Road Trip with the Girls!

This last weekend was my last full weekend in Costa Rica. It is hard to believe, but I will be back in the States on Saturday. I am really looking forward to seeing all my friends and family. But in the mean time I wanted to make my last weekend in Costa Rica really special. So I called up Andrea, my Costa Rican friend, and we planned a fantastic weekend with some of my closest girl friends from the trip.

We chose to go to Arenal Volcano, visit some totally natural hot springs, and take a canopy tour. One of my highlights from the whole trip was going on the canopy tour. At first I was really nervous; I could feel my heart pounding. But once I took the leap of faith and jumped off the platform I didn’t want to stop. I felt like I could do anything. The sights were absolutely breathtaking. I have had dreams that I could fly, but this experience made my dreams feel like a reality. I felt so big and so small at the same time! I felt like a bird flying at lightening speed over the tops of trees. I could see for miles and miles while waterfalls passed me by at over 60 miles per hour!

Let it Rain!

Today was the first day I got caught in the rain after school. April is the time in Costa Rica when the weather changes from the dry season to the wet season. My classmates and I were on our way to the bus stop after Geography class and it started to pour. I got soaked and so did everybody else.

I presented my charla or informal speech in my Geography class today. So that means that I don’t have anything else to do for my Geography class and there isn’t a final exam! Wednesday is Juan Santamaria Day, so I don’t have school. Juan Santamaria (August 29, 1831-April 11, 1856) is officially recognized as the national hero of the Republic of Costa Rica. A national holiday in Costa Rica, Juan Santamaria Day, is held every April 11 to commemorate his death. He is honored by a statue in the central square of Alajuela, and by a small museum in the same city. But to be honest, all I really wanted to say through that little spiel about Juan Santa Maria is that I have 8 days of school left until I graduate from high school! I am enjoying everyday I have left here, but I am also looking forward to returning home.

My Turn to Cook!

I have been eating Costa Rican food for almost two months now. I have enjoyed it, but I do miss some of my own cooking. So I decided I wanted to make one of my favorite soups for my host family. The soup isn’t actually all that different from what I usually eat here in Costa Rica, but I enjoyed making it none the less.

This was a big occasion; they invited quite a few relatives over to join in the fun. They were all very excited to try the soup. Costa Ricans have many different nicknames for food that they like. One of them is “rico.” When the relatives tried the soup they called it, “Ricisimo!” So that means they absolutely loved it.

Costa Ricans almost always sit around or take a siesta after they eat. But because I made the meal they said they would go walking with me (because I love to walk after a meal). We walked for over two and a half hours through a ton of different towns. I had a wonderful day! I got to share a little bit of my culture while they ate some fabulous soup and walked it off afterwards. It was a win-win!

FARMER’S MARKET ON A FRIDAY NIGHT!

I can’t believe it is spring break already. To celebrate I went to a farmer’s market with my host family last night. (lol) The actually name of the farmer’s market in Costa Rica is, “La Feria de Agricultor.” My mother said that many people bring their own carts to the farmer’s market to buy all the fresh goods they need for the week. I couldn’t believe all the people headed to the farmer’s market on a Friday night!

When we entered the area of fresh produce I couldn’t believe all the people who were yelling and whistling, trying to get my attention. It was like a mad house. Man, men in Costa Rica make a lot more noise at woman passing buy than in the U.S! Many men whistle, holler, or use English just to get a woman’s attention. Young woman get whistled at a lot more in Costa Rica than in the States. I WAS FINALLY CALLED CHAQUITA IN THE FERIA LAST NIGHT! That is extremely big news because the name of my blog is, “Chaquita Costa Rica.” So now I can truly be a “Chaquita from Costa Rica!”

The farmer’s market has about five long rows of farmer’s all trying to sell their goods. In the last row, farmers were selling cheese. My mom said she only buys cheese at the market because it is very expensive everywhere else. In general, all the farmers were friendly and were willing to talk to my mom and me for a very long time. My mom kept pulling me along because many people there just wanted to talk and talk, even if I didn’t buy anything. This seemed to confuse me because in the U.S., people at the farmers market are in a rush to sell everything they can and don’t really want to chit chat. When we were finished with our shopping my mother said that we received better prices than usual. She said it helped having a little blond girl with her in her shopping. She received better prices, the farmer’s were friendlier, and she got more attention than usual!

