The struggles of Living in Costa Rica

Now the beauty of this list is not only the realization that most of these struggles are of my own doing or lack of competence but also the conclusion that if these are the struggles then I am doing pretty dang well.

1. Even Clinical Strength deodorant can't keep the pit stains at bay
2. Everyone wants you to speak spanish
3. The toilet paper goes in the trashcan after use...
4. They don't drink milk
5. Packaged gluten free baked goods are non-existent
6. It rains the hardest when you forget your umbrella
7. Seven year old children play soccer like high schoolers so extrapolate from there
8. Language barriers do exist and therefore many things are lost in translation
9. The United States is far away
10. Everything is made of tile

The brightside
1. Every one is therefore sweaty always so you stand out if your dry
2. People here may speak perfect English but Puntarenas has the mind set that they want to teach us Spanish.
     but they are right that is the only way to learn.
3. Trying breaking that habit it is impossible, and I haven't really found an upside yet because if the wind      blows just right the entire town smells like an out house.
4. I miss it! But in replacement frescos, like fruity drinks, are a component of the meal. My mom has made freshly squeezed lime, orange, mango, and a bunch of fruit that I just smile and nod when she talks about. They are all delicious though.
5.No bread, cereal, cookies, crackers. My cooking class has been a nice little source of breaded type foods but just something else to get used to. I was however afraid to tell my madre all the foods I didn't like after I told her all the foods I couldn't eat. I now eat fish, shrimp, tomatoes, and cabbage. I also told my family here the story about how my dad pulled up all the cabbage because he didn't want to eat it. They laughed and laughed and now every time I eat cabbage they say that I should cook it for my dad.
6. Murphy's law it is inevitable, but the air is so warm it is nice to have an excuse to just walk in the rain
7. We have played several pick-up games with the locals and well I am getting better. They are pretty nice too about yelling your name pointing to where you should stand and then kicking the ball there.
8. One example... Collin is coming to visit the end of the month and I thought my mom was talking about preparing things (she offered to prepare him all my favorite foods) but she actually asked if he could bring things. Collin is now signed up to bring 4 pairs of Keds. I am really bad at saying no too...
9. With skype and facebook it is so easy to stay in touch but it is also so easy to see the United States without you. I guess I just want to make sure that it is know that I miss my family, my friends, my bed, the beach, the conference grounds and all the people there.
10. So it is all made of tile and then it is all went and then it is really slippery.