🎯 Midterm Evaluation

Last weekend, my family and I visited Cartago, one of the oldest cities in Costa Rica. We left San José early on Saturday morning. My father drove the car, and my mother prepared sandwiches for the trip. The journey took about forty-five minutes.

When we arrived, we walked to the Basílica de los Ángeles, the most famous church in the country. The building was huge and beautiful. Many people were there — they came from all over Costa Rica. We took many photos and admired the architecture for a long time.

After the church, we ate lunch at a small restaurant near the central park. I ordered a typical Costa Rican meal — rice, beans, chicken, and salad. It was delicious. My sister did not eat meat, so she ordered a vegetarian dish. My parents drank coffee. The service was excellent and the food was not expensive.

In the afternoon, we went to the ruins of the old Santiago Apóstol church. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1910. The ruins were quiet and peaceful. My grandfather told us stories about the old city. He knew a lot about its history.

We did not return to San José until six o'clock in the evening. Everybody felt tired but happy. It was one of the best trips our family ever made. My mother said, "We should come back next year." And I agreed completely.

Rebeca and her friend José live in Liberia, Guanacaste. They both finished their university studies last month. Now they are planning their futures, but their plans are very different.

Rebeca is going to stay in Costa Rica. She already has a job offer at a hotel in Tamarindo. The hotel is bigger and more modern than any place she has ever worked. The salary is better than her last internship. She thinks working in tourism is more exciting than working in an office. "I am not going to leave my family," she says. "I will work hard and save money. Maybe I will buy a small house in a few years."

José, on the other hand, has a different plan. He is going to travel to Canada to study English for one year. He believes that English is more useful than any other skill in today's world. His program starts in September. He already bought his plane ticket. "I will miss my family," he admits, "but this is the best opportunity I have ever had. I am going to study as hard as I can."

Both Rebeca and José agree on one thing: the future is uncertain, but exciting. "Life in Guanacaste is more relaxed than in the capital," says Rebeca, "but I think the most important thing is to follow your dreams." José nods and adds: "I will come back one day. Costa Rica will always be home."