Pura Vida

Pura Vida! This is what Costa Ricans say, meaning many different things, but mostly a “life is good” kind of phrase. So it hasn’t even been a week but I have so much to say, I figured I should write sooner rather than later! First off, I am sitting in my room and it is pouring rain. Truly pouring, it is so loud. And it does this every afternoon around 3 for probably an hour or so, then it may or not continue sprinkling through the evening. So that is just one of many things that I have observed since I’ve gotten here!

When I got off my plane on Saturday it was already completely dark at about 6:00, which seemed very early to me. Anyway, I got my bag and made it through customs and everything really fast. When I walked out into the “arrival hall” I was already outside and people were everywhere holding up signs and saying “Taxi? Taxi?” I couldn’t find anyone holding up an ISA sign, but a man with another study abroad group said he was on his way so I waited there and found him just a few minutes later. We waited for one other girl arriving on a flight just after mine and we hopped in a bus and I was dropped off right at my home! As I said, it was dark when I arrived but I spent the 20-minute bus ride just peering out the window! It’s a big city but it’s still very green! I got dropped right off at my house and… My host family does not speak any English! Yep, it’s a very good thing I had a basic knowledge of Spanish before coming here! There are people with my program who have very little to no Spanish knowledge. The first thing I said to my host mom was “I know some Spanish but please speak very slowly.” I said that in Spanish obviously! So she showed me my room and bathroom and I have some pictures of those below. It’s a very big room, which is very nice! Then she made me a delicious dinner!! It was noodles with chilies and onions and some delicious sauce. I’m not sure, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. After I ate I met my host dad and my two “sisters”! Oh, and by the way my host mom is pregnant and due on October 8^th!! So I will have a brand new “hermanito” very soon.  Anyway, the little girls are twin 4-year-olds and they are very cute. They are getting more used to me, but at first I think they were very confused as to why they had to speak so slowly to me! That night I had about a two-hour conversation with my host parents. They spoke very slowly, and I focused very hard the whole time! But I understood the bulk of it and Google translate came in handy for us for some words!

My home is the right half of this building. Every home has big gates in front. So I have two gates and then the door to get inside! 

Hard to see well, but this is a panorama of my room. 

I could go on for a long time describing all of the little things I’ve noticed and experienced, so I’ll just list some of them:

• ·      Everything is very open here, the doors are almost always open and my windows in my room don’t even close all the way! They are just meant to stay open. With that being said, I am getting used to things being a little dirtier (i.e, more bugs!)
• ·      I have a two-minute walk to school. So I leave the house five minutes until class!
• ·      My host mom makes juice all the time. I have had juice for every meal that she has made me. Her favorite is watermelon juice… Kind of like you’re just drinking watermelon with how grainy it is. But I like it!
• ·      I have tried a couple of different fruits that I am still not sure the names of, but they look very interesting and are delicious!
• ·      My university is a school for art, design, and architecture and it is definitely very modern in design! There is one building where all of the classes are out in the open. They are only separated by a couple of white boards!
• ·      There is also an area in the university with hammocks and beanbag chairs! How cool!
• ·      My classes are tiny! I have 7 people in two of my classes and 10 in another.
• ·      My Spanish class is completely Spanish… No English spoken at all.
• ·      The little girls I live with are named Dilanna (Dee-lanna) and Valentina. They stay up until 10:00 most nights, which seems awfully late to me for four-year-olds!
• ·      I have been very open to trying foods here. My host mom feeds me soo much food even though I told her I eat a little-normal amount of food. Some of the weird things I’ve tried: a hot dog with ketchup and mayo, rice with tuna mixed in, and I actually am coming to like black beans!
• ·      Costa Rica is known for their “gallo pinto” which is rice and beans mixed with salsa and cilantro. It’s actually quite good and I even had it for breakfast the other day!
• ·      My host mom always says “Si?” at the end of her sentences to see if I understand what she said and it is very tempting to just say “Si!” in response, but recently she’s been getting on me to not just say “Si,” which I appreciate… But it’s difficult!
• ·      My university has free dance classes Tuesdays and Thursdays and I went to the first one last night with some friends I’ve made and it was really fun!
• ·      I am the only student living with my host family whereas most host families have 2-4 students living with them. So that’s been my one complaint is that I don’t have an automatic person to rely on and go places with while most others do. But that has just forced me to put myself out there more! There are three girls that all live together that I have been spending a lot of time with and they are all great!
• ·      We have a lady that is living with us all week. I am not sure if she does this every week or if it’s just because my host mom could have her baby any day and they have the other girls to take care of. It appears she does this every week though because she helps cook and take care of the girls.
• ·      The second day here I was sitting at the table reading my book when my host dad walked by and said something to me and it caught me off guard that he was speaking in Spanish! I hadn’t gotten used to it yet!
• ·      Costa Ricans (so far) are very friendly!

