Last Weekend In Costa Rica

Sadly,  my last weekend in Costa Rica is over, but it was a great way to end my time here.  At 1:00 on Friday we left Veritas in a little bus and headed for Arenal which is about 4 hours away.  Once we arrived in Arenal, we changed our clothes and went to a hot springs "adult like" waterpark.  It's adult like because there were only two slides.  The slides were insane.  The lifeguard told me it was going to be fast and dangerous, but I wasnt expecting a mild concussion.  lol just kidding, but almost. The rest of the park had amazing pools of naturally heated spring water.  It was so relaxing and therapeutic.  The over-priced fruity drinks at the swim up bar added to the experience.  While we were swimming, it started to rain which was so cool, because when the cold rain hit the hot water everything got steamy and eerie looking.  After swimming, we had a delicious buffet supper; salad bar, fresh fruit, rice, black beans and garbanzo beans, ribs, fish, mushroom soup, and for dessert.....a chocolate fountain with all kinds of stuff to dip in it.  It was amazing. 
The next day, we woke up early and got ready for horseback riding to La Fortuna Waterfall!  My horse was a sweetheart, and it was really fun.  When we got close to the waterfall, we had to leave the horses and travel by foot.  We walked down a TON of stairs to get to the waterfall, but it was worth the hike.  We took pictures and swam in the waterfall before hiking back up all those stairs.  I'm lucky that I can say I swam in a waterfall. It was treacherous though.  There were really strong currents because the waterfall was so close, and sharp rocks that you would run into.  But again, totally worth it.  We rode the horses back to the hotel, packed our stuff, and headed to MonteVerde. 
To get to MonteVerde, we had to take a jeep the first stretch, then a ferry across a huge lake, and then a jeep again to navigate the mountains.  The tour bus wouldn't work for this one.  The ride to MonteVerde was beautiful.  Everything was completely green, and cows and horses were everywhere you looked.  Very European feeling.  Our hotel in MonteVerde was adorable, and it had cute dogs. 

On Sunday, we woke up at 6:00 to go Zip Lining!  It was soo scary, but I had so much fun, and I'm glad I did it.  There were 11 zip lines total, with one that you were dropped straight down, and one that you had to go with two people because the weight of one person wouldnt pull you all the way across.  Awesome Experience!  After zip-lining we went home.  I was another great weekend, and it sent me to Nicaragua with a bang.  Besos.

Palmares, Volcan Poas, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Rafting

Last weekend was crazy!! So much fun in so little time.  On Friday at 1:00pm we left for Palmares which is a huge festival an hour away from San Jose.  We returned home at 1:00am lol. It's kind of like the state fair of Costa Rica with tons of food, drinks, and desserts.  It's also the festival with the second most consumption of alcohol in the world after Octoberfest.  We watched a parade with marching bands, scandalous dancers, people with extravagant costumes, people on stilts, and drunkards.  So many drunk people, and the cops don't mess around here.  You get put in the chock hold to be arrested.  The music, food, and company made for an unforgetable night.
On Saturday, we loaded the bus at 7:00am for a full day.  First we stopped at a coffee plantation.  We learned all about the growing and harvesting process.  I had an amazing cup of coffee to wake me up.  I was dragging.  I drink a lot of coffee here.  It's becoming a habit.  Then we arrived at the Poas Volcano!  We hiked to this beautiful over look.  At first, it was completely foggy, and we couldnt see anything.  Luckly, within 15 minutes the fog cleared, and the volcano was beautiful.  Next, we drove to La Paz Waterfall Gardens.  We had a buffet lunch with the most amazing food I've had since I've been here.  Not exagerating.  The resort was beautiful and extravagent.  $500 per night to stay there.  After the best lunch ever, we saw and learned about jungle animals: sloths, frogs, butterflies, birds,  jungle cats(like Alan from the Hangover says), and monkeys!  It was like a zoo, but more natural.  I held hands with a monkey.  It wanted me to come into it's environment with it, but unfortunately, I could not.  Then we hiked to see this series of amazing waterfalls.  There were 3 major falls that increased in size as you hiked down the mountain.  Amazing, but my camera died so no pictures of the waterfalls.  Then we rode the bus home and passed out.
On Sunday we loaded the bus at 6:20am for white water rafting!  We had an awesome breakfast before rafting of gallo pinto, churizo(sasuage), toast, eggs, and fruit.  Then the adventure began.  It was so much fun.  We rafted for 4 hours literally through the jungle.  There were waterfalls pouring into the river around us, and butterflies flying around, and old bridges crossing the river like you would see in Jurassic Park.  It was so neat.  When we got home, Rachel and I went to a resturant close to our house and got some great pizza.

Poas Volcano

Friends at Palmares

It might have been the most fun weekend yet! But I always think that.  Love and miss you all.  Besos.

