Two days left here in Costa Rica, and I have learned so much more than books can teach you. Moving to a different host family's house was the best decision I made here. If you ever think about moving, you SHOULD. I've learned there is a REASON we pay so much to be here, and it should be worth it! Living with the girls who had a pact to only speak Spanish was also a definite advantage.
Things I Have Learned
1) The Pura Vida Lifestyle- the phrase pura vida literally means pure life, and that is how the Ticos try to live. This pace of life here is much slower (except in traffic related situations, where everyone seems to be in a hurry) and much more relaxed. Before coming here, I stressed way too much for my own good. I've learned there is value in kicking back and relaxing, and that having fun is not something to feel guilty for. Taking life slow is a good thing! We only get to live once, our time here is not guarenteed. Chill out, mae!
2) Making new friends is awesome- but so hard to leave. I was really looking forward to going home and seeing everyone, but I quickly realized I'm also REALLY going to miss my new friends from here. The relationships you can build while studying abroad are both powerful and valuable.
3) Appreciation for BOTH other cultures AND my own- It is easy to think we appreciate other cultures without ever experiencing them, but it really is not the same. Being immersed in the culture teaches you so much that you can't believe, or feel, without seeing it, being there. Before, I also resented being an American- I felt like we had no culture, just a big blend of cultures that no longer celebrate their traditions- but this is NOT true. We do have a culture, we are unique, and it is something to celebrate.
4) Appreciation from a unique perspective- As a study abroad student, you can experience the world from a unique perspective. You are not merely a traveler, tourist, or visitor. You are actually LIVING here for a time, with the perspective of someone who lives here, but at the end of the night, you know you get to go back home to your comfort zone.
5) Try things out of your comfort zone!- That is the point of this trip! We don't go to foreign countries to do the same things we can do at home. Why would we spend so much money to do that? You need to EXPERIENCE the culture, the life, the people, all of it. And this can be expensive, but it is worth it to come back with the knowledge you gain.
I've learned so much more than that in my time here, but those are key point that I wanted to share. It is DEFINITELY an experience worth having.
I'M COMING HOME IN TWO DAYS!!!!!!!!!! :)
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
A Little Bit About Life and Culture
Today, when I was taking the bus, I was thinking about just how different things are down here. First of all, the people don't make nearly as much money as we do. For this reason, everything seems cheap to us, when the reality is that some of it is expensive to the people who live here! I was also thinking about the streets- they do NOT have construction down here like we do back home, and I think I've developed a new appreciation for it- the roads here are horrible! And the driving is a totally different situation. Traffic lights and stop signs are more of a suggestion than anything. Traffic jams and slow moving traffic are very common, especially at rush hour, but it is not limited to just that. I had all these thoughts while riding standing on a crowded bus full of people around our rush hour time. As I was thinking all of this, we passed two buses in a row overfull with people going to the same place less than a half an hour away. These buses are also practically free- less than 50 cents a ride- but they can afford to that because SO many people rely on public transportation.
And these are just some of the things I've noticed over time. Sometimes, it seems like home, only in a different language. However, other times, one can really notice that we are living in a third world country. Rivers are full of garbage, people sleep in garbage, people with no shoes sell whatever they can on the street...there are places with houses made of tin- the same tin the 'poor' houses use as roofs. I cannot even begin to imagine living in a rusted, leaking tin house.
However, by the same token, the government actually tries to help the situation. In one particularly poor part of the country, all the people who live there are working on building subsidized, sustainable housing.
Everything from the sounds to the smells are different here, but its a one chance opportunity to live here for a time, and I wouldn't change it.
And these are just some of the things I've noticed over time. Sometimes, it seems like home, only in a different language. However, other times, one can really notice that we are living in a third world country. Rivers are full of garbage, people sleep in garbage, people with no shoes sell whatever they can on the street...there are places with houses made of tin- the same tin the 'poor' houses use as roofs. I cannot even begin to imagine living in a rusted, leaking tin house.
However, by the same token, the government actually tries to help the situation. In one particularly poor part of the country, all the people who live there are working on building subsidized, sustainable housing.
Everything from the sounds to the smells are different here, but its a one chance opportunity to live here for a time, and I wouldn't change it.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Rashes, Splashes, Mixmashes.
