CPI Central Panamerican Idiomas

Just a quick post on CPI.
We came down to Costa Rica for two reason. One was to surf the other was to learn spanish. When we were in Costa Rica last March, we heard about this school from a number of people we met at the hostel in Saint Elena. CPI is located in the town of Playa Flamingo which is on the Guanacasta Pennisula. It provides individuals with intensive spanish language classes. You can study for as short as a week or for months if you want. We, of course, only had time to do one week.

I would say that in general, it was a really great experience for us all. The kids were in a class together and Dan and I were in a class with two other people. We definately learned a lot. We would love to come back and do another week or two next summer.
The students in the program range in ages from 7 to 65. Many of the students were American but there were also students from as far away as Russia, Switzerland and England.

If you have an interest in learning spanish, in a spanish speaking country we would highly recommend this program. The program has three different locations in Costa Rica; Playa Flamingo, Heredia and MonteVerde. They even have some resident bats!!!

In general, you attend classes in the morning and then can participate in various excursions in the afternoon. You have the option of staying in a modest villa, a B&B or a homestay with a Costa Rican Family. We opted for the villa which was nice and very economical.





We finished with our program on Friday and today we left Playa Flamingo and traveled to Tamarindo to start our week of surfing. we will miss Playa Flamingo and our new friends. We would like to wish Tomar, Evan, Beth, Lean and Michael a safe journey and a happy New Year. You all made our expereince so much more memorable. We hope that our paths cross again. Evan, good luck with the whole college thing and let us know if you caught some waves!!!

Pura Vida!

Costa Rica

We arrived in Liberia, Costa Rica yesterday. The weather is beautiful.....but hot. We are certainly not complaining. We swam at the beautiful Playa Flamingo Beach this afternoon with the jack fish. We were woken from our afternoon nap by the cows mooing away behind our Villa. Playa Flamingo is an odd tourist town built primarily on a hill overlooking a bay. We forgot to bring the camera to the beach today but we'll be sure to get a picture tomorrow.
We are staying at the Villaggio Flor Del Pacifica.
We spent the morning at the beach and the afternoon at the pool. We begin Spanish classes in the morning. In Playa Flamingo it is hard to find someone who speaks English so we have been working the Spanish and getting by. We are excited about seeing our nephews Jonathan and Steven at the end of the week.
Until tomorrow....Pura vida

Countdown to Costa Rica

Just four more days until we head to Boston to catch a plane to Liberia, Costa Rica. Although it has been a bit stressful getting all the Christmas gifts and arrangements done before we leave, were ready.
I forgot to mention that we will be spending our first week in an intensive spanish language program north of Tamarindo. We will be at the CPI Spanish Language Program in Playa Flamingo. The kids aren't wild about being in school but it's hard to complain to much when it is 90 degrees and the pool is just outside the door.
We will keep you posted on departure and hopefully we can post everyday while we are in Costa Rica.
Medelise