Home Stays

We were warned that the homes in Costa Rica are smaller than we are used to.  I doubted this was the case.  I was correct.  My Tico homes were bigger than my home in Missouri.  To me they seemed to be just another house.  I could walk into those houses in the US and not think anything of it.

I would say my homes in Costa Rica were very similar to my home in Missouri.  There are differences but nothing that has really stuck out in an uncomfortable way. I think their work around for adding hot water in showers is interesting

I think my host families are amazing and would not change anything.  They were warm and welcoming.  They checked in with me without being clingy.  They even helped me with my homework when I got stuck.  Both families were retired parents with children and grand children that regular visited.  Even the extended families were open.

It would be nice if we spoke the same language but we have figured it out.  Thankfully most communication is nonverbal.  We used Google translate some but the accuracy is very sketchy.  This did not stop me from making connections.  My first night with my first host family some of the grandchildren were there.  One was a girl that is six years old.  While just the two of us were interacting she said red and counted to ten in English.  This was after I told her I do not speak Spanish.  She was proud of her ability in the same way an American child is to be able to say a few words in Spanish.  We then continued to communicate via colors.  We taught each other new words.

My first impression Heredia is I would not want to drive here.  The street were very busy and the driving rules seem to be fairly different. Even though things were hectic I did not see a single accident.  I also noticed that drivers were conscious and courteous of large vehicles turning.

I very much appreciated and enjoyed the cooking done by my mama ticas.  It was a great way to get exposure to authentic Costa Rican food.

 

I tried to find ways to interact with my host families even though we did not speak much of the same language.  An example with my first host family was when we watched the bull riding finals.  It was an interest we both had and were able to share.  An example with my second family was when I was supposed to be learning produce names in Spanish.  Instead of just going over the list we were given I read though a cookbook I had purchased.  I did this at the kitchen table while my mama tica made sweet empanadas.  We discussed the recipes and ingredients in the book.

I was surprised how comfortable I was with my
host families.  I was not determined to be uncomfortable but I though I would be,  It probably helped that we were gone during the day so we were not constantly in each others space.  I even made friends with the household pets.