By Jennie M., guest blogger studying Spanish in Heredia, Costa Rica
My day begins with a plate of fruit for desayuno. The fruits generally include papaya, pineapple, mango, and watermelon. I've really enjoyed having fresh fruit for breakfast each morning. The dish that accompanies my fruit plate varies from day to day – my meals have included gallo pinto, an avocado sandwich, or even cereal on occasion.
After breakfast, I generally finish getting ready, and if I have classes in the morning, I head off to school. The classes consist of four hours of lessons. Before I came to Costa Rica, I didn't anticipate how much material could fit into a four hour lesson. Intercultura's approach is very hands-on - I have done everything from identifying new vocabulary words in songs, to computer programs to group discussions about daily routines. I have not been bored yet. The teachers are incredibly patient and creative. I may not be dreaming in Spanish yet, but I am certainly more comfortable with the language.
I usually grab a casado for lunch. A casado is a traditional Costa Rican dish that includes a plate of rice, beans, and meat (I usually opt for pescado, but you can also request queso). After lunch, I often participate in a Latin dance class. I have learned the basic steps for salsa and bachata. The hardest part for me? Learning not to lead. It´s great exercise, and I love it when I get into the rhythm of the steps. After each dance class, I feel more refreshed and ready to take on the rest of my day.
After dance class, I sometimes take walks through the neighborhood around the school, to the central market the park located next to the market. This particular parque has stone sculptures by a local artist. While I have never seen him in person, he comes to the park to work on his pieces.
Walking through the streets of Heredia takes a certain amount of skill and awareness. I generally follow the cues of the Ticos around me. The cars rarely wait for pedestrians. While there are stop signs and a few stop lights, there are no official cross walks in the area.
Before and after dinner, there's generally homework to do. My homework assignments generally include practicing concepts from the day's lesson. One particularly useful assignment was summarizing news stories about murders and accidents in order to practice the past tenses: preterito y imperfecto.
Dinner – la cena – is usually a group occasion. Sometimes there are only three of us at the table, and at other times, my Mama Tica's sons, who live in San José, will join us. My Mama Tica has room for four students at a time, so I have gotten the chance to meet other students from the United States and Australia.
After dinner, I help with drying the dishes. This part of my routine has become very methodical and relaxing for me. My Mama Tica and I regularly exchange our thanks: "Gracias por ayduarme," she will say, and I will respond with "Gracias por la cena."
Then, I finish la tarea and reward myself by reading a book (in English) before going to bed. A day full of Spanish language immersion can be exhausting, but vale la pena!
Pictures: 1. Breakfast Fruit Plate 2. Sculpture in park
Learn more about studying Spanish in Costa Rica
Read all of Jennie's blogs from Heredia
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