So I have been really taking in a lot of new experiences and enjoying my time here in Costa Rica. I am excited to get out of the city and to go on my first “excursion” this weekend! My program, ISA, has planned excursions for us that are in the cost already. This weekend is Playa Tamarindo and I can’t wait to see the coast! I am really enjoying all of the Spanish. I’ve been putting myself out there trying to speak as much as possible and ask questions. Even as I’m typing this I am translating some of it to Spanish in my head! It’s already becoming more natural, which is really exciting! It is very frustrating not being able to express yourself when you don’t speak a language so that makes me want to learn even faster! I feel like I have so much more I could/want to share about my experience so far. So far, I love the fact that I get to live with a host family… What better way to learn about the culture?

Pura Vida!

The hammocks inside the school. 

Mis hermanas- Dilanna y Valentina

My hot dog with mayo!! I tried not to think too much about what I was eating! Not very "Costa Rican" either, right? Hot dog and French Fries??

This a central area at school and on Monday there was a brass band and these strange costumed people making everyone dance!

Three of the girls that I have become friends with! Melissa (from Wyoming), Hannah (from Nebraska) and Abigail (from Minnesota)

An empanada from lunch today- delicious, but should not have asked for the salsa (spicy!!)

Adios a Los Estados Unidos

Well I'm off! I'm currently sitting in the Miami airport getting ready for the last leg of my flight into San Jose. I'm feeling a lot of nerves, a lot of excitement, a lot of feelings are happening! Mostly it just feels really strange that the time has finally come for me to study abroad! I haven't fully grasped the fact that I'm headed to a foreign country on my own. It feels very different from traveling to Europe with Jeremiah this summer. 

Even before I started college I knew studying abroad was something I wanted to do. My sisters both went to Spain on study abroad. During my freshman year of college I started looking at ASU's study abroad website and had a really fun time clicking on different countries on the map and exploring their programs. While I looked all over the world, I was very interested in a Spanish-speaking country since that's what I have some background in. So I focused on those countries primarily. I also wanted a program compatible with my Health major, which there aren't too many of! So after a lot of looking, thinking it over, and talking to others I settled on Costa Rica. It is unknown territory for anyone in my family. That means there are a lot of unknowns! If you know me, you know I like to plan, but that's a little tough to do in this situation! But I'm excited to branch out of my comfort zone and to explore a completely new culture. More like completely bust out of my comfort zone actually... I've done a lot of reading and preparing myself, but I'm sure that will be nothing compared to actually being there! 

It was particularly tough to say goodbye to my family this week. I got to see most of my friends throughout the week to say our goodbyes. I've been made more aware because of this trip how many people I have in my life that really care about me and are excited for me. Last night my family got together for Grimaldi's pizza and frozen yogurt and hanging out! One of the hardest was thinking about not seeing my nieces and nephew for three months. They are going to grow up so much in three months! Parker and Madeline will turn two! Not getting their hugs and kisses for three months is going to be really hard. Man, I never would have been able to go out of state for college!! My parents and siblings were also very difficult, but at least I know they won't look too much different when I come back! Except Heather, who will be looking much more pregnant! And of course, saying goodbye to Jeremiah was no fun at all. We've made it for seven months apart before, so I know we can do it. But who wants to do that?? He's been really supportive of me, and I appreciate him so much for that! A big thank you to him, my parents, and the rest of my family and friends for supporting me on this trip, encouraging me to do it, and praying for me. I'll see my parents, Emily, and Jeremiah in only two weeks when they come down to visit!! Can't wait! 

Last day at home!

I've been asked, what am I most looking forward to about studying abroad? That's a hard question to answer! So many things! Im excited for learning more Spanish, meeting and living with a Costa Rican family, really diving into and experiencing a new culture, seeing what classes are like at a foreign university, Salsa dancing, and the endless amount of outdoor activities! I want to do everything! Ziplining, rappelling, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking... So I'm excited for a lot of things. I think this will be a great growing experience for me.

Switching topics briefly, a big congratulations to Jeremiah for successfully completing his internship at Medtronic! He worked really hard, and it paid off. They loved him and his future with the company is looking good! I'll let him brag more about that when he writes his next post. But, I had to include that. Congratulations, Jeremiah! So proud of you! 

I will be updating my blog as much as possible. I'm thinking once a week... So we'll see how it goes! I can also receive letters, though apparently they can take 2-4 weeks to arrive! So I'm not expecting any! Packages aren't recommended, so please don't send anything unless you want to give something to my parents or Jeremiah in the next two weeks so they can take it in their suitcase when they come to visit! 

The ISA address for letters is:

Hannah Warren

Y/O ISA

P.O. Box #101-2010

Zapote, San Jose

Costa Rica, centroamerica

ZIP: 10105 

Adios familia y amigos!