So here are some things that have been going on: We lack three weeks of language school for this trimester; I just got back from a beautiful beach on the Pacific Coast; my hair continues to grow, and I kinda like it; today, we learned Christmas carols in Spanish; I still stink at soccer; I am really sad about missing Thanksgiving in the States; I love my teammates more and more all the time; the more that I am around everyone at our language school, the more I like them; I experienced my first major earthquake last week (6.2, epicenter near the Costa Rican-Panamanian border, pure craziness); still can’t wait until Mom & Dad come for Christmas. More to come in the future…
An Average Week @ Night
Monday – To start off the week, I have been spending many evenings with the Davidsons. These times have been filled with great conversations, cute kids, and good food. Good times, good times.
Tuesday – One of the highlights of my week is Tuesday night fútbol. Since the beginning of school, several guys from the team have been frequenting this cultural experience that also doubles as exercise. Here are some words that describe this experience: tiring, out of shape (me), competitive, friendly, sweaty, super-duper 
Wednesday – Lee and I have been going to Aserri, a town to the south of where we live, for about two months in order to take part in an outreach ministry. Wednesday nights has turned into a fun night of Spanish speaking/listening, building relationships with other Christians, eating some amazing fried chicken, occasionally getting absolutely lost on the bus, and spending some great time with my dear friend. Couldn’t ask for more.
Thursday – Sometimes basketball, sometimes getting hoodwinked into attending a Jehovah’s Witness meeting (en Español, por supuesto), rarely studying, and often spending time with friends. It is my potpourri night.
Friday – The weekend begins. Since my weekends have consisted of numerous activities, Friday nights have been filled with bus rides (to the beach, Arenal Volcano), sleeping in the hospital, team get-togethers, our team Fall Festival, a concert, or just chillin’ out.
There is a glimpse into a “normal” week here in Costa Rica. Hope that you enjoyed it, cause I sure have.
An Average Day
5:30 – Alarm annoyingly beeps
5:40 – Alarm annoyingly beeps again
5:41 – I spend some time pondering why God didn’t make me a morning person
6:00 – Wake up begrudgingly
6:30 – Breakfast with Flora, my Tico Mom (my favorite: oatmeal, bananas, juice, and some rich Costa Rican coffee)
7:00 – Shower/Pray that my hot water heater, which is connected to the shower head (the ‘widow maker’), doesn’t go out
7:20 – Leave for school
7:30 – School begins
7:35 – I arrive to my Language class
9:20 – Free period
10:15 – Chapel period begins (we have chapel on Tuesdays & Thursdays)
10:20 – Go to chapel, play ping-pong, or talk with friends
11:15 – Grammar class begins
11:17 – I arrive to my Grammar class
11:50 – I am really confused about the Subjunctive tense
1:00 – School ends, socializing begins
1:45 – Arrive home for lunch with Flora
2:45 – My brain is officially dead from learning grammar, speaking Spanish at school, and then having a long conversation in Spanish with Flora
3:00-6:00 – Nap (sometimes), studying (wouldn’t hurt to do it more), reading (should happen more), playing Solitaire (more than I’d like to admit), chillin’ (essential)
6:15 – Dinner with one of the family members
7:00 – Off to various evening activities (more on these in a different post)
The Little Things
Sometimes, it is the big things that remind you that you are in a foreign land: you can’t understand anyone, they use a different currency, you can barely speak to anyone, and it rains almost everyday.
But then, there are other times that It is the little things that subtly remind you that you aren’t in Kansas anymore: the stars are in different positions at night, you have to turn to ESPN 2 to see anything but soccer, eating rice and beans for breakfast, and waiters never rush you in a restaurant.
If you think about it, send up a prayer for me that God helps me to not only embrace, but also absolutely fall in love with both the big and little things about Latin culture. I’d appreciate it.
