida in my class. She came for a week to refresh her spanish. She was completing a master degree in Geography and had plans in October to travel to Venezuela and live with a local tribe for 2 months. She was going to study an economic role of a local product the woman of the village created. It was very interesting and she was very fluent. It was great practice for me to listen to her speak, because she spoke clearly enough for me to understand! That was a fun week!
Next week will be our last week in school. We are both close to finishing book 3, the final book of the school. It's exciting to work so far through the Advanced book as we will still be in Costa Rica for another 2 months after class ends and have plenty of opportunity to study the books in more detail and review important concepts.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Montezuma!
For "Semana Santa" the most important and celebrated holiday in Costa Rica, we traveled to Montezuma, near the Golf of Nicoya, on the Pacific Ocean. We took a 2 hour bus ride, a 1 hour ferry, then another 1.5 hour bus ride to get there and back. We had to get up super early to catch both buses because everyone in the country travels during that weekend, and lines were super long for the buses.
When we got to the station in the morning, there was already a line, but we weren't sure what for, so we sat down right next to our bus area. I started talking to some guys and then ended up letting us get in line with them. It worked out great though, because we ended up hanging out with them all weekend and having a great time.
There were 5 boys all ranged from ages 18-24, and then a couple with them. Their names were... (Probably all spelt wrong) Caleb, Josue, Emiliano, Alibal, Josue, and the couple was Natalie and Raybel. They were all Christians and were super nice and we had a great time with them. Jordan and I are actually going to check out their church tomorrow night and hang out with them again.
The first day we got there, Thursday, we just ate and went to the beach with our friends, it was similar to Playa Conchal with the big waves and dangerous current. But it was a lot of fun. The next day we took a strenuous hike to the amazing waterfalls! There are 3 waterfalls total. We first went to the last one where people were jumping off a rock (probably 20 feet) and swinging from a rope tied to a branch. We had a great time there, swinging on the rope, jumping off the rock, and swiming in the fresh water. Then we walked back a little (up a really steep hill) and got to the first waterfall that was gigantic. We swam and stood under the waterfall and took pictures with our friends. Aparently some people have died at that waterfall bc they drink too much and think they can clear the massive rocks when jumping, when it really is impossible. Luckily, everyone was safe that day. :)
On Saturday we went to the beach again with our friends, and mind you we were speaking in Spanish all weekend, because our friends didn't speak much English at all. They were very helpful in speaking slow, and we learned a lot! It was great practice and a lot of fun. So we spent the day at the beach, and then had a bonfire (fogata) later that night. There were tons of little hermit crabs around, but we tried not to think about it, and had a great time talking to our friends and listening to some music.
We headed to the bus station at 4:15 the next morning to avoid not catching the bus. Apparently the day before there was a fight at the bus station... but we were safe and got on our bus with no problems. We got to watch a beautiful sunrise. Then we got home around 12:45 and separated ways after exchanging emails and plans to meet in town Tuesday night to go to their chruch. We had a great weekend and now have some awesome Costa Rican friends to hang out with while we are in San Jose.
When we got to the station in the morning, there was already a line, but we weren't sure what for, so we sat down right next to our bus area. I started talking to some guys and then ended up letting us get in line with them. It worked out great though, because we ended up hanging out with them all weekend and having a great time.
There were 5 boys all ranged from ages 18-24, and then a couple with them. Their names were... (Probably all spelt wrong) Caleb, Josue, Emiliano, Alibal, Josue, and the couple was Natalie and Raybel. They were all Christians and were super nice and we had a great time with them. Jordan and I are actually going to check out their church tomorrow night and hang out with them again.
The first day we got there, Thursday, we just ate and went to the beach with our friends, it was similar to Playa Conchal with the big waves and dangerous current. But it was a lot of fun. The next day we took a strenuous hike to the amazing waterfalls! There are 3 waterfalls total. We first went to the last one where people were jumping off a rock (probably 20 feet) and swinging from a rope tied to a branch. We had a great time there, swinging on the rope, jumping off the rock, and swiming in the fresh water. Then we walked back a little (up a really steep hill) and got to the first waterfall that was gigantic. We swam and stood under the waterfall and took pictures with our friends. Aparently some people have died at that waterfall bc they drink too much and think they can clear the massive rocks when jumping, when it really is impossible. Luckily, everyone was safe that day. :)
On Saturday we went to the beach again with our friends, and mind you we were speaking in Spanish all weekend, because our friends didn't speak much English at all. They were very helpful in speaking slow, and we learned a lot! It was great practice and a lot of fun. So we spent the day at the beach, and then had a bonfire (fogata) later that night. There were tons of little hermit crabs around, but we tried not to think about it, and had a great time talking to our friends and listening to some music.
We headed to the bus station at 4:15 the next morning to avoid not catching the bus. Apparently the day before there was a fight at the bus station... but we were safe and got on our bus with no problems. We got to watch a beautiful sunrise. Then we got home around 12:45 and separated ways after exchanging emails and plans to meet in town Tuesday night to go to their chruch. We had a great weekend and now have some awesome Costa Rican friends to hang out with while we are in San Jose.
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