Catching up...

Sometimes, when I walk out the door, or when I'm sitting on my bed, or when I'm walking, or when I hear the rain "tinking" on the roof, or when I feel the most beautiful breeze, I re-realize that I'M IN COSTA RICA!

GAH!

My heart kind of swells up with joy and awe, a mixture of adoration for my God and excitement for this life He's blessed me with. I've been living with my host family the past week, trying to learn more Spanish:) I feel like I've learned a lot in this short time... about Spanish, yes, but more about life. Little things, like I don't have to be "doing" something to be faithful. Like in Psalm 46:10 where it says "Be still and know that I am God." These little things remind me that God is here and has a purpose in all of this.

This past weekend, I took the bus (a bit of a scary thing to do, considering I've never even taken a bus in America, let alone Costa Rica where most of the stops aren't labeled!) to Cartago, the closest city, to visit some friends I met while here in January. I hung out with the family that I lived with for a week, and they fed me tons of food (we went to the market and I was given many many different types of fruit to try... yum!) and I was "crazy" with Raquel, my 12 year old Tica Sistah. It was so fun to be with them and loved by them. I honestly feel like a part of their family when I'm with them, which is such a blessing. I slept over at their house and felt like a pro taking the bus the next morning. :)

Later that day I went with my host family of right now to an uncle's house-- the goofy uncle's house. I did Karaoke for the first time (thankfully there were some songs in English... I'm not very well versed in the Latin music scene:). It was a great weekend!

It has been really interesting to observe the culture here. Sometimes I feel like I'm on the outside of a house, peeping in a window, watching to see what "normal life" looks like for a Tico. That kinda makes me sound like a creeper... but a lot of what I have been doing is observing- my host family, the people I pass on the street, the people I stand in line with in the bank, etc. I'm basically trying to be a sponge, soaking in a new way of life and a new language. It's fun!

A few things I've noticed so far:

• You acknowledge someone when you pass them on the street-including when you're driving
• You actually pass people on the street (that's a new one for me!)
• It's pretty much accepted everywhere that there is a God- Catholicism is very much a part of this culture
• Elderly people deserve and get more respect
• Men are always served their meals by the wife, who always cooks the meals 
• being on time doesn't really matter that much
• You always greet someone with an "air kiss" on their right cheek
• Honking at someone does not cause an angry reaction
• Motorcyclists can basically do whatever they want on the road 
• It is not uncomfortable or awkward to be touching someone when they're sitting or standing next to you (ex. arms, shoulders, legs... coming from America where everyone has a "don't touch me" mentality, it takes a bit to get used to:)
• Generations of family hang out together... and take care of each other 
• Futbol is incredibly important!

Well, not much is going on right now, but either tonight or tomorrow morning I'll be heading to Jicotea, a tiny town where I'll be staying for the rest of my three months. In my mind, I've been going back and forth from SUPER excited that I have to bounce up and down or squeeze something to pretty nervous... because I'm not entirely sure what I'll be doing, and I'm still not that great at Spanish:). But mostly I've been looking forward to this next experience, knowing that I'll be stretched and be able to experience God in a new way. I'm excited to see the way that other people experience God and live out their faith, too.

God is such a champ... I am continuously amazed at how wonderful He is and in awe of His love for the people He made. What a great God He is! 

Anyways, have a great day!