CR #4 - of more food and family

March 2, 2007

Well it is Friday. People have been paid the last 2 days and I am warned that the streets will be crowded…I had a good nites rest – got invited out to some bar but opted to stay in and sleep….my recovery time from partying is not the same so I will pace myself! Guido asked for more white rum concotion this morning….i told him it is MEDICINE not a morning drink! J but it is clearing him up nicely and I am glad…Gabriela loves our coffee..she is a big coffee drinker so I am happy.

Well – this morning we had a popular local dish for breakfast – Gallo Pinto. Rice and beans with corn…es muy rico pero no puedo comerlo todo el dia!!! I had fry egg with it and of course pina, my favorite fruit!! I took a picture for you…so we eat and chat. 

Gallo Pinto y huevos

Guido Jnr. has a late schedule today so he ate breakfast with us. He invited me out with the family later – he is such a likkle gentleman! HE says – if I don’t have plans, I should go out to the mall with them – I told him that sounds good! He has been behaving badly at school apparently so his parents have been called in to talk to the teacher!! He is distracted too easily they say.  L - aren’t all 11 year old boys??? Anyway – me voy a mi escuela …hasta luego!

First break for the morning…dem neva tell mi bout no EXAMEN! Mi rha – what a surprise! Well – it wasn’t that bad and I got out early so…going to watch the graduation today. Apparently every Friday is a test..so b/w participation in class and exams – they monitor ur progress and decide to move you to the next level….

Ahora es 3:45p and I am just back to school since I last wrote at about 11am….I went to peak on the graduation…students leaving gave a little speech and they had fruits and drinks to celebrate after…then went back to class..The exam was STILL going on – it really was long…but it covered eveything for the week soo…then we played 2 games – scrabble en espanol and un dvd…for the essay, we had to write on a memorable moment – I wrote about my skydiving…all in Spanish – that was a challenge – thank goodness para di diccionario! J

Well – I told una chica de Wisconsin se llama Tegan que I would go with her to see what her volunteer job was and take over from her if I like it b/c she is going to the beach campus for 4 weeks…I am game so I follow her….well – MI COULDA BEAT MISELF!! 

Our walk to the school

To rhatid…one hell of a walk up a hill, one bus ride, thru some bush and 10 gallons of SWEAT later (remember I am carrying a back pack with my lap top…) – so we get there and dem tell her – oh – no english classes today…AYE!! Well – it was a good thought – it is a special school for boys b/w the ages of 10-16 with drug problems and she taught them english…well I had on shorts so I couldn’t go in front of the boys…yup….long pants only…so I sat and waited on her to at least tell them goodbye and share some oreos with them which they thoroughly enjoyed.. so we decide to walk all the way back and forget the bus… tank god mi wear mi boogas today…

We go to her favorite restaurant – a little spot for good sandwiches and vege food…I have a chicken sandwich and am quite stuffed…then head back to the school to send off my files to my accountant… I cant totally forget my responsibilities! J Tegan is 26 and is starting her masters in sept. – she has traveled a lot and is soaking up her experience. She informs me of helpful shops and tips….A new set of students come in today and the families come to greet them….ah – I remember day 1 well!…..these folks are from America – not much Spanish either but they are looking forward to the experience!

Almuerzo - Tegan y yo

Well – I am gonna head home early today…I am going to have drinks a una barra chozos a las nueve noche. I am to go to the farmers market in the morning with mi mama tica and head to the beach campus on Sunday with some other students. The beach campus is a rustic spot, classes on the beach and very very BASIC…3000 people in the town…

Ok – more soon! Bless up.

March 3, 2007

BUENAS TARDE – es 12:30 en sabado…

Well – I get home and all my laundry is done! Gabriela is di greatest! She makes it seam effortless in running the home – DON’T ALL MAMAs?? J

I lie down for a bit and the family comes home…

On a Friday nite guido takes the family out for a ‘drive out’ to the mall but tonite Gabriela is tired like myself. We have arroz con camarones para cena. You know I love me some shrimp! Nothing this woman has made taste bad ! NADA!! I think I am in trouble! We eat and chat – they ask me about Jamaica, we talk about Guido’s work, my trip to Samara on Sunday etc. Guido is a custom agent in a sense…..he clears goods imported from US, Mexico and China and distributes them to local retailers…he works for a group that does the importing so he is always on the road and at the airport and dealing with shipments – he likes his job.