Puerto Viejo

I spent last weekend in Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.  It was absolutely beautiful!  We were stuck in traffic not moving at all for 3 hours on the way there because of an accident ahead of us.  I was getting Claustrophobic.  Why dont people drive safter here? lol.  We arrived in Puerto Viejo around 9:30.  Our hotel was quaint but sufficient :) My friend Mel was my roommate.  She is from Milwaukee and we totally hit it off.  After we arrived, we walked around a little bit, and we got slices of pineapple and canadian bacon pizza from a vendor.  It was great.  On Saturday,  it rained and was overcast all day which was really dissapointing.  Breakfast was included at a resturant close to the hotel.  I had gallo pinto caballo (rice and beans with a fried egg) and toast with tomato gel stuff on it. It's very traditional and really good.   After breakfast,  we visited an indigenous lady's home where she make chocolate and other products from Cocoa plants.  She demonstrated the whole chocolate making process to us. She was pretty handy with her machete.  Then we got to try all the flavors of chocolate. omg I think mint chocolate was the best but its really a toss up.  I bought straight up coco butter from her.  My skin is going to be smooth.  When we got back from the chocolate demonstration,  we ate at a resturant.  I had some pasta, and then we walked around for hours and looked in shops and took pictures and such.  Then we took a small siesta and a shower and got ready to go out.  We had Jamacian Jerk chicken for supper.  It is seriously my favorite food now.  Then we went to various reggae bars and had lots of fun.  On Sunday, after breakfast, we went to a beach that was a 5 minute drive away.  It was great.  The surfers were so fun to watch.  The waves were huGe.  After the beach, Mel and I got chicken sandwiches from the Pollo Rapido (the Fast Chicken).  Then we got on the bus and slept the whole way home.  It was a great weekend with amazing food and fun people.  Everyone in Puerto Viejo smokes pot and has dreads and likes everyone.  I loved it there.  ¡Pura Vida!

Nicaragua Details

I just got an email from with all of the specific details about Nicaragua!  I will be living in the BaseCamps volunteer house in Jinotepe, and I will be working at San Jose Hospital in Diramba.  I have to ride the bus to work everyday for $1.  I have meals provided all week except for Sunday.  I have to wash my clothes by hand, so that will be interesting.  I told my teacher, Alba, I have to do that, and she spent 30 minutes telling me how to wash them properly. lol.  Im going to ride the "Ticabus" from Costa Rica to Nicaragua.  I will leave around 6:00am on Feburary 4th and I'll arrive in Nicaragua at around 2:00 in the afternoon.  I think I'm ready for it, but I need to buy some scrubs. 

Yesterday I had my second cooking class.  We made Gallo Pinto, and it was delicious.  Also,  there was a welcome party at school called Fiesta Crash.  It was really fun, there was food and cervezas and traditional dancers.  They were doing some impressive pelvic thrusting:) Tomorrow I leave for Puerto Viejo! Chao and Besos.

  Gallo Pinto!

Tamarindo Beach!

This weekend I was in Tamarindo Beach on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.  It was absolutely beautiful!  We stayed in a hotel called Tropicana, and it was a short walk from the beach.  The beach was to die for.  There were mountains behind the beach, and tons of yachts in the bay.  A lot of people surf there, and I guess it's a great beach for newcomers to surfing.  I am for sure a newcomer! I failed at surfing but thats ok.  We ate numerous fresh fruit smoothies from this cute Nicaraguan lady.  My favorite was sandia or watermelon.  On Friday night we went to a discotech called Agua.  $4 to get in and free drinks (vodka and fruit juice).  I love being 19 in Costa Rica lol.  Saturday I spent the day at the beach swimming and sun tanning and attempting to surf.  Saturday night we ate at the Cocacabana and then we made a fire on the beach.  It was a humble fire, but it was cool.  On Sunday, Rachel was soooo sunburned so we chilled at the pool in the shade instead of the beach.  We got back to San Jose at around 7:30 last night and Ana made us mac n cheese. yum.  Then Ana cut a leaf from her Aloe plant and rubbed the gel all over Rachel's sunburn.  Ana is really into natural remedies.  She told us that she rubs milk of magnesia on her skin to make it smooth.  Interesting I know.  I had school today with Alba my teacher.  Then I went to the bank and the store.  Then I took a siesta and did homework! I feel like I've been here a lot longer than a week! Chao.

01/06/2011

Buenas! Everything today was good.  I took a few pics, so thats a good start for me. lol.  And yesterday was good too, but I forgot to blog.  Last night I was going to go out to this place called Twister Club with some chicas but no one knew where we were going, so we decideded that was a bad idea.  So I took a siesta and talked with my host mom instead.  It was nice.  Yesterday was the first day of cooking class we made Cajetas de Coco or Coconut balls.  They were great.  My cooking teacher is the cutest old lady ever.  She was so excited to teach us how to cook  lol.  Next time we are making gallo pinto or traditional rice and beans.  Yesterdays menu- French toast and strawberries for breakfast, chinese food for lunch from a resturant by school, and meatloaf for supper.  It was meatloaf but different lol.

