We started off the trip as a tourist and now have become a part of the homes- taking a shower (el duche), eating breakfast (desayunar) and watching Costa Rican idol (like American Idol). The first day was very restful and easy, but that is not to say that we haven't been going since.
Saturday: The La Paz Waterfalls - a beautiful sight to say the least that allowed us to see the animal and biodiversity of the country. Whether it was attempting to hold a toucan or chasing down butterflies or pacing with the jaguars or even slipping on the steps of the waterfall, our group tends to always look for the Kodak moment. *some pictures below* Our guide, Johnny, who we nicknamed "our phone-a-friend" was a walking Costa Rican, animal, plant and rainforest encyclopedia consistently standing patient with us in our walk of amazement and awe through the protected rainforest. After a ful day of rainforest exploration, we went back to the hotel for naps and a shower before dinner.
All day we had heard about the national championship soccer game being played in Heredia. We had also driven past cars and stands displaying multiple flags, jerseys and other Heredia paraphernalia. It was after dinner that some of us went to go watch the game less than a mile from the stadium where it was being played! We had made it to downtown Heredia, watched the game with intense and anxious Heredia fans. To our amazement (as well as all the fans), Heredia came from behind at halftime to win the game 4-2! Needless to say, the streets were crowded, the traffic slowed down and soccer chants arouse in high volume! We managed to find the birds eye view of the streets watching as fans crowded passing cars and created a mass celebration over such a victory! However the way soccer championships work here is that there are 2 games for the finals- the next one is Saturday! We are patiently waiting to cheer on Heredia again!
Sunday:
Despite the late Saturday night of soccer victories, we had an early morning for a visit to the Poas Volcano. Accelerating our Mercedes bus (an oxymoron in and of itself) up almost 10,000 feet above sea level. We all felt our ears popping riding in the bus taking in the endless green rainforests, mountains and gorgeous landscape. When we made it to the volcano crater, we weren't even there 2 minutes and the clouds slowly blew away just enough for us to see the center of the crater! Once again...a Kodak moment! *see pictures below* Moving on through the trails, turning corners through the rainforest, ducking under tarzan-like limbs and to volcano trails we went!
Needless to say our guide Johnny had hopes of his own wanting us to see clear craters combined with a plethora of animals and plants. What did we see? One very large & clear crater and a lot of plants! Once we made our way through the endless trails of trees and limbs, we got on the bus to make our first trip to CPI. On the way there, we stopped at the cutest restaurant that I think I have ever been too. The entire place was centered around the theme of strawberries, serving 2 drinks: fresas con aqua o fresas con leche (strawberries with water or strawberries with milk). They were essentially milkshakes and smoothies and they were the best smoothies I have ever had! I might have drunk a whole pitcher of fresas con leche in 25 minutes! Moving on though, it was at CPI that we had our placement test in Espanol for our Spanish classes for the rest of the trip.
After our placement tests and a general orientation to our host families/the general etiquette, we waited for our host families to come pick us up. I will never be able to fully describe how nervous I was waiting for my host family, how anxious I was to meet them and how fidgety I had become. I watched members of our group go one by one with their familia tica (Costa Rica families) as I just sat and waited. At some point I remember Joe (our Costa Rican tour guide) calling my name. It was apparently a family ordeal because both parents and both kids came to pick me up.
My first night at their house was slightly uncomfortable and awkward because they don't speak any English and I speak very little Spanish. Needless to say through a bilingual form of charades and finding the common ground of soccer, I was able to make it through the night with lots of smiles and comical translating moments. My family lives in the same compound of all of mama tica's sisters and abuela (grandmother) so I see the cousins and relatives frequently. In my house though, I have 2 children and 2 parents. The 2 children are 15 and 10 and at moments remind me of my own family about 7 years ago. They argue over TV channels and the bathroom. Lunches are sitting on the counter ready for them to take to school in the morning and their dad checks their homework each evening before they go to bed.
Monday:
My first day of Dr. Crawford's and Ms. Bramley's class full of a global education overview and an introduction to the lessons we would be teaching to the Costa Rican students on Thursday. It's hard to plan a lesson for someone who doesn't speak your own language! However, we kept it super simple and designed read alouds that would be easy to translate into Spanish.
In the afternoon, we started our first Spanish class. I, without a doubt, was put in level 1. No worries, I will learn more knowing the basics first. What I didn't realize though is that the CPI teachers speak to you completely in Spanish. At first I could identify key words and figure out what they were saying, but about an hour later I got a slightly overwhelmed. I can't even imagine feeling this way all the time like many, if not all, of the ELL students in our classrooms in America. It is this feeling that made me change my Inquiry Research Project. I want to know what it takes for a Spanish as a first language student to learn English while also tracking my progress in learning Spanish. What stages do they go through? How fast or slow? What feelings do they have? How do they begin to feel adjusted? Strategies? I am overwhelmed by all the Spanish around me: 4 hours of Spanish class a day and then I go home to an only Spanish speaking family and compound and I continuously wonder: How do ELL students feel? How can I help them?
Tuesday:
Starting the morning with a trip to the EcoVillas of Costa Rica. This project, started by an American allows people from all over the world to create a permaculture in Costa Rica where they can live off the land while also still being connected in certain ways. A link to a Tico Times article is below:
http://www.ticotimes.net/Sustainable-Living/La-EcoVilla-Real-Estate-takes-a-green-turn_Friday-April-20-2012
It was a beautiful place, full of passionate people who are smart, talented and well connected. It is a relatively new thing so they are still developing, but their plans are well thought out and have created a development/blueprint for a sustainable future.
When we got back to CPI, we immediately started our Latin cooking class making tortillas from scratch, arroz (rice), ensalada (salad) and some kind of beef and mango for dessert! So delicious! Taking back the easy recipe to make for others in America---I love food too much not to :)
After such an exciting morning, Spanish class seemed a little less stressful plus I was more prepared for what was to come in class. With only 3 students in my class, it's hard to fall behind or not be acknowledged. This leads to continuous learning and constant conversation (in Spanish of course). I know it will get easier with each class and it made me feel better when I went home to mama tica that I could hold a conversation (at a relatively basic level) about my likes and dislikes, how long I was in Costa Rica, what school I go to and what I am studying all in Spanish. CPI truly knows how to whip your Spanish into shape...even in just one day.
To close this post I hope all my readers remember the following:
You may never know where you are going or where you are going to end up but at the end of the day, you are still developing an awareness of your surroundings as well as an appreciation for a beautiful place. I never thought I would end up where I am currently sitting but I can't imagine being anywhere else learning as much as I am. .
Global education is not simply about how we respond to those different from us, it is the process by which we develop knowledge, skills and the attitudes to learn something new each and every day. Thus far in Costa Rica, the experience is not only a continuous learning experience in both English and Spanish, but also an adventure to discovering how I fit into this culture.Choosing to come on this experience has turned out to be one of the best decisions I could have ever made in my college career
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