Hello from Costa Rica!
I'm excited to share my experiences and adventures in Costa Rica with Peace Corps through this blog. I have officially completed my first week of Staging, Orientation, and Training in Costa Rica (called Week 0). Lots and lots of paperwork to complete. Our Staging program was in Houston, Texas, where our group (called Tico 30) met for the first time. We have 20 Youth Development Volunteers in our group. We come from all over the United States with very different backgrounds. Everyone is very excited to get to know each other and engage in Costa Rican culture. On Tuesday we flew to San Jose, Costa Rica (the capital). We spent three days at a hotel for our orientation. During orientation we received our training handbooks, had a Spanish diagnostic exam, learned about the currency, and discussed some technical health procedures. Then, on Thursday, we were split into five training communities with host families. We will still meet altogether on Tuesdays and Thursdays for training, but on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we stay in our host family communities for Spanish classes. My Spanish classes will take place with three other volunteers who live in the same community.
I live with my host family in a small town called San Isidro, in the province of Heredia. I will be with this family until the end of September, when training ends. My family consists of a host mother and father, their two children, and their daughter's partner and two children. They are very nice and welcoming. I am their second Peace Corps Volunteer they have hosted. It's already been a great opportunity to practice Spanish and practice communicating (with a lot of not communicating haha). Today (Saturday) begins our first weekend in Costa Rica. We do not have classes over the weekend so that we can integrate into our communities with our host families. I'm not sure what my family is doing yet this weekend, but I believe we will be going to the store so that I can get a local phone.
My family has Wifi here, so I can communicate via email, Facebook messenger, and Skype. Let me know if you want to communicate any time! My training days typically go from 8-6ish (Mountain time). I'm looking forward to learning more about my community and my future projects with Peace Corps. I'm hoping to take some pictures soon too! More updates to come!! Much love!
Pura Vida,
Emily
I'm excited to share my experiences and adventures in Costa Rica with Peace Corps through this blog. I have officially completed my first week of Staging, Orientation, and Training in Costa Rica (called Week 0). Lots and lots of paperwork to complete. Our Staging program was in Houston, Texas, where our group (called Tico 30) met for the first time. We have 20 Youth Development Volunteers in our group. We come from all over the United States with very different backgrounds. Everyone is very excited to get to know each other and engage in Costa Rican culture. On Tuesday we flew to San Jose, Costa Rica (the capital). We spent three days at a hotel for our orientation. During orientation we received our training handbooks, had a Spanish diagnostic exam, learned about the currency, and discussed some technical health procedures. Then, on Thursday, we were split into five training communities with host families. We will still meet altogether on Tuesdays and Thursdays for training, but on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we stay in our host family communities for Spanish classes. My Spanish classes will take place with three other volunteers who live in the same community.
I live with my host family in a small town called San Isidro, in the province of Heredia. I will be with this family until the end of September, when training ends. My family consists of a host mother and father, their two children, and their daughter's partner and two children. They are very nice and welcoming. I am their second Peace Corps Volunteer they have hosted. It's already been a great opportunity to practice Spanish and practice communicating (with a lot of not communicating haha). Today (Saturday) begins our first weekend in Costa Rica. We do not have classes over the weekend so that we can integrate into our communities with our host families. I'm not sure what my family is doing yet this weekend, but I believe we will be going to the store so that I can get a local phone.
My family has Wifi here, so I can communicate via email, Facebook messenger, and Skype. Let me know if you want to communicate any time! My training days typically go from 8-6ish (Mountain time). I'm looking forward to learning more about my community and my future projects with Peace Corps. I'm hoping to take some pictures soon too! More updates to come!! Much love!
Pura Vida,
Emily
Our group of Youth Development volunteers! Called Tico 30!