Costa Rica NOW!
What's in a Name?
Volunteer Kiana Curry reflects on the many titles she's taken on in Costa Rica.
"Life in San Ramon, and Costa Rica in general, is so much better than I could have ever imagined. Everyone is so friendly and calls me by name when they see me. Well, they call me by some name. On any given day I am called by a number of different names.
My host family usually calls me Kiana but in introductions to others I am usually presented as "La teacher." La Teacher is the preferred name by my director and other staff at my school. "La Teacher is here," "La teacher, cómo estás"or "La teacher hasn't eaten yet," are things I hear on a daily basis. My students are a little less formal and drop the La so all I hear is "Teacher, teacher, teacher." Whoever taught them that it was a good idea to have students shout out when they are finished was crazy. One day I finally had enough and just to show them how annoying it was I mocked them and asked if it was good, and once they agreed it wasn't, I taught them to raise their hands quietly when they are ready. Hands frantically waving at me are a lot more tolerable; I have learned to pick my battles.
My kindergarteners are the sweetest, well, except for the one time I made the mistake of trying to do a running activity with the 10 four and five year olds I was never so scared in my life and vowed from that point on that they would only sing songs in my class. The Costa Rican teachers are all called niña, which I don't really understand since they are all women, not girls, but my kinder and a few of my first graders have started calling me niña too.
Two days a week at soccer practice I go by Kiara. For some reason my soccer coach can't seam to get my name right and constantly calls me Kiara. His girlfriend constantly tries to remind him of my name, but it just won't stick. What is it about coaches not being able to get my name right, I went an entire year with my high school volleyball coach calling me Kean (pronounced Key-ann).
The best name by far was given to me unintentionally by my host cousin. We haven't had very many interactions and has really only heard stories about me and thought that I was being referred to as Tia Ana. I guess since his family is so big he believed that I was his long lost aunt."
Things that are Normal: Costa Rican Style
by Aeriel Kay
1. Rice for breakfast. I realize I talk about food a lot, but seriously, rice for breakfast. 
2. Ticos never go barefoot. In a country that is constantly in a state of dust and dirt and largely living with nature, Costa Rican’s are incredibly clean and hygienic. They brush their teeth at least 4 times a day. They bathe at least twice. And the women sweep and mop their house on the half hour. So it only goes to say that when you walk up to a tico’s house, you dare not enter their newly mopped abode wearing your shoes covered in a fine coat of red polvo. You decide to leave them at the door, adding them to the pile of shoes already accumulated on the porch. You walk in barefoot and sit on their couch. It is normal to then see the Dona of the house scramble frantically about in an effort to find you a pair of flip-flops to wear. Sometimes if she can’t find any extra indoor shoes, she’ll give you her own off her feet. Because walking barefoot will give you the flu. It’s true.
3. Approximately 92% of all boys and men will never leave the house without running a handful of hair gel through their short spikes. Rat tails that were once sported in the early 90′s are also popular.
4. When you get stung by the most aggressive wasp that exists here, it is normal to rub a handful of wet sugar on the bite as a remedy. I'm not sure if this helped my pain the other day or just made me more focused on how sticky I was. (If you know me at all, you know I hate being sticky).
2011 Volunteers get 'Oriented'
Our newest group of Costa Rica yearlong volunteers arrived in-country on January 6th to start their month-long Orientation, before heading to their teaching sites. Orientation is an intensive training in which volunteers learn about Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), cross-cultural adjustment, Tico culture, how to be healthy and safe whilst living in Costa Rica and even some salsa dancing! Check out what this year's Orientation had in store!
Read archived posts of Costa Rica NOW!