Bienvenidos a Atenas, Costa Rica!

It's Day 14 in Costa Rica! 

 

We arrived in Atenas late Sunday night on January 22nd.  Our first night here, Tim and Cindy (staff family with EMI) opened their home to Esther and me while Brad and Kevin stayed with Dan and Sarah (another EMI staff family).  We had a welcome breakfast the next morning at Tim and Cindy's home and departed for the EMI office for the first time!  We settled in quickly, chose our desks at the office and went off on our first adventure in town to exchange US dollars to Costa Rican colones at the Banco Nacional de Costa Rica.  Going to the bank here is more like going to the DMV in the States.  You grab a number at the door, wait in a sitting area until your number and position are called, then you make your exchange. It could be up to an hour wait!

Our first week here was another week of orientation, becoming familiar with the new culture, language and customs of the Costa Rican people.  I already feel a bit accustomed to the Latin American culture from my time spent in Mexico. For those of you who don't know, a year and a half ago, I lived with a Mexican family for three months when I studied Spanish in Cuernavaca.  Not being taught anything about the culture before being immersed in it, I realize now I could have done some things differently to better fit in with the people instead of always thinking the gringo way was the right way!  The staff of EMI has given us a heads up of some things to get used to.  #1. You will have a loss of privacy.  Costa Rican people are very close in their relationships and in having small personal bubbles.  #2. Throw your toilet paper in the trashcan.  Plumbing is not as advanced here as it is in the US.  #3. You will need to adjust the "widow maker" in the shower in order to have hot water.  It's a lever on an electric box next to the shower head that you have to push up while running the water- yikes! That's a good reason it gets the name "widow maker"! 

"Tico"= A native Costa Rican

"Gringo"= An awkward American oblivious to his surroundings, possibly sporting a fanny pack and continually saying "donde" and "baño" in the same sentence. (Well said, Amos!)

Antonella, Nuria, Emerita, Marvin, and Wendol

We were introduced to our Tico families on Monday!  I am living with a wonderful Christian family who live quite close to the EMI office.  My host father, Marvin, works in Immigration at the San Jose airport.  My lovely host mother, Nuria, is a hairdresser who has a small studio in the house.  She prepares all the meals, cleans the house, washes all our clothes, and still manages to spend a lot of time with their three children: Wendol, Augusto, and Antonella.  My host sister, Wendol, is 22 years old, graduated with a degree in Administration with an emphasis in Finance.  She speaks slowly for me and she seems to use words that I know.  She and my host mom babysit a precious 2 year old girl during the week who is a like a breath of fresh air.  She makes us laugh and smile.  Her Spanish is still better than mine, but it's good because when she comes in my room,  she's always asking me "Que es esto?" which means "What is this?"  I am able to practice my vocab of knowing different things around my room!  My host brother, Augusto, 19, is studying Systems Engineering at a university in San Jose.  He also works at la Casa de Cultura at our church here in Atenas.  He is rarely at home, balancing his time between school, work and friends.  My youngest sister, Antonella, is 15 years old and very sweet. I have enjoyed helping her study for her English tests and she enjoys it when I fix her hair.  I am learning the technique of teaching English while speaking in Spanish! 

The Guzmán Family

I am blessed to be living with a loving Tico family.  They have shown me the grace of God these past two weeks in many ways. They are patient with me as I am new in their home as we try to communicate.  They serve me and care for me like I am one of their own.  They want to know more about me just as I want to know more about them.  I am excited for the next six months as I feel I will grow to be a part of this family.