Today Spanish Class was good.  Nothing too crazy from Alba.  But yesterday, I had to take random peoples blood pressures.  My teacher is a nut but I like her.  When Rachel and I went downstairs for breakfast today, Anas granddaughters were at our house.  There names are Fatima and I forget the other one and they were the cutest little girls ever! After school, I had an empanada de pollo from the  man with the stand outside of school, then I walked home and took a siesta.  Tonight I have dance class again!! Im getting really good.   I cant blog this weekend because I am going to Tamarillo Beach on the pacific coast!  But I will write in my journal mom and blog about it later.  Chao. 

01/04/2011

Today was another great day in Costa Rica! We had papaya, yogurt, and a tostada (grilled tortilla with refried beans inside) for breakfast.  Then Rachel and I walked to school and found our classes.  My teacher´s name is Alba.  She is an older lady from Costa Rica who has been teaching for 35 years, she was very very nice.  I only have one classmate, Adam, and he is nice also, but he is thinking of dropping the class because he hasn´t taken Spanish for 3 years, and he thinks it´s over his head.  I hope I´m not the only person in class, because I feel that will get boring.  We reviewed the course content.  Grammer in not Alba´s concern at all.  She wants us to learn health related vocabulary and be able to communicate with spanish speaking patients which is great.  Alba made us walk around the university and interview 3 people which was embarrasing.  I met Fabio(the security guard), Louis(a man who was painting), and Laura(a women working in the office.) lol  After class, Rachel and some other chicas and I had quesoburgesas(cheeseburgers) in the cafe at school.  Then, I went to conversation club from 1-3:00pm.  It will be a great learning tool. I then walked home and Ana walked us to the bank.  I finally got my money exchanged.  On the way home, we stopped at a little store to buy some snacks.  Peanut butter and grape juice was over 6,000 colons.  So, the money will be a little hard to get used to.  Then, we had supper around 5: fried plantains, chicken with rice, salad, and lemonade.  Rachel had a class at 6, so we walked back to Veritas together.  I´m writting this from the computer lab at school.  At 8, I have dance class that I´m waiting for.  You all know that I have questionable rhythem, so we will see how this salsa dancing thing goes.  I think it´s a little different from the dancing at ICE haha.  Dance is over at 9:30.  There is a shuttle that takes everyone directly back to their homestays.  I figured I would write this now, because I will be exausted then. While I was writting this, my mind automatically thinks how I should be writting this in Spanish, so thats a good thing!  Besos a todos(kisses for everyone).

First Day of School!

Today I had my first day of school.  It was kind of an orientation day.  After having cereal and a bananna, Ana walked Rachel and I to school.  We checked in and had our picture taken for our ID's.  Then I had an interview in Spanish and I was placed in Intermediate Spanish for the Health Professional.  Only one other person is in my class, so it's like I have a personal tutor.  Then we had a culture/saftey breifing and pizza for lunch.  Then we learned about our excursion package for January.  I get to travel every weekend, and the cost is bulit into the tuition!  I didn't know that until today. I'll blog about those when they happen;)  After school, Rachel (my roommate), Kylie(my friend from UNI), and I walked to the mall and the supermarket.  I haven't exchanged my dollars to colons yet, so I couldn't buy anything.  I'm going to exchange them tomorrow.  I met Ana's whole family today.  Her mom, one of her sisters, her friend, and one of her nephews.  They are all very nice, and the Grandma is adorable with her extravagant makeup and huge hair. lol.  We had mashed potatoes and pork chops for supper.  Ana is such a good cook.  I'm going to bed, because my actual class is tomorrow.
Buenas noches!

Bienvenido a Costa Rica

Well, I got here safe and sound.  Everything at the airport went smooth.  However, my 45 minute layover in Atlanta was hardly enough to get me to my flight to Costa Rica! I was one of the last people to board.  When I got to the airport in CR, I went through immigration and customs smoothly and there was a Veritas man waiting for me.
My host mom, Ana, and my friend Rachel who is living with me picked me up at the University.  Ana doesn't have a car, so she was borrowing her sister's:) We drove to our apartment which is in a gated and gaurded apartment complex.  So I'm pretty safe.  Ana never locks her door lol.  I unpacked most of my things.  My room is cute and little with a desk and shelves for my clothes and a window that overlooks a community basketball quart. 
Ana made a yummy pasta with vegetables and salad for supper.  Then we enjoyed some Betty Jane Gremlins (Ana loved them.)  After supper, we chatted for a while.  Aparantly my Spanish vocabulary is much better than my grammer.
I just took a freezing cold shower, because I can't figure out the hot water.  So, I will have to ask about that tomorrow.  Also, it's only like 55 degrees here!  But that can change easily. 
Ok I'm going to bed now.  School at 8:00am.