Some of my observations :)

All right! So here are some of my observations on the life and culture of Costa Rica! These are just some and not all of them - there will be more coming in future so stay tuned! :)

Let me start with my favourite one - money - ehm...of course, not for what it represents but how it looks like here! :) See for yourself! Doesn't it remind you of play money?

 

By the way, the currency of Costa Rica is called the colón (approx. -  €1 = 693 colones, £1 = 840 colones, $1 = 502 colones).

Latinos know how to have a picnic!

Today I joined a group of ladies from my church and went to the thermal pools in Orosi Valley. When it comes to meal arrangements, it was a bring and share deal! I was amazed by the amount of food everyone brought! And the variety as well! Not just some boring sandwich stuff! I like! :)

 

Here is an example of so called 'almuercito' - it has everything in it! Tortillas, scrambled eggs, chicken, plantains and of course rice and beans - all wrapped in banana leaves! It's very typical - it's something that people working at fields from early hours used to and probably still do eat. Quite obvious why! :)

 

 

 The Orosi Valley is less than one hour away from San Jose, very close to other famous Costa Rican town called Cartago (it used to be the capital of Costa Rica). It offers beautiful views as well as some hot springs :) Nice!

 

Staying fit

And lastly, other thing I noticed about Ticos is that they like to stay fit and they do something about it! There is a sports area very nearby my current home - with a sports hall, football pitch and basketball court and something like a running track. And the amount of people that uses it every day is unbelievable! There are Zumba classes every morning and evening (besides Sunday I believe) for free! More than 100 people come and join in! And one time the class was cancelled and instead of going home, people stayed and ran! Love it!

Back to Costa Rica OR 1 month and 5 days update :)

I just returned from Quito, Ecuador where I spent one week at the Latin Link International Assembly (it takes place every 4 years). It was very good and encouraging time! More than 150 Latin Link missionaries at one place. People from England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Germany, Spain, Holland, Switzerland, Finland, Slovakia (of course!) and Latin America plus couple Canadians and Northern Americans! What a great mixture! I loved the diversity! I also loved that I already knew some of them thanks to either our orientation at All Nations College in December or other Latin Link related events that had happened in Latin Link office last year. It was great to see everyone again and share our experience in LA so far!

 

 

I really enjoyed getting to know everyone, listening to different stories and learning new things from each other but mainly I loved our worship time. I have worshipped in 2 different languages before but never 4! What an amazing experience! I cannot wait to be in heaven and be a part of worship in even more languages!:)

Besides being part of multicultural group, I enjoyed being in a new country and culture. Quito is an interesting place, let me tell you! First of all, being 2,800 m above sea level surrounded by the mountains! It means being higher than Gerlachovsky stit (Gerlach Peak in the High Tatras - the highest peak of Slovakia) and not only for an hour or so but for the whole week! I couldn't get my head around it! The place where we stayed wasn't directly in Quito, it was about 45 minutes away from the centre. On clear days we could see one of the volcanoes in Ecuador called Cotopaxi.

Having worked in the events department and hotel industry, I couldn't stop myself from observing the conference venue and how our snack and meal breaks were done. I know I am so sad! :) And I have to say that I was really impressed - the food was great (and in fact it reminded me of Slovak cuisine) and I loved all the details such as table decorations, food presentation and on the last day (Valentine's Day) we all were given a little marshmallow in the shape of heart for breakfast (of course besides other stuff:)). And of course everyone was very nice and helpful! This place is actually a seminary but also used for conferences and other events. Well done Semi Sud team! :) (As you can see I haven't been here long enough - my previous work is still 'hunting' me! :))

Anyway!:) All I wanted to say is that it was a great experience to be part of this conference and I am very grateful for it! From the spiritual point of you, it was very encouraging to see so many people having a heart for Latin America and to hear about their experiences but mainly to be part of God's family and learn more about God's mission. And also, as being a big fan of traveling, I am very thankful for having the opportunity to visit Quito and experience at least a bit of Ecuadorian culture.

