Más que una profesora: Silvia Montero

Silvia Montero is without a doubt one of the loveliest, wisest women I have ever had the privilege of knowing. I will never forget her!

I just wanted to give a quick shout out to one of my favorite people at Universidad Veritas. During my first four weeks in Costa Rica, I had the pleasure of taking Basico 1 with Silvia Montero, one of the most kind-hearted, wisest and most patient women I have ever met. Her encouragement is really what lead to my decision to take Basico 2 this February, and not just end my intensive Spanish learning.

But her kindness and caring nature do not stop there. She took our class to Automercado, a supermarket which has many goods from home, partially to give us a feel for what a supermarket here is life and partially, I’m sure, because she knew we needed to get some things and weren’t sure how. That same day she bought us all chocolates from this local Italian cafe. We also ran into one of her former students, who now owns a Mediterranean restaurant in San Jose, who says he can now speak like a Tico because of her.

She gave each and every student in our class (all girls) the same level of attention and help. Silvia even took the time to make sure we learned not only the Spanish language, but also elements of Costa Rican culture. Some of these were little things, such as how when you’re indicating someone’s height your palm should be facing forward instead of down. Or how ¨Que te vaya bien¨(which my host mother says to me every morning) means ¨May it all go well for you¨and the appropriate response is ¨Igualmente.¨

Above all, she taught us the what it means to learn another culture. I love to refer back to this beautiful metaphorical quote she gave us once:

Culture is like a pair of glasses you are given as a child. What you are trying to do right now in Costa Rica is wear my glasses…Before we can know about our own culture, we have to know about other cultures first.

Overall, I’m simply overjoyed that Silvia was part of my study abroad experience. I’m going to miss seeing her every morning, but I know that she’ll be around, changing other students’ perspectives, and opening their eyes as well.

¡Pura vida!

-Cara

Volcán Arenal, Café y Monteverde

Volcán Arenal (right) looms outside our hotel, the summit frosted with clouds.

This post is a little delayed, but I wanted to share with you all the details of the most amazing, adrelin-filled weekend I’ve had in Costa Rica so far.

The fun started Friday, when we made our way to La Fortuna, a small town at the base of Volcán Arenal, Costa Rica’s most active volcano. While Arenal appears to have entered a resting phase, it is still known for some devastating activity in the 20th century. For example, in 1968 after hundreds of years of dormancy, it unexpectedly erupted and destroyed the town of Tabacón. As a result of consistent lava flow, one side of the volcano is green while the other is black from volcanic ash.

After check-in, we went to the Baldi Hot Springs, a nearby resort that houses thermal mineral waters heated geothermally by Arenal. Though this wasn’t the authentic cave pool experience I had hoped for, it was still very relaxing being able to wander from pool to pool, the water ranging from refreshing and cool to steamy and scalding. They also had some amazing water slides, including one that ends in a funnel like a toilet bowl!

Once we returned from Baldi, a bunch of us went out to a nearby club. It took a while for other people to show up, but I got to dance a little salsa with a Tico named José by the end of the night. I’ve been looking for a real chance to test my new dancing “skills.”

The La Fortuna Waterfall plummets down to its base, filling a small pool with cool, refreshing water.

The next morning we got up early and hiked down to the La Fortuna waterfall. I think there is an official connection between waterfalls and stairs in Costa Rica. Though my quads were killing me by the time we got back, the trek was well worth the experience.

The waterfall was absolutely gorgeous, crashing down into a rocky pool. I still can’t believe I swam at the base of a waterfall! Though admittedly I stayed close to the edge because I’m not a very strong swimmer. Still, the cool water and the sound of it rushing into the pool reminded me of how in the summer my family and I (along with our dogs) take quick dips in the river across the street from our house on hot days. While my friends were complaining about the cold, I couldn’t stop thinking how perfect it was!

On our way back to the hotel, our guide Jorge brought us to a rope swing next to a nearby bridge. It was a blast, but my only thought was, Don’t let go before you clear the rocks!

We had some time to kill before making our way to Monteverde, so a few of my friends and I decided to find el café de mi papa tica, Down to Earth Coffee, in La Fortuna. Matías greeted us before we even walked through the door, then exclaimed, “And this, this is my daughter!” giving me a big hug. Before giving us an orientation on how to test coffee for quality and strength, he warned us that we would leave the shop as “coffee snobs.” He first demonstrated the importance of density and color when it comes to brewing coffee, comparing his coffee to Café Rey, the most popular brand in Costa Rica. Matías showed us first that quality coffee should actually sink to the bottom of a cup as it should be

Guess which coffee is stronger! Remember: density and color.

denser than water. Second, pure coffee with no chemicals should take minutes rather than seconds to begin changing the color of the water. Third, stronger coffee should  remain a transparent, amber color rather than simply darken to brown, as most people would think. Matías also taught us about the importance of a hard bean and how to recognize the altitude at which coffee is grown based on bean texture.

Next, we went through a step-by-step sensory tasting of his light roast. Matías instructed us to pay attention to three things: aroma, body and acidity. He said that his coffee should have a nutty, chocolate or mixed scent based on your usual taste preferences. Next, he asked us to “spray our palettes,” tipping the small dose of coffee on its side and quickly “spraying” our mouths with just a small bit.

