Well there certainly is never a dull moment in Costa Rica.
I had just settled down in a hammock for the night with a book, pajamas and everything, when tribal music started playing out of nowhere. It startled quite a few of us so naturally we went looking for the source, soon realizing that it was coming from the back door in our bedroom. We've known since we moved in that there was a shop on the other side of the door, and several people come in and out throughout the day, which we haven't really been able to come up with an explanation for but have rather learned to accept it as just another quirky way of life here.
So about 10 of us, some ACI volunteers and others travelers we have befriended at the hostel, were all crowded behind the door trying to see through the cracks and eventually decided to open the door slightly just to see what was going on. Someone must have seen because next thing I knew, we were being pulled into the room and handed leis, party horns, and beer.
It gets better.
Just past the crowd of people there was a group of tribal dancers - feathers, masks, drums, the whole set. We were pulled into their circle and spent the next hour dancing with them. Eventually they left, salsa music came on, and we proudly showed off our new dancing abilities with the remaining partygoers.
It wasn't until I headed back that I realized I was still in my pajamas.
Other than tonight, it had been a fairly relaxed day. We all slept very late after going to a local dance club, Rapsodia Lounge, last night; it was too crowded there and very exhausting. I spent most of the day with Silvia, walking around Avenida Central, going to lunch, and then stopping at Auto Mercado for some fruit. We came back and read for a few hours and then were cooked dinner by a girl and guy from Mexico who are staying at the hostel and we have been going out with pretty frequently.
Our classes start up again in the morning and I had planned on going to bed early but the party is still hopping on the other side of the wall, so I might as well go back.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
You Make the Rain Fall
It's a lazy Saturday in Ticolandia, the first since I arrived that I haven't had to anything scheduled... and I've needed it! We got back to the hostel around 3:30 yesterday afternoon and I went straight to sleep, barely even waking up until 9 this morning. It must have been an even longer week than I thought.
Several volunteers headed off to the beach in Jaco very early this morning, and most of those remaining left to go see a nearby volcano shortly after. They woke me up several times begging me to come along, but I was partially comatose and only regained consciousness for long enough to tell them to shut up and let me go back to sleep. Therefore, I would like to take this opporunity to extend an apology to a certain Brit whose accent I may or may not have rudely imitated this morning. I love you, Silvia!
After I got up, I headed over to the cafe at el Teatro Nacional (the National Theater) for iced cappuccino. Then I took a taxi to the Multiplaza in Escazu, the Tysons Galleria of San Jose, and spent a few hours wandering around. I found an international bookstore and stocked up on enough reading material to last at least a month... I hope. Had lunch at an Italian restaurant there then headed back into San Jose, crossing the street to the hostel just as the first drops of the afternoon rain began to fall. Now I'm sitting on the front porch reading a book and watching the rain, waiting for the volcano crowd to get back.
That's pretty much it! Tomorrow should be more of the same before we start another week of classes on Monday, our last week before we move in with our host families. Can't wait!
Several volunteers headed off to the beach in Jaco very early this morning, and most of those remaining left to go see a nearby volcano shortly after. They woke me up several times begging me to come along, but I was partially comatose and only regained consciousness for long enough to tell them to shut up and let me go back to sleep. Therefore, I would like to take this opporunity to extend an apology to a certain Brit whose accent I may or may not have rudely imitated this morning. I love you, Silvia!
After I got up, I headed over to the cafe at el Teatro Nacional (the National Theater) for iced cappuccino. Then I took a taxi to the Multiplaza in Escazu, the Tysons Galleria of San Jose, and spent a few hours wandering around. I found an international bookstore and stocked up on enough reading material to last at least a month... I hope. Had lunch at an Italian restaurant there then headed back into San Jose, crossing the street to the hostel just as the first drops of the afternoon rain began to fall. Now I'm sitting on the front porch reading a book and watching the rain, waiting for the volcano crowd to get back.
That's pretty much it! Tomorrow should be more of the same before we start another week of classes on Monday, our last week before we move in with our host families. Can't wait!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Cansada.
Just finished my 15th hour of Spanish classes this week. My brain is dangerously close to losing its ability to function properly.
In the past few days, our schedule has become increasingly busy. We leave every morning around 8 to be at Spanish school by 9. Lessons go until noon, when we have a one hour lunch break. Then ACI talks to us about safety/host families/expectations etc. for an hour or two. After this we usually have a social event planned.
On Wednesday night, we had a dance class at the ACI office where we were taught the basic steps of salsa, merengue, and cumbia. Many a foot was stepped on due to space limitations and the dancing ability of most of the German boys... or lack thereof. Nevertheless, we're all looking forward to part 2 next week.
