Jungles, Crocodiles and Volcanoes OH MY!

After this weekend I now know why Costa Rica is one of the biggest tourist destinations. The stuff we saw was beautiful and they cater to Americans like none other. I could have gone the whole weekend without speaking a lick of Spanish.

Friday we went on a zip-line through the canopy. I wouldn’t say I was disappointed but it was not what I imagined. I think the problem rooted in the fact that I have no fear of heights so no thrill was present. Also I imagined zooming through desolate forest and seeing wildlife all around me. It turns out that I had quite the wrong image of the jungle. I blame this on Animal Planet. I expected a rainbow of colors, snakes hanging from branches, and monkeys swinging between trees. This was more like a really green forest.

So once I stopped being a stupid American it was GREAT! We zipped through the air on eight different cables. The guides running it were super friendly and fun. There were times when we would transfer lines in the middle of the woods so you just stopped on a tree fort on a massive tree! The highlight however may have been the ride back to the top. We all piled in the back of a pickup with benches and a bar in the middle to hold on to. They told you to hold onto the bar so for the most part we all laid a hand on it. Then the instructor climbed in and connected his harness to the bar… And then we all flew six inches off our seats. Then we grabbed on for real. Our professor’s daughter, Quinn, had to be held down.

That same day we drove down to a river that according to National Geographic has the most crocodiles. And oh the crocodiles we did see. Large ones, fat ones, baby ones, old ones. We also saw a ton of birds including Scarlet Macaws. I kinda forgot those actually existed out of the zoo. My favorite was a Spoon billed pink one. So the closest I got to a crocodile was like 4 feet and I was like this is unbelievable, then the guide got out of the boat with some chicken cutlets and fed this giant like 18 foot crocodile (Interestign fact Crocodiles never stop growing) . His hand was like in the mouth, I was impressed.

I hit the sack early Friday night to get ready for our VOLCANO adventure. We stopped in San Ramon to pick up the students there and they went on the trip with us. It was fun to compare programs. I decided after talking to them that I definitely made the right descion. Sam Ramon is a bustling town with lots of people and cars, it is like 20 degrees colder and a lot of people just speak English. They could not believe that we had no hot water, no air conditioning but did have cockroaches. I felt tough haha. (I will post pictures of my room soon ;) )

So we visit a beautiful city at the base of the Arenal Volcano which is an active volcano that spews lava almost every night. Our night was cloudy though. We ate lunch and visited all the shops. Which were mostly souvenir shops that all had the same t-shirts, magnets and dresses.  I don’t know how they all stay in business. I did try an avocado smoothie though. Delicious.

We checked into our hotel which was top of  the line. We all stayed in little cabins, there was an outdoor pool and hottub with a waterfall and our towels were folded into swans. We visited the Baldi hot springs which was a trip I may not have chosen. Super hot like 150 degree water when it is already like 80 out… We all wanted cold springs. But there were water slides, swim up restaurants, and lots of temperatures to try. We also got a buffet dinner that was delicious but consisted of still beans and rice. When they say typical food of Costa Rica they mean the food of Costa Rica.

We spent the night partying at the pool and being crazy college kids who think that sleep isn’t cool but we all made it on time to the bus for the hanging bridges. And this trip is top of the list right now. We kind of all started out together but ended up finding the people who had the same priorites. So Casey, Marcela, and I walked on every path and stopped to observe everything sweet. Even the super hard working little ants. The one thing that was super sweet that I was not able to get a picture of was a Toucan. He looked nothing  like the fruit loops box  though….

This is actually a hummingbird. I guess they don't have to work as hard as in North America. 

some kind of racoon, I was really hoping it was in the monkey family.

The bus ride back was also very exciting. I think the driver was ready to be home and tried to leave with out every one several times and was like flying around curves in the mountains. We were all feeling a little nauseas when we reached Puntarenas and frightened from the four near misses. I had a fabulous weekend.

Puntarenas!

This is my house. The two story yellow part is where my hermosa (sister) her husband and child live. We share a garage and my house is on the left.