SO here I sit on an 80 degree Costa Rican day outside enjoying the heat (or at least trying to) and writing in my blog. The last two days barely reached 70 and I felt so cold! I was wearing TWO sweatshirts the one day! Just goes to show you how easy it is to get used to it being hot all the time.
Since I last wrote, I've visited two volcanoes, a basilica, a coral reef near Nicaragua, and Automercado.
Two weeks ago was our photography trip to the volcanoes- one each day. Saturday we went to Poas, the biggest and most well-known volcano in Costa Rica. THis volcano boasts a lagoon on its top surface that steams and threatens to blow- it was gorgeous. And the altitute was a nice change of pace, offering 0% humidity at about 70 or 70%. We took lots of pictures, more of the nature than just the volcano because in my professor's words- "everybody has pictures of volcanos"- not us silly!
Day two was Volcan Irazu- this was TOTALY not what I was expecting from a trip to a volcano. We got up to the high altitude of the mountains to the point where we were above the clouds we see every day and in thenext layer of clouds! These clouds were thicker and our prof had failed to mention how COLD it would be- we could see our breath here!!!!!! It was about 50 degress, more or less, and very foggy, which gave us a very interesting and different take on pictures- with no actual volcano mouth to be seen. All in all, the trip was fun and I took over 600 pictures! They aren't all good, as they were experimental and for class, but they are all up on my shutterfly if you would like to take a look.
The next weekend, last weekend, was my trip for biology- snorkeling once again, this time very near Nicaragua. We actually got to see coral this time, in addition to some very strange fish including pufferfish and jellyfish. These jellyfish were small, and a number of us got stung. Three of us, including lucky me, had allergic reactions to it. One girl's was immediate, and she puffed up like a balloon. Another girl had a rash that spread, and I was fortunately enough to only get a small rash that isn't quite gone yet. All in all, it was another Costa Rican experience :) Ps, I hear me in a wetsuit is quite a sight to behold.
In addition, theres a posibility that I'm allergic to something not yet identified that gives me small bumps on my skin that seem harmless. Something a little more harmful is the second intestinal infection I've gotten- it makes me about ready to come home where I don't have to guard what I eat so carefully. On the bright side of the situation, since every cloud has a silver lining, I finally went to Automercado. I had heard about it, but no one had really filled me in- this place is like an AMerican grocery store, complete with American foods! I think if I had known sooner, I would be broke now XD As it is, they will receive a lot of my money over the next two weeks. Can't believe I come home in less than three weeks!
In other news, my new host family is still totally awesome- I will be making banana bread some time in the next week with my host mom, and I will also have the opportunity this Friday to cook for my host family. I am VERY excited to make them a nice American meal that isn't too far out of their comfort zone, since it includes rice and chicken.
Another new experience I had was FINALLY getting the chance to do some volunteer work. I went to Heredia, and we visited a poorer part of town where they have a school for small children. We helped with the lesson and clean up, and then helped to serve lunch, which they also provided for us. It was a pretty awesome eye-opening experience, especially to see houses made of just tin- the aluminum pieces some of the poorer neighborhoods use as roofing. It was sad, but government funded projects ae making it possible for them to build real houses, which you can see all around the area on the dirt roads.
This coming weekend I will be going to Montezuma, and the following will be a revisit to Monteverde's rain forest. After that I come home!!
Since I last wrote, I've visited two volcanoes, a basilica, a coral reef near Nicaragua, and Automercado.
Two weeks ago was our photography trip to the volcanoes- one each day. Saturday we went to Poas, the biggest and most well-known volcano in Costa Rica. THis volcano boasts a lagoon on its top surface that steams and threatens to blow- it was gorgeous. And the altitute was a nice change of pace, offering 0% humidity at about 70 or 70%. We took lots of pictures, more of the nature than just the volcano because in my professor's words- "everybody has pictures of volcanos"- not us silly!
Day two was Volcan Irazu- this was TOTALY not what I was expecting from a trip to a volcano. We got up to the high altitude of the mountains to the point where we were above the clouds we see every day and in thenext layer of clouds! These clouds were thicker and our prof had failed to mention how COLD it would be- we could see our breath here!!!!!! It was about 50 degress, more or less, and very foggy, which gave us a very interesting and different take on pictures- with no actual volcano mouth to be seen. All in all, the trip was fun and I took over 600 pictures! They aren't all good, as they were experimental and for class, but they are all up on my shutterfly if you would like to take a look.