After dance class, I went with a few girls to el cine (the movie theater) to see El Origen, the Spanish version of Inception. The movie itself was in English with Spanish subtitles, which is how you will find most movies shown in Costa Rica. The real shock came when we only had to pay 1,000 colones per ticket - about $1.98 USD.
Yesterday after class, we took a trip to the police station to start our visa applications and got police reports so that they could make sure we hadn't committed crimes since we entered the country. Today we will go back to have our fingerprints taken. As Guillermo, one of the program coordinators for ACI, would say: This country is centered around stupid paperwork.
Last night, we went to a going away party for Isaac, a Costa Rican who is going abroad through ACI. It was held at a bar called Caccio on Calle de la Amargura in San Pedro. It was a pretty late night, so we're all going to a nearby cafe for cappuccino before the afternoon starts.
In the past few days, our schedule has become increasingly busy. We leave every morning around 8 to be at Spanish school by 9. Lessons go until noon, when we have a one hour lunch break. Then ACI talks to us about safety/host families/expectations etc. for an hour or two. After this we usually have a social event planned.
On Wednesday night, we had a dance class at the ACI office where we were taught the basic steps of salsa, merengue, and cumbia. Many a foot was stepped on due to space limitations and the dancing ability of most of the German boys... or lack thereof. Nevertheless, we're all looking forward to part 2 next week.
After dance class, I went with a few girls to el cine (the movie theater) to see El Origen, the Spanish version of Inception. The movie itself was in English with Spanish subtitles, which is how you will find most movies shown in Costa Rica. The real shock came when we only had to pay 1,000 colones per ticket - about $1.98 USD.
Yesterday after class, we took a trip to the police station to start our visa applications and got police reports so that they could make sure we hadn't committed crimes since we entered the country. Today we will go back to have our fingerprints taken. As Guillermo, one of the program coordinators for ACI, would say: This country is centered around stupid paperwork.
Last night, we went to a going away party for Isaac, a Costa Rican who is going abroad through ACI. It was held at a bar called Caccio on Calle de la Amargura in San Pedro. It was a pretty late night, so we're all going to a nearby cafe for cappuccino before the afternoon starts.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Los Hombres son Perros
I love my host family!!!!!
My host sister and her husband picked me up at the hostel around 9 last night and took me out for drinks at a local bar. I never would have known it was there; we had to walk through the first floor of what seemed to be a completely empty building and enter through a back staircase, but sure enough there it was, a very quirky bar called Retro. All around were displays of original retro American toys like G.I. Joe, Barbie, and Monopoly. My host-brother-in-law (is that what he is?) explained that he is opening a small bar with a similar vibe in the town where I will be living. We didn't stay for long but I can already tell that we will get along very well!
We had a long 3 hour Spanish class this morning followed by a short lecture from the ACI staff on our projects. Even though we finished early, the afternoon rain had already come so I opted to head back to the hostel alone rather than stay out with the other volunteers. This meant some hot water for my shower (HUGE smiley face goes here) and some quiet time, so now I am happily sitting in my bunk with the jar of Nutella I bought with Silvia yesterday, a spoon, and Spanish notes to study.
On second thought, maybe a nap would be better...
My host sister and her husband picked me up at the hostel around 9 last night and took me out for drinks at a local bar. I never would have known it was there; we had to walk through the first floor of what seemed to be a completely empty building and enter through a back staircase, but sure enough there it was, a very quirky bar called Retro. All around were displays of original retro American toys like G.I. Joe, Barbie, and Monopoly. My host-brother-in-law (is that what he is?) explained that he is opening a small bar with a similar vibe in the town where I will be living. We didn't stay for long but I can already tell that we will get along very well!
We had a long 3 hour Spanish class this morning followed by a short lecture from the ACI staff on our projects. Even though we finished early, the afternoon rain had already come so I opted to head back to the hostel alone rather than stay out with the other volunteers. This meant some hot water for my shower (HUGE smiley face goes here) and some quiet time, so now I am happily sitting in my bunk with the jar of Nutella I bought with Silvia yesterday, a spoon, and Spanish notes to study.
On second thought, maybe a nap would be better...
Monday, August 23, 2010
Panaderia
Today marks the end of my first week in Costa Rica. I was surprised to realize that this morning because to be completely honest it feels like it has been more like a month. Many of the other volunteers agree with me, as more and more we can't even remember how we spent our last few weeks in our home countries. Costa Rica has certainly become our way of life.
