Monday, February 1 - Friday, February 5:
Our Final Days at the Libreria
The wonderful women that we got the opportunity to learn from and work with for the past two weeks.
(Kristi, Brittani, Me, Karla, Doña Nuri) They have helped with our Spanish as well as welcoming us into the Costa Rican culture. They are most definitely like a second family and on our last day, we were reminded that we are always welcome to join them for afternoon coffee and snacks!
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Andre and Diego, the two who were very helpful in teaching Brittani and I learn how to work both the copiers and printers. They were excited to have had the opportunity to learn some English phrases from us in our short time at the Libreria.
(Thank you, ready, you're welcome, more books, and they often called Brittni, Brittany Spears.)
Andre and Diego, the two who were very helpful in teaching Brittani and I learn how to work both the copiers and printers. They were excited to have had the opportunity to learn some English phrases from us in our short time at the Libreria.
(Thank you, ready, you're welcome, more books, and they often called Brittni, Brittany Spears.)
Monday through Friday Brittani and I worked hard again to help teachers and professors complete the books, quizzes, exams, and copies that were needed to begin the school year on the right path. This was a great opportunity for us to see the differences between the quizzes and exams that would be used in the classrooms for multiple grades as well as the types of books that were used in the curriculum. Instead of having the students purchase or rent textbooks for use in the classroom, professors had us create photocopied versions for each of the students in the classes. We were also surprised to learn that a 'prueba', what we learned to be a quiz in our Spanish classes, is actually an exam that covers everything from an entire year of schooling. Students who did not pass the year are given the chance to take this prueba and if they pass it, are able to then move on to the next grade level. This made much more sense to us because at first look the prueba was worth over a hundred points and the student was given about two hours to take it. The point value and the amount of time given to take this year encompassing exam was much more reasonable.
April (3 years old), a granddaughter of Mami and Papi, is frequently over and I have loved getting to know more and more of her personality! She is very spunky and full of life, not always one to want to eat her dinner though! I am always happy to come home and see her playing in the living room! "Vea!" (Look!) and "Venga" (Come here!) are two of her most commonly used phrases with Brittani and I. She is always excited to show us what she's up to on the computer and her most wonderful dancing skills! Her puppy Chispetas is also a very welcomed visitor here at the house!
On Tuesday morning I woke up to a more than unpleasant sight right next to my bed... A dead cockroach! YUCK!! I didn't scream but I'll be honest, I really wanted to. The bugs here are not very appealing whatsoever. I survived getting out of bed, but was nervous to go to bed that night for fear of more cockroaches making an un-welcomed appearance. |
Saturday, February 6:
La Habana
Our original plans for Saturday did not pan out, so we improvised by going to a nearby club that has public pool access and a restaurant. The pool is very close to where Brittani and I live at Mami and Papi's house, about five-ish minutes from the house by car. We were able to spend the entire day soaking up the sun and reading books. It was very relaxing and made it okay that our plans didn't work out. We may have to go back one day after school in the next few weeks!
Sunday, February 7:
Another Birthday Party!
On Sunday, Mami invited us to another birthday party but this time it was a surprise!! We got there early to help with the set up. The party was held at Mami's pastor's house and so Brittani and I were volunteered (by Mami) to help get chairs from the church as well as serve the food to the guests. There were many children at this party once again. All of the kids were intrigued to find out that we were from the United States and wanted to know whether their names were pronounce differently there or not. Papi was not with us at this birthday party because he was very involved in the politics of the election that took place Sunday. He was campaigning throughout town all week and the day had finally come for everyone to go out to the polls and vote! PS-- His candidate won the election!! |
Once we had eaten the children invited Brittani and I to play with them in the front yard. We played many games that were very similar to the games played by young children in the United States. Con Helado, (Freeze Tag), a Spanish version of London Bridge, Ronda Ronda (Ring Around the Rosie), and then a new one for both Brittani and I, Human Tug of War! Human Tug of War proved to be much more difficult than I thought it would be, especially against these kiddos!
Brittani and I were also pleasantly surprised to find that we were able to watch Super Bowl 50 from here in Costa Rica! It was narrated in Spanish but with that being said, I felt as though I was able to take part in something very American even from so far away! I am missing home and knowing that both my family and my main man were watching it made me feel that much closer to them! |
Some final thoughts...
Each day here has been different than the last, it's been an adventure of new tastes, new sounds, new sights, and new situations. Although I miss my home and more importantly the people I love back home, I am enjoying my once in a lifetime experience here in Costa Rica. Mami and Papi have most definitely taken us in as their new daughters and it makes my experience here far more homey than I ever thought it could be. My Spanish speaking abilities improve each and every day and I have learned so many new phrases in my short time here! Week #2 is complete! Six more and then I'll be arriving back in the states to complete my student teaching experience! Cannot wait until tomorrow to meet my class! Until the next blog, hasta luego!