El primer día de mi aventura

I've barely been in Costa Rica for 24 hours and it's already been one of the most interesting experiences I have ever had. When I went to bed last night, I had been awake for 30 something hours. With the combination of lack of sleep and spending a majority of my time having conversations in full Spanish with my host mom, I think I went a little nuts. Actually, I KNOW I went a little nuts. Change has always been difficult for me. But one of the most beautiful things about life is that we sleep it off and then wake up to a brand new day. And I mean, come on, how could you not wake up happy when it's 73° and sunny? This was my view when I got off the plane. It's quite the change from Ohio's flat farm lands. Everywhere I look, I'm amazed at God's creation; it's greater than anything I have ever experienced.

My host mom took me to their market that they have every Saturday. They have tons and tons and tons of fresh fruit and vegetables. The people here are so friendly. They can tell I'm a student from the US based off my looks and my terrible Spanish accent. Since I've been here, I've had mango, a mandarin, watermelon, strawberries, melon, and probably some other kind of fruit I didn't even realize I was eating.

I was nervous about the food coming here because I'm so picky. I actually hate beans which is really inconvenient on account of it's a staple. But I toughed it out and had gallo pinto (rice and beans) for breakfast. It wasn't too bad. I have a sneaky suspicion it's going to grow on me during my time here. My host mom is also in love with coffee. THANK YOU, GOD! I love coffee. I like to say it's beyond a recreational beverage for me. It is more of a necessity. We also went to a little pandería. They had a ton of pastries and different kinds of bread. There is so much food, I think I am going to combust. All in all, I am so thankful to be here. I'm really excited to see what God and Costa Rica have in store for me. Special shoutout to my parents for helping me get here. I couldn't have done it without them. From their emotional support, to the financial, you two are the reason I wake up everyday feeling blessed. I love you more than you know.

Here are some FAQ:

What part of Costa Rica are you staying in? I am staying in San Jose with a mother and her two daughters.

How long are you there? I am here January 30 - May 7, so about a week and three months.

What are you doing there? I am taking classes everyday at a school here. The school is actually where missionaries and their families come to take classes to learn Spanish for the mission field. They also have a ton of activities and adventures for us to do. We get to go to Nicaragua sometime in April!

If you would like to send me mail, please do! Nothing makes my day a little brighter than receiving something from the people I care about! Or you can just simply pray for me! Both work great, too;)

Tess McNeil
Instituto de la Lengua Española, 
San Francisco de dos Ríos, Apartado 100-2350 San José, CR