Thursday, August 5, 2010
Life update
Marley the puppyHey! It has been more than a year since I've updated this blog so I'm not even sure if anyone will read it. This summer has been a lot of fun. I've been doing minimal working and lots of relaxing and having fun. I have been camping, spending time with family and friends, to Six Flags, to Mt. Olympus, to Chicago, gardening (yes I have a lovely garden), and just hanging out. I figure it is my last free summer because I will hopefully be working full time after I graduate from college with my nursing degree this December. So my idea is that I should enjoy the last part of this stage in my life, because I will soon be a full time working woman.
Since the lease on my current apartment ends this month, I moved into a new place. It is an upper two bedroom apartment that is actually next door to my boyfriend, Arron's, house. Although it is too big for my needs, I still signed the lease because it was one of the only places in Oshkosh that would allow me to do a month to month lease. It was such a "blast" moving into the new place, especially moving my couch up through my balcony since it wouldn't fit through the door at the top of the stairs. Thanks dad and Arron for your help!
It has been a relaxing few days before I have a 5 day stretch at work. It will be the most I've worked all summer :). As some of you know, Arron (and I) already have two dogs, Shian and Izzy. A few days ago we came to a crazy agreement that it would be a good idea to get a puppy. I know, its crazy, we must be crazy. I feel like I should think it's "too much" or too expensive, but we are both laid back and willing to spend time with it since our lives aren't too busy yet. It works out with our schedules this month to be able to potty train and be able to play with it while the other of us is at work. That is why it is so nice to have houses so close together. So we went together and picked up a 6 week old Border Collie/Australian Shepherd mix puppy. We named him Marley, like in the book/movie Marley and Me. He has been so good and calm. I even think he's already potty trained better than little chihuahua Izzy. He's been starting to chew on things, but Arron and I find something appropriate for him to chew on and he's already learning that he is supposed to chew on toys only. It will be an adventure and if it becomes too much with so many dogs --we always find days when we are willing to give naughty little Izzy away. So that's the newest thing in my life.
I will try to update the blog more about my life and thoughts. Even if no one reads it I will have my life documented a little better. Hope you are all enjoying the summertime!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Week in San Jose
Last week I was in San Jose for the entire week living with a different host family. San Jose is the complete opposite of where I am living in Miramar. Miramar is what you would think of as a really safe town where no one has to lock their doors and you never have to watch your back. Everyone is friendly and says hi as you walk by. In contrast is San Jose, where you don’t leave your house after dark, you have a taxi pick you up at the front gate because it’s not safe to walk the streets during the middle of the day. Complete opposites. However, in the safe parts- San Jose was also a lot of fun.
We visited different clinics and hospitals in downtown San Jose. The first private hospital that we visited was actually much nicer than any hospital I have seen in the U.S. We also visited that National Theater where some of the world’s best known orchestras play. It was one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever set foot in. Then we enjoyed shopping downtown, American-style malls, and of course, eating American food like McDonalds and Subway. Their menus were very similar than in the U.S. except McDonalds sold fried chicken and taco bell sold French fries. That was a little different.
Then during the weekend we went to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. The culture there is very different because there have been a ton of immigrants that came over from Jamaica. We even listened to some live reggae music one night. It was so very beautiful and even the trees were different that what I am used to- it is true tropical rainforest instead of cloudforest where I live. We saw howler monkeys and a sloth while we were driving down the road. I am going to miss all this wildlife when I go back to Wisconsin.
Right now I am sitting in my room with my laptop unplugged from the electricity praying that the house won’t get struck by lightning. When I was gone last week there was a lightning bolt that hit right outside of our house and messed up my host parents’ computer. I have to admit that I am actually a little bit scared of thunderstorms here- it seems like we get a crazy one every other day. (It’s okay mom and dad- I’m making sure to be safe)
I’ll try to update more often now since I don’t have as many classes during the day for the next week. Its crazy to think that I’m going to be back in Wisconsin in 11 days.
Pura Vida!