A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT THE FARMER’S MARKET -
Many do not go shopping at Mega Super or Maxi Bodega (these are like a Super Target in Costa Rica) to buy their groceries. Many walk from their houses with their carts to buy the goods. Many people only use cars when it is absolutely necessary because gas is so expensive.

I was surprised at the variety of fruits and vegetables there. I didn’t think there was going to be a very big selection, but there was. They had strawberries, raspberries, apples, oranges, mandarins, peaches, and bananas just to name a few. They had vegetables upon vegetables many of which I can not pronounce.
In the United States I have mainly seen adults in the market, but in Costa Rica it seems like a family affair. I saw children of all ages being dragged by their patiently awaiting parents. Many families go out on Friday night to the market to get their groceries for the week. It is a group effort and many Costa Rican families enjoy it. Family is incredibly important to many Costa Ricans. The farmers market is just another way to spend time with the family!

Guayabo National Monument in Turrialba

A few people have requested some information on the national monument, Guayabo. So on the 25th of March, I took a tour of Guayabo with my classmates from Minnesota. It was raining like cats and dogs on the way there. I forgot my rain gear, but luckily there was a Mega Super (similar to a target) on our way to Guayabo. Here is a quick synopsis of what I learned.

Guayabo covers an area of 232 hectares on the southern slopes of Turrialba volcano. It is the most important and largest archeological site discovered in Costa Rica to date. This site forms part of the cultural region known as the Central Intermountain region on the Atlantic Slope. A number of small villages established in the outlying area housed a rural population estimated at between 1,500 and 2,000 people. Guayabo was abandoned before the arrival of the Spanish.

I can’t believe how they were able to build all these structures without horses, mules, or wheels to help them. The aqueducts were a really interesting feature of the water supply system. Some of the channels are underground while other parts are exposed to the world and many of them are still in use today!

I can't believe I have been here a month!

Wow, It is hard to believe that I have been here for a month on Sunday. Life has been great in Costa Rica. There have been times when I didn’t know how I was going to survive in a home where the people only spoke Spanish, but I have made it thus far. I have had ups and downs, but through it all my relationship with God has grown immensely. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have been praying for me and sending me such encouraging emails. There are a lot of dangers in Costa Rica, but with your prayers and God’s protection and grace, I know I will be out of harm's way.

You are probably wondering what the pictures in my last blog are regarding. The first photo is a picture of what I eat for breakfast almost every morning. This main dish is very traditional in Costa Rica. It is called Gallo Pinto, which is basically black beans and rice. There is also cilantro, a type of red pepper, and onion that is mixed into the beans and rice. The second and third pictures are of me when I went on a field trip with my class to the La Paz waterfalls and a coffee plantation.

This week was full of homework and less eventful than other weeks, but I needed to catch up on some school work. I am going to post a few random pictures in this blog just to keep you updated. I am headed off to the pool now so - hasta luego!

Gallo Pinto and the Field Trip!

Catholic Church

I went to a Catholic mass with my family on Sunday. I have attended Catholic masses in the United States before, but this mass was quite different from anything I have experienced. The mass started at 10:00 AM, but many people had all ready arrived by 9:30AM. It seemed like everyone was hugging and kissing before the service. It is customary to air kiss someone on the right cheek when you first meet them. I kissed quite a few people I didn’t even know. I am definitely not used to this custom yet, but I don’t mind it if I’m kissing a handsome, tall, and brown-eyed tico (Costa Rican guy)!

I was expecting some organ music or some grandiose sounding instrument when the service began, but all they had was a plug-in piano and a singer. They sang upbeat songs and I actually recognized one that I used to sing at my church a long time ago. We knelt down and said some things. I couldn’t figure out what they were saying, but I knelt down anyway. The priest was actually easier to understand than I thought. He was very down to earth and stepped down from the pulpit and talked to us at eye level. I received a real sense of community when I was there. The people were warm and friendly. At the end of the service many people told me to go with God and peace.

