Day 2

January 28, 2007

Day 2 En Costa Rica. AY CARAMBA! My Brain is having much trouble switching back and fourth between Spanish and English. We took a drive today to try and find the end of the rainbow, but guess what. We didn’t find it. Driving here is a gas. I think the ‘velocidad maxima’ on every road is at least 80 and on small curvy 2 lane roads with no lines and sometimes not enough room for 2 cars to pass, I think the limit must be about 150, horn used often when flying around blind curves to let the other cars know to burry into the mountain to get out of the way. But that’s just suggested of course. Costa Ricans take their round abouts seriously too, there’s no messing around about it. I think they prefer that to traffic lights, and I’d say that everyone here probably drives 50 times better than anyone in the U.S.

I’m getting along in my Spanish, but I’m still kind of out of it from the “Jet Lag” even though technically Costa Rica is only one hour away from home sweet home. I fell asleep on our little Sunday drive to the Waterfalls, only to find when I woke up, I couldn’t remember Spanish. Guess I’ll have to stop sleeping.

Tomorrow they’re going to show me the bus route to the school. Addresses here are given from a familiar location, and distance from that, there are no numbers on the houses, or street names. So I live 100 meters south and 50 meters east of the Casa Cural. Cool huh? I also hear that Brian and a guy, Steven from St. Olaf live nearby, so I’ll look forward to having a bus riding buddy.

I met some of the other ACM kids from St. Olaf in the airport, and upon our arrival, the locals wasted no time in letting us know that we’re gringos. Or when the family refers to me they say “la estudiante extrañjera” which means the foreign student (and makes me much less defensive). I hate to admit that I stand out like a sore thumb….but well being tall and not having black hair has a lot to do with it. Other than that, I’d say I just dress a little more conservatively than the average woman walking down the street, and I hope to start blending in better. The man at the restaurant insisted in speaking to me in English even though I replied back in my rugged Spanish, because he could tell I’m American.

In the 24 hours that I’ve been here I’ve already met 5 other members of my host father’s family and one of them, Henry (el cochero- the driver) is the one whose expert racing skills took us to a waterfall site and back. Unfortunately when we got there, they told us that it starts raining in the afternoon and you can’t see to take pictures, so we’re going to try this adventure again next weekend. Apparently something is up with the alarm system on their car too so when you start it up it sounds like an ambulance, and frequently if you take a corner too sharp the car starts chirping. This car could compete with Bonnie!

Costa Ricans love to eat. They like to eat a lot and they like to eat often. We ate a large meal of arroz con (rice with) whatever at a restaurant at about 5 and then promptly on returning to the house at 7:30 we ate arroz con pollo (chicken) again. And man do I love that coffee!!! These people also have a great sense of humor. We were munching on some sort of chip-like items with mild spice, at the waterfall stop, and Henry says, hey will you pass that Styrofoam over here? I guess it sounds funnier in Spanish. I’m also glad that my host mother, Ligia, likes spicy food, I was worried. My dad warned me that food in Central America is bland, but I am saved by bottles of hot sauce!
I’m told that there is a dog, but I haven’t had the opportunity to meet her yet, and tomorrow, I have to catch the bus at 7 so I guess I’d better get in my 7 minute shower and go to bed!

Overall, Costa Rica is beautiful, and as soon as I wake up from this reverie that I’m in I’ll be able to tell you more and better how AWESOME it is!!!! Hasta Luego y Pura Vida!