We visited different clinics and hospitals in downtown San Jose. The first private hospital that we visited was actually much nicer than any hospital I have seen in the U.S. We also visited that National Theater where some of the world’s best known orchestras play. It was one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever set foot in. Then we enjoyed shopping downtown, American-style malls, and of course, eating American food like McDonalds and Subway. Their menus were very similar than in the U.S. except McDonalds sold fried chicken and taco bell sold French fries. That was a little different.
Then during the weekend we went to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. The culture there is very different because there have been a ton of immigrants that came over from Jamaica. We even listened to some live reggae music one night. It was so very beautiful and even the trees were different that what I am used to- it is true tropical rainforest instead of cloudforest where I live. We saw howler monkeys and a sloth while we were driving down the road. I am going to miss all this wildlife when I go back to Wisconsin.
Right now I am sitting in my room with my laptop unplugged from the electricity praying that the house won’t get struck by lightning. When I was gone last week there was a lightning bolt that hit right outside of our house and messed up my host parents’ computer. I have to admit that I am actually a little bit scared of thunderstorms here- it seems like we get a crazy one every other day. (It’s okay mom and dad- I’m making sure to be safe)
I’ll try to update more often now since I don’t have as many classes during the day for the next week. Its crazy to think that I’m going to be back in Wisconsin in 11 days.
Pura Vida!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Random Facts about Costa Rica
Disclaimer: These facts may not be true for all of Costa Rica, but they are true according to my host town and my host family.
• The people let their dogs or cats randomly wander the streets.
• People thing that it is fun to drive as close as they can to the side of the cliff when driving up the mountains.
• There are vendors that walk or drive through the streets selling fruit or vegetables. Some cars have a sound system on top of their car’s roof which advertises what they are selling.
• Electric wires decide to fall down while you wait for the bus.
• There are a ton of TV shows in English and only have Spanish subtitiles.
• Shampoo is way more expensive.
• Kids only go to school for half a day, but only have a few weeks off throughout the year.
• Each family has a nickname. When I tell native people who I live with I have to tell them my family’s nickname because they won’t know who I’m talking about otherwise.
• People pass time hanging out on the front porch. When company comes over, this is where you visit with each other.
• The garage door opens left to right, not up and down.
• Costa Ricans eat gallo pinto (a food made of rice and black beans) EVERY morning for breakfast
• When eating meat, they use their hands to pick it up rather than using a fork and knife.
• Their idea of a salad is cabbage shredded with mayonnaise and ketchup as the dressing.
• They make fresh fruit juice, fresco, everyday for lunch and supper.
• Costa Ricans have a coffeebreak every day at 3 P.M.- its called cafecita
• For the nurses/nursing students: all IM shots are given in the butt. They don’t understand when you ask why they don’t give shots in the arm or leg.
• The people let their dogs or cats randomly wander the streets.
• People thing that it is fun to drive as close as they can to the side of the cliff when driving up the mountains.
• There are vendors that walk or drive through the streets selling fruit or vegetables. Some cars have a sound system on top of their car’s roof which advertises what they are selling.
• Electric wires decide to fall down while you wait for the bus.
• There are a ton of TV shows in English and only have Spanish subtitiles.
• Shampoo is way more expensive.
• Kids only go to school for half a day, but only have a few weeks off throughout the year.
• Each family has a nickname. When I tell native people who I live with I have to tell them my family’s nickname because they won’t know who I’m talking about otherwise.
• People pass time hanging out on the front porch. When company comes over, this is where you visit with each other.
• The garage door opens left to right, not up and down.
• Costa Ricans eat gallo pinto (a food made of rice and black beans) EVERY morning for breakfast
• When eating meat, they use their hands to pick it up rather than using a fork and knife.
• Their idea of a salad is cabbage shredded with mayonnaise and ketchup as the dressing.
• They make fresh fruit juice, fresco, everyday for lunch and supper.
• Costa Ricans have a coffeebreak every day at 3 P.M.- its called cafecita
• For the nurses/nursing students: all IM shots are given in the butt. They don’t understand when you ask why they don’t give shots in the arm or leg.
