My Trip to Costa Rica 2019

It is my last day at the institut. End of learning spanish. Last day with my teacher pero es un día muy lindo. Now i have to learn spanish in real life. Talking, listening and practice. Monday i will start voluntering in Santa Domingo private school. 80 chicos 6 to 12 years old.

The last day at the school will be sad. Even though it was hard to learn it was good time. All persons are so nice they just want you to learn and push you beyond your limits in a good say.

I am already thinking of going back to iclc next Year to learn more.

Hasta luego mis amigos.

It is time to update you about the 3rd week in Costa Rica.

The week was very similar the past week. A lot of Spanish and new stuff. We became a new teacher this week. Xinia is a nice teacher but learning is at full speed. Rápido, Rápido. I think it is her favorit word in Spanish classes. Never the less, it works for me but Johanna is confused and stressed. Sometimes it is a bit to much, no time to consume the new stuff before we are moving on to something else. You have to stay focused. I know it is a bit easier for a person who have tried to work and have a lot of experience compared to a very young person with only a few years experience.
Wednesday we leaned about the Yucca. Yucca is a plant where you use the root. It is similar to potatoes but with a different taste. It is very important alimento in Costa Rica and other countries in Latin america. You can find it in Africa and Latin America. In Africa it has a norther name maniok. The origin of Yucca is Brazil. It contains a lot of antioxidant which is very healty. Antioxidants reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure. It is a low fat,, low carb and contains vitamins.
Back to the cooking. We learned that the Yucca can be used for fries, substitute for potatoes and a lot of other dishes including cake.
Thursday after class we went to a center for children living at the low end of the society. Their parents are poor and not able to give the kids a meal every day. Some of the kids only get their meal because they come to the center. The center is payed by the government and helps kids to have a place to socialise and it also works as an education center, helping to raise and teach the kids how to behave in different situations.
The kids have free transportation to and from the center every day, the government takes care of the kids during school until the age of 18. The school is located adjacent to the center.
The reason for having this center is to avoid that the kids are removed from their home and placed in an orphanage.
Most of the kids are reserved and some even don’t speak. During the few hours at the center a lot of the kids came and showed us the things they were playing with. A girl and a boy, my guess is 4 years old, came and showed me their buildings made in China Lego several times. So nice.
Friday another exam was coming uo. With all the new stuff we learned during the week we was terrified. What to come?
I passed the exam once again 100% correct, but it took about 25 minutes to complete the test.
After school Johanna, Sadie and I went to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side. We stayed in a Hostel Friday and Saturday night. Relaxing and having a couple of beers and drinks in the evening. Saturday we went to the beach and relaxed. A very nice weekend, no Spanish and best of all no tareas.
One thing to have in mind visiting the beaches. The sun is strong. Sun protector 30 doesn’t help, I used it and was burned even though I used half a tube that Saturday. Remember to bring a sun protector 50 as minimum if you stay in the sun. I used a T-shirt the entire day including a sun protector 30 and got burned through the T-shirt. Just a good advice.
Now it is Monday and I am left alone with Xinia, our teacher, she says that is excellent, we can speed up the learning and add a lot of new stuff. Today my brain was very close on a total breakdown, four or five different subjects was introduced and taught during 2 hours combined with 2 hours of talking in spanish. Practicar, Practicar she say. Correcto, next days I probably will start to dream in spanish.
Ned of week three, see you later.
Hasta luego, Pura vida.

So many surprises in one week.
Tuesday was a day with another surprise. After Spanish class we were told that we had to visit a daycare center for old people in Carillos. Nice to see how the community helps old people to have a place to do activities instead of sitting home and being bored. We was on a sightseeing at the place. The persons pay around 20$ per month and becomes breakfast, coffee, lunch and coffee and a snack in the afternoon. They can do a lot of activities, nit, sew, paint, do exercises, have their hair cut and so on. Really nice.
But there was a small surprise during the sightseeing, Sofia said, now you have to talk to the some of the people there. What is happening with common sense now a days? Always a new challenge, disturbing nice people sitting being busy doing activities. No way.
Well challenge accepted, to keep in mind, Pratice, practice and Pratice is the only way to learn a new language. I found a nice lady and asked her about her age, how many kids, sisters and brothers she had. It was easy, they were so nice. Repeating the answers every time I didn’t understand what they were saying. Cool.
I spoke with 5 different persons, age 83 to 92. All with a sense of humor. Teasing us, offering to be their Novio (Boyfriend) really cool.
Told them about Denmark, why I was in Costa Rica and so on. Learned that is easy to speak español with some one you don’t know.
They helped you to pronounce correctly or change the question into the right form. Very handsome.
Friday a new exam/test ahead. Didn’t have much time to practice in the evening.
I have started at the local gym. I spent 1½ hour at the gym every day. So was tired when I arrived at home.
The test was Fácil according to our professor Sofia. Only 5 different subject, presente verbos irregulares, adverbios de lugar, Gerundio, Futuro perifrastico and write a card to you family in Denmark and you family in Costa Rica.
Fácil I just don’t get it.
Well it took 20 minutes to finish the test. So 40 minutes recreo during the test, That’s nice.
100% correct, Exelente, muy excelente, you are advancing very fast Sofia said. Next week you are going to have another proffessor, If it is what I think I am leaving Johanna with Sofia and moving to a class solely for me. 4 hours solo every day for two weeks. It will be very hard. Only one to talk and make Tareas in the class. Full time work I think.
Well going to spent the weekend in Grecia and at home studying Español. Relax and Pura Vida to all those reading this blog.
Hasta Luego. Until next week.