Arriving to Costa Rica

By Laura Miller – Guest blogger traveling in Costa Rica.
Hola! Here I am in Samara Beach Costa Rica! It is beautiful! So incredibly beautiful. Imagine Maui, with farms. We arrived via bus yesterday afternoon. We spent the first night in the capital city, San Jose. We stayed the first night together (me, Stephanie and Angel) in a very nice house. I was surprised at how nice it was. I guess I was prepared for ghetto Mexico style, but it was quite nice.
I tried Spanish, but it was difficult. I feel like a baby! We then piled in a bus with like 20 other people (all from Colorado, and yes Shon and Scott those gross croc shoes were abundant with them) It was a long 5 hour bus ride with no heat.
We arrived at the school which will be nice. It has a view of the beach. The best thing to see after the long bus ride. We were quickly picked up by our families and taken to the homestay. I said goodbye to my American comfort zone and headed out.
Let me tell you, it isn't exactly as I thought it would be. I guess I wasn't sure what I thought it would be at all actually. I am living on a farm. Apparently, they have something like 300 cows and 75 horses and parrots. Of course along with the animals come the flies and the mosquitoes.
The first day and I am already suffering from mosquito bites. I am getting used to the smell of Repel bug spray. The family I am staying with is very nice. I can tell they are trying to be understanding of my lack of language ability. The mama of the whole gang is Cristina. She is very nice (and noticeably frustrated too with this language barrier). Talking to her was difficult, and we ended up kind of staring at each other, like too tired to go on. There is also her son and brother who live there. I was also blessed with another American girl at the end of the night that returned home.
We eat a lot of fruit, I am sure by the end I will be done with pineapple and banana. And this morning I asked for milk in my coffee and Cristina asked her son to get some milk, STRAIGHT OUT OF THE COW! Not exactly the non-fat milk I am so used to. She makes a lot of food too; I am not sure how to say no thank you to it all.
I did get lost trying to get back to the school later that night (walking of course) and I decided to take the way of the beach (which apparently is much longer). On the way to the beach I stopped to ask directions from a crazy group of people (one who offered me free surf lessons at some far away beaches, ahhh locals, I will pass on that offer! I don't want to go to a deserted beach with Jose!). I found my way and while walking on the beach there was a donkey just hanging out there. I am serious! This donkey! It was so strange. I said hi to it and kept walking until I reached my destination.
The negative parts: I am so FRUSTRATED with this language barrier! Let me just say, staying alone the first night in a place where I could not communicate was humbling. I spent the day feeling incredibly stupid (and I
must say, I am not a fan of that feeling.)
I also spent the first night confused, and doubting why I am here. It will be good though. A learning experience is always a good thing. Right? And I took the placement test and am in the baby level, so none of my Spanish speaking American friends will be with me in the class.
I am learning just how dependent on cell phones and modern conveniences that I am. I miss starbucks already, and the comfort of my stuff. (Maybe living alone for a year taught me way too much independence).
I keep looking for the cell phone to call someone. (I didn't even bring my phone) and though the family has a television, they don't seem to watch it. They actually just hang out and talk (though I sit and stare). I will
be learning the lesson of slowing down on this trip for sure (not so easy for me).
Also I am not sure how to live with this family, I know I have lived with other peoples families before, but this is different. I also am weared out with the toilet paper in the trash can thing. Ahh but at last. This will be a very educational trip. I will do my best to learn mucho espanol!!!!