learning to laugh

yesterday i found myself letter writing. i took a stolen copy of the wall street journal (well, not exactly stolen - perfectly placed in the mailroom for someone like me to pick up!) and some markers and pens i had in my desk drawer and sat on a patio chair overlooking coy pond. i wanted to catch up to speed on all the political hype about health care, but instead began coloring and writing about my week to friends i miss (don't worry, i read it the next day :)) my college campus is beautiful every season, and i'm grateful to be soaking in its beauty this season ...with warm summer nights and green trees and thunderstorms that come and go within seconds.

in lisa's letter i said "i miss costa rica and speaking spanish. when i was there i laughed all the time because i never understood what was going on. maybe i should approach this season of life with laughter because right now i don't know what's going on; don't know what my next move is; don't know where i'm going. and maybe i should get me some rice, beans, and plátanos to go with the laughter"

one evening in costa rica my family and i went to my sister's soccer game. we took two cars down to the game (only 1 mile or so away) and when we got there, mami's car stopped working. in latin american culture, you don't worry about those kinds of things - you just sit awhile, then liesurely call someone to help you and know that they might get there in 10 minutes ...or maybe 2 hours. and if it's two hours, that's perfectly fine and you'll be happy to wait.

this time around the tow truck came fairly quickly and we were off within an hour or so (not bad!) ... i drove in the other car with my sisters and about 3 blocs from our house, our car popped a tire. it was one of those moments where i wanted to say "are you serious?!?" one car towed. one car with a flat tire. terrific.

again, no panic.

i tried not to laugh because i wanted to be respectful, but the situation was pretty funny: we were SO close to home and had JUST had a tow truck deliver the last car to our house. just our luck.

but mami and my sister just sat themselves down on the curb. mami looked up at the stars. i said something along the lines of "we're not lucky tonight" but she thought differently about it -- she thought that God was protecting us because it happened so close to the house and everyone was fine.

so we waited along the side of the road for awhile. one family member tried to use another tire. papi drove down later (too late) with his box of tools and somehow we (not me) switched a tire on the side of the road, at 9pm, in a suburb of san jose, costa rica.

the night was not my style. that's not how i work. i like high-efficiency: everyone call who you know, get them here as fast as you can because we need to get home NOW. there's no waiting, there's no relaxed pace: let's MOVE people.

but mami was different. she just sat there peacefully and looked up at the stars and knew she was safe and nothing else mattered. and while i was frustrated and wanted to be home, i decided to laugh and think it funny ...because i was in latin america and things like this happen all the time and reactions are so different than what i'm used to.

so, now. maybe laughing in the midst of uncertainty and frustration is the best medicine. maybe laughing and smiling and choosing to sit on the side of the road and looking at the stars and the beautiful person next to you -- maybe that's what i'm supposed to do. maybe i'll look for humor in the foggy future, the unexpected surprises, the frustrating turns we take that lead us to popped tires and tow truck journeys. maybe i'll look to the person on my right and my left and we can laugh with our iced coffees and bounce our confusions off of one another.

maybe, just for now, i'll let the uncertainty and confusion be a source of laughter and adventure -- and let the questions not cause panic, but rather an ability to take things slow, with grace, and with a laugh.

i miss costa rica

when i got back to the u.s. of a. i bought skype minutes on my computer so i could call my host family. i remember this nervous feeling before i dialed the numbers on that little phone pad staring at me on the screen.

i've called my family a few times since i've been back for a year and our conversations usually sound really similar

rrrrrriiiinnnnngggg

mami: HAAAALO? (like "hello" but accent the "a" ..it's funny how Costa Ricans don't answer the phone in the spanish "hola", but with "hello" in a spanish accent)

me: hola mami! soy alísa

mami: Alíííííííísa! Cómo está?

and then we proceed to talk about things i'm doing - like school and work. and they ask me how my family is. and then papi usually gets on the phone.

papi: Alisa cómo está? in that sweet voice that carries with it so many laughs and jokes that we shared. when i hear it i get the biggest smile on my face. papi will then usually tell me where he and mami are -- perhaps visiting some family members in a beautiful part of the country...

one day (one day soon i hope) i'll go back to costa rica.

