CR you´re making it hard to love you

It was a day like any other as Stephanie and I made the walk to our Spanish classes.  As we passed through a little neighborhood I noticed a man in his late 20s walking about 5 feet behind us with a broom.  In my time here in Costa Rica I´ve learned to never talk, smile, or acknowledge strangers. Many times men try to get your attention and as long as you keep your head down and keep walking they seem to leave you well enough alone.  Today was a different story, as the man that was behind us threw down his broom and grabbed the bottom part of my backpack, and said, "Give me your bag," in perfect English.  If you know me, it might not surprise you that I was not going to give up without a fight, so I took a swing and hit his face, wishing now that I would´ve went for somewhere a little more sensitive.  He proceeded to yank at my bag and hit my sides, he motioned as if he was stabbing me, and I surrendered my bag.  He did not have a knife and left me largely unscathed physically; emotionally I´m not sure I´ve fully processed it all.  As it always seems with traumatic experiences, it is still so surreal to me.  As he was telling me to give him my bag, I could only think SERIOUSLY?! This isn´t really happening.  It´s the middle of the day, I´m not alone, and we´re in a relatively nice neighborhood.

But here I am sitting with my lovely Tica family, who has hugged, comforted, and loved me in everyway they can.  I´m without my books, backpack, camera, chacos, rainjacket...you get the picture... but I´m ok, I´m loved, and honestly I´m alive.  As soon as the man started making jabs I realized how stupid my decision was to fight back, but still decided to run after him with a broom... what can I say? I don´t give up easy, especially once I realized I wasn´t bleeding!  Oh right, the lesson....yes, material things can always be replaced, security cannot. Despite the incident today I still sit here among my Tica family and I feel safe and humbly realize that this is their life. Yes, you can find crime in the US, but it´s not something I fear everytime I step outside.  "The innocent are stuck behind bars while the criminals run the streets," words of a true Tico, this rings more and more true each day.

Bendiciones para ti,

Hannah

A Simple Greeting

Yesterday morning Emily and I ventured out to study at a small café close to home. After a couple hours of unsuccessful studying; due to my busy mind thinking of pros and cons of the program, missing my boy, and such... I decided to venture back home. But before I did I couldn't resist stopping at a cute, little market.  As I walked through the doors I was greeted by the cashier, "Buenos Dias," said with a smile of course, then another worker-same story, and this happened once more.  I responded in the same manner, but with each greeting I felt a little more comfortable, and I believe my smile grew each time.  As I made my way around the small market and picked out the things I intended to purchase, I felt confident, and the scene felt normal, as if it was just another day.  It might be one of the only times that I truly felt comfortable since I've been here, while being surrounded soley by Ticos.  It all came through a simple greeting, they didn't look at me like a lost gringa, but just another customer.

It's the simple things, right?

Bendiciones para ti,

Hannah

Surrounded by Love

So as you've gathered from my blog, my adventure abroad is not what I expected or fully hoped for. However, I'm only three weeks in and regardless of some disappointment I can say that I am so extremely blessed by relationships, and isn't that really what we take away from experiences?  My years at Asbury are nothing without the wonderful friends I've had by my side.  I am confident after this semester abroad I will be leaving with a new handful of close friends.  Sadly, some of the closeness and connection is created as we vent about discontentment, but hey, we're in it together and we're living life.  It's true the Lord knows what we can handle, he has put many obstacles through out this journey, but has given me tremendous people to lean on.  I can only be thankful for this.  Not only are people in the program great, but one of the things I've loved most about the Latin American culture is that everyone is welcoming.  They will greet me with a hug and a kiss regardless of how well I speak Spanish or understand; food, coffee, and love is thrown at me for simply being. This is something I hope to continually offer to others as I return to the States, and to not forget the warm embraces I've received here.

Bendiciones para ti,

Hannah

Pumpkin Spice Latte

I can hear the rain beating down on the pavement as I sit by my window supposedly doing homework.  I'm surround by delicious, fresh Costa Rican coffee, and I can't help but miss the wonderful smell of pumpkin spice and wish for the Kentucky fall.  A season that I missed out on for 18 years being a Floridian.  I never imagined myself consciously missing the leaves change, pulling out my fleece, and sitting down with a hot flavored latte.  It seems odd that I would miss anything as I'm surrounded by lush forests, wild animals, and a culture full of warm embraces. But the grass is always greener somewhere else...right? 

As a self-proclaimed optimist it is very strange for me to not be content in any given circumstances, but I currently find myself in a very difficult position that is far from normal expectations of myself.  I'm at a loss on exactly how to handle this. Stillness has never been a strong suit of mine, a member of our staff invited us to participate in the spiritual discipline of meditation. I am challenged and excited to see how the addition of this discipline will enhance my walk with the Lord.

I can say that there are amazing people in my program and I'm very thankful for the relationships that are forming, I know I will be blessed by these friendships long after I leave Costa.

Short and sweet, I need to be doing homework, be proud I wrote two days in a row, haha.

Bendiciones para ti,

Hannah

Tortugero a Limõn

I know, I know, I'm a horrible blogger; so sorry to my faithful and disgruntled followers hahaha.  For those of you who know me well, or know me in the least, lol, know that I am an external processor, this semester abroad has been a lot different that I expected.  I have been hesitant to share the bad with the good and I believe that has discouraged my desire to blog.  I now have decided to spill the goods... or the bads, more accurately... oh corny jokes...

