Costa Rica '09

Week 2-3 --San Jose

2009-09-06T19:53:00.000-07:00

Hola amigos!
This past week was the first full week of classes for me. I have Spanish class everyday and a seminar class on Tuesday and Thursday. Its nice having only two classes right now..I feel that I have more time to spend with my family that way. The class work has been easy for me which has been a blessing. And the seminar classes have been interesting too. We have special speakers come in and talk about particular topics to our class. This week we had a theologian speak to us about the New Testament.
The only thing that I really had problems with this week was tiredness. I´ve been getting full nights of sleep but still getting tired throughout the day. I think my brain gets it from all of the switching from Spanish to English. Hopefully this week won´t be as tiring.
My family and I have been spending a lot of time together which has been wonderful. I love them so much and they are so patient and gracious with me. We´ve been having great conversations every night especially before I go to bed. Last night was the big futbol game against Mexico and we all watched it together. I made them salsa (becuase I had been craving it myself!) and they loved it. They had never had it before and I think that it will be a new staple in their list of family reciepes. They also love Michael Jackson and have been listening to his music videos for the past few days straight! That was one of the first questions they asked me if I liked his music...and Ive been listening to it ever since... lol
I´m still make progress with Spanish...but I have a long way to go. :0)
This next weekend my class will be traveling to the Limon provience which is on the Caribbean side of the country. I´m excited to go to the beach and learn about the cultural differences on the other side of CR.
Thanks all for your prayers and for reading my little blog. I hope all is well where ever you are...and that God is blessing you!
Abrazos,
Alyssa

Prayer Requests:
1) Pray for continued strength to get my studies done and all that I need to do during my busy days.
2) Pray for conversations with my family that they would remain fruitful and we could continue to understand each other.
3) Pray for my trip this weekend...for traveling mercies and an open heart and mind.
4) Pray for protection while traveling out and about San Jose.
5) Pray that the Lord would continue to teach me daily. And that I would have ears to listening and and open heart.

My first days in San Jose

2009-08-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

Halo mis amigos!
I´m here in Costa Rica finally and I love it so much! The city is different than what I expected. There is not as much poverty here in the city. The mountains surrounding the are so beautiful!
My first few days have been a transition from a busy summer to an even faster paced fall semester.
For those of you who don´t know, I´m staying with a Costa Rican family during my semester. I love them already! They are a wonderful Christian family that only speaks Spanish. :0) I have a sister who´s name is Arianna 16, and two brothers Mario Andres 11 and Daniel 7. The grandmother (Princesa) also stays with them. My mami y papi take good care of me...I always feel like I´m eating all the time! They have been very patient with me and helping me with my Spainsh. For the most part my Spanish has kicked in, although it has been difficult communicating when I don´t know particular words or what they are saying. But the Lord has given me a spirit of ¨try and try again¨even if I don´t get it right the first time. I´m looking forward to much laughter and building strong relationships with them.
I have my first day of langauge class tomorrow for three hours. And I have to navigate the bus routes by myself. (ie No help from mom!) But thankfully there is another student from the program that lives close by and we will go together to our classes.
So far the Lord has blessed this journey for me in so many ways. I can see Him working in my heart and giving me courage to speak. I feel Him calming my anxiousness everyday. I´m excited to see what He has in store for me this week!

Love you all!
Alyssa

Prayer Requests:
1) For classes this week as they start, that I would have enthusiasm for learning new things and patience for doing homework
2) For my host family, that they would continue to be gracious and patient with me as I learn their language -- and for their health, several of the kids have been sick this past week
3) For Protection while I´m traveling in the city
4) For more opportunities to communicate with my family -- openess with conversation that it would flow more smoothly
5) For my general health -- that I wouldn´t get sick while I grow accustomed to a new evironment

Thank you for your contintued prayers! Chao!

Preparing

2009-08-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

Hola todos!
This is the site that I will be blogging from for the semester. As most of you know, I will be studying abroad in Costa Rica. I'm nervous but excited for all the experiences I'll gain and what the Lord will teach me throughout my stay. Hopefully I'll be blogging once a week so you'll know how I'm doing. I do have a Skype account and my name is alyssa.nichole; Feel free to contact me via email or skype. I would love to chat with you. I can also receive snail mail which may take a week or 10 days to get to me.
The address is:
Alyssa Westfall
Latin American Studies Program
Apdo.54-2070
Sabanilla, Montes de Oca
San Jose, COSTA RICA

I'm excited fo this next semester. Hope to hear from you all soon!
Alyssa