No Words, No Problem

Yesterday, Monday the 29th of September, I started a Costa Rican sign language course; it was awesome. After the work day, the class started at 2:00pm and ran until 6:00pm...it was long , but the time flew by. The professor of the course is deaf, and one of the rules is no talking in class, so after class outside I felt the urge to let out a "yelp."
One would think that there's no way you can learn in this arena, but it was quite the opposite; your attention is focused on the task at hand, no distractions, and there are many words classified as "iconicas" or words that are signed the way you would think they would be. I.E. Crocodile is opening and closing your two hands as if they were in fact the jaws of a croc. However, not all words are iconical, so that is where the alphabet comes to assistance. Next Monday we have an exam on the alphabet, so I have been getting that down. It is difficult, because I already have a "speech impediment" due to my hands haha, but I'll make it work.
Earlier this evening, I partook in a yoga class at the gym after I did a chest/tri's workout; it was a horrible idea. Yoga is solid, but it was outrageously difficult because of working out prior and the instruction being in Spanish. I hope this not to be a hindrance, because it is a great way to relax and release some stress.

"God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
-C.S. Lewis

Volcanos Smell Like Eggs

Tuesday evening I had the pleasure to meet Marty's friend Mike Joyce; rock-solid guy. It was cool to meet an American down here, especially one from Lakewood, who shared a similar background. We talked about life here and in the states, and how they differ. He's been living here for over three years, so he knew a good Italian joint where we had dinner. It was a most enjoyable evening.
On Wednesday, I traveled to Escazu, which is about an hour away and tutored four children in English. It was a good experience, but also a demanding one. Teaching English to non -native speakers is difficult; also it was an hour for each child, so four more hours after work was not fun. However, it was cool to see a new part of the country, meet a knew family and get some extra pocket change.
Yesterday, was The International Day for Deaf People, so there were no classes, only a celebratory fair at the school. It was interesting to see an assembly with little or no sounds, only signs. After the speeches and dialogues, there was local fare for sale, so I tried nearly all of it, most of which I enjoyed (arroz con leche was my favorite.) After the fair, myself and a couple of co-workers went out. It was interesting to be at table where there were people speaking Spanish and signing. I learned how to cheers in LESCO, which is very simple and similar to a normal cheers, except you hold your glass and clink your hands rather than the glass...
As for today we traveled to see a volcano called "Vulcan Irazu." It was breath-takingly desolate and beautiful. The smell of sulfur coupled with sitting above the clouds really made the experience feel official. After our visit at the volcano, John, an employee at St. Francis College who took us there, introduced us to an awesome cafe. It was called "Kaffa Cafe" and had excellent food for next to nothing. I finished off my rice and beans plate of the day with an awesome chocolate and nuts crepe with a cafe con leche...one of the best meals that I have had here. After those awesome couple of hours, the only way it would get better would be have to taken a siesta...so I did. All in all, things are going well here, I don't have much reflection today, only sharing some experiences.

Mountain Man

Later in the evening on Sunday, Fr. Jorge and I traveled to the mountains of central Costa Rica so that he could preside over a mass in a “pueblo” called Puriscal; a little over an hour from San Jose. This was a most enjoyable experience. It was just He and I accompanied by tranquil conversation and useful practice of Spanish learning new words and phrases. His homily was tied in with Franciscan charism and lay vocations; perhaps the most passionate homilist I have seen. I think that’s important, because he held a captive audience and left them with ideas to reflect on.

"Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion."
-Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

Vamanos a Cartago

A most enjoyable weekend. As for the end of the first "official" work week down in Costa Rica; our community imbibed in a few "cuba libres" after the work day on Friday. We had saw a local pub called "Caballo Blanco" which had live music so we spend the majority of our Friday evening in that establishment enjoying the local fare and dancing to the soothing sounds of latin music.
As for Saturday, Lara, Liz and I travelled to Cartago to visit a statue called "La Negrita." It is Costa Rica's version of the Virgen of Guadalupe, Fatime, or Lourdes. Apparently she appeared to a woman sometime around the 17th century. It was excellent to see a cultural aspect of Costa Rica. The church and surrounding falls of holy water were beautiful; Cartago is located to the southeast of San Jose up in the mountains. The mountains and the tranquil atmosphere of the shrine made for a majestical view. After viewing the sites, we then visited a "panderia" or bread shop and enjoyed a "cafe con leche" and some conversation.
As for now, we just got back from mass, and are soon going to head to the Friary to have lunch with the Franciscans; it is always a delicious meal.