i'll visit mami in the galería and i'll sit in that rocking chair that sits in the far right corner where i remember trying so hard not to cry during my first day in san josé

one day soon i'll be at Bible study on a Wednesday night and we'll eat sandwiches for dinner at 10 pm and drink agua dulce and i'll smile at Tío Fran who just preached with as much gusto for a small living room full of people as someone does at a huge Bible conference.

maybe one day soon papi will drive me along the streets leading up to our house -- and he'll drive really slow because he'll be talking about special Costa Rica stories and plants and landmarks and more things he wants me to see (mira alísa, mira, mira// look alyssa, look)

maybe one day soon i'll listen to cows mooing as i fall asleep ...and taste the deliciousness of food fried in canola oil and black beans and good meat and rice (always cooked with red pepper, onion, garlic, and oil). and i'll make the coffee for the morning and i'll make sure to get papi's special sugar on the shelf next to the refrigerator and mami will put more milk in her coffee than the coffee itself. i'll eat crackers with my special jam (jelea de piña -- pineapple jelly) and i'll take my lunch from the kitchen counter and head out the door.

i miss it all. but maybe, just for now, i'll sit here in my bed on a massachusetts summer evening and simply be grateful for latin america and remember as much as i can.

cumpleaños: feliz!

last year i celebrated my birthday in spanish with these dear ones

(disregard my voice in the background - i wished that wasn't there so you could hear better how adorable they are!) can you see how excited i was to hear "ALÍSA!" when i hung out with them every day during my internship?

and then got to stick my face in a cake

a year later i'm missing those little 1st graders, but not the cake in my face (it's more delicious in my mouth i would have to say)

thank you for all the birthday wishes! i am so blessed.

yay for skype

S-K-Y-P-E

skype. there's nothing like it. 

nothing like awkward pauses while you wait for the person to hear what you said 5 seconds ago. nothing like blurry faces and interrupted connections. nothing like talking over each other and then asking them to say it again. nothing like getting your face frozen in an awkward position.

skype has its own quirks, but overall i would say it's one of the best modern technological developments. and i am very grateful to have it especially since i miss these people a heck of a lot. 

i got to have the best skype date with three of them on friday and it was simply the best. 

distance sucks, but modern technology makes it better :)

i'm in the costa rica nostalgia phase (and in many ways, i hope i always will be). i find myself sad and happy and confused and grateful and overwhelmed and frustrated all at the same time because a year ago i was with these friends, living with a host family, talking to the man at the cigar shop in cuba, riding the bus, wearing $2 sunglasses in nicaragua, processing the things i didn't get, and laughing and crying at random times throughout those four months. a year ago i never knew what time it was and i learned not to care. a year ago i ate every single thing on my plate and my friends were convinced that i should become president despite getting food all over my face after every meal. 

so sometimes skype is the thing that makes you feel better. skype is the way i talk to my host family and my friends. skype is the way you see someone's face no matter how many miles apart you are. 

all photo creds go to the amazing, wonderful, beautiful, fabulous photographer allison jean. check out her amazing photography here!! 

parents

i learned so much from my parents while i was in latin america. i saw hospitality, generosity, patience, and love flow from their hearts in the ways they interacted with me. they were servants in the ways they fed me, provided shelter for me, and also provided conversation and comfort as i lived miles away from the comforts of my own "home". the majority of my time abroad was spent with my san jose family, but i also got to live with two other families, in nicaragua and at my internship. i believe that these people are gutsy -- i mean, really, opening their heart & home to an exchange student you've never met nor seen before? i wish i could say i would jump at the opportunity, but i think it would take a little more encouragement than that. it was a privilege to live with them throughout the semester and i treasure my conversations and experiences with them.

[san jose]

[nicaragua]

[internship]

[santa barbara parents, or as i like to call them: the 'rents]

i was so blessed by the parents i had while i was in latin america for four months, but that blessing pales in comparison to the blessing of my birth parents -- whose hospitality, love, generosity, patience, and faithfulness have continued for 21 years (and counting :)). they were a rock during my semester and i don't think i could have made it through the ups and downs of living in a foreign country without them.

i'm thankful for the blessing of parents: of their wisdom, the ways i observe how they live in love, how they press on through the challenges of life, and how they open their arms to you just the way you are.

i'm back (for a short while!)

