begin.

Hard to believe it's been almost a week since I've been here! This week has been mostly learning my way around on the public bus system, getting to know my host family and hanging out with the amazing Costa Rica Young Life team that is already here! I start the intensive session of language school on Monday morning. It's always more fun when you can see what I've been doing via pictures so here you go...

The second night we were here, we got to attend the 32nd Vida Joven anniversary celebration...which was, of course, neon themed. It was just like I was at AC Flora Techno Club...minus the part where everyone there was Costa Rican and spoke Spanish. But all the gringas (pictured below) still danced our hearts out.

The next adventure was attending my first tico (Costa Rican) birthday party with my host family. Dona Olga (my host mom) basically put me in the car with her brother and niece and sent me off to the birthday party down the street, where I knew not a sole! Luckily, Dona Olga and July (my host mom and sister) showed up about an hour later. Needless to say, there was lots of smiling and nodding on my part. Thankfully, I was prepared for a loud, crazy family...since I come from one myself! Large family parties are the norm in the Salley/Juk family, so it wasn't too overwhelming  (minus the rapid Spanish part).

Me and my host mom, Dona Olga!

My host sister July, to the right and their cousins on the left.

More girl cousins :)

On Tuesday, Jen and I ventured into downtown San Jose with a list of about 10 places we had to find. No map. No explanation. We just had to go for it. So we spent about 3 hours in the city just wondering around. We ate lunch, went to the market...basically just kind of soaked it all in!

We got caramel frappuccinos from the Gran Hotel.

Because every city needs a giant statue of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus.

A touch of America for lunch...Pizza Hut!

Learned how to balance things on our heads.

And waiting for the bus after our 3 hour scavenger hunt was over.

One of the girls on the Costa Rica Young Life team, Elena, had her parents here for the week. So Tuesday night, we went over to their hotel apartment where they made a delicious dinner for all of us! It was muy rica (very delicious) and this was our view...so it wasn't a bad way to end the day!

So all in all, so far so good! Jessie, Alex, Elena, Tiffany and Sarah (all on the Costa Rica Young Life team) have been WONDERFUL hosts, taking very good care of Jen and I. I'll write again soon, when some more fun things have happened :)

xoxo