After dinner – Guido takes the boys and Adriana (una muchaca from next door)  - we think Guido Jnr. likes her… too cute! I head to catch a nap and tell Garbiela to wake me up about 8:15…we suppose to meet at 9pm…

Sat. breakfast

Well 8:30 comes and I feel crush up after dinner and walking – so I flop the going out plan and curl up for the nite….estuve muy canasado.

I get up at about 7:00a and plan to go to the gym….havent been since I am here…they don’t open till 9 though so I do my devotion and you guessed it – IT’s TIME FOR BREAKFAST!! Lawd – all I do is eat – don’t??? I cant help it gente – I am ALWAYS HUNGRY as one of my t-shirts say J….and she always has food ready – what’s a girl to do?  What we had for breakfast  - ammmm – oh – emapanda con jamon y queso, pina y banana. No market this morning since I am leaving tomorrow – they will get fruits & veges for me for next week.

I start to pack some stuff for the week and head out to the gym. I run uphill to get there and I remember I need $$$ for the samara trip as they may not have a ATM that my card works at…so I make my way to a bank that takes my card (1^st one didn’t) and get back to the gym…it costs 2500 colones for the day. (about U$4.84)..it is a good gym and decent equipment – I work out for about 1hr and change and head home…feel good..hopefully I worked off every bit of rice grain and white bread I have eaten! J…

I need to make a copy of my passport for my trip. They don’t suggest walking around with it so I will copy the necessary pages…and pick up some stuff a la farmacia. I hit the shower and JP follows me for my 2^nd walk…I check in at the internet café and respond to a few emails…find what I need at the pharmacy – which has many American products. The prices, I thought would be MUCH MUCH cheaper but they are similar to JA or USA….what I have found VERY VERY cheap is food, jewelry shops, I am told hair cuts (haven’t tried yet – but I will have to soon as my ‘serve mi long’ is growing out.)..

I get back home and start ‘journaling’… I am very excited as I pick up wireless at home….wow! Bueno – ok – it is not consistent AT ALL but as long as I ketch up a good spot – it works! J

Gabriela is making lunch now and then we are going into san jose to see sus padres. Her papa is back home from the hospital and I can also check out some stuff in San Jose….Hoy es un dia con mi familia de costa rica…

50 years strong!! Gabby's padres

What else have I forgotten to tell u??? hmmm…oh – she made a dessert for me that I never thought about combining…arroz con leche (rice, condense milk, queso cremo,  raisins..) – ES MUY RICA! Now – you would have that after a meal of – U GUESSED it – say rice and beans….hahaa! how do they do it?

Guido plays football a lot and is now gone to a spinning class near by… I will follow him next time. And I guess gabby stays slim b/c she is always walking and busy at home….

JP loves and plays with marbles all day long…they got to play with a play station 3 last nite on their outing so they were very happy.

Bueno – wireless is gone – gwe go use internet café to send this out before lunch. Not sure when u will hear from me again…bus ride to samara is 5 horas manana…

Tengan un buen dia mis amigos!!1

CR #3 - First Excursion to Las Cataratas

March 1, 2007

Dejame a ver – where did I leave off….oh – so this morning I got up early so I could get to school and check email etc…mi mama tica made eggs and ham and they serve bread with a rich version of crème cheese – SOO YUMMY and SOOO FATTENING!!! Again – tenk God mi a walk nuff…! Mi papa Guido has a terrible cough! And there was SOMEONE laughing at me for taking my white rum…well – I gave him the rum, honey and lime remedy…let’s see if he sounds better later.

