Sisters

My sisters, Peggy and Becky, and I in front of my home away from home.


As most of you know, my sisters were here in Costa Rica going to language school for a month and sight seeing. They got here a week after us on August 29th and flew back home this past Saturday, Sep 26th. It was so great to have them here for this past month. Our host homes were about 5 miles apart, we had different schedules at different schools, and our only transportation was our feet or public transportation so I wasn't sure how it was going to work getting together and how often we could make that happen. But thankfully we were able to get together at least once a week for a total of 5 times while they were here. They came to our host home a couple of times and one of the times had cafecita (coffee) with Flora, our host mom. The other times we traveled to a mall close to them and had dinner and visited. We enjoyed their company alot and it was nice to have family here. We lived 5 hours apart in the states, so I saw them more this past month than I usually do in a year! The timing was great too to help us get acclimated to our new surroundings. They are now back home with their families and we continue on. I know they were happy to get home and their families were happy to have them home! And I am thankful for the time we had here!

What Country Are We In?

We had a little taste of home last night. We went to a mall that is about 1-1/2 miles from our house that looks very North American. We went with 4 other North Americans and saw 8 more there. We did ride in a bus and then walked 5 blocks to get there which is not like home but oh well. Once we got there we had KFC and Quiznos for supper. Then we went and saw the movie "The Proposal" in english with spanish subtitles. When the movie was over, both Norman and I had the strong sensation that we were in the states. But as the lights came up the reality that we were in a spanish speaking country quickly came back. Then we got in a taxi and for the first time since we got here, the taxi driver even spoke a little english which was refreshing. It was nice to spend a couple hours in more familiar territory. Then we returned back to our Costa Rican home.

Preying Mantis

Our windows do not have screens on them so when the sun goes down around 5:30, we shut the windows and blinds so the bugs aren't drawn into our room by the lights. Well, tonight as I was closing the window I saw something on the edge of the window that looked like a stick or a piece of tape. Upon closer inspection, I discovered it was a preying mantis. I had already closed the window so I couldn't just shoo it out and if I opened the window back up I would disturb it, so I called in the calvary. Norman (and James, another boarder in our house who was in our room at the time. I will tell you his story in another blog.) Norman tried picking it up and we quickly found out that Preying Mantis' can fly. Who knew!? Well, that was enough for me, I don't do flying insects! I quickly left the room which brought the preying mantis to the attention of Flora, the mom of the house, and Josue (Joshua) her 25 year old son. So now Josue and James are watching Norman take on the preying mantis manned with a fly swatter generously supplied by Flora. The goal was to not kill the poor guy but to relocate him back outside since he eats mosquitos. Well, he must have been "praying" hard because Norman was successful and the preying (or praying) mantis lives to say another prayer. I wanted to take a picture but I wasn't going to stay in the room with a flying insect long enough to find the camera and snap a picture. So below is a picture of another preying mantis so you get the idea!

Our First Tremor/Almost Earthquake

Saturday night we experienced our first tremor. As has become our custom, we went to bed early. A little after 11:00 we both woke up to what sounded like wind roaring through our room and the noise of something rattling. But our windows were closed. I said, "What is that?" Then as we realized the bed was shaking it hit us both, "It's an earthquake!" We had just had a discussion with our tica (costa rican) mom about what to do in an earthquake. We were told to go outside. So my first response after realizing what was going on was, "Do I have to go outside in my pajamas?" But then it stopped. The rattling was a ceramic plaque our daughter Heather had given us from her trip to Puerto Rico. It was shaking against the wall. We now call it our earthquake alarm. We don't have a smoke detector in our room but we do have an earthquake detector!

Here is a picture of our earthquake detector:

The best part of this experience was the reaction of our tica mom when we asked her in the morning if there had been a tremor. She said, "Yes, did you hear me? I flew out of bed and changed into my clothes and started praying fervently, Lord protect us, guard us, save us, etc. I was like a crazy woman." She then walked into the room where her 25 year old son who is a teacher was correcting papers and told him there was an earthquake. He is like its okay, relax. And then he asked her why she had her clothes on and she said because of the earthquake. And he's like "Oh, for goodness sake, go back to bed." (That is a very loose translation.) Her telling it was hilarious. If you haven't figured it out, she has a great fear of earthquakes. They had a real big one in January of 6.0 and that has added to her nervousness. I told her that I hadn't wanted to go outside in my pajamas and she said that she put her clothes on real quick. So I asked her if I should have my clothes laid out each night so I can put them on in the event of an earthquake. She laughed.
Our tica mom informed us this afternoon that if the tremor had lasted 1 more second it would have qualified as an earthquake. We discovered via the internet that it was an earthquake that took place 115 miles south of here near the Costa Rica/Panama border and it measured 4.6 on the Richter scale. So we have now had the cultural experience of an almost earthquake. That is enough for me! vs

What We Learned Our First Two Weeks in Costa Rica

No street signs, you give directions based on landmarks, such as: go to the Bosque Park and turn right and go 5 blocks until the purple house and turn left go 2 blocks to the dentist sign and turn right and go to the 3rd orange house on the right.

Don't go barefoot in the house only poor people do that.

Our Tico House:


Our Room:


Don't say Adios (good-bye) it means you don't expect to see them ever again, say Hasta Luego (see you later).

77 degrees in the sun 10 degrees from the equator is VERY INTENSE!

Always carry an umbrella with you even if the sun is shining when you leave, especially during rainy season.

As a pedestrian you have the right to ... GET OUT OF THE WAY!
(We learned this in Guatemala but were quickly reminded)

Costa Rican's (Ticos) feet look stylish, ours (Gringos) look comfortable.

The BIG GAME is Costa Rica vs Mexico in soccer (otherwise known as futbol here)

When you go back to school after ahmmm years you learn 2 things:
1. You realize how much you don't know
2. You forget everything you did know

Our School:


Thinking and speaking in a new language is exhausting for both your mind and your total body. Including your cheek muscles (facial :-)) from pronouncing letters in phoenetics class.

Don't forget the teacher is laughing WITH you not at you when you say something totally wrong.

Speaking in Spanish is a physical activity it requires your whole body to demonstrate.

After watching a Tico explain an earthquake experience you are tired and your stomach muscles hurt from laughing and you are on your knees praying that an earthquake doesn't happen.

People are more important than time.

A bird in a tree outside our window:

Off to our "First Day" of School!

It was a beautiful day as we got up and nervously got ready for our "First Day" of school. We made sure we got up early, had a good breakfast provided by our "Mama Flora" and had all our books.
Now if you didn't know, it has been quite some time since we had our original "First Day" of school. So, long ago that I don't rememember my 1st one. Oh, I will sure remember the 2nd one. It's just not right to be in your 40's and going back to school, is it?
We have provided a picture taken of the two of us by our Mama Flora. Don't we look so cute with our backpacks and all?
We did survive and have been going back and forth the rest of the week. You know, as the story goes we do walk up hill both ways..... Such a deal, the only thing good is that we won't have to walk in the snow. Maybe inches and inches of rain but never snow. ns