21:30
Today I learnt that cartoons do teach you things, if you are wanting to learn
another language for one. The evening I had spent with this host family was
very pleasant although I had some horrible dreams (another Costa Rican first
for me, and one even involved ML somehow but I don't remember much).
The
host mum gave me a 5am wakeup call, which I think was my own fault, but it gave
me time to ring my grandparents (nans or grandmas) to wish them a happy joint
birthday whilst I sat and watched birds flying about the valley. I saw a couple of species as I spoke with
them, and my family were ecstatically happy that I called her, barely
recognising or expecting me, and it was received as a lovely gift. I had to keep trying to reach my other
Grandma (who I call Sheepie due to her white hair).
P-man
and I met DL at the Pulperia (I promise my abbreviations won't get any more
complicated!) for a lift to our first day at "immersion school" and
oh my, what a school that stood there.
It felt like I had stepped into a surreal modern mix of a resort and a
prison! We had a multiple choice Spanish written test to determine our entry
level, which got really quite complicated towards the end, and a very sneaky
oral test that was hidden amongst being questioned in order to complete an
application form with the schools Director. We were then taken on a short tour
where the highlights were a gym, hot showers and a Jacuzzi! to demonstrate how
fancy this establishment was in the middle of this valley. The Spanish was
however very intense but put across well by a great teacher. I then received my first school-like homework
in about 8 years!!!
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| Spanish School Sign (D.Philpot) |
.JPG) |
| Surreal Spanish School Entrance (D.Philpot) |
.JPG) |
| Spanish School Gardens (D.Philpot) |
.JPG) |
| Spanish School Mansion In Middle Of Nowhere (D.Philpot) |
The
afternoon was spent with DL doing some CSU course preparation, then I went back
to my host family, had dinner, visited the neighbour (who gave us doughnuts),
found a glow-worm that absorbed and reemitted the light off a mobile phone
(cell phone), did my homework, practised a little with the family and now I am
going to pass out ready for the "school bus" at 7am :)