Costa Rica - The ups and downs

Many people have asked me what I like about Costa Rica, but also the things I miss from the U.S. I will share with you the things I love and the things I miss!

I love…
1) the beauty of the countryside.
2) the cool brisk breeze in the evening after a hot and humid day.
3) all the walking I have to do to get anywhere.
4) my host family because they are so kind and accommodating.
5) that my host mom does my laundry daily.
6) talking with my host family and learning about their lives.
7) walking in the open markets and buying fresh vegetables.
8) waking up to the sounds of people moving about at 5:00 AM.
9) talking walks early in the morning as the sun rises.
10) my room because it is small and easy to clean!

I miss…
1) my chicken caesar salads with dressing on the side and no cheese!
2) my family and friends.
3) not being able to go out when I want because I always need someone with me.
4) warm showers.
5) air-conditioning.
6) my cell phone and texting.
7) my homemade popcorn!
8) my regular routine.
9) my car and being able to drive wherever I want whenever I want.
10) the snow, just kidding! hehe

Jaco Beach 3-3-07

I went to the beach for the first time in Costa Rica on Saturday. Maria Julia (my host mother) said we had to leave at 8:00 AM sharp. Her older sister and husband (Charlie) accompanied us in the vehicle on the way to the beach.

Anyways, we set out for Jaco beach at 7:36 AM, which is earlier than I had anticipated. Maria said it was a two and a half hour ride. In Costa Rica, the closer you get to the coast the hotter it gets. The minute we all piled in the car I knew I was in trouble. I was so squished and it was so hot even 15 minutes into the trip. I felt pretty claustrophobic. There is no air conditioning in the vehicle! The little old man sitting next to me reminded me of one of the men from the movie ¨Grumpy Old Men.¨ He kept poking me and asking to dance with me. He slurred his words so it was difficult to understand him. He took off his boots and crowded me the entire trip. He kept pressuring me to drink with him. Wow, the experiences in Costa Rica! We stopped to see some alligators by a bridge on the way there.

We finally got to the beach! It seemed like a ten hour ride. Once we arrived, we met Juan and Maria’s daughter (Nuria). Nuria introduced me to a lady named Janet, who was visiting Costa Rica for a week. She was an exchange student ten years ago and stayed with my host family. Janet was a great friend to talk to at the beach. She gave me a lot of great tips about being an exchange student in Costa Rica. I really enjoyed the day at the beach. It was wonderful. The weather was gorgeous and I really enjoyed hanging out with the kids and Janet.

Heredia with Andrea

A few summers ago I hosted an exchange student from Costa Rica. Her name is Andrea. I loved hanging out with her and getting to know her. We spent a lot of time together in the States while she was there. She told me that if I ever come to Costa Rica I need to give her a call. So that is exactly what I did. I went out with Andrea on Friday afternoon after school. I met her family and many of her friends. She showed me around her neighborhood. She lives in Heredia, Costa Rica. It’s about a half an hour from where I live, in La Trinidad.

She took me out to a Hamburger joint close to her house with a lot of her friends. It was really entertaining, but I didn’t really understand much of the conversation. I can usually pick up the main topics of a conversation when I am talking with someone, but I was pretty much totally lost when her friends were talking. They were all talking so fast! But not only that, they were all talking over each other. So, I just resorted back to the thing that saves me here in Costa Rica. I say, ¨¡Pura Vida!¨ This is a saying frequently used in Costa Rica that means everything is simply great. And when all else fails I just smile and nod!

¡Una Fiesta! 3-4-07

I attended a Costa Rican fiesta after church on Sunday. The fiesta was a birthday party for an eighty-nine year old man. I guess you could call him my ¨host grandpa once removed¨ or something like that.

The fiesta centered around the food. It was buffet style, but my host mom took the initiative to prepare a plate for me. I smiled and accepted it gracefully, but I would have rather made my own plate. She put things on my plate that I would never eat in the States. My plate was full of deep-fried starchy things and pig! I am quite a picky eater, so I told her I wasn’t hungry, but she kept telling me to eat it. I closed my eyes and started in. It didn’t taste very good, but I ate it! For those of you who don’t know me very well, know this – that was a very big step for me to eat deep-fried food and pork!

