So, Costa Rica...Where do I begin?


**Sorry about the format of the page. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do this. If anyone knows about formatting blogs, please help me!**

I would like to thank my family and the missions staff at HPUMC for all they did to get me here! I could not have asked for better people to experience this with and none of this would be possible without them! I love you guys!!!

I didn’t sleep a wink the first night due to a combination of noises outside, unfamiliarity, and a 3 inch foam mattress on a plywood board for a bed. Every time I heard a noise I would wake up and find my arm or leg asleep because I was lying on a hard surface. The next night I folded up my blanket and put it under me for padding. I am used to the street noise now and I constantly hear sweet little voices giggling as the kids playing across the street. There is no sweeter sound.

First thing I noticed in my new room is my favorite Bible verse on the wall, en espanol. So perfect!
My Tico family is so sweet and welcoming. The mom, Grace, is an amazing, Godly woman and has had a difficult life so far. Her husband left her for another woman, she has survived breast cancer (and treatment) going on 5 years, and her oldest child is mentally handicapped. Paula, the daughter, is 32 and is a lot of work to care for. She is very sweet and is obsessed with me and one of their dogs. She runs around the house in a bicycle helmet yelling, “Kim! Amiga!” Grace teaches biology at a high school part time. Grace’s son, Gabriel, is 30 years old and is newly engaged. He was educated at the Methodist school and went to the US for college and grad school. He is living at home until he gets married in September. The other daughter, Bernarda, is 27 and a physical therapist. We have had a lot of fun together and she has invited me to do some fun things with her and her friends. Berna and Gabriel speak English, so that helps me feel a little more comfortable with them, although it doesn’t help my Spanish! The people of Costa Rica, in general, have never met a stranger. Everyone is family and everyone is loved wholeheartedly, even if they just met you. The family has two dogs and a rooster named Pavarotti (also a reason I haven’t slept). Their maid, Mercedes, is from Nicaragua. She is a great cook, but she wants me to eat way more than I want to! She left behind 5 kids (ages 14-23) to come here to work.

The neighborhood I am living in is full of gringos from the language school and I have met many other families that are hosting my school friends. It is so interesting to get different perspectives on family/home life here. We have many “teachers” because everyone in and around the school, including our families, know we are trying to learn. I am constantly being corrected on my grammar, but I love it because that’s the only way I will learn. This was the first thing I saw when I woke up my first morning here.
I have made lots of friends at school, many of them missionaries. There is another nurse whose ministry is to set up medical mission trips, so we have plenty to talk about! We agreed to speak only Spanish to each other. Yeah…that lasted about 10 minutes because we ran out of things we knew how to say. I am improving already and that Spanish I took in high school is starting to come back. The more I learn, though, the more I realize how little I know now!

We are going to walk to la feria and the farmer’s market tomorrow, then possibly into downtown San Jose to explore! Class is in the afternoons 1:30- 4:15 pm. Tuesday and Thursday mornings there is chapel that is an option in the mornings. Several people from my class went this morning and it was great- all in English, unlike the church I went to on Sunday with the Zirkels!

Still don’t have hot water. Yep, freezing cold showers…for a month. I have gotten used to it (not happy, just accepting) and have developed a little routine of jumping jacks and running in place to warm up before I get in and then I run under the water VERY quickly. It’s invigorating to say the least. This is a picture of the electrical shower head that is supposed to heat the water as it comes out. No question as to why it is sometimes called a widow maker.

All part of this really fun experience! I thank God for it everyday! I am extremely blessed to be here, experiencing this culture, making connections and relationships, learning Spanish, learning more about and growing closer the the Lord, all in this beautiful and sacred place. Thanks for coming on this journey with me!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Does the rooster remind you of that bird that was outside of our rooms at the seminary? That bird didn't want you to sleep either.
Awesome views!

Brian said...

That is a great Bible verse, indeed. Thanks for the update!

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