Quite the Week...

This week was very eventful... from walking on highways, to hopping on buses we hoped would take us to the right place, having no voice to teach, finding a giant caterpillar, getting locked out of our house, to almost having to leave the country!  But needless to say, the Lord protected me, I'm safe, almost healthy again, and He made a way for me to stay in the country. 

I also had the opportunity to celebrate a teacher's birthday with "coffee" after work.  I love that coffee consists of a meal, bread, tea, sweet bread, and then birthday cake!  It was a wonderful time talking and celebrating her birthday.  I'm thankful for the loving and caring coworkers that I have here in Costa Rica! {And thankful for all the delicious cafecito I get to drink daily :)}

Today we walked to downtown Tibás, the town we live in.  It was about a 15 minute walk, on a beautiful sunny morning.  We stopped at a park...

And had pupusas for lunch!  So glad my roommate saw this Pupuseria earlier this week!  And glad we made it to the Pupuseria just in time for the daily rain storm to blow through before we walked back home.

 

 

 

And the adventure continues... Tomorrow we are moving to a new apartment/duplex type living situation.  It's in the same area as we live now, so that's a blessing!  Can't wait to see the new place!  Will update you on that later!  

 

Room 2B

 

Another week complete in room 2B!  This week the schedule changed, again... but I've learned to live by the motto: Que sera, sera... What will be, will be.  I know it will all work out!  I don't need to worry about the little things. This week, we were learning about plants in Science, so the students got to plant some vegetables right on the school grounds.  

 

I also found my favorite cookies at the store!

 

 

Here are a few views of the outside of our house.  We are so fortunate to have the taxi stop up the road, therefore we can hear taxis, taxi drivers, taxi fiesta musica, at all hours of the day/night. 

 

 

 

 My roommate arrived last Sunday night, so it has been fun getting to know her and showing her around the little bit of town that I know so far!  We walked to the mall yesterday, and walked around the corner of our house to find a cute little park, full of futbol players today.  We also visited the panderia across the street from our house and bought some delicious pan con jamon y queso!  Can't wait to try it!

 

 

 Looking forward to discovering even more about this country!

 

Week 2

Each week gets a little bit easier!  I am getting used to the way the school is run, even though my schedule seems to change daily.  I'm also getting to know each of my students better.  I still have a few students who don't speak to me in English, but I'm working with them to become more fluent in English.  They are quite active little second graders, including various times where I catch some of them doing karate, whistling, dancing, singing, etc. in class.  So we've got some work to do there:)

We had another 4 day work week because Friday was El Dia de la Madre- Mother's Day, so we didn't have classes.  I spent Friday morning catching up on homework for my master's class and cleaning up around the house.  A student teacher from Brazil is coming today to live with me.  After that, the owner of the house offered to drive me to the mall.  While at the mall, I discovered that everything is close to double the price in the United States.  Therefore, I won't be buying any clothes here!  I did however buy...

 

a Starbucks drink... I couldn't resist. Even if it was $5.40 for a tall :)

I also bought a Super Chip sim card for my cell phone so I can call and text locally.  This was only $2.  Doesn't seem right that my coffee was over double that price! 

On Saturday, I met up with Hope, another new teacher at the school, and she showed me around San Jose.  She has lived here before, so she is a great Costa Rican tour guide.  We took the bus in to San Jose, which was only $0.46, and only took about 15 minutes. Downtown was very busy, but she showed me some of the landmarks I might need to know. 

 

Plaza de la Cultura (Also where all the pigeons gather)

 

Teatro Nacional

 

Teatro Nacional- Such a beautiful building!

 

We also stopped for some frozen yogurt, and went to the Mercado Central (Tourist Market).  I'm glad I didn't have to give up all the things I love from the states- froyo and Starbucks.  Yet, I definitely won't be consuming them quite as often :) 

Today, I went to Iglesia del Nazareno Tibas for the second time.  It is within walking distance from my house, and is the church in which my pseudo "host" family attends.  The pastor is the father of the my "host" dad, and my "host" dad teaches my Sunday School class.  It was good to be in a Nazarene church, and to see how it compares to the other Nazarene churches I have attended in Latin America.  The worship is more subdued than most Latin American countries, but I enjoyed it!  Some of the songs were songs we sing in English so those were definitely easy to catch on to.  The people are very nice and welcoming as well!  One of my student's moms invited me to her church which is bilingual, so I think I'll check that out one day as well.  But as of right now, Iglesia del Nazareno Tibas is perfecto for me!  Tonight they are showing Heaven is For Real, which I haven't seen in English yet.  So it shall be interesting to watch in Spanish! 

After church, my pseudo "host" family invited me to lunch with them.  We went to a Japanese Steakhouse where the meal is cooked in front of you.  After many delicious courses, I sure was full!  Next I went with them to do a few errands, including a trip to Wal-Mart.  I was surprised to see how big it was.  It even had its own parking garage!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Lunch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's all for now!  Hasta luego!



Diving In

I arrived in Costa Rica around 9 pm on Sunday, August 3rd, 5 hours later than anticipated.  It was a very long day of travel with multiple delays from the airline.  However, I still arrived safely.  In the car ride from the airport, the principal of the school I am working for explained to me that the family I was going to live with had fallen through, so now I would be living in a house owned by a man that works for the school.  Even though it was not what I had expected, I was very thankful for a place to stay!  The house is located a short 10 minute drive from school, in a suburb of San Jose.  There is a few supermarkets within walking distance, and even a mall I can walk to. 



 

View of the dining room and kitchen

 

 

Living Room

 

 

My Bedroom

 

Arriving on Sunday gave me one day to adjust to the culture and learn everything I needed to know before beginning teaching on Tuesday.  Talk about being thrown in head first.  I truly had to dive into the school year without much planning.  Being the planner I am, this whole transition has been a challenge because I have not known what to expect. It has taught me to truly rely on God for everything, and He has remained with me, giving me peace in this whole situation.  Thankfully, some of the other teachers had put up some decorations in my classroom, because I came with only two posters.  Although I have a whole closet full of teaching supplies in the US, I was unable to bring most of them.  Therefore, I am learning to teach with hardly any supplies. 

 

 

Front of my classroom

 

Cubby area for supplies- I didn't realize the students brought all their books and supplies on day 1- It was kind of a mess!

 

Classroom Door- I have 19 precious gems in my class

 

 I love all the windows in my classroom!  I hardly ever have to turn on the lights!

 

Fountain area where students eat snack during morning break and play when its raining

 

One area where they can play during breaks

 

 

It's been a long week of preparations, and long, exhausting days at school, but I survived week 1!  I'm adjusting well to the tica lifestyle and can't wait to see more of the country!  But for now I'm doing some much needed relaxing this weekend.