After lunch a van came up the driveway to the house. Music started coming out of the speakers of the vehicle and people started walking to the back of the vehicle. There were a lot of costumes in the back of the van. People started putting on the costumes and started dancing to the music. I have never seen costumes quite like these!

Studying at the ICLC

Today is my official second day of school! I attend Spanish class from 8-12 on Monday thru Friday and then I have Geography on Monday and Intercultural Communication on Wednesday.

Here is some information of where I am going to school-

ICLC, Instituto de Cultura y Lengua Costarricense is a private Spanish language institute, founded in 1992 by two Costa Rican educators, specializing in teaching Spanish to foreigners. Located on top of a small hill with a view of distant fields, the Institute is surrounded by flowers and fruit trees and is only 10 minutes by bus from Alajuela (10 miles west of San José, the capital of Costa Rica). With a population of around 100,000 and average temperatures of 74-80 degrees Fahrenheit, Alajuela offers the language traveler the relaxing environment of a small city and easy access to San José.

Known as the Switzerland of Central America, Costa Rica has an abundance of natural beauty and is populated by friendly, highly-educated people. This small country has a lot to offer, whether you seek pleasure or business. Costa Rica has obtained the highest standard of living in Central America by embracing democracy and abolishing its army. The country is a paradise for nature lovers with many national parks, jungles, volcanoes, beaches and rivers. Moreover, the country has a well-developed infrastructure, democratic government and the people speak a clearly spoken Spanish, making it an ideal place for foreigners to learn Spanish.

Coffee Plantation in Monteverde!

I went to a coffee plantation in Monteverde and learned about how coffee gets from the coffee plant to my cup in the morning!

I found a website that explains the process in detail. If you want to know more go to - http://www.hollandbymail.com/coffee/index.html

Here are some fun facts about coffee-

Approximately 20 million people work in the coffee industry worldwide.
Coffee is the second most actively traded commodity, right after oil.
Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer.
The estimated value of the export of green coffee is 10 billion dollar.
Coffee has many different varieties, more than 60!
Only two coffee varieties have an economic significance: Arabica and Robusta.
Black coffee (without sugar or milk) does not contain calories (less than 1 Kcal.)
Caffeinated coffee shows a beneficial effect on alertness and improves performance in a variety of tasks in both day and night sessions.
A good coffee tree can produce up to 1 kg of raw coffee per year.
In contrast to what most people think, coffee does not grow in plain brown beans, but in red berries carrying green beans (two beans per berry).
During roasting the coffee beans dry out and the sugars in the beans start to caramelise.
The most important form of trade in coffee are both the stock market and the 'effective' coffee trade.
The quality of a cup of coffee does not depend on the blend only but also on the ratio of the amount of water and coffee used for brewing.
The present coffee producing belt around the globe encompasses approximately 70 countries.
Coffee only grows in tropical and sub-tropical regions.
The coffee tree needs an average temperature of between 17° C and 23° C as well as abundant precipitation and good soil conditions.
The original home of coffee was the Abyssinian highlands.

Protestant Church in Alajuela!

I went to a Protestant Church in Alajuela with two of my friends from Normandale. The people at the Protestant Church were very enthusiastic. They sang incredibly loud and danced energetically during worship service. They welcomed us during the service and said that we were part of their family!
It was weird, but I really felt at home. The people were so warm and friendly. Many people from the congregation came over to shake our hands, kiss us, or just simply welcome us to the church. When the worship started many went to the front of the church and started to dance and shout praises to God. They sang many songs that I knew in English, but they were singing the words in Spanish. It was a very intercultural experience to say the least! My friend Chad said that he did not really feel like he was at church. He said he felt hope and a sense of peace and the service was not even boring!

A little history of the Protestants in Costa Rica-
The Protestant efforts in Costa Rica happened in the 1880s in the midst of English-speaking West Indians (Afro-Caribbean peoples), who came from the British West Indies to work on the construction of a railroad (1870-1890) between the capital city of San José in the Central Valley and Port Limón on the Caribbean coast. That is why many of the African Americans are Protestant.

Monteverde!

