03 ː Sudden immersion. Small victories.

Thursday, September 9, 2021

As I write, tropical thunder cracks and echoes overhead as the afternoon rains, in almost a teasing manner, ebb gently and flow suddenly. With this image in mind, I say to you ¡pura vida! from Costa Rica. After meeting with my teammates in Dallas, we arrived in San José last Wednesday afternoon and were dropped off at our host homes that same evening in Desamparados.

Students International

This study abroad semester is organized by Students International, a ministry focused on intercultural development of college students as well as discipleship and community development in poorer neighborhoods such as Los Guido, in which our ministry sites will be. As a Spanish major, I had the option last year to choose between this program and another in Spain. Simply based on location, I would have chosen Spain without a second thought, but upon learning about the heart of SI and their orientation toward service and ministerial growth, I gravitated toward it and am now in the thick of it.

The first couple days were dedicated toward orientation and transition. In addition to deep discussions on the nature of culture, we were also encouraged to learn the transportation system. On Saturday, they organized a scavenger hunt for us in San José. After finding the bus stop in Desampa (Desamparados), which took us a good while, my team took a bus to downtown San José for the first of seven or eight clues. We learned quickly how (and whom) to ask for directions, and that nobody actually knows the street names except for foreigners who use Google Maps. Rather, we had to rely on instructions from Ticos, who are always ready to help strangers, relative to certain landmarks. My team lost, partly due to the fact that I had drunk so much coffee that morning that I had to stop to use the restroom a couple times. (I’m calling it cultural appreciation rather than an addiction.) Saturday, we tried about a dozen native fruits and learned how to make coffee in a traditional Costa Rican chorreador.

I am taking five classes this semester, which is front-loaded with two language-intensive courses taught by native Ticos (autonym for Costa Ricans). Monday, we began Advanced Spanish Grammatical Analysis and Hispanic Literature & Culture. I’m enjoying both—Grammar, for obvious reasons; Literature, because I haven’t had the opportunity to take any literature classes thus far in college. So far, Grammar has been a review of what I learned during the summer (phonology, morphology, and syntax), but specifically in the context of Spanish. I’ve been waiting for this type of class ever since I started studying Spanish: a class that is more focused on the linguistic mechanics of the language rather than acquisition. In Literature, we are primarily studying Hispanic movements in the twentieth century, starting with Rubén Darío and the Modernists at the turn of the century. Fascinating material thus far!

My other three classes are more focused in cultural exposure and engagement. Peoples and Cultures of Costa Rica consists of exercises and writing prompts that encourage us to engage with our host families, people in our church, and historical and cultural sites in San José. For our International Internship, I’ve been assigned to the Creative Arts Workshop, working with artists and craftspersons in Los Guido, teaching guitar, woodworking, and painting. (I have scant experience in these categories, but I’m excited to learn alongside and engage with the students that enroll!) Lastly, Ministry in Latin American Contexts, a week-long intensive, will focus on ministry theory and developing personal models for future engagement and discipleship with Hispanic populations.

Mi familia (and other observations)

I’m living with two wonderful Ticos: Ruth and her 22-year-old son Lorenzo. There is also a missionary staying with us from the Dominican Republic for the next week or two. They have a typical urban Costa Rican home with a front gate along the street, a covered patio with plants and rocking chairs, and a single-level house with the dining room as the focal point. My best experiences thus far have been conversations at the dinner table lingering over a cafecito or a meal of rice, beans, fried plantains, and chicken. I am blessed to have my own room and bathroom. (Quick cultural note: due to smaller pipes, toilet paper can’t be flushed here. Rather, it’s tossed in the trashcan.)

Ruth (or Ruti or Rutita, as she is known by her friends and family) has an incredibly warm heart for people and can constantly be heard singing and quietly praying while cooking or baking. She is a fantastic and prolific baker and often has clients in and out of the house picking up breads, cakes, and all sorts of pastries. She works several days a week in the church and raises funds for their ministries with her baking. Lorenzo (who happens to share my birthday) is an artist and is taking technical courses online for photoshop. They are both Evangelical, but the rest of their family is Catholic, as are the vast majority of Ticos. I’ve met many of Ruth’s family members, as they visit often. Her brother, Henri, told me that I sound like an Italian trying to speak Spanish. I’m not sure if I should take this as a compliment but I suppose that it’s better to sound Italian than “gringo.”

Small victories

So far, each day has been its own unique carnival ride. I suspect that it will be several weeks before I feel more emotionally and mentally adjusted. My biggest frustrations is with the language. I have been studying Spanish for over four years now and feel as if I should understand far more than I do. I can understand 90% of what my professors (both Ticos) and the American staff say in Spanish, but with my host family, it’s more like 50-60% at the moment. That being said, I can definitely tell that my comprehension is improving, especially now that I have learned certain pachuco (Tico slang) words and phrases and can identify them in addition to the Spanish I already know. A couple of my teammates are for more advanced than I am in Spanish, and they are able to connect more with their families. (I shouldn’t be comparing, but this is something that has been discouraging for me.)

There are many things beside language that I have identified as causes for frustration. (None of these are bad, simply different from how I’m used to conducting my day-to-day life.) For one, I’m used to planning things independently, having my own vehicle, and having directions handy at any time. However, I’m finding myself geographically and positionally disoriented. I have to recognize buildings and landmarks without any street signs, and bus routes simply by the name of the bus. If I want to plan something, I have to check every detail with my host mom and all of our team members. It’s important that I recognize what might be triggering my frustrations so that I can learn how I can adjust better. The sooner I do this, the richer my experiences will be. I have six amazing teammates who have been so supportive even during this short week. However, I’m celebrating small victories like knowing which busses take us to the SI office and figuring out the weekly comings and goings of my host family members.

For my beloved intercessors…

For those who have been praying for me and thinking about me (THANK YOU), here are some specifics ways that I would ask you to continue praying for:

· that I would be able to balance time spent with my family, time spent doing homework, and time spent in cultural engagement and travel;

· that I would be taking care of myself spiritually (specifically time in meditation and Bible reading) and physically (SLEEP and stretching);

· that I would be active in supporting and encouraging my teammates, who indubitably have their own list of frustrations; and

· that I would be giving myself grace and continually taking on the role of “student,” expecting nothing more of myself than to observe, adapt, and grow.

Hasta luego, mis amig@s.

Be well,

jcb