It's been so long...
Following is a blog that I wrote back in June-since I had problems with the internet and did not have access to the internet last week in San Jose...here is a look back into the past.....
Wow! It has been a long time since I’ve blogged…there is so much to say. I can’t even remember so far back because I’ve done and learned so much. But first of all I have to say that the time is flying by. I am halfway over with this experience and I am already starting to feel sad that I will have to leave. Costa Rica is an amazing country- they have everything from waterfalls to volcanoes to some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen! The most fun thing is that the most random things happen here and you never know what is going to happen next. For example, my friend and I were waiting to catch a bus to go see a beach that is about 20 minutes away. While we are waiting at the bus stop there is a semi truck that drives down the road and knocks down a power line. Sparks are flying everywhere! The thing was that the people didn’t even pay attention to what is happening, like it is an everyday occurrence (it’s not).
Last week for our healthcare class we observed nurses in the clinic. It is so different from what I have seen before and so many of their instruments are so outdated, but they still work just fine. I was able to go out with an ATAP to people’s houses and observe his unique job. He goes from house to house documenting people’s names, state of health, any new births or deaths, and gives the people anti-parasite pills so they do not get sick. They way they do things here are so different, but very efficient. The U.S. should learn something from the Costa Ricans.
Random things that happened/I learned last week…
• There was a highly venomous corral snake within inches of my feet during Spanish Class.
• On my way walking home from the bank I was caught in a treacherous storm.
• I realized that Costa Rica has many teenage pregnancies.
• Costa Rican’s do NOT like to exercise, at all.
• It likes to rain almost every afternoon during their winter season (which is now).
Last weekend was the best weekend trip that we have taken in Costa Rica. We rode with our private bus driver, Henry, to a beach in Samara. When we arrived at the beach one of the girls began to barter with a man who was offering to rent us his horses to ride on the beach. She was able to talk him down to about $4 U.S. dollars and we were able to ride for as long as we wanted. It was beautiful while we rode the horses along the beach for about an hour. One of the girl’s horses had a lot of attitude. It tried biting my horse and I almost fell off when my horse started freaking out. A while later I checked to see if the attitude-stricken horse was near me. As soon as I looked back I saw the horse just plop down on the ground, with the girl on its back. I have never seen anything so funny in my life. It’s like it thought “ oh I’ve had enough, I’ll just lie down right here”. I still laugh about it when I think of it.
Later that day we drove up to a small town on the ocean, named Brasilito. We found a hotel right on the beach, and again, got an amazingly cheap deal. I’m so glad that I am with people who can barter! We ate dinner and then went out to a dance club, where most of us learned how to dance the Costa Rican style- which is a mix of salsa and meringue (in my opinion). The next morning I woke up and walked the beach and simply enjoyed the beauty. We then drove to what the tourist books call the most beautiful beach in Costa Rica. It’s named Playa Conchal (translated Shell Beach), which simply had an entire beach of seashells. We moved further on the beach to soft sand and hung out, swam, and relaxed all day. It was perfect.
On Father’s day I felt very sick and pretty much lied in bed all day. The upside was that I was able to read an entire Nicholas Sparks book during that day. I am feeling much better now and am enjoying another week in Costa Rica. This week my group is going into the schools and doing health assessments, including hearing and vision tests, height and weight, and teaching about hand washing and healthy eating. There is a lot to do for Spanish class this week, but it is bearable because I don’t have any classes next week.
I’ll try to do my best to update my blog more often.
Until next time! Pura Vida.
Wow! It has been a long time since I’ve blogged…there is so much to say. I can’t even remember so far back because I’ve done and learned so much. But first of all I have to say that the time is flying by. I am halfway over with this experience and I am already starting to feel sad that I will have to leave. Costa Rica is an amazing country- they have everything from waterfalls to volcanoes to some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen! The most fun thing is that the most random things happen here and you never know what is going to happen next. For example, my friend and I were waiting to catch a bus to go see a beach that is about 20 minutes away. While we are waiting at the bus stop there is a semi truck that drives down the road and knocks down a power line. Sparks are flying everywhere! The thing was that the people didn’t even pay attention to what is happening, like it is an everyday occurrence (it’s not).
