First Few Days With My Family

My Host Family... So far

Just to clarify with everyone, I'm living in a house with my host mum and my host sister. My host sister is one year younger than me and I've discovered over these past few days that she's quite antisocial haha. She loves her gameboy and is pretty much always in her room. She's very sweet though! She loves to draw Manga and read. She's very studious according to her mum. My host mum is incredibly kind and I already feel comfortable with her. However it's very hard to communicate with her as she does not know any English and speaks very rapid Spanish. I am constantly saying to her "mas despacio por favor" and "no entiende". It really is amazing how fast people talk. I've tried picking out different words in conversations I listen in on... It hardly ever gives me any information on what they're talking about as right when I figure one word out, they've moved on to an entirely different topic.
Anyway, these past few days have been really fun. I met my host family abuelos (the grandparents), Leylin (a cousin), and Nicole (a student at the school I will be starting on Monday). The abuelos are so nice. Abuela is hilarious, kind, and loving. She helped me clean my room today! She's so sweet and I already love her. Leylin is fluent in English and is a dentist. She helps me out when I can't understand something. Nicole, the girl who is attending my future school (Liceo Labortorio) speaks no English but is very kind and says she will stay with me throughout my troubles during school. One less thing to worry about! :D

I went to see a few of the beaches! On Monday, right after I got done writing my last blog, Leylin, Xinia (my host mum), Alina (my host sister) and I all went out down to three beaches: Playa de Panama, Playa de Hermosa, and Playa de Coco. Panama and Hermosa were the more peaceful beaches while Coco was a tourist destination, with loads of shops and people. 

I got to visit my family's two farms. Xinia and I went and picked up some stuff for the farms. (Gasoline, cow injection stuff, hay, and all that stuff that made the car smell like shit). Anyway, so we went to the first farm, called Finca Arenas. It was absolutely beautiful. Some pictures are down below. There was a fresh water spring where Xiene told me there would be fiestas and fun stuff sometimes. There were banana trees and there was a sugar cane field. I got to have some sugar cane! (Picture below of me being an idiot, eating it). It was spectacular! (cheesy)... The second farm had no name that I know of, but it was also beautiful. As we drove through, I met the sweetest family. They had moved from Nicaragua for work (recently, I believe) and were currently living on the farm in a small house. The parents had two girls, and one baby boy. He was very cute! So were the two chicas. They were a gorgeous family. They had a horse (el-caballo-con-no-nombre as I liked to call him) and I got to ride him! Pictures are below!! And I wish I got a picture of the family... The next time I see them, I definitely will! 

Towards the back of the farm, there were the woods, and at the opening, there was a huge pool that was heated by the near by volcano. It was amazing how it all worked.  

I got my lovely uniform! So pummppedd to start school!!... Not. I'm freakin out. Hopefully, all will be fine on Monday. The uniform consists of navy blue pants and a normal school shirt. I have a feeling I'm going to get really hot... I don't think there is any air conditioning in my school. So I'll come home sweating like a pig probably. Great.
Yesterday was beach day! I spent the whole day on the beach and got me some sunburn! Perfect way to start off school. The beach was so beautiful though, that I don't particularly care. The beach was called Iguanita Playa and it was pretty much empty. It was probably the most tranquil place I've ever been. Complete and utter peace.

So I love it here already! I hope my school isn't so bad.

SO DAMN CHEESY. 

Thanks for reading again! 

I've Arrived!

I'm Here in Liberia, Costa Rica! 

Oh my gosh, this is unreal. Just three days ago, I was arguing with my mum about what to take and what not to take to Costa Rica, and now, I'm actually here, in Liberia, with all my things unpacked. Here's a little bit about the past 3 days!

I arrived in San Jose on Friday around midday with around 9 other students from the USA. We were the first to get to the orientation site out of all the foreign students that were coming to Costa Rica. Eventually everyone arrived, making all the different nationalities known. The students came from all around the world: Germany, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Hungary, and lastly, the USA. What amazed me, was that all of the European and Japanese students spoke fluent English. The whole camp was held in English and apparently the next orientation (which will be in 2 months) will be held only in Spanish. I can't wait to see if I am able to fully understand the language by then.
Moving on... the orientation lasted the whole day on Saturday and it went over what school will be like, how our families may be, warnings about sexual abuse and many other different things. I met many people, all from the different countries mentioned.  

On Sunday morning, we were all told to put our bags by the selected bus for our province. Liberia is in Guanacaste and so I was on the Guanacaste bus. None of the people on my bus were from the US, and only two of the students were also going to Liberia. One was Swiss and the other was German. I learnt during the bus ride that the Swiss is here for one year, while the German is here for 5 months, like me. Niether of them speak any Spanish whatsoever.
Once we arrived in Liberia, I met another Swiss girl who has been here for 6 months, leaving in June. She said she was already fluent in Spanish after 3 months.

Speaking of the language, I've realized I hardly know any Spanish at all. They speak so fast, making all  phrases sound like one word. My favorite sentences right now are: "Despacio, por favor" and "No entiende" (slower, please and i don't understand). My host family is very accepting and extremely kind. My host sister is fluent in English which helps a lot, but I'm afraid of her helping too much. I'm keen on being fluent in Spanish and I feel her helping too much will affect my ability to learn from my mistakes. 

I start school soon! I think I may be starting next Monday. The Swiss girl goes to the same school and she said the work is incredibly easy, with no homework which makes more time for the beach! 

I went out today with my host mum, driving around Liberia. It's a beautiful place and seems very touristy! There is a mall, a McDonalds, a PizzaHut, and a Pappa Johns! It seems very Americanized but   it's also very Costa Rican! The roads are bumpy and horses are everywhere, I even saw two in a school's backyard. The people are incredibly friendly and it's the streets are constantly buzzing. There are many schools, probably at least one on every road. Two universities are here, the Nacional Universidad and the Universidad o Costa Rica. They are both pretty and the UCR has absolutely amazing sports facilities, with a gorgeous lap pool and futbol fields. I think hardly anybody uses them as my host mum told me that sports aren't very popular in Liberia. There is a stadium and everything but my school only has basketball, volleyball, and rugby I believe. I think I'm going to try and play volleyball.

Overall, Liberia seems like an magnificent place and I'm very excited to be a part of the town. I'll be writing again soon! I have some pictures of my trip so far, attached...   

Oh and it's super hot and humid out too!! I already have a tan kinda. ;)... More like sunburn. 

Thank you for reading!

The Last Supper

Oh my god. I'm really really enjoying my last piece of my favorite grimaldis pizza, knowing that I'm not gonna be able to have it the next 5 months. My mum now sits across from me, contemplating how we're going to say good bye tomorrow. Honestly, I don't really even want to think about it. Reality is crashing down on me, and the realization that I'm not going to be able to see my mum for the next 5 months is creating a raw hole in my heart. But hopefully it will soon be filled with the loving happiness of Costa Rica. Hahahaha.. Jk. My nerves are building rapidly as I think about leaving, but also my excitement builds. My main concern would have to be the language as everything builds off of that one factor; the friendships, the learning, the ability to feel comfortable. I just hope I will not close myself off because of my beginners Spanish mind. I hope to put myself out there and learn from all the mistakes that are sure to come.
Anyway, my bags are packed and the only thing that I need to prepare is myself. I'm sure the orientation in Miami will help with my nerves, and meeting other AFSers should help also. I'm so incredibly nervous! My adventure starts tomorrow! LET'S DO THIS