So the good:  Last weekend, one of the amazing girls planned a trip to the Island of Tortugero, to go on a turtle watching tour! We stayed at a small hostel, walked along the beach, canoed through Tortugero National Park, danced the night away in a “discoteca”, and last but not least, watched a HUGE, 200lbs momma turtle lay her precious eggs, which in 15 days will be fighting for their life as they venture to the sea. On our life threatening ride there with our sketch bus driver Jorge we spotted a sloth! 

It was a wonderful weekend, spent with amazing people and filled with genuine conversations.  It was a breath of fresh air to my homesick heart.  I realized last week that part of my discontent was due to the fact that I've had to become a 5 year-old again. My routine is very scheduled and my daily life is leaving point A to go to point B to return to point A.  I have to be inside by 6 pm, as that is when the sun goes down.  I live in a community with two other girls in the program and we walk together to school each morning, for safety and companionship.  Last week however, they decided to sleep in and forgo the meditation time; so I had to make the trip by myself.  The walk to school is very safe in the day, but I felt very empowered to be making the trip all alone and with each stride my confidence grew as I felt like a Kindergartner making my way to class without mom by my side.

Adjusting to this dependency has been difficult and has stifled my excitement; making it more of a challenge to be eager about the day.  This weekend we had another trip, these weekend trips are a blessing and nice reward to the somewhat boring week.  We visited Limõn, which is on the Caribbean coast.  As we made our way to the coast we stopped by three separate plantations; coffee, pineapple, and banana. 

I learned new fun facts at each of the stops and the views were breathtaking, (more pics on FB). Once we arrived in Limõn we were sent to interview the locals about their life, we met some very interesting folks to say the least.  Saturday we were treated to a beach day; we could not have asked for better weather, and there's no better medicine for my soul than a dip in the ocean and a long walk with a good friend.  With all these wonderful things it seems ludicrous to not be content, but such is life, and a girl who never thought she'd be homesick is longing for the states. However, each day I know that this is the path I'm supposed to be on and a journey in which the Lord is holding my hand and telling me I choose correctly.  There is no doubt in my mind that this is a time for growth, love, and new relationships.  Despite my feelings I'm making the best effort I can to embrace where I am and what I'm doing, my worst fear is to walk away from this experience and realize I was running away the whole time.

I'm so grateful for y'alls love and support, I know the prayers are traveling overseas.

Bendiciones para ti,

Hannah

La Primera Semana

¡Hola! I warned y'all that consistently keeping up with a blog would be a challenge for me.  I was recently harassed by a red-headed friend, so I decided I needed to get back on track.

I have successfully (depending on your definition) lasted a week in Costa Rica.  So far Saturday was the most difficult day emotionally as I realized I had only been in CR for 3 days and it felt like a month.  Thankfully my beautiful Costa Rican family accepts me as I am and extends much love to me.  I cannot honestly say there aren't many times through out the day that I miss the States, but I know the Lord has me on this adventure for a reason.

Here is a quote given to me recently by a certain red-head, "They say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." -Andy Warhol.  I am doing my best to learn the language, culture, and lifestyle of Costa Rica, in hopes that I can adapt myself to the situation at hand.  Although difficult, it has been a wonderful experience.  Twice a week we have a guest speaker come into the class, and this has been so amazing, but most of the time what the speaker has to say is very hard to hear.  As the topics focus largely on the realities of the world we live in, whether it's the relations the US has with other countries, the poverty of people (whom now I live in close proximity to), or a critical view of the country I'm currently residing in.  One speaker stated, "The innocent people are stuck behind bars while the criminals run the streets."  Upon arriving in Costa Rica one of the first things you see are bars; on houses, on stores, on almost every window you see.  Our professors state that this doesn't represent a bad area, but an area that wants to keep us safe.  We have to be in by 6 every night due to safety, and I realize this is something I will live with for 4 months, but for the Costa Ricans this is just part of life.

I'm not on a missions trip and these people are not looking for help from the US, they are simply living and it is very humbling to be apart of this.  Our program encourages us to put on our camouflage; to blend in with the locals as much as possible, because we are not here to be tourists, we are here to live among a people.

I don't have pictures as we are discouraged from bringing our cameras places, but this weekend we are taking a trip to the coast to see the turtles hatch!!!! It is definitely the highlight of the week, and hopefully I'll come back with lots of pictures.

Proud of you if you're still reading, and if this post makes little sense I apologize, I'm exhausted to say the least.  I love you all and greatly appreciate the prayers!

Also my address is:
Hannah Swanson
 Latin American Studies Program
 Apdo. 54-2070
 Sabanilla, Montes de Oca
 San Jose, COSTA RICA 

They are weird about packages, but letters are wonderful!!!!

Bendiciones para ti,

Hannah

The Big City

Today we ventured out to downtown San Jose, we were in groups of 3-4; it was an experience to say the least.  I was in a group of three, the girl that spoke Spanish the best was very timid, no surprise that this did not work well for my go, go, go personality.  However, I could not lead having such a great language barrier, but we survived. There were gorgeous parks in the center of town, which was a nice change considering all the cars, smog, and vendors. I am very tired, and have no doubt that once again I will have no problem sleeping.  We did treat ourselves to mango ice cream, which was wonderful, and to coffee.  Jordan should be proud because I have been drinking all the coffee black!  I plan on bringing back a full duffel bag.  Honestly, I don't have too much to say today, but while I had the opportunity to be online I thought I'd keep y'all in the loop.  I'm still alive, there were quite a few cat calls directed at us today, but we managed.  It is no surprise that I miss the states, but am genuinely excited for the semester ahead.  We found out that we will not only be traveling to Nicaragua, but also to CUBA.


Bendiciones para ti,

Hannah

PS I am not familiar with blogger, so forgive the less than perfect placement of photos, haha