So, though, before and about

I find myself more and more comfortable with my second language on almost a daily basis. I am taking the above four words as evidence of this. When I am talking to my host parents, I ALWAYS say “so” and “though” in English! I know these words in Spanish; I am not sure where that knowledge gets lost in between my brain and my mouth, but I have a suspicion that it is behind my left molar. In the beginning, I pre-scripted everything before I said it. Now, I am doing that less and less, which is probably why “Spanglish” is being produced. I have taught my host family these two words in English so that my sentences don’t sound so much like this to them: “I don’t really think we’ll end up going to the park, whovilleopoly.” Or “Snoozlephone that is why the water was cold this morning!” They are so incredibly patient with me, though, and are VERY helpful with pronunciation. How funny I must look to outsiders when I am at a clothing store with my host mom saying “Jer-sey. Jer-sey. Jersey!” over and over again as she coaches me through it!

Now, this problem does not limit itself to the Spanish language. If I am speaking a sentence in English to one of the other students, I seem to always say “before” and “about” in Spanish. Friends, I apologize in advance for the craziness that I will likely speak on returning! Hopefully my ability to communicate effectively is not impaired too much…! If so, we can try charades. I am a fan.

Also on the language note, I was able to understand probably about 85% of Toy Story 3! This is such a God thing – He has held my hand through this language learning process in a way that made it seem much less like pulling teeth! And, as evidence, I have the comprehension ability of the small children that the movie was targeted for! It was so cute—I HIGHLY recommend it. If not seeing in 3-D is an option, I’d vote for that because the 3-D part was not worth paying extra money for (here it is only in 3-D, though). There was a little kid sitting behind me who will make a great sports commentator one day. Normally, this probably would have been irritating, but it was actually quite helpful. If I didn’t understand what had just happened completely, or if I didn’t know the word to refer to some object in the scene, there was a good chance that he would say it and I would have a second chance to catch it!

That is all from this language-scrambled part of the world for the moment! I hope that you are all having a lovely day, and once again, thank you for your prayers. He’s holding me so close here, and I know I have amazing family and friends who are laying me before Him regularly.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

Pensando en ti,
Costa Rica Chica

Connecting

Hola friends!

This week has been full of excitement, and it is only Wednesday! On Sunday I went to a different church—this one was in the capital and was so amazing. They are a big body, so big that they now meet in a tent outside until their new building is finished! Of course, this made me think of my church family at home and our new building. I miss you all very much, but it is awesome to witness Him working here, too! How cool! Also, we sang Mighty to Save! It was awesome! The sermon was about daddies, and I certainly missed mine (and still do!). However, I got to talk to him on the phone for a while and that was so good. Attention internet world: I have the best parents in the world!

Monday I went out shopping with one of my friends and had some ice cream under the Golden Arches – some things are universal! ☺ Yesterday my host family took me to see the baby whose party I went to again. She is so sweet! I find myself afraid to talk to her too much, though: she is just learning how to speak and I don’t think I can be of much assistance! However, hugs are bilingual and can’t be mispronounced! ☺

Yesterday my host dad said something very interesting. He wants to learn to speak English because he wants to be able to help tourists who are lost here. “How sad it is to watch them be so confused and to be completely unable to communicate, unable to help. We can’t connect like that.” I feel like there was some deeper truth there, deeper than just language differences. Jesus came here to “speak our language,” to connect, and to really LIVE with us. The Creator of the Universe came HERE and lived our language, so we wouldn’t have to be unconnected, looking and not finding. Wow. Please join me in rejoicing in THAT!

Today I will be going to see Toy Story 3 in Spanish! I am very excited about this! Also, it is 2 for 1 day at the theater, so I am getting a good deal! ☺ Jaco is on the agenda for this weekend – it is our first beach experience here and I am looking forward to it! I will be sure to post pictures here upon my return!

My presentation went well on Monday; thank you very much for your prayers!

Love from Central America,
Costa Rica Chica

Coffee, Anyone?

The smell wafted through the air. Warm in my hand, the beverage was the rich color of the Costa Rican soil. Looking at it one more time and attempting to pretend like I thought I would like it, I took a sip. Coffee!

No, I am still not a fan, but I did manage to drink a whole glass (sample sized, naturally!). I think it flows through the blood of the Costa Ricans, so I am so glad that today I got to experience a coffee plantation! It was huge, but not very active as it is not currently time for coffee harvest.

We had a tour guide explain the entire process, from planting the coffee tree to using its wood in Costa Rican furniture. I bought a bracelet made out of coffee beans, which now has me frequently putting my wrist up to my nose (I love the smell, just not the taste). It was so cool to learn all about the harvest and production! Also, nearly 70% of the coffee that they produce is sold to… (drum roll)…Starbucks!

Last week I fought my biggest battle yet with homesickness; it was difficult but God is totally with me here and I have been blessed with an AMAZING family in “Los Estados” that has been able to talk to me almost every night, which helps so much! Also, my “family” here is SO great – I am almost always home in the evenings because I love just sitting at home with them! We visit, laugh, and watch the news and soap operas. This ritual has been extremely helpful in my Spanish education: they answer all my crazy vocabulary questions and I learn so much!