The Silence is Deafening

I am quickly learning sign language. It is unusual because in the classrooms, there are no words; the occasional sound check from a deaf child and the rapid movement of fingers. I spend the mornings with a kindergarten class, which at first i thought was a bit uninteresting, but in reality i need to be with them, because we are at about the same level in sign language, they're actually much better from the previous 5 years of communicating with their parents. But it is important to learn the colors, days of the week, simple important things.
In the afternoon I am with a first grade, and it is a bit more intense, they now have subjects and the teacher won't speak while signing. On Monday I start a class for learning LESCO (lengua de señas costarricense) Costa Rican sign language. It is every Monday for two months from 2pm - 6pm.
Normally, a deaf person has difficulty communicating in "society" if no other person around signs. I found that in this school I was for all practical purposes a "deaf" person because I am one of the only ones that does not know what to say, how to say it, or what the others are talking about. It is an extremely humbling experience; I now have a better understanding for the importance of communication and how frustrating it can be if you are lacking it.

"Humility like darkness reveals the heavenly lights."
-Henry David Thoreau

Argentine Steak is Awesome

Last night, Saturday the 13th of September, Brother Jim took the volunteers and Costa Rican Friars out to a dinner for their generous hospitality to us throughout our stay. Fr. Victor selected a an Argentine Steakhouse called "Donde Carlos" and it was "muy rico." We had excellent conversation around the table, and enjoyed the fellowship of eachother.
I met some friends from the gym, and they were having a party, so later that evening, the volunteers and I went to our first "Costa Rican Fiesta." It was interesting to say the least; I expected it to be difficult to communicate, but it was far easier than I had imagined. They were very interested about life in the states and my degree in Intelligence Studies; so that was the brunt of our conversations. I met a guy studying law in Costa Rica, so we talked briefly about how it differs from the U.S. It's good to know that a week in country and we have some local acquaintances to chill with.
As for today, mass in the morning followed by an awesome "almuerzo" (lunch) at the Friary. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, being it is the Independence Day of Costa Rica; lo pasara bien

a short and provocative film clip...

http://videos.komando.com/2008/09/10/the-miniature-earth/

first day on site...

Today, Friday September 12, 2008, I visited for the first time the site I will be working on; and it was impressive. The center is called Fernando Centeno Guell, which serves as a special education school for either blind, deaf, or mentally retarded children. The facility was awesome, and my boss seems pretty solid; Pablo...not Escobar, but Vargas.
I believe I will be rotating between each school, but I can have a focus in one. I'm leaning toward working with the deaf...it seems awesome the way to sign and speak volumes with body language. The floors are wooden and 7 inches dense so that the teachers and administrators can tap their feet, and communicate with the deaf children. When we first arrived, the deaf children were playing percussion for the band, and low and behold, it was loud as sin so that they could feel the vibrations to get on beat. It's pretty cool to see how the human body can adapt to nearly anything.
After the orientation, Brother Jim, myself and the other volunteers went for a little "costa rican" lunch filled with rice, beans and coffee. It was delicious and authentic.
As for this evening, we are due at St. Francis College (high school across the street) at 5:00pm to watch the parade which kicks off the weekend festivities of Costa Rica's Independence Day which is Monday, the 15th. I hope all is going well stateside and elsewhere...hasta luego.

El Primer Post

Welcome All! I am glad to have the technology available to share my thoughts, feelings, insight with all of you who are interested; I look forward to this experience and the lasting memories it will have for us to share. As for now, I am going to live in the moment with a nice cup of Costa Rican Coffee...hasta luego.