[me and most of the 1st grade class!]

I am back from my internship and will only be here in Costa Rica for a few days before I head off to Cuba! I had a really great three weeks in San Jose de la Montaña. I worked at an elementary school in the mountains of the Hereidia province (not too far away from my house in San José). My host mom is the cook at the elementary school and I helped her in the kitchen with various tasks – many of them were chopping, stirring, assembling food and lots and lots of dishes! I also did some random things around the school like helping the teachers if they needed something, but for the most part it was very low-key.

I was a little nervous before coming to my internship about living with another host family, but I think since this was the third time I was the gringa coming into a stranger’s home with my stuffed suitcase and a smile, it was pretty easy and I immediately felt at home which was a big blessing. I quickly became a huge fan of the tele-novela “Pasión de Gavilanes” which is a Spanish soap opera playing every night and became accustomed to going to bed before 10:00 and waking up at 6:00 . My house was about a quarter mile walk from the school and I shared a room with my 8-year old sister Barbara. Also living with me were my host parents and four sisters (ages 23, 20, 14, and 8). My 20-year old sister was 8.5 months pregnant when I arrived and that was a unique experience for me since we were so close in age but I felt like our lives were so completely different. I had a lot of fun helping her get her and the baby’s room ready, sorting through baby clothes, buying a dresser for her room, etc. And…I got to meet her son: Oscar Davíd who was born on April 8th (por dicha that I got to meet him since I left only 4 days later!) I was so grateful for the unique experience to be in the family during such a momentous event! He is adorable – with a head full of black hair and 10 precious tiny toes & fingers.
[oscar david and i]

The neighborhood was all family – aunts/uncles/cousins/grandkids ...I just decided to stop trying to figure out whose kids were whose and just consider them all family. It was fun to be in this small community and every morning the grandfather would pick us up to go the school, the kids and I would hop in the back of his pick-up truck (something I love about Latin America) and the dog, Negro, would run ahead of us to the school where we would get dropped off (Negro is the most precious dog and is a faithful companion to my host mom and follows her everywhere we go!).
[cousin gabriel and i]

I came home on my birthday and had a really special day with my host family welcoming back with flowers, a lovely dinner, and cake & ice cream! I was honestly really overwhelmed by the love I felt from my community in San Jose de la Montaña when I left and coming “home” to San Jose. I received little gifts, cake & ice cream from another LASP student’s family (he worked at a milk processing farm close by and I visited once afternoon a week ago – they remembered my birthday and bought a cake for me before I left!).

The Latin American people I have had the privilege of living with and getting to know have blessed my life in so many ways. They have embraced and loved me despite cultural and language barriers. They have invited me, a “gringa,” into their home and allowed me to live life with them, and in doing so I have learned so much – and I think that learning has taken place in my heart and mind on many levels.

i am excited for cuba but also overwhelmed by all the good byes and preparations i need to do before sunday. this is an incredible opportunity to go to a country most americans cannot visit so i really want to take advantage of it.

looking forward to seeing everyone soon!!!

bendiciones en latinoamérica

my semester in costa rica isn't exactly like a vacation. yes, i have vacationed on the beach, yes i do eat mangos and melon almost every day, and i have not worn my favorite north face fleece at all in 2011 (thank goodness!)... but this semester has probably been one of the most challenging semesters i have had. i'm faced with scary questions, big world issues, and different faith perspectives and ways of interpreting Scripture that makes it hard to process everything - especially in a place i'm not familiar with and without the people who know me the most.

last week i think i was in the "mid semester slump" and i cried frequently - but i am becoming more okay with my emotions (haha) and am learning to let the tears come, and then keep a' goin! (with the encouragement and prayer of family and friends, of course! i certainly can't do this by myself!) sometimes that means wearing my new "boy ban" sunglasses (fake ray bands bought in nicaragua - i couldn't resist) to cover up puffy eyes, sometimes it means listening to katy perry over and over again on the exercise machine (i'm a firework! thanks k.p.), and just praying that God would give me peace and a thankful heart for what he is teaching me here in latin america.

this week has been better and i think God has placed it on my heart to work towards a greater spirit of thankfulness (something i always need to be working harder towards) and so i want to write a little bit about some of the things i am so thankful for and some of the ways i have been touched and loved this semester.