On Friday they took me to the fruit market in town with them. It was SO BIG! They have about 150 tables set up under a huge metal roof and people come every week to buy and sell fruits and veggies! It was so neat. My host mom bought 12 bananas for less than 80 cents! I tried to explain to her that fruit was more expensive in the US, but she kept shaking her head like she couldn’t even believe it! So funny!

I have a big presentation in my history and culture class on Monday during which my conversation and grammar teachers will be present and listening for pronunciation and grammar errors. Your prayers for that are most definitely appreciated! Also, please thank Him for the community I have here! People who love Him and who love me are definitely present, that has been SO good! I love the way He sets that up!

Thankful for all of you!

~Costa Rica Chica

Two weeks...TONS of memories!

Hey wonderful friends!

I did not type this out ahead of time, so it may be brief, but I wanted to make sure that you all had a glimpse into the recent happenings in this tropical nation!

Last week was the trip to the Indian reservation and I cannot even begin to describe how amazing it was! We were able to interact so much with the children; it was fantastic to be awarded that tiny glimpse into their lives! There is a school on the reservation, and it has students in K-12. We slept under a mosquito net, climbed trees, led a class one day (that was a surprise, fun, but a bit challenging!), and ran a “store” to give out the aide that we brought from the States. So cool!

The week before I got to visit the actual rainforest and see it three different ways! Monteverde was amazing (I am really lost for adequate adjectives, sorry), and seeing God’s creation up close in a virgin rainforest was…wow! We walked through during the day and then returned for a night tour. Kid you not: I saw a spider whose body (legs not included) was about the size of a golf ball! EWW! The guide said he was harmless…I have my doubts. He was big enough to be a pet! The next day, we took a “bridge tour” and saw everything from above – that was such an incredible experience!

Between these two adventures were my midterms (hard to believe we are already at the halfway point!). I had five and have the results back for four of them: 3 As and 1 B. Praise God – all of these exams were entirely in Spanish! I am so excited that He helped me concentrate through them despite all the potentially distracting things here!

Another thing to praise Him for: while on the reservation, one of the students from the group wanted to talk about my Jesus – SOOOO cool! I cannot share too many details, but please join me in rejoicing in the open door! In the way of other prayers, prayers for strength of body (I am always tired; I think it is because my brain is in overdrive) would be greatly appreciated!

I am very excited to share ALL of my pictures with you all when I return (along with a big plate of “platanos” – a personal favorite which my host mom has promised to teach me how to prepare), but here is another sneak peek: these are from Monteverde and the reservation.

With the One,
Costa Rica Chica

“Una Muñeca” in their midst

This new nickname comes from the birthday celebration I attended on Sunday for my host family’s niece, Abigail, who just turned one (this was a fantastic time: I LOVED it!). Translated, it means doll, which I am nearly 100% sure is a combined reference to my hair and my pale skin…hehehe! I like it, though. I feel like part of the family.

These past three days have been HUGE! On Saturday the whole group went to tour an active volcano; we were able to stand over the crater and look into it (and smell the sulfur…that part wasn’t as cool)! It was so neat! LOTS of pictures were involved!

Sunday morning found me in attendance at Centro Cristiano Vida Nueva (New Life Christian Center). Three other students went along and we all were placed in a Sunday school class with the youth group. Their classroom was on a patio outside overlooking the majesty that is this place – it was so neat to fellowship with the body in another language! I was able to understand more of the lesson than I had anticipated. After church was the birthday party, complete with Costa Rican music and Minnie Mouse decorations! So fun!

Today I ran errands around town with my host parents, which marks our first real outing. Afterwards, they bought me ice cream at this adorable (and delicious!) place on the square. My host dad and I then proceeded to take sides on which was better: ice cream or coffee. Considering I am in a country whose main export is coffee, I feel the winner of this little debate is clear!

After the errands in town were finished, they drove me out to their son-in-law’s farm (he lives next door to us but owns land far away). We were bringing fruit seeds that we had dried to be planted. On the way, they pointed out coffee plants and sugar cane; it was cool to see those things in real life!

When we arrived at the farm, we were greeted by a man who I was introduced to as the worker of the land. He planted the seeds and visited with us with a smile (he knows my host parents very well already). Then, they took me for a little walk around their farm, during which I couldn’t help but notice little eyes staring at us. His family was observing the tour from their makeshift home that is located on the edge of the property. Two little faces peered out from behind walls of scrap metal.

Friends, I was hit immediately with a realization about how very, VERY blessed we are. You are sitting right now in a room that is likely air conditioned while looking at the screen of some electronic device that likely isn’t necessary wearing nice clothes with full knowledge of the existence of your next meal. I am not trying to preach from a soap box, but not realizing this often enough is something I am definitely guilty of. And yet it points out something incredibly real; if your joy is found in your possessions, good luck finding it. I ask only that you join with me in this prayer, first praying that I would be fearless enough to pray it fervently. My desire is that my eyes would be continually opened to a new awareness of the needs around us. My desire is that I would have a heart that is readily responsive to His leading. My desire is that I would love in a way that strives to mimic the way I have been Loved (He’s so beyond legit).

¡Gracias!
~Costa Rica Chica