This is the Road along the ocean that my school building is on. It is called Paseo de turistas (Path for Tourists). From what I have gathered Puntarenas is a huge tourist town but it must be mainly for inland Costa Ricans. Cause overall it is not that breathtaking. The warm weather and water spoils me but the quality is a the dirty grimy city. It is not a destination vacation for other travelers.

My school building. The picture is taken from a small park cross the road and you are on the BEACH! 

A typical street. Everything is behind bars and fences, landscaping is not a top priority. They are cleaning and sweeping the streets all the time though. I don't know yet if it is like just that time of year or if it is a frequent occurrence. Either way there currently is lots of trash...

 This is the busiest street! There is about three stop lights a little further down but in general there are no signs. We were told a red light in Costa Rica means yield slightly. haha. Traffic is so light here though that violations really don't cause any problems. They warned us several time that traffic has the right of way not pedestrians like in the United States. Apparently Houghton didn't get that memo.

Travel with Purpose

I started having a… we will call it a “Becky Moment”. I was all concerned about not learning Spanish, not doing stuff yet and feeling like I didn’t have a purpose. I go through one of these episodes every now and then usually when my life changes and have learned that’s when I have to be proactive and start doing stuff.

            Luckily this same day I had Travel with Purpose/ Ecotourism Class. The class was a little overwhelming, it is a lot different in an atmosphere of all girls. Now I am going to make some generalities here but typically women are a lot more detail oriented and well they were just that. Our very energetic and excited teacher from the United States was telling us about the topic and the rough outline of the course. Immediately they all wipped out planners and needed times and locations and dates and had too much information to input for their own good. I found it mostly entertaining but at the end wished that we may have accomplished something.

            But the happy ending to this story I found a daycare that I can volunteer at! Just around the corner from my school there are also a few school aged children that would like to learn Spanish. We also have opportunities to clean the beach, help an wildlife rescue and visit a ecotourism place. A very good answer to prayer!

The work begins...

The first day of classes (yesterday) went well. I have a cinema class, and turns out all the people in the class really like movies.  I just vote George Clooney all the way. The teacher is really nice and makes lots or jokes, at one point I was laughing so hard I almost cried. And then he says ¨¨OO the German likes that one¨¨ in Spanish of course. But now I am affectionately called the German. 

I went home for lunch and had plantain, which are deep fried green bananas with like refried black beans on top. It was delicious, but slows you down. With this heat I would think their diet would consist of more light and fresh foods but so far I am loving the food. For dinner we had hamburgers. Turns out eating a hamburger with a tortilla is actually a preferable way to do it here. They call it a hamburger de ticos. I also went to the market today with my madre and she had a great time telling everyone about my allergy.  And they would all laugh when she told them I can´t even drink beer. I feel like I may have missed some details…

I spent the afternoon at the beach the water is SO warm! It is like taking a bath. I am surprised every time by the salt though. The overall beach has nothing on Grand Haven, it makes me miss it L but I still enjoy it.

We also started dance class last night. And I was slightly disappointed, the teacher I think just likes to dance so he just dances the whole time while we try to copy what he does. There is also only 2 boys for the probably close to 20 girls. We have a great time though.

I also got my first taste of wildlife yesterday,  that is besides the Musquitos. I saw a 2  foot lizard, I am guessing Iguana,  Just chilling in the street. I scared it and then it ran back into a pipe that runs under the sidewalk probably only 4 inches in diameter. There were lots of pelicans at the beach as well as living sand dollars and little tiny snails. At home I saw a cockroach in my room…I wasn’t sure if attempting to kill it was the best idea so I let it crawl on and just prayed that it can climb up things. I have been attempting to include pictures but currently have had no success. I will keep trying.

Orientaion

The first night went as good as can be expected. I questioned several times before sleeping, “Why am I doing this again?” Changing everything, leaving everyone, learning new things. Oh yea cause I eventually always like it and I am addicted to adventure. I actually had a twinge of excitement when I first heard my flight was delayed out of Chicago, keep it on the DL.

