Today was the longest day by far! So many crazy things happened. We had to be up at 8am for a university orientation. I will attach a photo of my university to this post. The university is actually an architecture/design school, which is why it looks so modern. So anyways... after the craziness of the orientation (I had to switch some classes around), we got free pizza, and after that, my roommate and I needed to go to the bank to exchange some American dollars into Costa Rican colones. So we knew that a local mall (el centro comercial de San Pedro) had some banks inside, and some other girls in the program wanted to go to the mall too. So we decided to go to the mall together. We were planning to walk, and we didn't realize how far away it was. We ended up spending around 30minutes trying to get to the mall (often asking locals directions to the mall), and after stumbling upon a cute little fresh market, we finally made it to the mall.
Once inside, I had to use my Spanish once more to ask where the bank was located. Once the security guard showed us, we found out there was a really long line. So I had to ask where another bank in the mall was, and thankfully the teller at that bank spoke English and he was able to help me exchange my money. I was so nervous because my host mom was preparing dinner at 6pm, and it was already 5:40pm when we were leaving the mall. I didn't want her to worry or get mad that we would be late for dinner. It was already getting dark outside, so there was no way that we wanted to walk back, let alone we didn't remember which way we came. The next challenge was getting back to our house in a taxi. In Costa Rica, you're supposed to take a red taxi with a yellow triangle (I'll also attach a photo; those are the official taxis) and you're also supposed to ask "tienes maria?" which basically means "do you have a meter?" The first guy we asked said he didn't have a meter, but he said the ride back to the university would be 3mil colones (about $6). I later found out that was a huge rip-off. My roommate and I ended up not taking that taxi, and we found one with a meter. The man was really nice and even spoke English, and he complimented me on my use of Spanish and he said I was doing really well for an American. That made me feel really good! We finally made it back to the house around 6:04pm, and our host mom wasn't mad that we were a little late. I had a good conversation with her in Spanish (I also did last night too), so that is really rewarding!
I can't explain the feeling I have right now. As I write this post, I think about what I'm writing, but in Spanish. I'm becoming really good at expressing myself in Spanish, and it's sometimes a little overwhelming to think in both Spanish and English. But I know that I am doing the right thing and I will be fluent in no time! It's such a great feeling!
Tomorrow, I have an extremely busy day. I start classes tomorrow, and I have some meetings to attend. Hopefully I will be well-rested and have time to eat!
Once inside, I had to use my Spanish once more to ask where the bank was located. Once the security guard showed us, we found out there was a really long line. So I had to ask where another bank in the mall was, and thankfully the teller at that bank spoke English and he was able to help me exchange my money. I was so nervous because my host mom was preparing dinner at 6pm, and it was already 5:40pm when we were leaving the mall. I didn't want her to worry or get mad that we would be late for dinner. It was already getting dark outside, so there was no way that we wanted to walk back, let alone we didn't remember which way we came. The next challenge was getting back to our house in a taxi. In Costa Rica, you're supposed to take a red taxi with a yellow triangle (I'll also attach a photo; those are the official taxis) and you're also supposed to ask "tienes maria?" which basically means "do you have a meter?" The first guy we asked said he didn't have a meter, but he said the ride back to the university would be 3mil colones (about $6). I later found out that was a huge rip-off. My roommate and I ended up not taking that taxi, and we found one with a meter. The man was really nice and even spoke English, and he complimented me on my use of Spanish and he said I was doing really well for an American. That made me feel really good! We finally made it back to the house around 6:04pm, and our host mom wasn't mad that we were a little late. I had a good conversation with her in Spanish (I also did last night too), so that is really rewarding!
I can't explain the feeling I have right now. As I write this post, I think about what I'm writing, but in Spanish. I'm becoming really good at expressing myself in Spanish, and it's sometimes a little overwhelming to think in both Spanish and English. But I know that I am doing the right thing and I will be fluent in no time! It's such a great feeling!
Tomorrow, I have an extremely busy day. I start classes tomorrow, and I have some meetings to attend. Hopefully I will be well-rested and have time to eat!