Hola from San José

It is now Friday night, and after a smooth arrival Thursday, we are settled into our homestays and getting oriented. It’s been an eventful two days, and for the first time, I am truly feeling like a foreigner! We are immersed in a culture of altogether different people, language, and lifestyles.

Almost immediately after arriving, we were introduced to our homestay families. Ours has been more than welcoming . . . . to all six of us! Most of the group was paired off, but with six guys, we are by far the largest. This has led to the nickname of the “frathouse,” although it’s far from that environment. We are living with a family spanning three generations, of which the grandmother has primarily played host to us. She also cooks breakfast and dinner for us, as part of the program tuition, so we are fortunate enough to have some genuine local cuisine. Only one member of the family speaks any English, and his is very basic. Only one of our group has any Spanish background, so we will learn through immersion, no doubt.

Granted, none of us have spent any time in Central America, and with the warnings from home to beware of what we eat and drink, especially the tap water, we spent much of our first meal at the home in contemplation of what to eat. It was a fairly basic meal, with chicken, rice, salad, and a pineapple juice drink. The family seems to host groups such as ours often, so we reasoned they would know what is safe for foreigners and gave it a shot. We have since learned the food and water throughout the main city of San Jose should be fairly safe to drink, and did not hesitate to clear our glasses and plates tonight.

Beyond immersion into the culture of Central America, I can see we will learn from other participants as well. Participants come from all over the U.S. and Europe, including Italy, England, and Denmark. Some have Asian backgrounds as well. I have already learned from them and explained American football and the basics of Greek organizations— fraternities and sororities—of American universities.

Tomorrow we plan on a rafting trip for some fun before jumping into classes. I’m looking forward to rafting for the first time and hope to share more soon.

Adios!