Last week for our healthcare class we observed nurses in the clinic. It is so different from what I have seen before and so many of their instruments are so outdated, but they still work just fine. I was able to go out with an ATAP to people’s houses and observe his unique job. He goes from house to house documenting people’s names, state of health, any new births or deaths, and gives the people anti-parasite pills so they do not get sick. They way they do things here are so different, but very efficient. The U.S. should learn something from the Costa Ricans.
Random things that happened/I learned last week…
• There was a highly venomous corral snake within inches of my feet during Spanish Class.
• On my way walking home from the bank I was caught in a treacherous storm.
• I realized that Costa Rica has many teenage pregnancies.
• Costa Rican’s do NOT like to exercise, at all.
• It likes to rain almost every afternoon during their winter season (which is now).
Last weekend was the best weekend trip that we have taken in Costa Rica. We rode with our private bus driver, Henry, to a beach in Samara. When we arrived at the beach one of the girls began to barter with a man who was offering to rent us his horses to ride on the beach. She was able to talk him down to about $4 U.S. dollars and we were able to ride for as long as we wanted. It was beautiful while we rode the horses along the beach for about an hour. One of the girl’s horses had a lot of attitude. It tried biting my horse and I almost fell off when my horse started freaking out. A while later I checked to see if the attitude-stricken horse was near me. As soon as I looked back I saw the horse just plop down on the ground, with the girl on its back. I have never seen anything so funny in my life. It’s like it thought “ oh I’ve had enough, I’ll just lie down right here”. I still laugh about it when I think of it.
Later that day we drove up to a small town on the ocean, named Brasilito. We found a hotel right on the beach, and again, got an amazingly cheap deal. I’m so glad that I am with people who can barter! We ate dinner and then went out to a dance club, where most of us learned how to dance the Costa Rican style- which is a mix of salsa and meringue (in my opinion). The next morning I woke up and walked the beach and simply enjoyed the beauty. We then drove to what the tourist books call the most beautiful beach in Costa Rica. It’s named Playa Conchal (translated Shell Beach), which simply had an entire beach of seashells. We moved further on the beach to soft sand and hung out, swam, and relaxed all day. It was perfect.
On Father’s day I felt very sick and pretty much lied in bed all day. The upside was that I was able to read an entire Nicholas Sparks book during that day. I am feeling much better now and am enjoying another week in Costa Rica. This week my group is going into the schools and doing health assessments, including hearing and vision tests, height and weight, and teaching about hand washing and healthy eating. There is a lot to do for Spanish class this week, but it is bearable because I don’t have any classes next week.
I’ll try to do my best to update my blog more often.
Until next time! Pura Vida.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Where to begin...? I guess I will have to start with last week Sunday. I went to Laguna, which was a small town up in the mountains. My host brother had to fulfill a catechism requirement so we went to a church service in this beautiful park that overlooked the ocean and other mountains. It was so beautiful and the service was fun!
The days of the week went by very fast. I had my spanish class at night from 430 to 730 and it was crazy. Since we had class outside under lights, there were a million bugs surrounding us and then dying on our table. It was really distracting, but entertaining at first watching everyone swatting at these tiny little bugs. We all survived and still had fun. My spanish classes are so much fun...there are 2 different teachers and they both tell drastic lies about each other all the time. They are good friends and supposedly they only speak spanish. They teach in spanish and then if we dont know the words they explain until we do. But all of us students think that at the end they are going to come out and start speaking perfect english. I wouldnt be suprised that they know everything we are talking about when we speak english to each other.