[hermanas: gabi, me, glori, susan]

these are my sisters at their soccer game right before nicaragua. while i don't get to spend a lot of time with them each day because we are both in school and they work as well, they have been so patient, kind, and loving to me. they invite me to almost everything that they do whether they are going to hang out with their friends, go to the movies, or are just watching TV. they help me with my spanish homework, always greet me with a hug & kiss and are willing to help me in whatever way they can. they are such a blessing.

[nicaragua friends]

i honestly can't look at this picture without getting the biggest smile on my face and starting to laugh. one day i came home from being at the church in our little town in nicaragua and these two men were sitting outside my house smoking and just chatting. the man on the left (i am embarrassed to say that i didn't catch their names) is my uncle and the man the right is his friend. apparently my uncle worked in the US for a number of years doing some kind of electrical work and we talked all about northern california, the freeways, and where he used to work (being born in no. cal was a huge advantage for me since i met a lot of nicaraguans who had worked in the san francisco area!). they talked about different spanish accents and how mexicans and nicaraguans speak differently. they were so funny and i had so much fun laughing with them, comparing spanish accents, and listening to them talk back and forth to one another with such expression and emotion. i had to take a picture to remember them and one of the best conversations i had in nicaragua.

[some other blessings]

on monday i had a wonderful skype date with my dear aunt and grandma b. it was so much fun to talk to them, and i was even more excited when i got a letter in the mail from my grandma! it made my day and i was so happy to sit outside and read from her beautiful handwriting. thanks grandma!

this weekend i learned some new recipes! cake ("que que"), gallo pinto, and patacones (delish!). i also met up with a friend in san jose and saw some beautiful art, laughed a lot with my host parents, and decided that i probably will never completely understand how to properly use the imperfect and preterite tenses (but i think i'm okay with that).

i am blessed in so many ways ...and those blessings have continued to come in unique times and places here in latin america, even during times where i feel overwhelmed. so, i want to end by saying, as we do in latinoamérica, gracias a Dios.

off to nicaragua!

[zalcero]

I finished my core seminar class on Friday, which marks a little over 5 weeks here in Central America. My paper is turned in (gracias a Dios!), all 13 pages and all, and I “graduated” from my Spanish class as well (they had a little ceremony for us) complete with graduation certificates and abrazos y besos from our Spanish professors.

I’m leaving for Nicaragua tomorrow (Monday) at 6:00 am –and will probably be in the bus for most of the day. I have everything I need for 10 days in my lovely northface mochilla and will be living at a retreat center for 4 days and with a new family for 6 out of those 10. I went to “Pequeño Mundo” with some friends and got lots of things for ridiculously low prices. I bought some medicine to hopefully make my skin unattractive to bugs -- I have started a “war on mosquitos” this semester since I was eaten alive a few weeks ago (my legs are still recovering) and am determined to not let those bugs win – we shall see if this stuff works! I am a little nervous for this next adventure, but also excited about the things I will get to learn, see, and experience.

I read about Nicaragua and its horrific history of corrupt political leadership, tyranny, rebellion, geographical tragedies, and United States’ intervention that is really difficult to understand and reconcile. About 80% of the country lives on less than $2/day. I have been moved by Shane Clairbone's words this weekend: "If we are to truly be the church, poverty must become a face we recognize as our own kin," and he talks about how we quickly give to charity, but don't really KNOW the poor. as a wealthy north american, this has really been convicting me. I look forward to spending time with political officers, speakers, and Nicaraguans to hear their perspectives on the difficult situation their country is continuing to experience.

Immigration from Nicaragua to Costa Rica is a HUGE topic of discussion here and from my perspective seems to be very similar to US—Mexico relations. Whenever I bring “Nicaragua” up in conversation, there is ALWAYS something to discuss so I am looking forward to talking to Nicaraguans about these issues.

