After a collective 404 hours of spanish classes at the Coastal Spanish Institue in Tamarindo, we have now officially graduated! We have learned quite a bit and feel much more comfortable with the language now.

Graduation day’s highlight was the homemade piñata that kids all made with their teachers.

Below is a copy of the speech I gave during graduation and a translation below that as well.

Thanks CSI, we had a great time learning with you!

Cuando llegamos en diciembre, no sabía una sola palabra en español. Ahora sabemos mucho más español y también tenemos muchos nuevos amigos. Estamos muy agradecidos a nuestros profesores y tuvimos un tiempo fantástico aprender español con usted. Gracias por enseñarnos mucho sobre Costa Rica y su maravilloso país.

Este mes compré un teléfono celular en español que yo nunca pudo haber hecho hace dos meses. Ahora puedo hablar con amigos que no hablan Inglés y me siento mucho más cómodo. Tengo usted dar las gracias por ello.

Gracias por ser maravilloso con mis hijos. Siempre me acuerdo de los sonidos de mis hijos riendo mientras juegan con usted.

Gracias por darnos la bienvenida a su mundo. Si alguna vez estás en Colorado, por favor llame a nosotros, nos gustaría para enseñarte sobre nuestro mundo.

Gracias José, Giovanni, María, Mari, Alice, Henry y Deidy. Usted nos hizo reír, nos hizo pensar, y nos hizo mejores personas.

Otro gracias a Franco y Elsy, Kurt, Luca y Omar. Nosotros somos su familia ahora. Si usted tiene gusto o no.

Nos vemos pronto.

And the translation:

When we arrived in December, we did not know a word of Spanish. Now know much more Spanish and we also have many new friends. We are grateful to our teachers and we had a fantastic time learning Spanish with you. Thanks for teaching us a lot about Costa Rica and your wonderful country.

This month I bought a cell phone in Spanish that I never could have done two months ago. Now I can talk to friends who do not speak English and I feel much more comfortable. I have you to thank for that.

Thanks for being wonderful with my children. I always remember the sounds of my children laughing as they played with you.

Thanks for welcoming us into your world. If you are ever in Colorado, please call us, we would like to teach about our world.

Thanks Jose, Giovanni, Maria, Mari, Alicia Henry and Deidy. You made us laugh, made ??us think, and made us better people.

Another thanks to Franco and Elsy, Kurt, Luca and Omar. We are your family now. Whether you like it or not.

See you soon.