The next weekend, last weekend, was my trip for biology- snorkeling once again, this time very near Nicaragua. We actually got to see coral this time, in addition to some very strange fish including pufferfish and jellyfish. These jellyfish were small, and a number of us got stung. Three of us, including lucky me, had allergic reactions to it. One girl's was immediate, and she puffed up like a balloon. Another girl had a rash that spread, and I was fortunately enough to only get a small rash that isn't quite gone yet. All in all, it was another Costa Rican experience :) Ps, I hear me in a wetsuit is quite a sight to behold.
In addition, theres a posibility that I'm allergic to something not yet identified that gives me small bumps on my skin that seem harmless. Something a little more harmful is the second intestinal infection I've gotten- it makes me about ready to come home where I don't have to guard what I eat so carefully. On the bright side of the situation, since every cloud has a silver lining, I finally went to Automercado. I had heard about it, but no one had really filled me in- this place is like an AMerican grocery store, complete with American foods! I think if I had known sooner, I would be broke now XD As it is, they will receive a lot of my money over the next two weeks. Can't believe I come home in less than three weeks!
In other news, my new host family is still totally awesome- I will be making banana bread some time in the next week with my host mom, and I will also have the opportunity this Friday to cook for my host family. I am VERY excited to make them a nice American meal that isn't too far out of their comfort zone, since it includes rice and chicken.
Another new experience I had was FINALLY getting the chance to do some volunteer work. I went to Heredia, and we visited a poorer part of town where they have a school for small children. We helped with the lesson and clean up, and then helped to serve lunch, which they also provided for us. It was a pretty awesome eye-opening experience, especially to see houses made of just tin- the aluminum pieces some of the poorer neighborhoods use as roofing. It was sad, but government funded projects ae making it possible for them to build real houses, which you can see all around the area on the dirt roads.
This coming weekend I will be going to Montezuma, and the following will be a revisit to Monteverde's rain forest. After that I come home!!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
So much in So little time!
One month left to go, and a lot has happened since my last post! Turns out I have allergies down here in lovely Costa Rica that cause my eyes to enflame randomly. Not exciting at all. In other news, I switched houses to another host family, and I find myself a lot happier and less homesick. The girls I live with, as well as my family, are absoutely fantastic! In addition, all of us American girls (there are four, three of us live together) only speak Spanish around the house, which helps us immensely.
Just got home from tropical marine biology, which is definitely a very informative class. It may be the class with the biggest workload, but it is definitely worth it. Today we watched Sharkwater- watch it if you haven't seen it yet. Also, visit savingsharks.com There are so many problems that we are so unaware of!
The last few days have been sweltering hot out, but I heard of SNOW in TEXAS!!! How crazy. Hope all of you back home are staying warm and also ENJOYING the snow!! Imagine living without it, I couldn't do it.
Also borrowing a cookbook from my host mom, with over 300 recipes. This means I can cook traditional Costa Rican food for you all when I come home! Hopefully I'm good at it, lol.
I have three more field trips to look forward to out of my four full weekends left here, which is good because it saves planning on money on my part, and I still get to experience so much of the country!
Unfortunately, that makes it time to get back to homework- I have to write about snorkeling, and present on cetaceans communication skills and garbage swirls. At least my homework is interesting!! Stay well and safe back home, tell everyone I know that I say hi :)
Just got home from tropical marine biology, which is definitely a very informative class. It may be the class with the biggest workload, but it is definitely worth it. Today we watched Sharkwater- watch it if you haven't seen it yet. Also, visit savingsharks.com There are so many problems that we are so unaware of!
The last few days have been sweltering hot out, but I heard of SNOW in TEXAS!!! How crazy. Hope all of you back home are staying warm and also ENJOYING the snow!! Imagine living without it, I couldn't do it.
Also borrowing a cookbook from my host mom, with over 300 recipes. This means I can cook traditional Costa Rican food for you all when I come home! Hopefully I'm good at it, lol.
I have three more field trips to look forward to out of my four full weekends left here, which is good because it saves planning on money on my part, and I still get to experience so much of the country!
Unfortunately, that makes it time to get back to homework- I have to write about snorkeling, and present on cetaceans communication skills and garbage swirls. At least my homework is interesting!! Stay well and safe back home, tell everyone I know that I say hi :)
Friday, February 5, 2010
Been A While
Sorry for not posting for a while! It's been an interesting week or so. Got to see the other coast in Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side. It is a totally different experience- environmentally, culturally, atmospherically- and I loved it. It's got a beach bum Bob Marley feel to it, and it was totally chill.