I woke up several times being like what! Where am I? but eventually always figured it out. I also could feel the beginning of Gluten pains coming on but I prayed really hard and woke up fine. I know deals aren’t God’s style but I decided that I will be as careful as I can and he will keep my stomach functional. I can deal with uncomfortable but I don’t want to miss a thing! I really hate missing things.

My morning went quick I went for a run by the beach. Right before I left my madre told me not to use an iPod because people will run up and snatch it. I decided to listen until I get back into shape and can run after the perpetrator. ;) And my comment about not being friendly revoked the male population is very friendly when you are running.

For breakfast we had the typical golla, which is beans and rice with tortillas. And oh my gosh were they the best corn tortillas I have ever eaten. They folded and rolled like nobodies business, they didn’t get soggy. I tried to tell my madre they were the best ever I hope I portrayed my enthusiasm enough cause I was really stoked.

I started orientation at 10 a.m. at the USAC building which is about a 15 minute walk from my house. We signed up for classes, ate lunch and met all the fellow students. Everyone was nice and I made some quick friends. Everyone has big plans so I think it will be a bust summer.

Most students are from out west a lot of Nevada, California, Idaho, Iowa. I look like a pasty northerner and supposedly have an accent. The ratio is also very different than what I am used to 4:1 mostly girls. We spent the afternoon wandering around town and kinda getting our bearings.

I ate dinner with my familia and spent the evening talking and watching TV. Everyone is always watching TV here. My madre really likes extreme home makeover. I tried to explain how I worked in a city in Wisconsin where they filmed the show, I think they mostly got it.

Day One

     I have made it to Costa Rica a little recap of yesterday … I got to the airport in San Jose and was so focused on getting luggage, exchanging money, and not getting sent back that I wasn't until I sat in the taxi that I realized that was probably the best and easiest chance I had for internet to look up all the numbers to call and the address for where I was going.

     Any ways I am in a taxi on the way to a bus station and San Jose kinda freaked me out so I just got on the bus and went to Puntarenas. I felt like a tourist loser with my giant suitcases. I am sure I looked helpless, but first impression the culture here is not friendly. They don't return smiles. So therefore they probably also thought I was creepy.

  I sat next to a girl, Viviana, about my age I am guessing. We didn't really talk on the 3 hour ride (extended from the 2 hours to fix a flat tire and a stop to allow a street vendor up and down the asile) but when we got near Puntarenas I inquired about internet. Her first reaction did not make it seem readily available but we eventually got to cyber cafe. We talked a little and after we got off she asked the bus driver for me and pointed me in the right direction. She said un metro I was like dang I wish I learned that word. But after asking directions again I found it. I looked up the numbers for USAC and my next adventure was finding a phone to call USAC and arrange to meet my family..
 

After  giving the pay phone 2,000 colones (~4$) I figured out how to work it and put in the necessary $0.25 and got a hold of USAC, the program I am traveling with, who arranged for my family to come get me from the center which I should now take a taxi too. So I fumbled once again and wheeled it back to the bus stop.

On the way I saw Jacob, the other Michigan Tech student, on the opposite side of the road walking with what I presumed were other students. We chatted briefly and turns out the group flight congregated in Miami, he just figured I wasn’t coming anymore. Haha

I caught a taxi with the help of a security guard/ police officer type man. There are these uniformed guys standing all over, is it weird that it actually makes me feel less safe… But then a quick taxi ride and finally meeting my host parents. They drive a nice mini van and are on the elderly sides of parents but oh man did I flip out when I saw they had a carseat! Turns out they like next door (which is like one wall) to their daughter and husband and their child Ignasio (the only name I have caught so far). At that point I thought they had just mistaken the 27 year old son or that my Spanish was really bad! But turns out he was just sleeping he is real but he doesn’t play soccer…who knows.