From left to right: Mi papa tico Matías, Amari, Karan, me and Danielle after our orientation at Down to Earth Coffee.

As we did this, Matías told us to pay attention to the body of the coffee, which is the feel of it in your mouth, and also how the acidity causes you to salivate.

After our orientation and some espresso, Matías treated each of us to a drink of choice. I went with the chocolate-banana-coffee shake. He made it at home once, but I can honestly say it was even better at the café! I also bought my first bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, which I’ll be sure to stock up on before going back to the States.

We said our goodbyes and made our way back to the hotel, where we boarded a bus that took us to Lake Arenal. We crossed it by boat, which gave us even more spectacular views of the volcano.

We came across a band of coatis on our way to Lake Arenal. These are slowly but surely becoming my favorite animals, aside from dogs!

Though the boat ride went pretty smooth, the second bus ride that brought us to Monteverde was anything but. For at least an hour, we drove on unpaved and essentially one-lane roads. Some would say it’s a great part of the experience to drive on such a bumpy, natural road. All I could think about was kissing the ground as soon as we stopped.

The highlight of the trip came Sunday morning. We made our way to 100% Aventura Canopy Tour and went zip lining through the Monteverde Cloud Forest! After receiving instructions from our guide who taught us the difference between “pura vida” and “no pura vida,” we finally got to test it out. It was absolutely amazing and so majestic –  it reinforced my faith in God. I’ve never been afraid of heights; only falling, which I feel is a bit more rational. But that was the farthest thing from my mind as I glided through forests and over valleys. I even rode tandem on the longest zipline in Latin America – it was 1590 meters long, just shy of a mile! It didn’t feel like it but I was probably going at least sixty miles an hour over the valley. It was one of those times where you could almost step outside your mind and see yourself as a tiny speck on a thin string dangling above the earth, with epic Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter music playing in the background.

The before picture: geared up and ready to go!

Trees break to reveal the start of the longest zip line in Latin America.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As if that wasn’t enough, I decided to try the Tarzan swing. Basically what happens is you step off this platform over one hundred feet above the ground and free-fall for a few seconds before slowing down as you swing back and forth.

The platform that leads to the Tarzan swing hangs suspended by cables over a hundred feet above the ground.

While I admit I jumped the gun with the question of what I should hold onto, I was basically a robot after I made my way out to the platform. My mind went blank as I listened to the guide’s instructions telling me to grab the rope, wait for the gate to open and lean back. I felt a little nudge forward and I was off, my peripheral vision dead as I plummeted towards the ground and the trees on the other side. I let myself scream to prove to myself that there was still air moving through my system – but it was totally wicked! I think I found a piece of pura vida on that swing.

Jorge had one last surprise for us as we made our way back to our hotel.

This special climbing tree twists and turns with (hopefully) nature-made footholds and handholds.

 

 

Just off the road outside of Monteverde, there is a tree (or trees?) that grew so as to form an upward tunnel with its branches, making it a perfect climbing tree complete with handholds and footholds. I didn’t make it all the way up, but it was cool to think I might actually be inside a tree.

My time in Monteverde wrapped up with an adorable, but teething, puppy, papaya y banana fresco, and one of the most adorable children I have ever met. I will never forget this weekend, where I bathed in the springs of a volcano, learned what real coffee should taste like, and finally was able to fly.

A snapshot of me as I fall in love with this puppy I just met on the streets of Monteverde.

Papaya y banano fresco. Mi favorito!

One of the most adorable kids I have ever met (pretty sure she said her name was Haley). She didn’t even know me and she reached out for a hug!

Yet another beautiful view of las montañas de Costa Rica on our way back to San José.

¡Hasta luego! ¡Pura vida!

-Cara

Cartago con Basico 1

A couple Fridays ago I had the privilege of visiting the city of Cartago, the site of the greatest pilgrimmage destination in Costa Rica and a huge outdoor market, with my Basico 1 Spanish class.

La Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles reaches up to the heavens on a beautiful, sunny day.

We first stopped at La Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, which houses La Negrita. The story behind La Negrita is that on Aug. 2, 1635, a Native American girl named Juana Pereira found this small black statuette of the Virgin Mary in the woods. Three times she brought it home with her, and three times it reappeared in its original location. She then brought the statuette to a priest, and the same thing occurred. The event was declared a miracle and a shrine, which later became La Basílica, was built at the site. Every year, thousands of pilgrims journey by foot from all corners of Costa Rica and even from the Panamanian and Nicaraguan borders to the site on Aug. 2 to pay homage to La Negrita. After a mass, hundreds of people join a procession carrying La Negrita to Mount Carmel’s church in downtown Cartago, and back again. My host mother along with her daughter and other international students recently made the five-hour trek from San José to Cartago.

The Basico 1 classes were a little late arriving to Cartago, so by the time we got there a mass was going on in La Basílica. We were able to see the inside of the church for a little bit, but out of respect I didn’t take any pictures during the mass. I did notice, though, how some parishioners were making their way to the front of the church on their knees, a sign of penitence for their sins.