We had our first day of Spanish class today at the New Learning Academy in Guadalupe. This was a good thing, because I found I've been learning more German in the last week than Spanish (kaputt = broken, jawohl! = what you yell when you win at beer pong, and kater = the hangover you have the next morning) and I still can't get through a conversation with the hostel manager without using funny hand gestures. We took a placement test and were divided into classes. I was somehow not surprised to find that I was the only person in mine who doesn't speak fluent German. Our teacher was very nice and didn't assign us any homework so the next two weeks should be plenty of fun.
After class, we went to a local market that had mostly handmade things like leather sandals and wood carvings. I got a shoulder bag so that I don't have to carry my backpack everywhere and can maybe even make it to the bus stop without a local shouting "Gringo!" after me. After, we were completely exhausted so I went to a local panaderia (bakery) with Elke from Austria and Jasmin from Switzerland where we had some very good pastries.
When I returned to the hostel, I had a phone message from someone named Carlos. I called him back, and he turned out to be my host sister's husband; they were on their way with my host mom to San Jose and wanted to know if they could come meet me. I said of course! So in about an hour they will be here. I'm so excited! Everyone else staying in the hostel is very jealous because they still have to wait almost two weeks to meet their host families. But I've told them I'm willing to share for the time being.
We had our first day of Spanish class today at the New Learning Academy in Guadalupe. This was a good thing, because I found I've been learning more German in the last week than Spanish (kaputt = broken, jawohl! = what you yell when you win at beer pong, and kater = the hangover you have the next morning) and I still can't get through a conversation with the hostel manager without using funny hand gestures. We took a placement test and were divided into classes. I was somehow not surprised to find that I was the only person in mine who doesn't speak fluent German. Our teacher was very nice and didn't assign us any homework so the next two weeks should be plenty of fun.
After class, we went to a local market that had mostly handmade things like leather sandals and wood carvings. I got a shoulder bag so that I don't have to carry my backpack everywhere and can maybe even make it to the bus stop without a local shouting "Gringo!" after me. After, we were completely exhausted so I went to a local panaderia (bakery) with Elke from Austria and Jasmin from Switzerland where we had some very good pastries.
When I returned to the hostel, I had a phone message from someone named Carlos. I called him back, and he turned out to be my host sister's husband; they were on their way with my host mom to San Jose and wanted to know if they could come meet me. I said of course! So in about an hour they will be here. I'm so excited! Everyone else staying in the hostel is very jealous because they still have to wait almost two weeks to meet their host families. But I've told them I'm willing to share for the time being.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Where's Chad?
Just got back to the hostel a couple hours ago. We're all completely exhausted; training camp was almost too much fun!
We stayed in a small cabin-style hotel on the coast in Puntarenas. It was pretty cramped, but we're all so comfortable with each other at this point that no one really noticed. The ACI staff spent a good deal of time talking to us during the day, but at 7 PM the music went on and the entire camp became one big fiesta. Costa Ricans certainly know how to party, but factor in 25 Germans and things get pretty crazy... in a good way, of course.
Then there came the downside.
Every afternoon, without failure, the skies would open up and down came the rain. However, this was not just any rain that you would find in the United States. For hours upon hours, it would pour and pour until we were sitting on one giant lake. This was a ton of fun the first time it happened, and we all went dancing in the rain and jumped in the pool fully clothed. But the camp had terrible drainage problems, and the mud became so bad that by the end of the first night at least half of us had given up on shoes altogether. (As a result, my feet now seem to be permanently dyed a dark brownish black color... but at least I saved my shoes, right?) Almost everyone ended up running out of clean clothes, so after a long bus ride in damp shorts and muddy T shirts, we were all more than happy to be back in out cozy hostel.
Spanish lessons begin at 9 AM tomorrow, followed by ACI-led classes in the afternoon. We have started to learn our way around the city on foot and by bus and no longer need Jorge to get to and from our meeting points. Once we really do get the hang of it, though, we'll be on our way to new towns where we'll have to learn all over again...
We stayed in a small cabin-style hotel on the coast in Puntarenas. It was pretty cramped, but we're all so comfortable with each other at this point that no one really noticed. The ACI staff spent a good deal of time talking to us during the day, but at 7 PM the music went on and the entire camp became one big fiesta. Costa Ricans certainly know how to party, but factor in 25 Germans and things get pretty crazy... in a good way, of course.
Then there came the downside.