This past weekend we (most of the study abroad girls) went on a weekend trip. One of our program coordinators helped us plan and reserve a hotel for an area called Arenal. This is a place with an active volcano and hot springs. When we arrived on Friday afternoon we were able to pay to get into a hotel that had 20 different hot spring pools with wet bars and slides and waterfalls. When we got to the hotel it started to downpour, but it made the time even more fun because the cold rain and the hot water evened itself out. There was one spring which was about 130 degrees and a bunch of us were able to withstand laying our bodies in the water. It was actually very relaxing. After eating at that hotel, it was dark and our private bus driver took us to the side of the volcano that was spouting lava. Seeing an active volcano was an amazing experience. I cant even describe how in awe I was...incredible.
We went back to our cabins (which were very awesome and beautiful also) and then went to bed. We woke up early the next morning and headed out to a waterfall. It was huge and amazing and indescribible. I sat in the water within 20 feet of the waterfall and took it all in- the mist and beauty of it all. Amazing. Then swam downstream for a while. After that, we ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the park (oh how i miss that food)...and then took a boat across the lake that was next to the volcano. It was great fun until it started downpouring. I started to fall asleep on the boat and then I thought someone was taking a picture and I saw their flash, but NO it was lightning and shortly thereafter extremely loud thunder. It was a little scary.
This morning I woke up and was taken to the restaurant where my host dad works. It was pretty good and the people there were extra nice to me. I had some yummy food and then I went to Monteverde, which is a huge tourist area way up in the mountains. There is a cloud forest and sky walkways and a national reserve. I went with my host family and they took me to a national reserve...I saw the coolest thing. I dont remember its name, but it is an animal that looks like a monkey, but isnt and has a long snout. I saw it up in the tree and watched it climb down within 10 feet of me. It was cool. The rest of the time it was pouring rain, but it was fun. We crossed a hanging bridge and simply enjoyed the natural jungle. Then I ate pizza and it was the best ever! We then drove for forever down the mountain and ended up at an amazing ice cream parlor, which also had humongous dinosaurs made out of rock. It was pretty sweet.
I should get going...I will try to post some pictures next time... Hasta Luego!
The days of the week went by very fast. I had my spanish class at night from 430 to 730 and it was crazy. Since we had class outside under lights, there were a million bugs surrounding us and then dying on our table. It was really distracting, but entertaining at first watching everyone swatting at these tiny little bugs. We all survived and still had fun. My spanish classes are so much fun...there are 2 different teachers and they both tell drastic lies about each other all the time. They are good friends and supposedly they only speak spanish. They teach in spanish and then if we dont know the words they explain until we do. But all of us students think that at the end they are going to come out and start speaking perfect english. I wouldnt be suprised that they know everything we are talking about when we speak english to each other.
This past weekend we (most of the study abroad girls) went on a weekend trip. One of our program coordinators helped us plan and reserve a hotel for an area called Arenal. This is a place with an active volcano and hot springs. When we arrived on Friday afternoon we were able to pay to get into a hotel that had 20 different hot spring pools with wet bars and slides and waterfalls. When we got to the hotel it started to downpour, but it made the time even more fun because the cold rain and the hot water evened itself out. There was one spring which was about 130 degrees and a bunch of us were able to withstand laying our bodies in the water. It was actually very relaxing. After eating at that hotel, it was dark and our private bus driver took us to the side of the volcano that was spouting lava. Seeing an active volcano was an amazing experience. I cant even describe how in awe I was...incredible.
We went back to our cabins (which were very awesome and beautiful also) and then went to bed. We woke up early the next morning and headed out to a waterfall. It was huge and amazing and indescribible. I sat in the water within 20 feet of the waterfall and took it all in- the mist and beauty of it all. Amazing. Then swam downstream for a while. After that, we ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the park (oh how i miss that food)...and then took a boat across the lake that was next to the volcano. It was great fun until it started downpouring. I started to fall asleep on the boat and then I thought someone was taking a picture and I saw their flash, but NO it was lightning and shortly thereafter extremely loud thunder. It was a little scary.
