Here you go, Christa and Kiersten!

I have had several requests to post a real update on my blog, so here goes:

This was my first week of real classes. In the mornings on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have a class called Core Seminar. Sometimes we will have lectures, other times we will have field trips. But most days, we have the privilege of listening to a guest speaker from Costa Rica. 

This week's speakers had a profound impact on me, because they were related to economic systems, exploitation of workers, and poverty in Costa Rica and the rest of Latin America. Thursday's speaker, Elmer, talked about his experience growing up in poverty in El Salvador. Sometimes I forget how immensely privileged I am (In fact, I would argue that none of us will ever truly be able to comprehend how privileged we are) and listening to Elmer's story really grounded my thinking. Here are a few of his quotes that really spoke to me:

[In regard to digging through the dump to find broken radios, blenders, etc. to fix up and resell]: "I would pray to God and say, 'Please do not have the rich people give up their habit of throwing good things away,' for that is what my family lived on."

"We would have huge celebrations when big companies dumped expired food into the dump."

"Who says a poor person doesn't have the right to satisfaction of the heart?"

"We must lift the prejudices [of being lazy, criminals, etc.] off the poor. There must be a brotherhood among people groups."

Elmer's story is not a rags-to riches one. He now works as a security guard and tries to support his family on $1 an hour. Elmer inspired our group with his desire to use art as his way of "satisfying his heart." He showed us his paintings--which he creates while he is working--and they were absolutely gorgeous. Of course, our group bought every, single one.

Every afternoon during the week, we have Spanish classes for three hours in another part of San José. Classes have two to four people in them, so our teachers are able to give us very personalized instruction. My professor's name is Letty, and she is wonderful. Spanish classes with a native Costa Rican have proven to be very different than the classes we take in high school in college, where everyone speaks Gringo Spanish. I have enjoyed the challenge thus far. My Spanish classes are helping me get back into the rhythm of speaking the language after my summer of speaking very little Spanish.

But it's not all classes, folks! We've been having fun outside the classroom, too. I would like to specifically talk about the Costa Rica versus Mexico soccer game that we attended on Friday night. It was crazy. I didn't think I could ever have fun at a sporting event, but I was proven wrong! A small group of friends and I made the most of being at a national soccer game in Latin America. We had our jerseys on, we waved the flag, and we learned the chants! Although the night ended in a loss, I gained another great highlight to my trip. I'll try to post a picture soon!

Also, the earthquake. That was a big deal. But everyone is okay in my area of the country. 

I am really starting to feel the culture shock now, and it has been a little stressful. But my old and new friends here are experiencing the same feelings, and we have been able to support each other. Eating at Subway for lunch yesterday helped a little bit with the homesickness. Hopefully I will start to adapt to my new life soon: the language barrier, the food, the taxi drivers who try to charge me too much because I'm a gringa... I'll keep you updated on my emotional progress as the weeks go by.

I miss you all very much, and I promise I'll get around to responding to all the Skype requests soon.

Summary: Classes are hard but are already having a big impact on my thinking and my language skills. I went to a national soccer game and it was awesome. I survived the earthquake. Culture shock is taking its toll on me, but I'm still having a great experience.