Every afternoon, without failure, the skies would open up and down came the rain. However, this was not just any rain that you would find in the United States. For hours upon hours, it would pour and pour until we were sitting on one giant lake. This was a ton of fun the first time it happened, and we all went dancing in the rain and jumped in the pool fully clothed. But the camp had terrible drainage problems, and the mud became so bad that by the end of the first night at least half of us had given up on shoes altogether. (As a result, my feet now seem to be permanently dyed a dark brownish black color... but at least I saved my shoes, right?) Almost everyone ended up running out of clean clothes, so after a long bus ride in damp shorts and muddy T shirts, we were all more than happy to be back in out cozy hostel.
Spanish lessons begin at 9 AM tomorrow, followed by ACI-led classes in the afternoon. We have started to learn our way around the city on foot and by bus and no longer need Jorge to get to and from our meeting points. Once we really do get the hang of it, though, we'll be on our way to new towns where we'll have to learn all over again...
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Pictures!
Finally got a chance to put a couple pictures up... the internet is pretty slow at the hostel so it took forever!
The hostel we are staying at
Inside the hostel
Down the street
City with the mountains in the background
View from a rooftop courtyard
Hasta luego!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Avenida 14
Gooooood morning San Jose!
Had a great day yesterday exploring the city. Jorge showed us how to get to the National Theater, which will be our meeting point for the next couple weeks. San Jose, however, is not an easy city to navigate, and I can't quite find it by myself yet. Thankfully I do know that our hostel is on Avenida 14. Street signs are very rare here, but we are lucky enough to be located on a corner that has one.
Also yesterday, Jorge took me to the mall in Escazu, one of the more upscale parts of San Jose, to buy a cell phone. (I'm really starting to wonder what I would do without this kid.) This was a complicated process. First we went to a store and I picked out my phone, the cheapest one they had. Then we had to go to the bank, where we were heavily screened at a security checkpoint, and waited for about 10 minutes before being called into an office. I decided on a calling card for 10,000 colones (about $20), then was directed to another desk where I presented my passport and paid for the card. So I now have a Costa Rican cell phone number, which is 001 506 8784 2939 if you're calling internationally... which is very expensive so I wouldn't recommend it.
After we were done getting the phone, we came back to the hostel where Jasmin, another volunteer from Switzerland, was waiting. By then it was already dark, but she and I went for a short walk before coming back and getting ready for bed. Over the next 2 hours, 6 more volunteers came from Germany, Austria, England, France, the US, and another from Switzerland. Language hasn't been a problem; to my surprise, everyone here speaks fluent English.
Got up around 7 this morning and went running with Dakota, the other American, and then came back for an icy shower, which actually felt surprisingly good. We're expecting Jorge around 10 to take the entire group for a city tour and to show us how to use the public buses. This should be interesting.
Had a great day yesterday exploring the city. Jorge showed us how to get to the National Theater, which will be our meeting point for the next couple weeks. San Jose, however, is not an easy city to navigate, and I can't quite find it by myself yet. Thankfully I do know that our hostel is on Avenida 14. Street signs are very rare here, but we are lucky enough to be located on a corner that has one.
Also yesterday, Jorge took me to the mall in Escazu, one of the more upscale parts of San Jose, to buy a cell phone. (I'm really starting to wonder what I would do without this kid.) This was a complicated process. First we went to a store and I picked out my phone, the cheapest one they had. Then we had to go to the bank, where we were heavily screened at a security checkpoint, and waited for about 10 minutes before being called into an office. I decided on a calling card for 10,000 colones (about $20), then was directed to another desk where I presented my passport and paid for the card. So I now have a Costa Rican cell phone number, which is 001 506 8784 2939 if you're calling internationally... which is very expensive so I wouldn't recommend it.
After we were done getting the phone, we came back to the hostel where Jasmin, another volunteer from Switzerland, was waiting. By then it was already dark, but she and I went for a short walk before coming back and getting ready for bed. Over the next 2 hours, 6 more volunteers came from Germany, Austria, England, France, the US, and another from Switzerland. Language hasn't been a problem; to my surprise, everyone here speaks fluent English.
Got up around 7 this morning and went running with Dakota, the other American, and then came back for an icy shower, which actually felt surprisingly good. We're expecting Jorge around 10 to take the entire group for a city tour and to show us how to use the public buses. This should be interesting.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Pura vida!
Saludos de Costa Rica!
As I write this, I am laying in a hammock in the common room of our hostel in downtown San Jose. It's only 7 AM here, but I've already been up for a full hour, and with the exception of Chad, the only other ICYE volunteer who's arrived so far and a fellow American, I was the last person in our room of 12 to get out of bed. (As far as I know, he's still out cold.)