I am continuing to feel blessed by the outpouring of love that I am receiving here...This semester has prompted so many questions, doubts, and deep thinking... and really struggling to understand the truth, what is justice, and what is my role in the world? In the midst of this, I have experienced God's love in special ways. I think one of the biggest is my family here who whenever they introduce me, they call me their "hija" daughter or "hermana" sister. Yesterday my host parents and I went to a house and the woman asked how many kids they had and they said "5, but 6 with our daughter Alísa" ..it was really touching and i am going to miss them while i am away.

in addition to missing them, i miss my dear friends and family from the States (and abroad in other countries too :))! thank you for your prayers, support, and love across the miles - it means so much to me.

all packed (hopefully!) for Nica :)

Hasta luego!

la belleza

gardens at ICADS (where we take our Spanish classes)

i'm living in a beautiful place with beautiful people.

special tico things

volcán arenal

sid the sloth (or in spanish "perezoso") - spotted at the house we stayed at this weekend when we visited a city nearby volcán arenal

Things I love:

Breakfast with my parents. breakfast in the US is almost always “do-it-yourself” (except for special occasions) because we all leave the house at different times in the morning, eat different things, etc. i love eating breakfast with my mami and papi every morning, knowing what to put on the table, and how to make coffee using a "choreado." my dad has tortillas almost every morning and i now know that he likes to heat them up, i love the pineapple jam I have with my bread every day, and my papi has a special sugar that he puts in his coffee (i reminded him to take it with us when we went away this weekend). i don’t have early class every day, but I enjoy getting up at the same time so I get to eat with them.

i love being at my home. sometimes i use my parents’ stationary bike while watching episodes of Friends (WITH Spanish subtitles, rest assured!), or being in my room and working on homework, writing emails, or blogging ;). i am so grateful that i have my own room here – most LASP students do, but some share with siblings. i am blessed to have this space where i can have some time to myself :)

i love rice. i eat it almost every lunch and dinner and today i learned the exact portions (we make it with onion, oil, pepper, and garlic – yum!) also loving gallo pinto (rice & beans with some other special flavors), and Chiky’s cookies (all over Central America – bringing me back to my time in Guatemala), and so many other things…

i love (most days) walks to our Spanish classes in the afternoons. the walk is about 45 minutes from LASP and while at times it feels a little long, i have had some wonderful conversations with new friends during these trails and am grateful for this time to talk, process, and digest all of the stuff that we are learning. there isn’t a lot of time to do this between classes and homework, and what we are learning about is really challenging so I am thankful that i have this time.

economics is on my mind

[photo: view from my room!]

Ethics tells us that it is a duty to work; economics tells us that full employment is highly unlikely. Ethics tells us that we should ship our surplus grain overseas to share it with those in need; economics tells us that food gifts depress prices, thereby discouraging the farmers of the countries to which the gifts are sent. Ethics says that we should care for those who are unable to care for themselves; economics says that social welfare programs are inflationary… (139)

--Howard Richards “Adam Smith, Milton Friedman, and Christian Economics”

I have always wanted to be good at economics however these classes have never been easy for me. Through the hours of aplia homework and working with my econ TAs and teachers, I am fortunate to have a little context on this important issue (although I wish it were more!!) – I know it’s important and I know it’s relevant, but the logistics give me a headache.

One of our main assignments in my core seminar class is to write a “position paper.” We all chose from many different topics – Latin American history, women in Latin America, sustainable development, religion in LA, Christian responses to non-violence, etc. etc. I chose the topic “The Bible and Economic Systems” and little did I know that this topic would take over my thinking for the following 5 weeks.

While the book I was given comes from the liberation theology perspective, I am trying to balance my research with some other readings about ethics, religion, and economic systems. and while I am reading these books I am asking so many questions…

What is the role of the state? What is the state supposed to provide for its citizens? Is comparative advantage just? How can an economy promote justice when we are all self-interested? What is economic justice? Is a better economic system the answer for ending poverty and injustice? What do we do about profits?—we need these, but they also seem to be the problem for so much inequity in the world…is there such thing as true economic partnership between countries? (or is partnership too friendly of a word because we are only self-interested?) What is diplomacy?