We stayed in a hostel for the first time, and that was quite an experience! It is totally culturally different as well. It is a cheaper way for people to stay somewhere overnight- uually students and cross county backpackers. In the hostel, the first night, we stayed in tents. They had an entire loft that was just tents side by side, $7per person and you can keep your belongings in massive lockers down below. The second night, we elected to try something totally different and even cheaper- we stayed in hammocks that rent out at $5 a night! It was a fantastic experience. While we were there, we met people from ALL OVER- apparently, Puerto Viejo is a major backpacking stop. I met people from Austria, Holland, Australia, the UK, and Sweden. I think more too, I just didn't catch where they were from.
I also got the chance to make a Tica friend- she didn't know any English, so it was a great opportunity for me to practice. At the end of the night, she gave me her bracelet as a keepsake- how sweet!
Another part of the experience was renting bikes- the bikes were old, pedal-brake bikes with baskets on the front, $5 for a day. They turned out to be a great investment, as we rode about ten miles in total. During the day, we also got to see a surf competition- for someone who lives nowhere near the ocean, that was a unique experience!
We also got to visit a wildlife preserve where we got to play with howler monkeys and sloths, as well as seeing all kinds of poisonous snakes, frogs, an ocelot, and a really funny looking owl.
Of course, ther was also beach time. I got to see a black sand beach for the first time, and it almost glitters back at you. The waves on the Caribbean side are WAY bigger than the ones we saw the week before on the Pacific side, so I didnt swim too much.- but of course, it was very nice to be by the beach again. Love that sound. Right before we left, the tide was right for collecting small misc shells and coral pieces. I only got about 15, but they are unique and beautiful.
This weekend serves as a big celebration in both countries- back home, the Superbowl, which, gracias a Dios, I get in ESPN vivo here. Also, the same day is election day here in Costa Rica. THis is another thing I am learning to be culturally different. Here, it is a celebration of a peaceful history throughout their tme as an independent country. Having no army since 1949, the country prides itself on not needing military strength, and living as a fair democracy. People drive into the city throughout the entire week, putting a serious cramp on traffic, and party all day Saturday into election day Sunday. Everyone who is able to votes, and they continue partying. This year, there are four candidates, including their first female candidate- and the polls favor her. It proves to be an exciting event and a serious part of history that I cant wait to observe!
Check out my pictures on SHutterfly! (scroll down for a link)
We stayed in a hostel for the first time, and that was quite an experience! It is totally culturally different as well. It is a cheaper way for people to stay somewhere overnight- uually students and cross county backpackers. In the hostel, the first night, we stayed in tents. They had an entire loft that was just tents side by side, $7per person and you can keep your belongings in massive lockers down below. The second night, we elected to try something totally different and even cheaper- we stayed in hammocks that rent out at $5 a night! It was a fantastic experience. While we were there, we met people from ALL OVER- apparently, Puerto Viejo is a major backpacking stop. I met people from Austria, Holland, Australia, the UK, and Sweden. I think more too, I just didn't catch where they were from.
I also got the chance to make a Tica friend- she didn't know any English, so it was a great opportunity for me to practice. At the end of the night, she gave me her bracelet as a keepsake- how sweet!
Another part of the experience was renting bikes- the bikes were old, pedal-brake bikes with baskets on the front, $5 for a day. They turned out to be a great investment, as we rode about ten miles in total. During the day, we also got to see a surf competition- for someone who lives nowhere near the ocean, that was a unique experience!
We also got to visit a wildlife preserve where we got to play with howler monkeys and sloths, as well as seeing all kinds of poisonous snakes, frogs, an ocelot, and a really funny looking owl.
Of course, ther was also beach time. I got to see a black sand beach for the first time, and it almost glitters back at you. The waves on the Caribbean side are WAY bigger than the ones we saw the week before on the Pacific side, so I didnt swim too much.- but of course, it was very nice to be by the beach again. Love that sound. Right before we left, the tide was right for collecting small misc shells and coral pieces. I only got about 15, but they are unique and beautiful.
