So the last blog was just
catching up, I will now resume the story after the incident with Carlos. After that monumental Monday, the rest
of the work-week seemed rather dull; I mean really what could compete with my
adventure with Carlos? But as we were nearing the end of the workweek some of
my co-workers started talking about their English class and asking me to help
them with their homework. Of
course, I was happy to do this, as it is something that I can actually feel
competent doing and another way to connect.
So Friday comes along and
they invite me to join the English class, and the experience begins… The
teacher is a Tica who has been studying English for four years, she is
proficient enough for this group of beginners, but is far from perfect. Now, I have no place to judge someone
else’s language proficiency as mine is so bad, but just to help paint the
picture. As my coworkers introduce
me the teacher receives me as a celebrity; exclaiming, “This is such a
wonderful experience, they have never heard a NATIVE speaker!”
She then asks if it would
be alright for the students to ask me questions; which I said was fine. I did not realize the awkward situation
I was further putting myself into as the students (only half are my co-workers)
start asking me questions. I feel
as if I’m on some pedestal, which of course I don’t feel like I deserve and
frankly I don’t. It is then even
more awkward when the professor is yearning for me to speak in English, but is
not translating my answers, leaving her very beginner students in the
dark. She continues encouraging
this “activity” for 2 hours! I try
to change it up by asking the students questions, but that only worked so
well. For the first time ever, I
hated speaking English because I felt I could connect so much better in Spanish
and felt as if I was deliberately talking above them. It’s safe to say this wasn’t my favorite time. They were also amazed that United
States citizens do not eat rice at least once a day, haha.
All in all ASOPROAAA will
be the thing I loved most about my whole time in CR. I cannot say as a Business major that it was the most
efficient or well-run company, but at the end of the day that didn’t
matter. I was not there to
evaluate them, only to learn, to except and try to understand from their
side. I did my best to put away my
preconceived notions of business and simply live and work among them. I absolutely adore my co-workers; all
the breaks provided wonderful time together. My last day of work fell on the perfect day, as that night
there was a dinner for the main contributors and workers. We were able to sit down to a wonderful
meal together and laugh. I
couldn’t have asked from a better goodbye. If my Spanish was better I would have learned A LOT of
dirty secrets about ASOPROAAA, but my Spanish being what it is I was only able
to squeak by with the right facial expressions and adding a look or two when
someone walked in. No matter where
you are gossip, fashion, and boys will always bring a group of girls together,
well… if you’re on the right side of the convo ;). So at the end of the night as we hugged goodbye the girls
made me promise to come back and keep in touch through Facebook and gave me a
special Christmas blend coffee.
That
goodbye was then put in second place as my family goodbye was that much
sweeter, the bittersweet kind. For
the first time I can say I will miss part of CR, mi familia de Acosta. As mi padre left for work he said
blessings upon my life as well as gave some marriage advice. He invited me back on behalf of the
whole family, saying that I would always have a place with them. Mi madre, who was a seamstress, gave me
a pillow she had made using a Christmas fabric that was used all around the
house. To describe the family as precious
is a complete understatement. I
have truly partaken in theirs lives from family celebrations, card games with
Grandma, and helping my preteen sister study for her English exams. I have been so blessed by everything. I
don’t think there is anything greater than the love of a family; how much
greater is the love that comes from people who were once strangers.
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