The needs of our times, both in practical socio-economic matters and in terms of theory, call for a more generous definition of our science. We need a new economic vision that does not limit itself to observing and explaining market behavior or to theoretical speculations about how to best satisfy a society composed of bloodless Economic Men. What we need, instead, is a science that treats people as holistic individuals with a structure of basic needs and an inborn potential to grow towards higher levels of being and more fulfilled lives. Injecting life into the mechanistic core of economics is a challenging and desperately needed task; it is the challenge of humanizing economics (98)

Mark Lutz and Kenneth Lux “The Economic Problem: Yesterday and Tomorrow”

These quotes are taken from a book I am reading: Through the Eye of a Needle: Readings on Stewardship and Justice, compiled by the Dept. of Economics & Business at Calvin College. I like the above idea of seeing economic activity from a more holistic perspective – there is more to it than markets, trade agreements, comparative advantage, supply/demand curves: there is this basic human aspect of work and contribution to society (and so much more than that, but i'm probably getting ahead of myself here...)

how it all works, I don’t know…but i have 10-15 pages to work [some] of that out ;)

the caribbean side of costa rica

[¡que linda!]

["el mono" aka monkey...he was rather unfriendly unfortunately]

This past weekend, I went on a trip with fellow LASPers to the Limón Province. On the way, we stopped at a pineapple farm and a coffee and banana plantation. It was really interesting to watch a little bit of the process of banana farming and we learned about a lot of sad agricultural and social consequences of this huge industry (and I am sure more is to come…)

The reason that we traveled to the Limon Province was to experience a different part of Costa Rica, one that is marked by great diversity, specifically with a large Afro-Caribbean population. Costa Rica is like the US in a way – different provinces (like states) feel completely different. We have a paper assignment regarding poverty, discrimination, and racism and we were required to interview people in San Jose and Limon. While this was a little awkward, it was also really interesting to hear their perspectives and I enjoyed speaking with those who were willing to share their thoughts :)

I also got to swim in the Caribbean for the first time which was wonderful (and the fact that it is still January makes it that much better ;)), meet monkeys and even spot a sloth! What was also special was the feeling of “coming home” to my Tica family on Sunday afternoon …making coffee for my parents and enjoying dinner with my sister and her boyfriend at 9:30pm. I also had a really interesting conversation with my sister’s boyfriend about the law system in Costa Rica. He is studying to be a lawyer and for my Spanish class I need to pick a topic to give a presentation. It was fascinating to hear differences in the court systems here and I look forward to learning more as the time gets closer…it is also exciting when many words such as “jurisprudence” are similar in Spanish “jurisprudencia” (unfortunately I had to think for a few minutes back to my Con Law class about what jurisprudence is exactly, but hey, at least we have the right vocabulary ;))

adios for now!

[rachel and i at the pineapple fields]

pelo quemado

that´s what i told my family the other night: i have pelo quemado ..which means burnt hair. naturally, i cracked up at myself immediately. this is just one example of many of what it has been like for me to live in a spanish-speaking home.

communication is something that i have always really enjoyed..getting to know people and learning about them, and having people want to get to know me. having a language barrier has often times been really frustrating, but also exhilirating. the feeling of successfully saying a sentence using a few different tenses or talking about some important matters such as poverty and injustice (instead of kitchen and sports vocabulary that you learned in 8th grade) makes me so happy and excited. on the other hand, only being able to have limited conversations with my sisters and family because i simply dont have the vocabulary for more complex topics is frustrating and sometimes disappointing. however, this is teaching me a lot, and i am grateful for the opportunity to learn, experience, and laugh at the process of language learning...and all of the funny things that happen along the way :) ..and sometimes some of the more intense topics have similar vocabulary (like racism is racismo and discrimination is discriminacion .. it cant get too much easier than that, right?)

this weekend we are going to the Limon Province for a sort of field trip experience and will be talking a lot about race, poverty, and inequality. part of the assignment is to interview people and we had to start this yesterday in the city of san jose. while it was uncomfortable to just walk up to someone and ask them (in my broken spanish) what they thought about these issues, it was neat to hear different perspectives, and i am excited to hear more in Limon this weekend.

i am writing from an internet cafe because right now i dont have internet at my house, so i am sorry if i am slow to respond to emails and facebook...but i send much love to everyone!