This weekend serves as a big celebration in both countries- back home, the Superbowl, which, gracias a Dios, I get in ESPN vivo here. Also, the same day is election day here in Costa Rica. THis is another thing I am learning to be culturally different. Here, it is a celebration of a peaceful history throughout their tme as an independent country. Having no army since 1949, the country prides itself on not needing military strength, and living as a fair democracy. People drive into the city throughout the entire week, putting a serious cramp on traffic, and party all day Saturday into election day Sunday. Everyone who is able to votes, and they continue partying. This year, there are four candidates, including their first female candidate- and the polls favor her. It proves to be an exciting event and a serious part of history that I cant wait to observe!
Check out my pictures on SHutterfly! (scroll down for a link)
Monday, January 25, 2010
One week later...
Sorry I haven't posted in a week! Life here sure will keep you busy. This past weekend, I got the chance to go to El Museo de Los Ninos y Manuel Antonio (Parque Nacional). (The Children's Museum and Manuel Antonio National park and Beach). It was a blast!
Children's Museum was for my Spanish class. We got to view the world from the eyes of a child again, in a place that used to be a national prison! It was very interesting, and I have many pictures on my shutterfly. My specific goal there was to learn more about Costa Rican history, as I have a presentation on Thursday for my class on the topic.
After the museum, I got another bus for another very long ride to Manuel Antonio. When we got there, we were in for a rude awakening- 90 and 90% humidity at night! We also got our first experience with the Pacific tropical beach-- QUE CHIVA! The water was about the same temperature at the air, and before this, I had only been to the Atlantic in Maine! What a difference!
After a little bit of swimming, we called it a night. The next morning, we hiked through the national park to another one of the beaches, where a group of us was able to swim out about 100 meters to a rock formation. No surprise here when I managed to cut myself up pretty badly and had to swim back in. However, little did I know that swimming back in would be the reason I got to see WHITE FACED MONKEYS! live and in person. I also got to see some very brave racoons attempting to steal food RIGHT OUT OF PEOPLE'S BAGS AND HANDS!
After this, it was time for the DOLPHIN CRUISE! We all boarded a catamaran- my first time on a boat with a motor- and travelled out into the big blue ocean. We almost had the chance to see a whale, but apparently he (or she!) was pretty shy. However, we did get to see some dolphins swimming, but not very close. but it was still awesome to finally see dolphins in the wild! After this, we had the chance to do a little bit of snorkeling, where I saw a bunch of different kinds of fish and some coral formations. it was fascinating, and I am much less afraid of the ocean now.
Finally, we came back to the hotel and went for another night swim. I swear, it was so nice I could have stayed in that water forever. However, the sun and the day's activities had tired me out enough to make me go to bed around 10 pm. The next morning we spent again on the beach, and I was able to go to a tent-shop area, where I bought the most BEAUTIFUL dress after bargaining down the price from 10,000 colones to 7- in USD, I went from about 18 to about 12 dollars~ and then the long bus ride home.
Now it's crunch time- my one month course draws to an end, but the work load exponentially increases- gotta love college! I've definitely gotten into the swing of things here, but I always make sure to leave time to appreciate the culture all around me. Being a student here offers a unique perspective where I am not merely a tourist only appreciating the sites- I am emerged in a completely different culture with the view of an insider for a short time. A unique experience that I would recommend to ANYONE!!!
MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE PICTURES AT MY SHUTTERFLY! VIDEO TO COME LATER!
Children's Museum was for my Spanish class. We got to view the world from the eyes of a child again, in a place that used to be a national prison! It was very interesting, and I have many pictures on my shutterfly. My specific goal there was to learn more about Costa Rican history, as I have a presentation on Thursday for my class on the topic.
After the museum, I got another bus for another very long ride to Manuel Antonio. When we got there, we were in for a rude awakening- 90 and 90% humidity at night! We also got our first experience with the Pacific tropical beach-- QUE CHIVA! The water was about the same temperature at the air, and before this, I had only been to the Atlantic in Maine! What a difference!
After a little bit of swimming, we called it a night. The next morning, we hiked through the national park to another one of the beaches, where a group of us was able to swim out about 100 meters to a rock formation. No surprise here when I managed to cut myself up pretty badly and had to swim back in. However, little did I know that swimming back in would be the reason I got to see WHITE FACED MONKEYS! live and in person. I also got to see some very brave racoons attempting to steal food RIGHT OUT OF PEOPLE'S BAGS AND HANDS!