February 22nd Ecolodge
My friend Sara convinced me to take a taxi with some people from the group and go to Monteverde to swim in some waterfalls. We took a taxi up these really steep gravel hills. I got really nervous. Fred, a friend in the group who called the taxi, asked me to ask the taxi driver to bring us to the waterfalls. The taxi driver didn’t speak a word of English.
Let’s take a time out for a second! Okay, if I’m the best Spanish speaker in the group we are in trouble. I couldn’t remember the word for waterfall, so I improvised. I asked him to take us to the place of fast falling water. Makes sense, right? Well, unfortunately I wasn’t very clear because the taxi driver took us to an swimming pool in a deserted area in the middle of no where that was empty and being cleaned.
There went my confidence in speaking Spanish. It flew out the window immediately after I saw the empty pool. I refused to translate for the rest of the trip. We were somewhere between San Luis and Monteverde and none of us could speak Spanish. Fred finally asked him to take us to Santa Elena.
Once the taxi dropped us off we saw two obese American teenage boys eating Oreos in one hand in Doritos in the other. We immediately concluded that we had hit a tourist trap. It was cold, misting, and construction was tearing up the city! Sand was getting in my eyes and my contacts were driving me crazy. We thought we would make the best of the situation so we decided to go shopping for a while. I enjoyed myself nonetheless and checked out the flower gardens. The flowers were breathtaking, there were so many beautiful bright colors. I then saw a beautiful rainbow once the mist stopped. We took a taxi back home as the sun was setting. The sunset made the trip completely worth it!
February 22nd Ecolodge
My friend Sara convinced me to take a taxi with some people from the group and go to Monteverde to swim in some waterfalls. We took a taxi up these really steep gravel hills. I got really nervous. Fred, a friend in the group who called the taxi, asked me to ask the taxi driver to bring us to the waterfalls. The taxi driver didn’t speak a word of English.
Let’s take a time out for a second! Okay, if I’m the best Spanish speaker in the group we are in trouble. I couldn’t remember the word for waterfall, so I improvised. I asked him to take us to the place of fast falling water. Makes sense, right? Well, unfortunately I wasn’t very clear because the taxi driver took us to an swimming pool in a deserted area in the middle of no where that was empty and being cleaned.
There went my confidence in speaking Spanish. It flew out the window immediately after I saw the empty pool. I refused to translate for the rest of the trip. We were somewhere between San Luis and Monteverde and none of us could speak Spanish. Fred finally asked him to take us to Santa Elena.
Once the taxi dropped us off we saw two obese American teenage boys eating Oreos in one hand in Doritos in the other. We immediately concluded that we had hit a tourist trap. It was cold, misting, and construction was tearing up the city! Sand was getting in my eyes and my contacts were driving me crazy. We thought we would make the best of the situation so we decided to go shopping for a while. I enjoyed myself nonetheless and checked out the flower gardens. The flowers were breathtaking, there were so many beautiful bright colors. I then saw a beautiful rainbow once the mist stopped. We took a taxi back home as the sun was setting. The sunset made the trip completely worth it!

The Ecolodge

February 21st
Our group from the ICLC went to the Ecolodge in San Luis, Costa Rica. The weather was absolutely gorgeous everyday. The hot sun shined constantly and the cool breeze was so refreshing. We took a hike through the mountains and learned about all different kinds of plants and animals.
The food at the Ecolodge tasted so fresh. I absolutely loved it. Melanie, who gave us an orientation, said that fifty percent of the food was hand picked and fresh from their facilities or from the farms close by. We were supposed to take a hike right after lunch, but our whole group walked too far and then we were an hour late, but because of that we were able to do some extra sight seeing. I saw the cutest little calf who was nursing.




Renae, who was from Holland, was our tour guide on the hike through the mountains. She showed us these leaf cutter ants that were fascinating. She showed us this huge tree that was torn from its roots by the ants because the ants kept building their homes under the tree with sand. The foundation became so weak that the tree couldn’t stand anymore.



She also showed us the strangler tree. It starts out by climbing another tree, in a vine like fashion. It then starts to strangle the other tree until it dies and starts to rot and decay. The strangler tree is left hollow and looks like a stretched out slinky.

