Un Dia en Costa Rica

The adventure begins.  The familia (I can say this now since I’m living in Costa Rica) and I arrived in North Carolina on New Year’s Eve after a 9 hour drive from Newark, OH.  The trip probably woul’;yd have only taken about 7 but someone (*cough* Ben *cough*) locked the keys in the van when we stopped for Subway.  It took two firefighters and the chief of police of Marmet West Virginia to unlock it for us.  I now know that Hyundai vans are very difficult to pick lock.  Good job you car-making Koreans.  Shout out to Sam Choi!

Anywho, after we spent the night in the hotel in NC the folks dropped me off at the airport nice and early so I wouldn’t miss my flight.  Let’s just say that 3 hours early is too early.  After I said my good-byes I made for the scanners.  No pat downs for me.  I waited for roughly 2 and a half hours in the terminal before I actually made it on the plane but I got lots of crosswords done (thanks Emily).  While waiting in the terminal I overheard a girl and an old man talking and heard her mention that she was studying abroad at Veritas University, the same place I’m studying.  After eavesdropping some more, I introduced myself to her, Nicole, and we chitchatted about life, school, and the fact that we both are not so good at Spanish.  We didn’t sit beside each other on the plane but she and another ISA/Veritas person waited for me after we arrived in CR and we all went through customs and immigration together.  It was nice to have someone there who was in the same boat as me.  By the way, the people I was sitting beside on the plane were married but didn’t talk at all to me.  In fact, they rarely said a word to each other the entire 4 hour flight.  I think somebody may have forgotten an anniversary and was making up to his wife by taking her to CR??  Speculating of course. 

            We arrived in CR about an hour behind schedule.  Once through all the silly check-my-passport-8-times nonsense, we were greeted by a large group of fellow ISA students outside the airport who were waiting for the rest of the group to arrive.  The entire group, from what I can tell, is close to 30-40 students from all over the US.  I talked with some of the other Concordia students (not from CUAA) there that I had met previously through Facebook.  I think I already found a runner buddy.  Overall, looks like a good group of peeps.  Also note, there seems to be a shortage of males in the ISA student group.  Score one for Ben?

            We all got on a Mercedes-Benz autobus and headed for Veritas.  CR is lovely yet also very run down in parts.  It was kind of a culture shock but not really at the same time.  We passed a McDonalds which was both comforting and repulsive all at the same time.  After arriving at Veritas, it was a little hectic with all the host families trying to find their students.  I heard a nicely dressed man say, “Gleys,” my host mother’s name, and I said, “Si.”  I was really hoping that he didn’t think my name was Gleys and that I had gone with the wrong host family.  However, when we arrive at his house, which by the way is less than 2 minutes away from the university on foot, I met Josh, my roommate, and I knew I had gone with the right family. 

Josh is very cool.  We’ll get along just great.  He’s from the Concordia in Selma, AL.  He also doesn’t speak much Spanish.  My host family consists of Gleys, the mother, Juan Carlos, the father, and Jose, their 15 year old son.  Both Gleys and Juan Carlos are singers and play instruments.  Their music is on both the TV and the radio.  They teach music and run a music store in CR, I think (more to come on this as I learn more SpanishJ).  Jose had friends over tonight as well and I met his pal Christian.  They do not speak any English in their house (although they do know some from previous study abroad students).  They are patient with our lack of Spanish abilities which is refreshing.  They are very loving people and I think I’ll fit right in.  Oh yes, they have a dog named Brownie but he has to stay in the garage because Gleys is allergic to dog hair.  Poor Brownie. 

Juan gave us both Josh and me keys and went over a few house rules as well as showing us around their neighborhood block.  My room is small and acts as a hallway to get to Josh’s room but it’ll work just fine.  We have a shared bathroom.  They have WiFi in the house but my WiFi doesn’t work.  Josh was nice enough to let me use his computer when I need to.  Gleys made chicken, rice, something like a potato, some chips, and something else for dinner.  It was muy bueno!  I washed it down with some iced tea.  After dinner I did my best to ask them if I could help clean up.  I guess they understood because they had me help put dishes away.  Then, Juan, Josh, myself, Jose, and Christian all played Ventiuno and Ocho Loco together at the table.  It was a good way to break the ice and laugh a little together.  Here are some photos for your viewing.  That's my room, the bathroom Josh and I share, and Josh!  Enjoy.

I know I’m forgetting quite a few things that happened but I think I hit most of the big ones.  I doubt many of my posts will be this long but as I am overwhelmed with new experiences these first few weeks expect these first few posts to be lengthy.  Oh!  I had my first international poop today!  Don’t worry, I didn’t clog the toilet and I remembered to put the tissue in the waste basket and not the toilet.

It’s been a good day so far.  Yet, I still experienced some doubts about my stay here and probably a fair amount of homesickness.  However, knowing me, these feelings won’t get the best of me since I’m a stubborn ass.  I’m sure they’re normal anyways.  I’m ready to go to bed.  I’m tired.

Orientation tomorrow, domingo, a las 9am.  Desayuno a las 8:15am.  I can hear fireworks going off outside J Happy New Year’s Day!

Until tomorrow.