Hola from Costa Rica

First day of school at Instituto de Lengua Espanola

(Nathan of course with his UGA shirt on!)

  

    What a week it has been! We arrived Monday and settled into our room in our Tico (Costa Rican) family's home. They want us to call them Mami and Papi. They are really wonderful. Mami has made many delicious gluten-free meals, which Nathan REALLY loves. Our favorite meal has been empanadas. Fortunately, we can eat as much as we want because we walk everywhere (probably about 1 hour/day). The Lord has really blessed us with this new family. 

    On Wednesday we started school, although the last few days have been primarily orientation. We had to take an oral and written placement test on the first day. Nathan did really well, and I was able to answer simple questions. We will find out what class we will be in on Monday. It is certain that Nathan and I will not be in the same class. 

    I feel like I am chomping at the bit to start taking classes so that I don't sound SO much like a southern Georgia girl when I speak Spanish. Mami and Papi are really intentional about spending a lot of time with us so that we can practice Spanish. They speak slowly and enunciate very well. I have been amazed at how much I can understand. I hope that I will be able to converse with them more after we begin school. We have one more day of orientation and then we begin on class on Tuesday.

   

    We have taken several bus and taxi rides to go to the store. I seriously love public transportation, so riding buses will be a great way for us to get around the city once we figure it out. We are hoping to get to see some of the countryside on our weekends off, although, Nathan wants me to be studying all the time! We will see once my classes begin. 

    I'm off to study the alphabet. Kind of like being back in kindergarten. Here are some pictures of our new room. 

Our very comfortable bed and desk

Courtyard outside of our room

Closet and door to bathroom