What I'm doing: We only have three days at home in San Ramon before we leave for another field trip. We have two tests, a paper, and a project proposal due next week, and another test the following week. Plus lots of reading and a paper due tomorrow. Today I had to wake up at 5am to be at the high school by 7am (we have to walk there). Needless to say, I am extremely tired and worn out. But I am still loving Costa Rica.
This last field trip we went to San Jose, Cartago, Ororsi and Tapanti National Park. We left Friday morning bright and early. We met at the public bus station. The other class's Spanish teacher rode with us on the bus to San Jose. They wanted us to see how the public system of transportation works. I listened to music and read.
Once we got to San Jose we walked around and saw the main plaza outside of a large Catholic church. Then we went to a market, but it was not what I was expecting. I thought we were going to something similar to the Saturday market, but it was a building that had a bunch of shops inside. I purchased a few postcards, so hopefully I will have time to write on them and send them soon!
We saw the National Theater next, which was amazing to see. We were given a tour and learned all about the history of the building. There is a guitar festival going on in San Jose this week, and we got to hear a group practicing for the concert that night. The group included some Grammy winning artists. That was one of my favorite parts, just sitting in an old building listening to the sweet sounds of the guitar.
We were given free time at lunch to go eat. I got Wendy's, cheap and yummy. After lunch we walked to the National Museum. There was a butterfly garden, and many old pieces of furniture. Across the street they were remodeling a house, which we found out many of the old presidents of Costa Rica used to live in! It was beautiful, and I wished I could have seen what the inside used to look like.
We also walked to the National Park before going to Hotel Don Carlos for the evening. The hotel was so incredibly cute. Here is a very unattractive picture of me, but I got the big bed for the evening. We ate dinner at the hotel as a big group. We got yummy juice and three different options for dinner: pasta, hamburgers, or rice and beans. We got ice cream for dessert.
The next day we got up nice and early (breakfast at 7am) and headed to Cartago. We saw ruins of a very old church. It was so beautiful! We saw the bell that rang when Costa Rica founded out they were independent. Each day was long and filled with lots of talking and walking, so we got a little tired throughout the day. :)
We then went to a market in Cartago that I did not like at all. We got yelled at ALL THE TIME. I have never heard so many creepy men trying to use pick up lines on us. It was semi flattering and also very uncomfortable. I understand that it is cultural, and that we clearly look different from everyone else, but it was difficult for me to handle it all. Once we walked with our professors, and it made the situation a little better. I tried some new foods, a corn and cheese type food that I really liked. There is also a cookie that I really enjoyed. We also got to see some new foods, like mondongo (cow stomach) and cow tongue. I am very thankful my host family does not eat that type of strange food.
We went to a huge Catholic church, next. The church is one of the biggest and oldest in Costa Rica. We got to see a Catholic mass that was going on while we were there. I felt kind of uncomfortable taking pictures while they were in church, but our professors said it was fine. We saw a confessional, and people walking to the alter on their knees as a form of worship. We also saw the sacred rock where someone saw the virgin Mary. People purchase charms to offer the virigin. There is also a river that runs under the church and it is considered "holy" water. People walk for miles to get the sacred water. It is a very different form of worship than I am used to seeing, but it is good to experience different things.
We ate lunch at a really yummy place that my professor suggested. I ate chicken, rice and beans, but it was SO good. We also got wifi, which was a bonus. We also stopped at several viewpoints before we made our way to the city of Orosi. The pictures don't do it justice; it was incredible to stand on top of a hill and look over all the city and river.
In Orosi we went to see a very old church, but unfortunately there was a wedding going on so we had to wait until the wedding was over before we could go to the church. We walked through the little museum next door while we were waiting. It was interesting to see a Costa Rican wedding, though. The church was beautiful! I felt bad intruding on their wedding, by our teacher said the church is a public place so anyone can go in it.
We also went to a second church ruins and walked around. We took many funny pictures there. It was pouring down rain; made me feel like I was in Oregon. :) The church ruins were my favorite part of the day. I love seeing the old places where people worshiped God. They are so beautiful.
We stayed at another adorable hotel on Saturday night, but my bed was very tiny. We went out for dinner and hung out in the hotel! We walked to a little place to eat, and I got chicken, salad and french fries for $4. So cheap. We also split a banana split.
The last day of the field trip we went to Tapanti National Park. This was for the ecology portion of the trip. On our way there we learned about coffee and the importance of coffee plantations in Costa Rica. Once we got to the park we hiked up some stairs and saw a view of the river, waterfall and whole forest covered in trees. We talked about water and the economic captial of national parks.
After that we hiked to the river which was SO fun. It was sunny out, so we swam and layed on the giant rocks. It was literally the perfect day. I am sometimes amazed that I am getting class credit to do all these fun things!
The bus ride back was a little long, but I love riding in a car/bus. I listened to music and slept a little bit. So nice and relaxing.
What I'm thinking about: Yesterday, Sydney and I went to the high school for the second time. We gave a short presentation about ourselves and our families and first jobs. We included some questions for them to answer and even had sentence starters. All the information I learned in my How to Teach English Language Learners class last year is really paying off now. :)
We were talking to the teacher and she explained that the school did not have a library. I was shocked! How are the students supposed to learn another language if there are not books to read? They do not have any books in Spanish or English. Today when I was laying in bed I came up with an idea. I really want to raise money to help them get a library, or at least a shelf with some books the teachers can use!
God just put this on my heart, and I have NO idea how to go about doing this.
Does anyone have any ideas for me? Fundraisers to do, or ways to ask for donations from the States? Please let me know! I would love to be able to make an impact in this way while I am in Costa Rica.
We leave Thursday morning at 6am to head to the Carribean! I have been in Costa Rica for a month and I still have not seen the ocean, so I am excited for another field trip. I am also super tired, so I hope I can get re-energized before tomorrow morning. :)
Con mucho amor.
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