This morning I woke up and was taken to the restaurant where my host dad works. It was pretty good and the people there were extra nice to me. I had some yummy food and then I went to Monteverde, which is a huge tourist area way up in the mountains. There is a cloud forest and sky walkways and a national reserve. I went with my host family and they took me to a national reserve...I saw the coolest thing. I dont remember its name, but it is an animal that looks like a monkey, but isnt and has a long snout. I saw it up in the tree and watched it climb down within 10 feet of me. It was cool. The rest of the time it was pouring rain, but it was fun. We crossed a hanging bridge and simply enjoyed the natural jungle. Then I ate pizza and it was the best ever! We then drove for forever down the mountain and ended up at an amazing ice cream parlor, which also had humongous dinosaurs made out of rock. It was pretty sweet.
I should get going...I will try to post some pictures next time... Hasta Luego!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
We survived ziplining!
This morning was amazing. All of the girls who came to Costa Rica decided that we were going to go ziplining. We talked to our trip leader that lives here in Costa Rica and she got us an amazing deal. We got a horseback ride, ziplining on 25 lines, swimming right next to a waterfall, and lunch for only 55 dollars per person. It was so much cheaper than their usual price.
I will recommend this place to anyone that comes to Costa Rica. It is so very safe and the tour guides are so much fun. At first I was a little nervous because I have a terrible fear of heights, but I honestly felt so safe that I ended up having a blast. We ziplined over 12 different waterfalls and were able to stop and swim at the bottom of one. It was incredibly beautiful!
The horse ride up to the ziplining was a little scary at first since the horses were trying to butt in front of each other. It was not like we had an organized line of horses, it was just a jumble of horses walking on the same path. Then our tour guide made them trot and it was so much fun. Then toward the end of the horse ride there was a steep hill and my horse kept wanting to stop in the middle of the hill. I think I wore him out. He was a good horse, unlike one of my friends horses who tried to bite all of the others. It was a good time...
The whole morning wore me out and I took a really long nap. Then I was going to go out to a karaoke and dancing place up in the mountains with some friends, but instead decided to stay at home with my host family and visit. I showed my host dad the google earth of Wisconsin and where I live and then a little bit later we had a conversation about the history of Costa Rica. Yeah, me who doesnt like history brought up the conversation- because it is interesting and Ive been learning about it in class this past week. It was nice to relax for a night...
Tomorrow morning I am going to Laguna with my host family. I dont even know what it is exactly- all I know is that it is up in the mountains. My host dad tried to explain it to me, but I just nodded my head and pretended to understand his Spanish (but I didnt understand). Sometimes I get tired of trying to listen so hard and intently, so I just pretend I know. It can be funner that way because what we are doing tomorrow will be a suprise for me.
Anyway, I need to get to bed since I have to wake up early again tomorrow. Sweet Dreams!
P.S.- Ill post pictures as soon as I know how....
I will recommend this place to anyone that comes to Costa Rica. It is so very safe and the tour guides are so much fun. At first I was a little nervous because I have a terrible fear of heights, but I honestly felt so safe that I ended up having a blast. We ziplined over 12 different waterfalls and were able to stop and swim at the bottom of one. It was incredibly beautiful!
The horse ride up to the ziplining was a little scary at first since the horses were trying to butt in front of each other. It was not like we had an organized line of horses, it was just a jumble of horses walking on the same path. Then our tour guide made them trot and it was so much fun. Then toward the end of the horse ride there was a steep hill and my horse kept wanting to stop in the middle of the hill. I think I wore him out. He was a good horse, unlike one of my friends horses who tried to bite all of the others. It was a good time...
The whole morning wore me out and I took a really long nap. Then I was going to go out to a karaoke and dancing place up in the mountains with some friends, but instead decided to stay at home with my host family and visit. I showed my host dad the google earth of Wisconsin and where I live and then a little bit later we had a conversation about the history of Costa Rica. Yeah, me who doesnt like history brought up the conversation- because it is interesting and Ive been learning about it in class this past week. It was nice to relax for a night...
Tomorrow morning I am going to Laguna with my host family. I dont even know what it is exactly- all I know is that it is up in the mountains. My host dad tried to explain it to me, but I just nodded my head and pretended to understand his Spanish (but I didnt understand). Sometimes I get tired of trying to listen so hard and intently, so I just pretend I know. It can be funner that way because what we are doing tomorrow will be a suprise for me.