Desayuno con mi familia - YUMMY!
(Notice di bread, rice and beans and egg -
 LAWDIE!! couldn't eat dat all now :))

Class was good this morning – we covered uses of the proposition ‘para’….most students mix up por and para…so she gave us CLARITY! She also gave us a fun exercise. She gave us paper to start writing a story – 2 minutes to start with an introduction….she then calls time at 2 minutes and u have to switch papers 

and continue the story of the other person…all in spanish YES….so by time you done, you have gotten back the paper you started with – but you never wrote the body or end of the story….some got very much out of hand…at least 3 touched on jamaica… they are very fascinated with our little island! J

Fish, Rice, Beans, Vege & Plaintain lunch

On my "ten toe'' way to school...didn't drive a car for
6 weeks and LOVED IT! - fit as a figgle yes! :)

After class I head out for my first excursion… 5 students are going to see una catarata – Los Chorros. We stop for a bite to eat at a local spot – I have fish and the usual rice, beans, vege, plaintain…

My company includes Lisa (she works for a hospital in Michigan and does mammograms – has been here 3 times and I am convinced she and her husband going to live here at least ½ the year… - they love it – of course they now want to explore JA!; Bart is from Holland and just arrived. He doesn’t speak a lik of Spanish and isn’t even trying – I encourage him and tell him it will be rough to be 

here without speaking for 6 weeks…he agrees….el otro es Clauss – he is from Switzerland and is here for 9 weeks…Everyone is cool and looking forward to the outing!

The falls are GORGEOUS!!! It is a gorgeous hike to get to and worth the rough terrain…. Lisa and I have to change…let’s just say we had to

get creative as the ‘sheds’ to change in were filled with a special ‘fragrance’ which neither of us dared go into…

Los Chorros Cataratas !

Dis genkleman had was to taste di wata!

So finally we change and DE WATA COL’ NUH RAS! Es muy bonita y fuerte pero COLD COLD COLD!! Cant reach so far and chicken out…i collect some rocks, freeze mi culo off and tek pictures….at the end we realize there are some personas locas repelling down the falls by rope….looks like fun but not today!! J

We then make our way back to town – we have 2 more stops – un pueblo se llama Gracia – it boasts an old church made of iron – the whole thing…quite impressive…we snap pics and head to Sarchi, un otro pueblo para souvenirs…like any regular Ja’can craft market. The items are VERY similar to ours…the whole day I told them how the falls, the roads (windy and hilly) the trucks, the bad driving, etc – all remind me of Jamaica…. It could have EASILY been a day trip to dunn’s river. 

Gorgeous ole time church

Iglesia - made of iron!

So now I am back at school, fell asleep on the bus ride back…of course I am hungry again…it dark outside now so gwe ketch a DRIVA home, do my homework, chat with my family and hit the sack…! J

LOCO bridge to the waterfalls...it RICKITY so till - but we made it!

Es 8:30p…no hay muchas taxis por noche..i had to wait a bit…got home just in time for dinner being served. Papa Guido had a meeting so mama Gabriela was serving his dinner… we ate and chat. I updated them on my day. Gabriela had a long day. Her papa is in hospital so she went to see him and run many errands by foot. I should be taking pictures of my meals…I will start tomorrow….had a bath and now settling in para hacer mi tarea. Los ninos are hanging out with me and chatting to me in Spanish….dem can chat FAS u see…lawd – mi tiyad fi seh DESPACIO CHICO!! They are soo sweet. They are excited by my stack of gum, camera and music from my lap top…they want an ipod but say it is too expensive…they also want to replace their play station 1 with a 3…doesn’t look like near future….muy caro. Guido is older and is very organized – he is well put together and neat….JP – very messy but a brainy brainy boy. Nite and day but they get along very well. Nice likkle model family to observe. Very affectionate. Every day Guido thanks Gaby for each meal with a kiss and tells her how good it is…he does not cook at all.

What else have I noticed – oh las ticas love to dress in ropas muy muy tight and revealing….mid day you find tight up haul up outfits wid rhatid heels – strolling along… worse in di club…WOY!!!! Mamitas libre!

As I got home guido told me how well the white rum remedy work for him…told him to tek more b4 bed tonite. I yawning down the place…betta go do mi tarea yah..

Buenas Noches!

CR #2 - The journey continues...

