So I´ve been with my host family for a whole week....and what a week it has been! I´m still adjusting to my host family - I haven´t been able to communicate that they need to speak slowly for me to understand exactly what they´re saying...especially the three little boys. It´s fun though, I get the jist of what they´re saying and the boys like asking me a ton of questions and asking how to translate different words into English. They are also fascinated for some reason by the fact that I have a brother lol...the youngest one (Elias, 5) has already asked me about 100x what Justin´s name is and how old he is! I also shared all my pics from home with my familly....I miss everyone so much!!

We started language classes Monday and had our first introduction to what CYF volunteers do on Wednesday. I can definitely say I´m going to be busy these 3 months! We have lots of different activities and projects to help prepare us for when we become "real" volunteers. Today (Sunday) is the first "day off" we´ve had since moving in with our families. I´m getting to know Costa Rica better, been to San Jose twice now and a couple towns near where I live.

I will try to post more pics when I have them. Next weekend is a big deal: we are making our first visits to real volunteers!!! I don´t know where I´m going yet, but I´m very excited to get my first look at what CYF volunteers really do.

Sorry this post is so short, I will try to give more details next time.

Hope alls well stateside....hasta luego :)

Training Begins!

So, I've been in Costa Rica for a few days. They have been very busy...learning more about Peace Corps, lots of icebreakers, getting to know my fellow volunteers/trainees, learning a little more about what my job will be.....etc, etc, etc. Everyone has been so awesome....I've been amazed at how similar and at the same time how varied everyone's experiences are, especially those in my project - Children, Youth and Families (from now on CYF). Above are pictures of the retreat center in Tres Rios where we are staying.

We got to meet the US ambassador to Costa Rica on Friday (above, left) so that was pretty neat. And then, Friday night, we broke up into groups and went to two little towns right outside of the retreat center. Our task was to get dinner for 3,000 colones (the local currency) which is equivilent to about $6. I am proud to say my group succeeded tremendously...we found a pizzaria where we got a huge pizza, huge soda and bread for 5 people for less than 2,000 colones each.

The Pizza Group

And Saturday was a big day: we got our host family assignment for training!!!! We live in small clusters of communities according to our projects. So...for the next 3 months, I will be living in San Antonio, a town about 1/2hr outside of San Jose. I live with a mom (Doña Ana) and her 5 kids!! They range in age from 25 to 5! They´re all so great....the 3 youngest asked question after question in rapid Spanish all night last night haha. So hopefully this means I´ll become awesome at Spanish really fast!

Roommates from Orientation Week

I don´t have internet in my house, by there is an internet cafe close by. You can call my host family´s phone, but only if you have a calling card. I´ll post the address and number when I have it.

Hope everyone´s doing well!

Im in Costa Rica!!!!

Well, I finally made it!!! We arrived in San Jose Wednesday around 11am local time. Needless to say its been a loooooong day....lots of time in the airport and lugging around all my bags. It feels wonderful to actually be here though...there were times I didn't think this day would come.

Until Sunday the 15th I'll be at a retreat center outside of San Jose. Its a little up in the mountains that surround San Jose, but it was still upper 70s/low 80s today when we got here (I know you're all jealous back in PA!). It is cooler at night...probably in the low 60s. The place we're at is beautiful, its a huge compound that used to be a monastery for priests. There's lots of land and beautiful views of the valley (I will post pics, I promise). I'll have good internet access till Sunday so please take advantage!
We spent most of today settling in and had some info meetings in the evenings. I had my first Costa Rican meal in while tonight...everything was awesome of course. And I'm meeting lots of awesome people too....I'm really getting exciting to start working in CYF!!

Tomorrow is our language "test" where they see what level we're at so wish me luck that I remember some espanol! lol

I am sure I will have much more interesting posts very soon...

Hasta luego