Anyway, I need to get to bed since I have to wake up early again tomorrow. Sweet Dreams!
P.S.- Ill post pictures as soon as I know how....
Friday, May 29, 2009
Another day in paradise
Its been a while. Ive been really busy getting adjusted and spending time with my host family, but I am loving every minute of it. It has been challenging, but a lot of fun. Where to begin...
The first few days with my family were pretty hard since there is such a huge language barrier. I realized that I didnt know as much spanish as I thought. They were very understanding and patient with me, which I am very thankful for. Im now able to communicate a lot better and am able to carry a very basic conversation about my day and what I am planning on doing. It has been very interesting to say the least. I have a host cousin who is about 8 years old and thinks that I am the best thing ever. She tries talking to me and teaching me things withher rapidly chattering spanish, and I do my best to understand. She is so cute- the other day she bought me an icee type thing and then gave me bubblegum and a sucker. Shes my little friend. (by the way, the reason I am not using apostrophes is because I dont know where to find them on a spanish keyboard)
Sunday. I was able to go to the ocean with my friend, Korenas family. The beach was a little bit dirty but it was still very beautiful. I learned how not to get pushed over and drown in the waves. It was pretty crazy. I also met more family and earned the nickname "duck" and it makes me laugh because my aunt Mary used to call me Duckie.
Monday was my first day of classes. The way of teaching here is so much different than in the U.S. I felt like I wasnt in class because we just sat there and had a group discussion about the topic of the day. There was not lecture. Even in Spanish class, all we did was converse in spanish. I learned a lot more than having a lesson or lecture. We have classes outside in a little hut, which only has a roof. It is nice and cool under there- because it is usually in the high 80s and humid everyday. My host mom packs a lunchbox full of fruit for me everyday. They have the best pineapple ever. Then for lunch I come home and have more food. It is crazy.
Tuesday through Thursday are a blur for me. Everyday blends together because it seems like Ive been here for months. During these days I went to a Costa Rican wake because my host dads uncle died of prostate cancer. It was very different and similar to visitations in the U.S. The biggest difference is that the visitation started around 10 PM and went until early the next morning, such as 6 AM. It was crazy, but I didnt stay there for a long time because my host brother was falling asleep standing up. What else? I went swimming inbetween classes on Thursday and got burnt. There is a pool at the place we have school, so we can just jump in whenever we want inbetween classes. Its the life. I also went on a walk with a friend yesterday and saw the most beautiful, hidden stream I have ever seen. I need to go back and take pictures because it is gorgeous. I love the unspoiled beauty of this country!
Anyway, after classes today I was able to go with my friend to a house that had 2 pet monkeys. They were so cute and would hold your hand through the cage. There were also parrot-like birds that would say quiero comida...which means I want food. It was cute. The house that these monkeys belonged to was gorgeous. It looked like a recently built house, but was about 36 years old. After playing with the monkeys for a long time I drove up into the mountains with a friend and her host family. We went down a very steep, scary road and I thought we were going to die. Then we drove way up in the mountain and saw the most beautiful view Ive ever seen. I took a picture or two, but it isnt even close. You could see the ocean and mountains that were part of the bay. I cant even explain. Now I am home writing this and hoping to do something with my friends tonight. I might go out dancing with my friends host sister.
The food here is so delicious. Ive been fed way too much and they actually want me to gain weight before I go home. They think that if I go home skinnier that my parents wont think they fed me. But every morning I have gallo pinto which is rice and beans, every midmorning I have fruit, every noon I have a meat with rice and beans, midafternoon I have coffee and a dessert and at night I have more rice, beans and meat. And thrown in there is food that my family is constantly feeding me. Its crazy. There are somethings that I am learning to love, like avocados with every meal (yum), and new fruits like agucates and mamones. I dont even know how to explain them....they are very different. It has been interesting eating the new food- and thank God I havent gotten sick yet.