Now I am back to San Jose, Costa Rica. I cannot say anymore than I have been here 'only' 5 weeks - it's time to settle down, get into some kind of routine but mainly learn SPANISH! :) So on Monday I am going back to school and tackle the subjunctive and other joys of this language :)

¿Qué pasó? (Very common phrase in Spanish and means 'What happened?/What's up?')

I thought I would start with a little Spanish lesson :)

So yeah! What has happened since the last time I updated my blog? Well the right answer in Spanish would be 'Mucho!' :) A lot!

So far I have studied Spanish for two weeks (5 days a week/4 hours a day) at the Costa Rican Language Academy and I really enjoyed it. All the bits and bobs that I learnt in previous years came together and made sense! Besides filling my brain with lots of grammar rules and then trying to apply them, I also attended few dance classes and cooking classes in order to get to know the Latin American culture.

Talking about food, I cannot forget to mention my trip to a local market (feria). I got to try a 'chorreada con queso' (a typical Costa Rican dish - it's a pancake made of corn flour) as well as some exotic fruits. Delicious! And what a joy to see all the colours! :)

 

Besides I got to do a little bit of traveling and exploring...I saw the Orosi Valley - very close to San Jose and Cartago. There are lots of beautiful views, flowers, a lake, coffee plants, church and church ruins.

 

 

And of course I explored the centre of San Jose! It's full of cars, noise, interesting people...But what I really like about San Jose as a city is that it's surrounded by mountains. Depending on the weather, I get to see different views every day - it's hard to catch them by camera because there are always lots of buildings blocking the whole view but the mountains are there!

 

 

 

 Next time more on culture and interesting things that I have observed. Stay tuned! :)

 

 

Hola! :o)

I am sorry I haven't updated my blog for so long though so many things happened since my last update! Partly because I was saying lots of goodbyes :( and also last couple days I wasn't able to get on here and write a new post. But it's all good now!

Before I got to Costa Rica

Leaving was very difficult - more difficult than any other times before! And you know I've done some travelling! It might be the age ;) or the fact that Bristol felt like home to me! I enjoyed my job, loved 'my house' and all my friends and church family! But I knew that this was what God has called me to do and I trusted him in these sad but exciting moments. I have to say that those 4 years and 9 months in Bristol have been nothing but a blessing to me!

Journey to Costa Rica

My journey was long but pretty much without any problems. I started my first flight by reading all your cards and praise the Lord that there was no one sitting next to me! :) I think it was God's providence that I left a letter from my friend Jen at the end. It was full of interesting facts about Costa Rica and that helped me to look forward rather than back! Then I tried to watch some cheerful movies :) When I got to Newark, I was a little worried - there was a long queue for passport control waiting for me and I had less than 2 hours till my next flight. I was even told that there is no way I could make it! Thanks Mr Officer! :) But I did make it and even ended up waiting as my next flight was delayed! Thank you Lord! Then it was only 5 hours till San Jose where my coordinator Bridget was waiting for me.

Day #1

I have to say that I woke up way too early! But I blame it on jet lag :) Later on I went to visit my language school where I will start studying Spanish from Monday onwards. Afterwards I visited the centre of San Jose (sorry no pictures yet - I didn't want to look like a tourist on my first day! :)) and had a typical Costa Rican meal that of course contained rice and beans and my favourite plantains :)

In the evening we had a Latin Link meeting with all the missionaries who work here in San Jose. Thank you for a warm welcome!

 Day #2

In the afternoon I joined Veronique (also a Strider with Latin Link) and helped her with preparation for kids day camp in Los Guido (a poor part of San Jose). It was fun as I got to know more people and got to speak Spanish a little bit.

