Costa Rican Language Academy

Our school ID cards

We are all in class and are official study abroad students in Costa Rica.

Lunchtime

Ruinas de Osorí and futbol

Before going to see the ruins of Costa Rica's dirt cathedral we tried some tropical fruit.  After seeing the cathedral me and some of the boys out our feet in the cool stream that runs through the area. 

http://youtu.be/HKwbf4PnXSs

Immediately after having a blast in Cartago we headed for a soccer game. Two professional teams from Costa Rica were playing one named Saprissa, and I can't remember the other teams name.  I was informed that it would normally be a big game but since the national team from Costa Rica would be playing against  Panama, in Panama, on Tuesday night that all the really good players were out of town to play on Tuesday,  here is a video of the game experience.

Video of soccer game:

http://youtu.be/aUMHu5b-O2Q

Selling soccer jerseys outside of the stadium

Videos

Departing Atlanta- ft lauderdale lay over

I was not allowed to film in Costa Rica while passing through customs and immigration 

http://youtu.be/YxOC0u0GWkI

Our tour of the church in Cartago, looking out over the mirador, eating soursop, checking out the chayote vibes 

http://youtu.be/f7j-5qTbzu8

First day in Costa Rica (revised)

The boys all woke up early and ready to see the city.  We were scheduled for breakfast at 8am in each household with pick up at 9:30.  By 8:15 the kids were calling me because they were "bored".   Most of them woke up around 7 am too excited to sleep anymore.  Our program coordinators wanted to be thoughtful and let us sleep in since we got in at 1am but the boys were ready to go as soon as their eyes opened.  Our ride came around 11:30.  Cindy was our tour guide and Alejandro our driver.  

Our first stop was a short drive to neighboring cartago.  Cartago was the original capital of Costa Rica, it was later replaced by the current capital San José. 

This old church was built twice, each time being destroyed by earthquakes.  It's now a tourist attraction and garden. 

Once we left the ruins of the old cathedral Alejandro had bottled water waiting for us. ¡Gracias Alejandro! After a quick bathroom stop next was la Valle de orosi.  We went to the "mirador" (lookout), and the view was amazing.

 

After a few we drove down the valley to eat lunch at restaurants pipiola.  We all ate a traditional Costa Rican meal of rice, beef (or fish), fried plantains, salad, and a local vegetable called chayote.  

Lunch was great and we got a quick glimpse of where they grow the chayote. They are grown on trellises like grape vines.  You can walk under them and pull off the chayote. Here are pix of above and below the chayote. 

My phone number in Costa Rica

If you need to contact us there are several ways:

1.  Text my regular US number free of charge

2. Text me through what's app, free of charge.

3. Text or call me through the viber app free of charge

4. Call my Costa Rican phone at 506-8928-2165 this I'll be charged as an international long distance call.  

We are all settled into out host families.  I've met all the host mothers and seen all of their beautiful homes.  As always, your sons are in good hands.  It's 2:47 am right now.  Breakfast will be served at 8am and the tour to the neighboring town Cartago starts at 9am.  Look for our updates in the morning! 

Bienvenidos a Costa Rica

We are here!!!  Isabel for the Costa Rican Language Academy (CRLA) was there to pick us up.  

We are 2 hours behind Atlanta time.  It's 1:42am and we are on route to our host families.  We will sleep a while and then we start a full day of tours, sightseeing, and plenty of laughs I'm sure!

Costa Rica bound

We all arrived at the airport between 3:30-4.  Everyone was anxious and excited about the upcoming adventure.  Luckily check-in was easy and the security line was the shortest and fastest I'd ever seen.  

We arrived at the D concourse 3 hours before our departure for our ft lauderdale layover and decided to use the time to change money and eat.  We had to go to the E concourse to get everything we needed. We each changed about $40usd each them took our time eating at McDonalds.  

We made it back to the D concourse and  had a surprise visit from Ms Venisee!  I knew she was coming and shortly after the boys talked about missing her she popped up.  She will meet us in Costa Rica tomorrow.  

Last usie before stepping on the aircaft.

This is Walter's first flight and it was over a beautiful, colorful sunset.  

We are now waiting at the airport in ft lauderdale for our connecting flight to Costa Rica.  We are all chilling and the boys are watching a basketball game at the closest restaurant.  I'll update you all of our safe arrival as soon as we land.