After this, it was time for the DOLPHIN CRUISE! We all boarded a catamaran- my first time on a boat with a motor- and travelled out into the big blue ocean. We almost had the chance to see a whale, but apparently he (or she!) was pretty shy. However, we did get to see some dolphins swimming, but not very close. but it was still awesome to finally see dolphins in the wild! After this, we had the chance to do a little bit of snorkeling, where I saw a bunch of different kinds of fish and some coral formations. it was fascinating, and I am much less afraid of the ocean now.
Finally, we came back to the hotel and went for another night swim. I swear, it was so nice I could have stayed in that water forever. However, the sun and the day's activities had tired me out enough to make me go to bed around 10 pm. The next morning we spent again on the beach, and I was able to go to a tent-shop area, where I bought the most BEAUTIFUL dress after bargaining down the price from 10,000 colones to 7- in USD, I went from about 18 to about 12 dollars~ and then the long bus ride home.
Now it's crunch time- my one month course draws to an end, but the work load exponentially increases- gotta love college! I've definitely gotten into the swing of things here, but I always make sure to leave time to appreciate the culture all around me. Being a student here offers a unique perspective where I am not merely a tourist only appreciating the sites- I am emerged in a completely different culture with the view of an insider for a short time. A unique experience that I would recommend to ANYONE!!!
MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE PICTURES AT MY SHUTTERFLY! VIDEO TO COME LATER!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Arenal, etc.
Hey all! Sorry I didn't get a chance to post for a while. The end of last week was pretty busy, then I had a weekend excursion, and then no internet when I got home Sunday :(
I went out last week and realized that NEVER AGAIN will I sit in the front seat of a taxi driving in Costa Rica. That sh*t is SCARY! But I survived yet another taxi ride, only to realize I miss my car. I saw a movie and found out that movie theaters here get packed way more frequently than ours. FYI, Couples Retreat is way funnier than you probably think it is, check it out! Also, Wednesdays here are two for one movie nights- a ticket only costs $2! How crazy!
This weekend we took a trip to Arenal Volcano, but never really got a chance to see the volcano through all the cloud covers, que lastima. However, I did get to see a waterfall, adventure in its river and currents, swim in hot springs, and even order a drink from a wet bar in a sauna temperature pool! It turned out to be a nice, relaxing weekend, with the exception of the first drama of the trip. Hopefully, that can be avoided from here on out. We did get to go out to a dance club, first time here for me, and got to dance with some natives, which was pretty fun!
Since I got back, its back to the normal grind of school. Strangely enough, I think I find solace in having a regular class schedule- its something like home, and makes it easier for me.
In terms of the trip, I've taken to looking at it from a different perspective- while it seems like I am here for a long time, I'm realizing that in the big picture, this is no time at all, so I need to enjoy it and immerse myself in it while I can :)
Check out my shutterfly for pictures!
I went out last week and realized that NEVER AGAIN will I sit in the front seat of a taxi driving in Costa Rica. That sh*t is SCARY! But I survived yet another taxi ride, only to realize I miss my car. I saw a movie and found out that movie theaters here get packed way more frequently than ours. FYI, Couples Retreat is way funnier than you probably think it is, check it out! Also, Wednesdays here are two for one movie nights- a ticket only costs $2! How crazy!
This weekend we took a trip to Arenal Volcano, but never really got a chance to see the volcano through all the cloud covers, que lastima. However, I did get to see a waterfall, adventure in its river and currents, swim in hot springs, and even order a drink from a wet bar in a sauna temperature pool! It turned out to be a nice, relaxing weekend, with the exception of the first drama of the trip. Hopefully, that can be avoided from here on out. We did get to go out to a dance club, first time here for me, and got to dance with some natives, which was pretty fun!
Since I got back, its back to the normal grind of school. Strangely enough, I think I find solace in having a regular class schedule- its something like home, and makes it easier for me.