 

Day #3 (Today)

 

Today was quite an exciting day! In the morning I went to the office of Students International (the organisation I will be working with) in Desamparados (a part of San Jose) and met my new colleagues. Natalie (another Strider with Latin Link) gave me a little tour of Desamparados  and then I walked by myself to the area called San Francisco de Dos Rios - that's where I am staying right now. On the way I stopped in the supermarket and did shopping by myself. It was so much fun to walk through the supermarket and try to find the things I needed. I had to ask twice and the first time I knew the answer to my question if they had a risotto rice was no but I didn't really get anything from what the gentleman was telling me. Then I asked other lady where I could find something like a double cream - I had to explain what I would use it for as I didn't know how it's called. Thankfully she got it and showed it to me.

 

It's hard to believe that I've been here only 3 days because so much happened since I left UK - a long journey, new environment, meeting new people, new language! I haven't felt this way since my arrival to Bristol and that was still easier as I could speak English (though not British English and not Bristolian! :)). These first few days remind me of my first days/weeks in Greece in 2005 - I never quite got what the purpose of those 5 months there was but now I feel that besides other things God was preparing me for Costa Rica.

 

More to come soon :)

The Light of the world

 

"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

 

Merry Christmas to you all! May this Light fill your hearts now and always!

Merry Christmas and more!

"The Lord will guide you always;

 He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

 and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail."

Isaiah 58:11





What a great promise! These verses were mentioned at some point during my orientation at All Nations College and really encouraged me! Just to know that God will go with me to Costa Rica (even before me!) and will guide me through everything. And not just in Costa Rica...

 

But before I look into future, I would like to go back to this past month and presence. At the end of November I said bye to my colleagues at the Bristol Marriott Royal and to my job that I truly enjoyed! (our office Christmas buffet lunch the day before I left (bring & share) - on the left, Manu, Marco, Rafel just before I left) 

 

 

 I also waved bye to my church family and church Pip'n'Jay - this was even more difficult in this time of  year as I love celebrating Christmas there! But I am happy that I will get to see everyone one more time before I leave for CR in January. On first advent Sunday we made Christingles - I couldn't believe that this was the first time I made a Christingle in my life and in my 4.5 years of living in England!

 

 

I will rather skip talking about my stressful packing! :) I hope I don't ever have to do double or triple packing at the same time again - packing 4.5 years of my Bristol life into a limited number of suitcases - Costa Rica/Slovakia/What's left??? And I came to Bristol with one suitcase that weighted 15kg! Never mind!:)

Let's move on to a happier topic! On Tuesday 3rd December I started my one week orientation at All Nations College. Let me tell ya! What a great week it was! I learnt so much about God, myself, mission and Latin America! A week full of knowledge, closeness to God, new friendships and lots of encouragement! Praise the Lord! I was going to tell you more about what I had learnt but it's so much to share - this post would be very looong!

Right after the orientation I flew back home to spend Christmas and NYE with my family and friends in Slovakia. I haven't been home for Christmas for 4 years so it's good to be reminded of my own Christmas traditions :) So far I got a chance to enjoy Christmas markets in my hometown Trnava, then Bratislava and also in Budapest. It's been much colder here than in England but we haven't had any snow yet. And it looks like we won't have white Christmas this year either.

 



I've got my plane tickets!:)...Really?!!

I've got my plane tickets to Costa Rica and that means I have my departure day!!!

 

13th January 2014 it is!!!

 

Still hard to believe!!!

 

I think I am not fully getting it but that's probably a blessing! Otherwise I would either lose my focus on what I still need to do before I leave because of excitement or spend the rest of my time crying and thinking about whom and what I am going to miss!

 

My last day at work is 29th November - THIS MONTH!!! Again, hard to believe! 4.5 years at the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel!

 

Then going to one week orientation at the beginning of December and then flying to Slovakia for Christmas and NYE! Finally after 4 years I will have a proper fried carp and potato salad and maybe a little bit of medovina (a honey liqueur) at Christmas markets! And hopefully white Christmas!

 

Then back to Bristol to say 'see you in 2 years! byes' to everyone at the beginning of January and then off to Costa Rica! 

 

Crazy! Thank you Lord that I can completely trust you and that your plans for me are good!