The Country Day School

The school I am working with here is located in Escazu, a suburb of San Jose. It is a private American school that began in 1963. The staff and students are about 1/3 American, 1/3 Costa Rican, and 1/3 from other countries. Annual tuition rates for the students in grades 1-12 are just over $10,000 which is double the annual average income per capita in the country. The students, obviously, come from very wealthy families. Many are diplomats, embassy workers, and business owners.

I am teaching English Language Development with grades 1-5 while I'm here. The students in my class are from all over the world: China, Sweden, Italy, Mexico, Korea, Spain, Canada, etc. The majority of the students are fluent in multiple languages. My student from China speaks 6 languages!

The campus is set up similar to my experiences at Camp Foster. The school was built in sections, so there's not necessary a great flow to it, but there are covered walkways connecting each of the buildings. Most of the classrooms have an indoor and outdoor section as there is no air conditioning. In fact, since I've been here I haven't experience a/c except for in the car on the way home from the airport. This has been a huge adjustment for a few reasons primarily that it is 90 degrees and as humid as Iowa is mid-summer. Plus I'm coming from Iowa winters where 40 degrees has been a heat wave lately!

I've been able to try some unique foods in my past 48 hours. My first night here, Oky made us mashed yucca and beef. The yucca, which is a root vegetable, tasted just like mashed potatoes. Last night we had chicken and rice (which was very similar to something I'd have back home) and fried plantains (which are a sweet banana fried in oil). Both were pretty tasty! Breakfasts have been very simple: cereal and milk, bananas, tea, and eggs. Today she made a cornmeal patty to go with the eggs which were sunny-side up (my first!).

All in all, I've enjoyed the food. I don't have much of an appetite still which I think stems from the culture shock and the malaria pills I'm taking. It's so unlike me to not be able to finish a meal! For lunches, us student teachers just pack a turkey and cheese sandwich with some yogurt and fruit. It's nice and cheap and fills my small appetite.

Tonight, Oky is taking us out for supper to the local country club. It should be fun!

Love and miss you all!

In God's peace,

Molly