tanta alegría

Costa Rica was made for short people, and I like that. Most of the doorways are small, ceilings are low, and there is not much space in cars. It definitely suites a short gal like myself.

The beginning of the week was a little rough as I was struggling a bit with what I think was “sun stroke” (or so said the pamphlet that the Wheaton Travel Nurse gave to me).  I think it was due to the fact that I had spent so much time in the sun over the weekend. I had a terrible headache, was really nauseous, exhausted, and I kept having fevers and then chills. Again, my sweet host family took such good care of me. They kept checking on me to make sure that I was drinking enough fluids, and provided me with medicine to soothe my headaches.  

Despite being a bit sick in the beginning of the week, it has been pretty grand. As always, I love just living with my family and enjoying simple conversations and interactions. This week I had the unique opportunity to be a translator. There was a group of professors from another university visiting and some of the families opened up their homes to them for dinner. The professor that came to my house for dinner did not speak any Spanish—except hello, please, and thank you. To be quite honest, I was rather nervous about being a translator. I feared that my vocabulary was not extensive enough, or that I would have to try to explain something that I did not know how to say. Praise God, for He gave me all the words that I needed and more. The conversation and dinner went quite smoothly and it ended up being a wonderful time.

On Saturday I had a special opportunity to go to the “Parque de Diversiones” with my cousin, Daniel (the little redhead) and his family, and Michael Gray (a friend from Wheaton). It is basically a smaller more simple (and cheaper) version of 6 Flags. Amalia and Laudema had me go as a gift from them, so they paid for my ticket and lunch—how sweet of them. They told me that they wanted me to experience fun things while I’m in Costa Rica and not just schoolwork.  Indeed the rides were a lot of fun, but it was also a great time to practice my Spanish. Kailey, Daniel’s mother has two nieces in high school that joined us at the park. Michael and I spent the majority of the time with Stephanie and Jocelyn (the nieces) and their boyfriends. Michael and I were both very surprised at how mature they were for high-schoolers. We each had several good conversations with all of them. They were just as interested in learning about us as we were about them.

Sunday we had a lovely Father’s Day celebration with the extended family for breakfast. I got to help out the women in the kitchen with the traditional breakfast: Gallo Pinto.  Then afterwards I went to church with Michael and before the sermon they had some children’s presentations for Father’s Day. SO precious. When I returned home, my cousin Daniel and Pau were there and so I asked them if they would like to paint with me…and they did! It was quite fun.

"H2 Oh!" that Amalia made me drink to get rehydrated

sandals I bought at the artisan's market

just having some fun with Micahael at the amusement park

After the picture, this blue lion man would not let go of my hand and we walked through the park. Seriously, I tried to escape, but he would not let me go. Kailey thought it was hillarious and laughed at me for quite some time.

Michael and I along with our new Costa Rican friends

Daniel, Pau, Mema, and Diego eating Father's Day breakfast

Tobias, our beloved dog!

Amalia, Mema, and I on the front patio.

my little artist friend!

hooray for painting!