Entering

We have been in country for 2 1/2 days now.  We had our first language class today, and I was scared to death.  I didn't understand the majority of what was said, however, I was able to (incorrectly) answer a question and make up a story of mi gato.  We have a wonderful support system here including our language teachers which is wonderful when I am struggling to speak the language.

I have been so encouraged by our training team especially regarding my ability to communicate in Spanish.  Plus, the Hubs said he will no longer translate for me.  I will learn.

The language experience is eye opening.  I am in the novice class and feeling extremely lost, but this has helped me understand what my students feel when they are drowning in their class(es) at school.  I hope to use this experience in my Tico and future classrooms.

Our first few days have been at a retreat center learning the policies and goals of Peace Corp.

Here are a few pictures:

Our suite for the retreat. 

This is the restaurant where we are fed wonderful food. 

Our view. 

Our classroom. 

Feeling good 2 days in.  

Most of Tico 23 waiting for our 2nd flight (after getting up before 2 am).  I think we look pretty good. 

Welcoming

Blog world, the Hubs and I safely here in Costa Rica.  We landed today with the other 20 Peace Corps Trainees (PCT).

We have been through staging in Dallas, flew, and had an intro at a retreat today.  Now it is time to rest.  We have been up since 2:00 am.  So off to bed!

Filling

1st official post of "Filling you in".  Dedicated to those getting ready to serve overseas with the Peace Corps.

What you need to do before leaving the country for 2 years**
1. Pack up home
2. Put home in storage
3. Cancel and pay for all utilities
4. Move retirement out of former company's retirement plan
5. File taxes
6. Update bank info
7. Cancel/modify insurance
8. Sell/store car (or let it die in my case)
9. Get 3 month supply of all prescriptions
10. Change address at post office
11. Use gift cards (we still had some from when we got married)
12. Have a couple good bye parties
13. Quit job (that was actually the first thing I did)
14. Hang out with family and friends
15. Pack suitcases (2 checked bags with dimensions no more than 107 combined and carry with no more than 45 inches)
16. Take Safety and Security online quiz
17. Fill out Peace Corps paper work
18. Get tickets from PC's travel agent
19. Obtain all immunization records and make copies
20. Eat out a lot with friends and family
21. Purge home of unused or unwanted items to donate
22. Get lots of boxes
23. Google TEFL lesson plans and ideas (here is a great resource: http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=library.language)
24. Create a Skype account

*Does not have to be completed in this order
**This is what the Hubs and I had to do, this does not mean you have to do exactly that

So this is what the Hubs and I have worked on since accepting the Peace Corps offer to volunteer

Modifying

So after spending hours looking at past and current Peace Corps blogs about Costa Rica and TEFL, I have decided to modify the purpose of this blog.  This blog will still be to update family and friends of the Hub's and mine adventures while serving in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica but it was also have informative insight for future Peace Corps volunteers.

I wanted to know things such as what to pack, what to expect living with a host family, a lesson plan taught at a school or adult English class, etc.  So there will be blogs dedicated to things like that for people looking for that info as well as posts telling about our adventures.

We are less than two weeks away from departing a home I will miss and landing in a land of adventure and growth.

**Reader's challenge: Comment about a time that you were scared, sad, and excited to do something in your life.**