Here at the school we are all deep into our Spanish studies. I have 3 wonderful teachers: Sandra, Oscar & Laura. And I now have 2 other students in my class: Erin (Chicago, IL) and Heather (Lancaster, PA).
Our teachers are very understanding and great at what they do. My 2 classmates are very sweet and we have had good times studying together and helping each other out. I really appreciate everyone who has helped me when I don't understand something.
Very full days this past week with classes, extra tutoring, and helping again at the Children's Home (Hogar de Cuna).
Some days I was so exhausted and my body so stiff & sore I wasn't sure how I would make it through to the next day. Yet each new day, God gave the strength to keep going and the last 3 days the stiff/sore feeling has been minimal. Thank you for praying.
Today we had a Paseo ("school outing/day trip") to see several beautiful places in Costa Rica: Ruinas (The ruins of a cathedral that was never completed due to earthquakes); the Orosi Valley (we drove up a mountain and had lunch overlooking this lovely valley); and the Basilica at Cartago (the oldest cathedral still in use in Costa Rica).
Here are a few cultural things I've been learning about life in Costa Rica. I keep reminding myself that that 2 of the keys of their society are the importance of relationships and the concern to never bring shame to others or the family. For example:
1. Keep your shoes on at all times when in someone else's home. (both to be polite and to avoid bringing them shame if by chance your feet were to get dusty in their home). When you shut a door or car door, it is important to shut it gently/softly again to show good care for the property of another.
2. If you have to blow your nose, you must excuse yourself and step out of the room.
3. When you arrive at a home or church or other event, you must greet everyone. It can start with a general greeting of "Como estan?" but then you have to go and meet each person. Then when you must leave it is important to give a reason so they don't think you don't want to be with them and you must said goodbye to each person you met individually.
4. When you meet someone on the street that you have met before, it is customary to greet them and chat for a few minutes, then you can explain that while you'd love to stay and chat with them, that you must excuse yourself because you are have to _____.
5. Turn off and unplug anything you are not using (in my host's family, we even turn the breaker off, if things currently aren't in use), because electricity is very expensive and they also experience unexpected power surges.
6. If you are going outside anytime after lunch, always have an umbrella or rain jacket. The rainy season has started.
7. Things are almost as expensive here as in the US. North American food items are just as expensive. Clothing items are even more expensive. I'm amazed they can afford clothes. (Apparently there is no clothes-making industry in CR, so all clothes are imported)
8. The favorite phrase around here is "Pura Vida!" (Pure Life!) Its can be used as a greeting and as a goodbye :-)
9. When first meeting a person, it is customary to shake hands. After that (upon farewell, or future encounters with the same person):
man - to - man = always shake hands (unless close friends)
woman - to - woman = hand on other woman's arm and gently bring cheek close to other woman's cheek and make a "kiss" sound.
woman - to - man = & here's where it gets interesting: the man holds out his hand and woman decides whether just to shake hands or whether she is comfortable enough to lean in and do the fake kiss thing (cheek close other person's cheek & make kiss sound).
10. Mothers are highly respected here, they are considered the center of the home and family. Its a common practice on weekends for the entire extended family to gather at the mother/grandmother's house. While there's the machismo element with the man being the head, at the same time its also a matriarchal society with the family deferring to the mom about a lot of things. And sadly in many homes the father is absent or not really involved. (I've seen this in the churches I've visited - lots of women & kids, but few men)
Praises:
1. The mom & baby I asked you to pray for are doing very well. As I mentioned in an earlier email, they did an emergency C-section and the baby, Ella-beth, has been in the NICU since then. However she has been able to breath on her on almost from the start and today was able to drink out of a bottle.
2. I passed both tests.
3. On Thursday I was able to have a short conversation in Spanish with a woman on the public bus. Progress!
"And God will make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything; you may have an abundance for every good deed." II Corinthians 9:8