Touring the City

February 19-20th :
When I woke up in Costa Rica I felt a sense of independence and self-determination! I am free to make up my mind in any way that I choose. But I also felt a thrilling anticipation of what is to come. I’m eighteen years old in a foreign country, free to do as I please. That’s a scary thought.
As I got myself ready for the day I smelled some very interesting herbs and spices, not like the ones in Minnesota! I had gallo pinto for breakfast. This is a mix of rice and beans. They served me it on one of the smallest plates I have ever eaten off from. I bet the plate wasn’t more than 3 inches in diameter! Maria also served me fried eggs. I thought the breakfast tasted great, but it was different having something salty for breakfast. I usually just have a protein shake.
My classmates and I took a walking tour and bus tour of Alajuela and San Jose, Costa Rica. We also took a tour of the ICLC, where we will be taking our classes. The bus dropped us off at the bottom of this huge hill that we have to walk everyday to get to school. It took us 15 minutes to get from where the bus dropped us off to the school! We have to walk so much more here in Costa Rica, but I love the exercise. The tour guides took us to a great restaurant that served authentic Costa Rican food. It was delicious.

No Turning Back!

February 18th:
The adventure has begun! I had a lot of anxiety leaving my house on Sunday morning. My stomach was in knots. I felt like an emotional basket case. I cried and started to ask myself why I wanted to go on the trip. I then reminded myself that this was an opportunity of a lifetime. I have the chance to go to Costa Rica, learn Spanish, make new friends, and expand my horizons. This could be one of the best growing experiences of my life!

As my family and I started to drive out of the driveway we saw a bald eagle. My brother said this was a sign from God that everything was going to be okay. I laughed, but then I thought about that eagle for a while. There was a point in his life where he was protected by his mother, but then she decided to push him or her out of the nest. I felt like this was my first “flight” on my own. I’m spreading my wings and flying for the first time. This trip looks frightening and maybe like a daunting task at first glance, but this trip is also exciting and I feel free to do what I want. Through this trip I think I will become more independent and self-reliant.

As I arrived at the airport and saw the group I felt much better. We all got on the plane and flew to Houston, Texas. We had a five hour layover and then we flew to San Jose, Costa Rica. When I went through customs I felt so many emotions. I was so excited about being in Costa Rica, but I also felt tentative about speaking the language and trying to communicate with my host family.

My host family was there waiting for me once I went through customs. My host mothers name is Maria and my host fathers name is Juan. Andrea, a Costa Rican foreign exchange student who stayed at my house last summer, was also at the airport (with her family) to greet me.

When I arrived to my home I was exhausted. I talked to my host family about there family and tried to get to know them with my limited vocabulary of the Spanish language. Towards the end of our conversation I felt a confidence that I had never experienced before. I actually could communicate a little with my family. I was absolutely dumb-founded!

I have been at an internet cafe trying to figure this out!

All the instructions for the blog are in Spanish. Even the place where I sign in is in Spanish, so have patience as I am trying very hard to get this up and running. lol

The Pre-departure meetings are finished!

It's official, I have completed all the pre-departure meetings! I'm the one in the green sweater to the right!

There was so much information to take in. I hope I don't forget anything. The meetings were jam packed with information about almost EVERYTHING you need to know about studying abroad. Mrs. Carey, the coordinator of the trip, helped all the students by answering any questions they had.

I received the information about my host family in Costa Rica. My host mother is María Julia Calderón Murillo. She was born in 1944 and enjoys her career in Sales. My host father is Juan Solano Martinez and he was born in 1940. He paints houses for a living and enjoys every part of his job. They have children, but they are all married and have moved out of the house. They enjoy walking, cooking, talking, and watching TV. Their house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

I don't have any other information about my host family, but when I get more information I will make sure that you are one of the first ones to know.

Here are some common cultural mistakes that visitors make when they come to Costa Rica
(that I think I might struggle with) :
1) Chewing gum while conversing
2) Putting used toilet paper in the toilet instead of the wastebasket
(They consider this very rude)
3) Wearing sunglasses while conversing
4) Thinking time and tasks are more important than people

These things are going to take me a while to get used to, but I will do my best!