In terms of the trip, I've taken to looking at it from a different perspective- while it seems like I am here for a long time, I'm realizing that in the big picture, this is no time at all, so I need to enjoy it and immerse myself in it while I can :)
Check out my shutterfly for pictures!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Swing of Things
13 days in, it's hard to believe it's been that long already! Apparently, I went through the majority of my homesickness kind of early. Ever since our first excursion, I feel like I'm having an easier time settling in. I'm making friends, I'm getting homework :( and all around getting used to daily life. I haven't really had the chance to go out much yet, but I've been making the best of most of my time. I'm about at that point where it's time to start doing things :)
Tonight we are going to the "Dos por Uno" movie night- it's like buy one get one free movie tickets, and regular price is only four dollars! So I'm going to the movies for less than the price of popcorn back home! We're going to see Couples Retreat as a group- I think it's in English with Spanish subtitles, but we will see! Friday we are either going to the beach or the zoo (hopefully the beach) and this weekend is the excursion to Volcan Arenal- we'll get to see a volcano, swim in a lake, with waterfalls, and in natural hot springs in our resort hotel :) Pictures when I come back! In the mean time, check out my other pictures on Shutterfly
Tonight we are going to the "Dos por Uno" movie night- it's like buy one get one free movie tickets, and regular price is only four dollars! So I'm going to the movies for less than the price of popcorn back home! We're going to see Couples Retreat as a group- I think it's in English with Spanish subtitles, but we will see! Friday we are either going to the beach or the zoo (hopefully the beach) and this weekend is the excursion to Volcan Arenal- we'll get to see a volcano, swim in a lake, with waterfalls, and in natural hot springs in our resort hotel :) Pictures when I come back! In the mean time, check out my other pictures on Shutterfly
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Monteverde- my first weekend excursion
Monteverde, the cloud rainforest here, was SO AWESOME. We took a four and a half hour bus ride north into Puntarenas, one of the provinces here, and had dinner at our hotel as soon as we got in. Compared to American buffets, it was more like a banquet- and we had six meals there! After that, we checked into our (five star) rooms that were HUGE. I've never stayed in a hotel so large in America, that's for SURE. The next day, we got up early for breakfast and the zipline tour. The zipline tour included 12 zip lines, the longest of which was a tandem that lasted for a full minute, a free-fall rope where they dropped you to just above the ground, a wooden foot bridge, and a tarzan swing, which was MUCH bigger than I expected. The whole thing was an exhilerating trip, offering MANY bird's eye views of the forest and adrenaline rushes.
After the tour was over, we had a half an hour before the optional ATV tour, which I went on with three other girls. Of course, I forgot my sunscreen and earned myself a stripe of red across the middle of my face during the one and a half hours we spent in the sun learning how to ride. The first part was following our instructor around the hill, learning how to switch between gears and brake. The next part put us on a three-circle course, with an intentionally muddy area, an intentionally bumpy area, and a steeper area. Me, being the klutz I am, almost found a way to go over a ten foot drop-off, and instead chose to hit a tree and sprain my thumb and wrist, in a minor way- got right back on and kept going. I learned how to jump an ATV and we even took them on the trails. These were the highlights of the weekend, as the Sunday part had to be cancelled due to excessive rain.
After the tour was over, we had a half an hour before the optional ATV tour, which I went on with three other girls. Of course, I forgot my sunscreen and earned myself a stripe of red across the middle of my face during the one and a half hours we spent in the sun learning how to ride. The first part was following our instructor around the hill, learning how to switch between gears and brake. The next part put us on a three-circle course, with an intentionally muddy area, an intentionally bumpy area, and a steeper area. Me, being the klutz I am, almost found a way to go over a ten foot drop-off, and instead chose to hit a tree and sprain my thumb and wrist, in a minor way- got right back on and kept going. I learned how to jump an ATV and we even took them on the trails. These were the highlights of the weekend, as the Sunday part had to be cancelled due to excessive rain.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The Flow of Things
Second morning of classes. Breakfast is actually at 7 now, and it is such a drudge for me to routinely get up as early as these people... after another slow start I'll have class 8-12 and then two more hours of the day. Monday and Wednesday I have yet another two hour class, and they aren't shy about giving you homework. I think I'm starting to settle in pretty well after some initial homesickness. I don't think I'll ever get over missing people back home, but it's diffeent for everyone. I'm a homebody, family girl. This coming weekend is our first excursion, Monteverde :) I cannot wait- zipline through the rainforest is the main highlight.
My first priority right now is to stop losing things! Yesterday I lost (and found) my student ID and last night I left my jacket at dance classes (free salsa and meringue lessons!). But for now it's time to walk to school. Ciao all!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Life without the internet...how it kills me!