We made our way around to the back of the church and, upon entering an open lower level, saw cases of small charms and trinkets protected by panels of glass. Charms in the shapes of arms, legs, heads, bodies, hands, houses, cars and other things serve as tokens of gratitude for answered prayers to La Negrita.

Charms like these probably signify gratitude for healing of ailments of the whole person.

Several cases of charms just like this one line the walls of open basement of La Basílica.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went further inside and, while La Negrita itself is kept on display on the altar in La Basílica, we saw a replica perched atop the stone where La Negrita was originally found! As a Catholic (and someone who admittedly thought it was the real La Negrita at the time) this was quite an experience.

Behind metal bars sits the stone where Juana Pereira originally found La Negrita.

This mural depicts Juana Pereira finding La Negrita as she looks for firewood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next we went to where the holy water from La Basílica runs. Several people were collecting the water drink, washing their faces in it or dousing precious objects in the water. I myself ran my St. Michael´s braid under the water along with some special new objects for people back home!

Manzanas de agua have the texture and color of an apple, but the shape of a wrinkly pear.

We boarded the bus and headed off to the Cartago market. I’ve never seen so many fruits and vegetables in one place in my whole life! Our assignment was to find a certain fruit and ask how much it  costs. My professor assigned me manzanas de agua, which are like wrinkly, pear-shaped apples.

I have to admit that the market was kind of intimidating, with vendors constantly trying to tempt you into purchasing their fruits.

I love papayas!!

But I was able to find a very nice woman who sold me some of the most sour blackberries I’ve ever had. It brought me back to the days when my parents, sister and I would pick blackberries from our backyard. Even though they didn’t really taste the way I wanted them to, I could tell they were very fresh and natural!

That wrapped up our day in Cartago. I think I might go back at some point while I’m here – the bus there is less than a dollar!

Here’s to fresh fruit and faith! (Cheesy, but true!)

¡Hasta luego! ¡Pura vida!

-Cara

Los dias primeros…

¡Hola!

This is my very first post for my blog about my time in Costa Rica! For the next three months, I will be studying at Universidad Veritas and living with a host family in San José. I will also go on several adventures around Costa Rica, from ziplining through the Monteverde Cloud Forest to spotting animals on the Pacific beaches of Manuel Antonio Park.

A view of San José from a balcony I found at Universidad Veritas.

Since the excursions have yet to happen, I thought I would tell you all about my first few days in San José. (It’s kind of long, so if you want, just look at the pictures :))

On Sunday night, I was picked up from the airport with other AIFS students, and we were taken to Universidad Veritas, where we met our host parents for the first time. My host mother (or mama tica) Stephanie, picked me up and we rode to her house, which is about a fifteen minute walk from Veritas. There I met my host sister, Juliana, and we chatted until it was time for me to go to bed. One of Stephanie’s rules is that in the house, we have to speak Spanish all the time. We only use English when I absolutely cannot understand what she or Juliana are trying to tell me. I like this rule because it will help me to improve my Spanish.

Monday morning, Stephanie and I had breakfast and then she showed me how to get to Veritas. After that, I had AIFS and Veritas orientations.

In the afternoon, AIFS took us on a tour of San José, where we were shown points of reference such as KFC, San Pedro Mall and the Diamond Gym.

Museo Nacional de Costa Rica in downtown San José.

Later, we took a walking tour of downtown San José and went through this really cool market where we can buy authentic Costa Rican souvenirs. I will definitely be going back there! Afterwards, we met Elizabeth Escalante, our resident director for AIFS, and went back to Veritas. A bunch of us needed supplies and phones, so we walked to San Pedro Mall. We exchanged money and purchased phones from Movistar. My phone reminds me of the Nokia Shorty I had in middle school.On Tuesday, my classes started. Everyday for the next four weeks, I have four hours of Spanish (the basic level). Then I have my electives Intercultural Communication and Theory of Latin American Tropical Dance in the afternoon.

Mi primer almuerzo en l’universidad, una flauta con pollo.

During lunch, I met una Tica se llama Isabella, y su madre Laura (lo siento, sometimes I may mix Spanish in with English). She is from Guanacaste, which is northwest of San José and very warm. Isabella and the other tico students start classes next week.

After Spanish class on Wednesday, I went out to my first Costa Rican restaurant, which is in mi barrio, Cordoba. I had ceviche pescado, which I was told consists of raw fish cooked in citrus with a lot of cilantro and tomatoes (or something like that). ¡Es muy deliciosa!

Mi ceviche pescado.

Later, I had my first mural painting class. For the culminating project of the semester, we as a class will design and paint a mural in some community space nearby. (I love the idea of this project because my friend, Lauren, and I did a documentary on graffiti and public art last semester. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd-kGJ-DKiQ) This way, I can truly leave my mark on San José and Costa Rica!

Later, AIFS took us to a restaurant where I had gelato for the first time. It was amazing!!! Me gusta comida, todo el tiempo.

So that’s my first few days in a nutshell. Keep checking if you want to learn more about my host family, my excursions and encounters, and even some tips for if you might want to visit Costa Rica.

¡Pura Vida!