A big, warm, slightly buggy HOLA from Costa Rica
I am safely in Costa Rica. I meant to write earlier in the week, but I got really absorbed into reading and taking vocabulary notes on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Spanish. That, and last night I had to prepare for the 40 minute exposition I had to lead today on problems with the US school system.
For more pictures, see here.
This time, I decided to stay "on campus" instead of living with a host family. I wanted to feel more like I was on vacation and it's really hard for me to feel relaxed/comfortable living with a family of strangers. Besides, I did the host family thing three times. But, anyway, my sister and I are sharing a room on campus. Each room has a pretty big private bath, lots of closet space, and access to a few common areas, my favorite being the balcony overlooking a valley speckled with houses; at night, the yellowy light from their windows looks like stars. I go to sleep to the sound of crickets, wake up to the sound of roosters crowing far off in the distance. The mornings are warm, and in the afternoon clouds roll over the mountains like mist; it rains, but not constantly. It's more like a sudden downpour that lasts maybe 15 minutes and then stops. And everything is so green the rain is worth it.
Our first full day (Sunday), my sister and I sat on the balcony enjoying the view and reading/studying for the whole day. We were the only two on campus that day; it was so relaxing and peaceful. Since classes started on Monday, the campus has been overflowing with students during the day. But they all leave by 3:30, leaving my sister and I, two college Spanish professors (here to check on there students) and two adult students alone in this calm, tropical paradise.
My class is going pretty well. The 5 1/2 hours of intensive Spanish a day aren't bothering me in the least. I remember last time I came, I felt like my brain was imploding from all the Spanish, but this time, it doesn't seem to matter. I even sat with two Conversa professors at lunch and just had a normal conversation. I really do enjoy the mental challenge speaking Spanish provides. It's a good feeling.
I just wish the bugs would leave me alone!
For more pictures, see here.
This time, I decided to stay "on campus" instead of living with a host family. I wanted to feel more like I was on vacation and it's really hard for me to feel relaxed/comfortable living with a family of strangers. Besides, I did the host family thing three times. But, anyway, my sister and I are sharing a room on campus. Each room has a pretty big private bath, lots of closet space, and access to a few common areas, my favorite being the balcony overlooking a valley speckled with houses; at night, the yellowy light from their windows looks like stars. I go to sleep to the sound of crickets, wake up to the sound of roosters crowing far off in the distance. The mornings are warm, and in the afternoon clouds roll over the mountains like mist; it rains, but not constantly. It's more like a sudden downpour that lasts maybe 15 minutes and then stops. And everything is so green the rain is worth it.
Our first full day (Sunday), my sister and I sat on the balcony enjoying the view and reading/studying for the whole day. We were the only two on campus that day; it was so relaxing and peaceful. Since classes started on Monday, the campus has been overflowing with students during the day. But they all leave by 3:30, leaving my sister and I, two college Spanish professors (here to check on there students) and two adult students alone in this calm, tropical paradise.
My class is going pretty well. The 5 1/2 hours of intensive Spanish a day aren't bothering me in the least. I remember last time I came, I felt like my brain was imploding from all the Spanish, but this time, it doesn't seem to matter. I even sat with two Conversa professors at lunch and just had a normal conversation. I really do enjoy the mental challenge speaking Spanish provides. It's a good feeling.
I just wish the bugs would leave me alone!