And So It Begins...

I talked with a dear friend on the phone while waiting to board the plane, when the flight attended started announcing something…. I paused the conversation and listened closely. My friend over hearing says,  “How are you feeling?”  I respond….”I’m not ready!”  It was a moment of severe hesitation… could I really do this?  I heard Spanish all around me and I hadn’t even left yet..

I paused and told her “sometimes we do things we are scared of right?”  With a little bit of reassurance I boarded the plane, yes we do things we are scared of.  It reminds me of a quote shared with me a few years ago, “there is no growth in a comfort zone and there is no comfort in a growth zone”….so begins one of the biggest growth zones of my life: a new culture, a new language, a new family, a new house, a new school…..the list goes on and on.

If you know me at all, I am pretty extroverted, yes I enjoy my moments of being an introvert, quiet and to myself, but usually I am very outgoing.  This is something that I am learning again, because I truly have to think about what I am going to say, but I guess that is what we are supposed to do in the first place right?  “Think before you speak” (I am pretty sure that was drilled into me at home and at daycare). 

One of the things I didn’t think about before I said was when I said: “yo necesito comprar un cepillo por dientes y la sopa”

La sopa= Soup

El jabon= soap…it happens.

(Translation: I need to buy a toothbrush and soup…I meant soap!)

This I know is my first of little hiccups along the way, and I have to learn to laugh at them, because it is a process.  I wrote this a while back on a blog of mine, but it continues to ring true.  I am going to choose laugh or be okay with mistakes or a little silence when my words become jumbled or I get stuck in my own head.  I tend to write a little more about the process or how I am feeling or experiencing something, but allow me to share a little about my first set of experiences. 

Mi Familia Tica (My Costa Rican Family):

I live in a nice little place with Gerardo and Laura, who have three grown daughters, one lives here with us and two others live very close.  They have 2 grandchildren, one in his first year of high school and one that is in kindergarten.  They are so nice, as most Ticos are.  My Papa Tica reminds me of a combination of my Dad and Grandpa.  He retired from farming, but still has the farm (from what I understand) and he loves to fish, two things that make me feel very at home.   My host sister, Maria is a teacher of English and Spanish. This is only day two, so I will continue to share more about my host family soon!

Day 1 of Class:

Our classes take place a little ways from town, in a gorgeous location.  The class is focused around speaking the language, as well as learning grammar and vocabulary.  Day one went well, I understood about 60-70% of our conversations, but I am glad I know I have a lot to learn.  Asking questions is key. We tend to live and learn in places where questions aren’t as welcome.  My teacher Alice loves when we ask questions and I am thankful for that!  I am beyond thankful I started meeting with a conversation partner last semester, because it helped my confidence and ability to ask questions and be comfortable not knowing. 

I could go on and on about the first few days, but I will keep it short, the moral of my story in Costa Rica so far: It’s a process.