snippets of life [here]

this weekend i went to a place in the mountains and saw two unique places:

agua dulce -- this is a special drink in Costa Rica (and probably other places in the Americas) and it is made from sugar cane. we went to an "agua dulce plant" (if you will) and i saw where they make the sugar molds that you

buy and proceed to cook the sugar to make a hot agua dulce drink. unfortunately they weren't actually operating the machinery, but i got to see the different tools they use to make this special concoction from sugar cane!

finca -- (farm -- see above) it's hard to know what was more beautiful to me: the farm or the hospitality of the farmer. this farm was right next door to the agua dulce place and it is managed by my mami's cousin. as you can see, it is absolutely gorgeous and i saw all kinds of fruits and vegetables i have never heard of before...and i saw what a yucca plant looks like from above the ground (i love yucca now!). i met a friendly cow named luna, ate home-made cheese, annnnd i got to ride a horse around the farm! everywhere i turned it was "have you tried this?" "look at this!" "do you like it?" "do you have this in the States?" and i could see how much joy this man had as he showed me the fruits of all of his hard labor. what stood out to me the most as i think back on this day was that he and his family were not expecting us, but they gave up their whole afternoon to show us around, fed us a delicious mid-afternoon lunch, and wanted me to see, taste, feel, and eat the many rich foods, scenery, and beauty they had on their farm -- i have not experienced this kind of hospitality before and it was truly moving.

me and the horse...funny story alongside this: the farmer didn't have a name for this horse and asked me to name her. normally this wouldn't be a difficult task, but i don't know spanish pet names! oh well...i named her cafecita. and then i met their little dog (probably about 2 lbs) and he asked me to name her!! so i named her henrietta, but they said that was too long so i said "well, i will need to think some more.." but then my mami was like "what's your dog's name again?" and i said "Tanya" and she suggested that name for their little dog....so there is now another sweet dog named Tanya in the beautiful hills of Costa Rica :)

poco a poco

how does one actually write a blog while they are studying abroad? i could write about so many things, what i do, see, think, live...i wish i could write about it all.

i think my slogan for this semester is "poco a poco" which means little by little. God is so good and is showing me that little by little i am getting better at spanish, knowing my way around san jose, and feeling more comfortable in this new place.

should i write about my dinner tonight at "hamburger factory" where just my mami and papi sat with me eating hamburgers and laughing hysterically at jokes (that i actually understood!)? should i write about the Bible study that happens every wednesday in my house..how their expression of worship is so different from my own, but how i enjoy being with people who are shouting and crying and worshiping God with such powerful emotions i have never seen before? should i write about the fact that i am starting to write a paper regarding the Bible and Economic systems ..and checked out some books about poverty, economics, and justice today (i'm excited for this topic!!)?

those are bits and pieces of my life this past week...and they have been full of many blessings. it is a little overwhelming to write about all of the different things i am processing in my mind about government, poverty, economic and social justice, colonialism/neocolonialism, making friends, spending time with my new family...but they are all good things, and i am glad to have this place to think and consider and ponder.

i am filled with gratitude for a wonderful costa rican family, delicious food (and lots of fruits & veggies too!!! yes :)), good conversations, and a calmer heart...and like my mami says every day when i ask her how her day was, "Gracias a Dios" - thanks be to God.

hola de costa rica!

i am HERE - can you believe it? living in latin america, riding the bus into san jose, eating fruits & other foods i have never tried before, and constantly speaking spanish at the most elementary level :)

it has been really hard for me these first few days, but i am taking one moment at a time, and learning my way around and becoming more and more comfortable in my surroundings. i am living with a wonderful host family (mami, papi, and three sisters). they are very kind and hospitable and i have done various activities with each of them thus far (bought fresh bread this morning with papi, hung out with my sister and her friends yesterday afternoon, and went to the market for fruits/vegetables with my other sister and her boyfriend). it is fun to watch family dynamics because it reminds me of certain personalities & habits in my family ;)

i have my own room which looks out to a beautiful field and i go to sleep with cows mooooooing and dogs barking :) i start my classes officially on monday and will be taking a basic seminar class about latin america on tues/thurs and spanish every afternoon for three hours (this is very necessary...my spanish is in need of lots of help ;))

thank you for all of your love and prayers!

abrazos, alys