I arrived at Juan Santamaria airport yesterday around 1:30 and was met outside by two respresentatives from ACI, the local branch of ICYE. They drove me to the ACI office in San Jose, where Chad had already been waiting for a couple hours. All of the Americans who are traveling abroad through ICYE this year met in July at our training weekend in Boston, so we already knew each other; Katie and Dakota are the other two girls from the US coming to Costa Rica and both should be getting in tonight (yay!!).
After hanging out with the ACI staff for a while, we met with Jorge, a local university student who volunteers through ICYE and will be our guide for the next couple days. Jorge brought us back to the hostel in a cab, and then took us out for a short tour. We walked for a little while, and then hopped in a cab and drove across town to a bar, where I was able to drink because the legal age here is 18. Around 7, we headed back to the hostel for dinner and soon after I was ready to crash, since I had left my house at 4 AM Costa Rican time.
Now I'm just waiting for the manager to unlock the gates for the day so that I can go for a walk around the neighborhood. I'm sure that she would let me out if I asked, but I have no idea how to say that in Spanish and we already tried to have a conversation about coffee earlier this morning that didn't go too well language barrier-wise. But I still have plenty of time, because Jorge doesn't come to pick us up until 10 for our day of sightseeing.
I'm eyeing a computer over in the corner that looks like it may have been made in 1995, but may have a USB port for me to upload pictures. We'll see.
As I write this, I am laying in a hammock in the common room of our hostel in downtown San Jose. It's only 7 AM here, but I've already been up for a full hour, and with the exception of Chad, the only other ICYE volunteer who's arrived so far and a fellow American, I was the last person in our room of 12 to get out of bed. (As far as I know, he's still out cold.)
I arrived at Juan Santamaria airport yesterday around 1:30 and was met outside by two respresentatives from ACI, the local branch of ICYE. They drove me to the ACI office in San Jose, where Chad had already been waiting for a couple hours. All of the Americans who are traveling abroad through ICYE this year met in July at our training weekend in Boston, so we already knew each other; Katie and Dakota are the other two girls from the US coming to Costa Rica and both should be getting in tonight (yay!!).
After hanging out with the ACI staff for a while, we met with Jorge, a local university student who volunteers through ICYE and will be our guide for the next couple days. Jorge brought us back to the hostel in a cab, and then took us out for a short tour. We walked for a little while, and then hopped in a cab and drove across town to a bar, where I was able to drink because the legal age here is 18. Around 7, we headed back to the hostel for dinner and soon after I was ready to crash, since I had left my house at 4 AM Costa Rican time.
Now I'm just waiting for the manager to unlock the gates for the day so that I can go for a walk around the neighborhood. I'm sure that she would let me out if I asked, but I have no idea how to say that in Spanish and we already tried to have a conversation about coffee earlier this morning that didn't go too well language barrier-wise. But I still have plenty of time, because Jorge doesn't come to pick us up until 10 for our day of sightseeing.
I'm eyeing a computer over in the corner that looks like it may have been made in 1995, but may have a USB port for me to upload pictures. We'll see.
Monday, August 9, 2010
My Other Car is a Tank
Hey guys!
Until today, I hadn't planned or wanted to keep a blog while living abroad for the next 6 months, especially since I'm not bringing my laptop with me. However, I know that there are a lot of you who want to stay updated so I finally broke down and set this up... I'm not sure how often I'll have access to the internet but we'll see how it goes!
For everyone who doesn't know, I'm volunteering through a program called United Planet (www.unitedplanet.org) which sends volunteers from the US and Canada all over the world. I'll be living with a host family in Coronado de Osa, a town in the province of Puntarenas, and working at the local Centro de Nutrición y Desarrollo Infantil, a daycare center which provides food and preschool education to children from low-income families.
I leave one week from today! It's crazy how the summer has flown by but I'm far past excited to leave. Just crossing my fingers that the Costa Rican consulate sends my authenticated background check in time so that I can get my visa!
I still need to buy bug spray, too.
Until today, I hadn't planned or wanted to keep a blog while living abroad for the next 6 months, especially since I'm not bringing my laptop with me. However, I know that there are a lot of you who want to stay updated so I finally broke down and set this up... I'm not sure how often I'll have access to the internet but we'll see how it goes!
For everyone who doesn't know, I'm volunteering through a program called United Planet (www.unitedplanet.org) which sends volunteers from the US and Canada all over the world. I'll be living with a host family in Coronado de Osa, a town in the province of Puntarenas, and working at the local Centro de Nutrición y Desarrollo Infantil, a daycare center which provides food and preschool education to children from low-income families.
I leave one week from today! It's crazy how the summer has flown by but I'm far past excited to leave. Just crossing my fingers that the Costa Rican consulate sends my authenticated background check in time so that I can get my visa!
I still need to buy bug spray, too.
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