I moved into my room, we went for a walk by the beach and they took my on a driving tour of the town. Which is very small, maybe equivalent to the city of grand haven west of 31. They pointed out lots of things and I probably could not find them back. I wasn’t worried until they said this area is dangerous don’t go here, that’s when I was really wishing I knew where the heck I was. Maybe I will ask about that again later.

I keep having dejavu for Wisconsin. Just the same friendly family, the tour, the loving it but kinda not knowing what to do, the trying to grasp the fact that this is your house too. Granted I had no trouble understanding the Wisconsin accent.

The language barrier has not really been a problem. The speak basic English supposedly but we have kept conversation to slow elementary Spanish a lot of saying Como ? (what?) but so far I think I got everything. I do know that I conjugate all verbs in the yo form present tense. Apparentally I am doing everything right now.

I am doing well, I am not scared or overwhelmed, just kinda shocked. I thought for a really hard time on how to explain what it is like and I think Bosina is my best comparison. Maybe cross that with Mexico. Mostly tin roofs, kinda shack looking buildings. No tall or new things. I didn't dare take pictures I didn't want to stand out any more than I already did toting approximately 100 pounds of luggage through the town.

Other Initial Observations:

-No air conditioning and no screens which means bugspray is like underwear. First thing on and always on.

-One temperature water which is cold, but so far anything cold is good.

-Disappointed with the dog I could drop kick it 20 yards easily but it is growing on me. The cat is Lola that’s as friendly as we got. 

Gillian- An ant crawled up my leg while doing devotions I thought of you. Oh and I thought of all the day care when I saw hula hoops at the grocery store. I am going to practice and blow your socks of in August.

-One bathroom with a sink the size of a dinner plate. I couldn’t help but sing tengo una familia grande

- It just went from nothing to raging down pour in the time it took me to save this document.

-The weirdest part though is not being able to call home. I am not sure I should admit this but anybody who knows me probably expects this. I have talked to my Mom or Dad pretty much everyday since birth I went to Africa once and Mexico once. Thus my blog is going to be so long. They need updates! Lo siento.

One more day in America

   I have spent a wonderful evening exploring the Double Tree Hotel in Miami. My flight from Chicago was delayed so I missed my connection to Costa Rica. I was hesitant to take a later flight to San Jose because the bus stops running at night and I would then have to spend the night in San Jose or take a 3 hour taxi ride. Once offered, A free hotel voucher and meal vouchers from American Airlines definitely seemed like the right choice.

 So I ate well, window shopped the mall and lounged by the OUTDOOR pool (crazy right?). I think this extended layover was a good transition. Here there is already Spanish being spoken everywhere. I said Gracias :). Also a jump from the freak snow storms of Michigan Tech to the Hot humid ocean in Puntarenas may have fried my system or at least blown up my sinuses. I will now be prepared.

 I am going to sleep a long time in my king size bed, then hopefully use the giant gym, and pool again. They have half a basketball court too! No sauna though...interesting.

On the way...

     I woke up this morning, popped up in bed and immediately thought..."I am going to Costa Rica today, I am not going to sleep in this bed again for a long time." and thats when it dawned on me I am leaving like NOW!. Needless to say I hit the snooze buttons three times before actually getting out of bed, turns out it may have been smarter to sleep in it longer last night.


   I made it safely to Chicago without any hiccups at check-in or security,only  a small speed bump for goodbyes. But currently I am stuck in Chicago my flight to Miami keeps getting delayed to the point where I am now going to miss the connecting flight to San Jose. But no worries a nice lady named Yvonne is taking care of me and I am spending my free time trying to pick out all the fellow Costa Rican bound college students on my flight. I currently have four prospective candidates but I am waiting to make the next move.

First Try

So I have decided to start a blog. I was slightly hesitant because I don't really think what I am doing is super pertinent to anyone's daily life but I figured somebody might enjoy it and then I can like print it off for a journal, or use it to scrapbook I love to scrapbook. This blog will also probably capture my short falls in the English language. Notice that I have not yet used one comma and most likely will not. Hmm maybe it will help...