bienvenidos a grecia

We have arrived safely in Grecia and are getting to know the town and our families very well.  I am staying with a very sweet family, Randy, Dinorah (or Norah), and Maria Paula, their 10 year old daughter.  I am so lucky, because it is actually more like staying with 4 host families, since there are 4 houses grouped together, and there are 4 students staying between 3 of the homes.  The evenings are usually spent in the "headquarters", i.e. our abuelos (grandparents) home.  They have 4 children, all of whom live together.  The strong family ties are absolutely tangible, and everyone has been so kind to include us just like a member of their family.

Yesterday Jenna and I got a little tour with my host father Randy and Maria Paula.  We went to the mall, the central market and the church, which is made completely of metal.

And here is Randy & Maria Paula in front of the church:

Today we had our orientation at the school.

We took a little walking tour of Grecia, and even saw this man washing his horse in the street.  Grecia was originally a farming town for mostly sugar cane and coffee, so I imagine this is a remnant of that era. 

Then we returned to to the school for our Spanish placement tests, remembering all the grammar was a challenge.  Here is Jenna and Kirsten waiting for the oral language test.

 

And this evening we celebrated El Dia del Padres with our families up at the "headquarters".  

Here is Maria Paula with the youngest addition, Victoria.                              

Raoul and Tiffany cooking the meat.

Rosie & Norah (my host mother) cooking

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Leo (Rosie's husband) and Dona Deli (the matriarch)

And last, but not least, me and Victoria

Classes begin tomorrow! I'll let you know how it goes!!  But so far, everything is muy pura vida.