I should probably get going. I need to take a nap. Learning all these new things and having a completely different environment to explore is so tiring. As well as the warm weather and having to wake up early everyday. However, I am absolutely loving it here.
As the Costa Ricans say "Pura Vida"
The first few days with my family were pretty hard since there is such a huge language barrier. I realized that I didnt know as much spanish as I thought. They were very understanding and patient with me, which I am very thankful for. Im now able to communicate a lot better and am able to carry a very basic conversation about my day and what I am planning on doing. It has been very interesting to say the least. I have a host cousin who is about 8 years old and thinks that I am the best thing ever. She tries talking to me and teaching me things withher rapidly chattering spanish, and I do my best to understand. She is so cute- the other day she bought me an icee type thing and then gave me bubblegum and a sucker. Shes my little friend. (by the way, the reason I am not using apostrophes is because I dont know where to find them on a spanish keyboard)
Sunday. I was able to go to the ocean with my friend, Korenas family. The beach was a little bit dirty but it was still very beautiful. I learned how not to get pushed over and drown in the waves. It was pretty crazy. I also met more family and earned the nickname "duck" and it makes me laugh because my aunt Mary used to call me Duckie.
Monday was my first day of classes. The way of teaching here is so much different than in the U.S. I felt like I wasnt in class because we just sat there and had a group discussion about the topic of the day. There was not lecture. Even in Spanish class, all we did was converse in spanish. I learned a lot more than having a lesson or lecture. We have classes outside in a little hut, which only has a roof. It is nice and cool under there- because it is usually in the high 80s and humid everyday. My host mom packs a lunchbox full of fruit for me everyday. They have the best pineapple ever. Then for lunch I come home and have more food. It is crazy.
Tuesday through Thursday are a blur for me. Everyday blends together because it seems like Ive been here for months. During these days I went to a Costa Rican wake because my host dads uncle died of prostate cancer. It was very different and similar to visitations in the U.S. The biggest difference is that the visitation started around 10 PM and went until early the next morning, such as 6 AM. It was crazy, but I didnt stay there for a long time because my host brother was falling asleep standing up. What else? I went swimming inbetween classes on Thursday and got burnt. There is a pool at the place we have school, so we can just jump in whenever we want inbetween classes. Its the life. I also went on a walk with a friend yesterday and saw the most beautiful, hidden stream I have ever seen. I need to go back and take pictures because it is gorgeous. I love the unspoiled beauty of this country!
Anyway, after classes today I was able to go with my friend to a house that had 2 pet monkeys. They were so cute and would hold your hand through the cage. There were also parrot-like birds that would say quiero comida...which means I want food. It was cute. The house that these monkeys belonged to was gorgeous. It looked like a recently built house, but was about 36 years old. After playing with the monkeys for a long time I drove up into the mountains with a friend and her host family. We went down a very steep, scary road and I thought we were going to die. Then we drove way up in the mountain and saw the most beautiful view Ive ever seen. I took a picture or two, but it isnt even close. You could see the ocean and mountains that were part of the bay. I cant even explain. Now I am home writing this and hoping to do something with my friends tonight. I might go out dancing with my friends host sister.
The food here is so delicious. Ive been fed way too much and they actually want me to gain weight before I go home. They think that if I go home skinnier that my parents wont think they fed me. But every morning I have gallo pinto which is rice and beans, every midmorning I have fruit, every noon I have a meat with rice and beans, midafternoon I have coffee and a dessert and at night I have more rice, beans and meat. And thrown in there is food that my family is constantly feeding me. Its crazy. There are somethings that I am learning to love, like avocados with every meal (yum), and new fruits like agucates and mamones. I dont even know how to explain them....they are very different. It has been interesting eating the new food- and thank God I havent gotten sick yet.
I should probably get going. I need to take a nap. Learning all these new things and having a completely different environment to explore is so tiring. As well as the warm weather and having to wake up early everyday. However, I am absolutely loving it here.
As the Costa Ricans say "Pura Vida"
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