The beginning of an Adventura…
What a day! After two connecting flights yesterday, I stayed overnight in Philadelphia before my first ever international flight. It wasn’t really that scary after all, and security wasn’t nearly as terrifying as they are cracked up to be. After a five hour flight behind someone who insisted on reclining his chair, I finally arrived in Costa Rica- WARM AT LAST!
I met some other students while waiting for baggage, and then came the scary part- I had to figure out who was looking for me. After getting with the wrong group (CEA) I met up with the person looking for ISA students. I was the first of 11 to show up, and ended up waiting outside for two and a half hours while other students showed up- which was nice, since it was a balmy 75 degrees out. We all met and chatted about where we were from, how we were nervous, and how we all know we are going to get homesick- some sooner rather than later.
The bus that picked us up took us to the school area, where our host moms picked us all up. My housemate and I met Ana Luisa, our house mom- who is a whole foot shorter than me- who took us to her home in Zapatos. We spent some time all getting to know each other, and I found out my housemate knows less Spanish than me, and our house mom knows very limited English- great way to practice my Spanish.
After a crazy and somewhat stressful day, it’s off to bed for me- orientation at 9:15 am, and finally internet tomorrow!
Day two- still no internet for my laptop makes me sad. I got a little homesick today, mostly because it feels unnatural to not spend quality time with both my cell phone and my laptop. ISA orientation was today, and provided mostly information I already knew. It was also the first time I used “the great gringo killer”- aka the shower. Here, they combine electricity and water- sounds deadly, right??? But apparently you just don’t touch the shower head and it won’t kill you. It’s interesting because the heat of your shower varies with the water pressure- so when I use no water pressure, I get hot water J Started making friends today, and went with them to the shopping center in San Paulo, one of the closer ones.
(Blog entry written a night before it was actually posted)
Day three- much busier. I spent the morning at Veritas (mi escuela) for orientation after a traditional Costa Rican breakfast of eggs, rice, and beans with toast and orange juice. After orientation, we had time for lunch at a pizzeria before our city orientation. San Jose is a crazy place! Definitely very different from all the other cities I've been to. It really exposes the third world situation of Costa Rica. After our city tour, I had another traditional Costa Rican meal for dinner, and now I finally have internet at home!!!
What a day! After two connecting flights yesterday, I stayed overnight in Philadelphia before my first ever international flight. It wasn’t really that scary after all, and security wasn’t nearly as terrifying as they are cracked up to be. After a five hour flight behind someone who insisted on reclining his chair, I finally arrived in Costa Rica- WARM AT LAST!
I met some other students while waiting for baggage, and then came the scary part- I had to figure out who was looking for me. After getting with the wrong group (CEA) I met up with the person looking for ISA students. I was the first of 11 to show up, and ended up waiting outside for two and a half hours while other students showed up- which was nice, since it was a balmy 75 degrees out. We all met and chatted about where we were from, how we were nervous, and how we all know we are going to get homesick- some sooner rather than later.
The bus that picked us up took us to the school area, where our host moms picked us all up. My housemate and I met Ana Luisa, our house mom- who is a whole foot shorter than me- who took us to her home in Zapatos. We spent some time all getting to know each other, and I found out my housemate knows less Spanish than me, and our house mom knows very limited English- great way to practice my Spanish.
After a crazy and somewhat stressful day, it’s off to bed for me- orientation at 9:15 am, and finally internet tomorrow!
Day two- still no internet for my laptop makes me sad. I got a little homesick today, mostly because it feels unnatural to not spend quality time with both my cell phone and my laptop. ISA orientation was today, and provided mostly information I already knew. It was also the first time I used “the great gringo killer”- aka the shower. Here, they combine electricity and water- sounds deadly, right??? But apparently you just don’t touch the shower head and it won’t kill you. It’s interesting because the heat of your shower varies with the water pressure- so when I use no water pressure, I get hot water J Started making friends today, and went with them to the shopping center in San Paulo, one of the closer ones.
(Blog entry written a night before it was actually posted)
Day three- much busier. I spent the morning at Veritas (mi escuela) for orientation after a traditional Costa Rican breakfast of eggs, rice, and beans with toast and orange juice. After orientation, we had time for lunch at a pizzeria before our city orientation. San Jose is a crazy place! Definitely very different from all the other cities I've been to. It really exposes the third world situation of Costa Rica. After our city tour, I had another traditional Costa Rican meal for dinner, and now I finally have internet at home!!!
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