Limon

¡Hola amigos! Sorry it has been a while since my last entry, things are finally starting to settle down here. Last weekend we went to the Caribbean province of Limon. It was absolutely a wonderful experience. The way of life is so much more relaxed there. We also happened to be there on the weekend of independece day so there were desfiles (parades) and wonderful traditions. The night before independence day everyone makes these little lanterns that they have a parade at night with, and they all sing the national anthem. On our way to Limon we stopped at a coffee plantation and also at a del monte banana plantation. Ask me about it sometimes, i have too many thoughts, and not enought time right now! In limon it was warm and wonderful and we went to the beach, and i swam in the ocean for the first time which was fantastic, but i did get hit by one giant wave and the salt water burned my throat, eyes, and nose for about fifteen minutes. It was not very pleasant!

Classes have been going well, i enjoy learning another perspective on a part of the world that i have not learned very much about. Tonight my friends and i are going to an Asian restaraunt and later we are going to the National Theater to hear some mozart. It is going to be a wonderful time i expect!

I do not have my camera on me now, i am at an internet cafe, but i am going to upload some pictures onto my computer, and then i will go where they have wireless to try and get some pictures up.

I am having a wonderful time and i will hopefully be writing again soon! ¡Ciao!

Felix

So, hurricane felix is right near costa rica, so we are getting pounded with rain! Today was my first day of classes at the language institute, it should be interesting. We are there for three hours in the afternoon, one and a half hours is grammar, and the other half conversation. So far it has been good, but my head hurts from listening and trying to understand all the spanish! My weekends seem to be pretty clear, my brother and sister are always out, and my parents usually have plans too. I really want a hamburger. They don´t eat a lot of meat here, and last night i almost cried because i wanted a hamburger. Tonight i have to interview my family and it is going to be hard because it is difficult in general to communicate in general. Well, it has only been a week, but things are going pretty smoothly. We all take the bus together in the afternoon so it is not bad. Anyways, i dont have a lot of time left after answering e mails, but just know that all is going well.

San Jose

Hola amigos! Right now i am at an internet cafe in the capital city of san jose. it is raining like crazy right now, but i love it. There are so many shops, street vendors, amazing bread stores, and awesome tourist attractions. This morning i went to the museo del oro precolombino. I have never seen so much gold in one place. The bus system is pretty easy to figure out, luckily i live only a couple of blocks from the place where we have our main classes in the morning, so i can walk there and then we can all take the bus to ILE, the language institute for our classes. I have a lot of pictures, but i need to use my laptop to upload them, but luckily i will have them up by next week, there is a mcdonalds in san jose with free wifi. I am living outside of san jose in the barrio el carmen de guadalupe. It is a nicer place to live apparently, but my family is poorer than most based on conversations we have had about what we have eaten and done with our families. My dad drives a truck and my mom is a stay at home mom. I have a 19 year old sister stephanie, who is hilarious, and with whom i share a room, and a 20 year old brother Johan. They are all very sweet and very patient with me and my limited spanish speaking capabilities. The people here are great, i am sure it is going to be a great semester. I went to a debate at one of our professors church last night about TLC or telecommunications, which is a major referrendum coming up in october or november i believe about privatizing telecommunications here in Costa Rica. It is hard to sit through debates sometimes in english, so just imagine trying to listen to advanced spanish!

Well, i am hoping to be able to update this thing maybe like once a week, but i can´t make any promises. Costa Rica is a beautiful country and i am so excited that while most of you are in class, that i will be traveling somewhere! Ha Ha! Okay, well, i love you all and miss you, and hopefully i will be able to put some pictures on facebook soon. Adios amigos! Pura Vida!