February 27, 2007

So my eyes open at about 6:15am. I am well rested – no issues sleeping. Room a likkle warm – but it compares well to mine at home minus di fan!

So I get up and have a shower and head out to breakfast. Now – the shower – hmmm….i got hot water the nite before when Gabriela turned it on – didn’t get much this morning and the morning was MUCHO FRESCO!! How their heater works is it is attached at the shower head so u have to turn it on slowly and at that time the electricity – which I can SEE above the shower heats it as it comes out…scary – but it works. Don’t like my water and electricity so close together….but they say it is ok! Breakfast and dinner are included in my school tuition. The kids have already left for school so I eat with Gabriela and Guido. We talk about Jamaica and coffee (Gabriela loves the Ja’can coffe I brought and Guido loves the Appleton rum….the kids cant wait to use their Jamaican towels J). Guido Jnr. is an avid fan of reggae - he hums buffalo soldja around the house all day long…

Mi escuela 

So after breakfast (chopped up chicken with salsa in a sandwich – YUMMY…hot chocolate and fruits – melon & banana). Guido kisses his wife goodbye and then she walks me to school. It is a 15-20 minute walk. There is a gym on the way, muchas tiendas and casas. Todos en Heredia es central.   I am told not to walk when it is nite time – take a taxi. Noted!

WE get to school, she kisses me goodbye and to call if I need anything – a real mamita!

I go to reception and am greeted by name – clearly they are expecting me! J with a warm reception – I sign the necessary forms and am told I will be placed in class after a quick exam.

Reception area

While I wait I meet 2 girls from the states…one has been here 7 weeks and doesn’t want to leave. Laurie from Tennessee. A teacher comes to chat with me in Spanish and that is the exam. She asks where I am from; why I chose costa rica; how long am I here; how is my past and future tenses in Spanish etc. After her quick assessment – she places me in level 3 (means nothing to me) and then we go through a quick orientation of the school itself. Very much like a home – it has a lounge area for students, kitchen to cook (they also have cooking classes there), outdoor study areas etc. Then I am taken to my class upstairs. Mi maestro es Sylvia. She welcomes me to the class of 4 and I introduce myself. I jump right into conjugating verbs in the past tense. They did present tense on Monday. That’s ok – I am cool starting at this point – definitely need more practice on verb conjugations! So we go thru their homework and irregular verbs and practice speaking. The entire session is in Spanish – NO ENGLISH IS ALLOWED at school or in the home…it works though. They teach in a similar format to how I learned in high school. They don’t use the ‘vosotros’ form though.

Student Lounge Area

So we get a 15 minute break, I pay up my tuition and get on the 1 month wireless access plan. I AM SET!

Back to class – a gentleman comes by to tell us about tours. I tell him I am interested and will check him after class…gotta go explore the place!

My first class and teacher Sylvia beside me

The 4 people in my class are Americans – 2 live in FL and 1 in Texas. One lady has a brother in law that is OF COURSE Jamaican. He lives in Plantation – Andrew Livingston – name is familiar but the picture she showed wasn’t who I was thinking of….anyway…

Class ended at 12:30 and I went to see what else I could get into…The tour guy explained the MULTIPLE options and I signed up for 2 – el poas volcano y un cateratas (waterfall)… so I have jam packed day Wed and Thursday. The tours start right after class.

Betty y yo (another new student) were taken on a tour of the area around the school – Jennifer showed us restaurants and shops and internet cafes etc. There is a Caribbean restaurant I will most surely check out…we ate at a chicano restaurant as betty is from Taiwan and was craving some of her home food. She made me try una sopa MUY differente – u ready? Soup with eggs (yuk) didn’t sound very good but it never tasted too bad at all. I had fired rice and shrimp and fries… J nuff food for cheap. (less than US$5)

I got back to the school and there was a dance class about to start. I bucked up a friend from class and we decided to try it. Well – 30 minutes later I was salsaing…not very well – but trying none the less…my and this coordinated dancing – HMMM!!

So that is where I am till now..gonna hit the road before it gets dark. Looking forward to a yummy home cooked meal y habla con mi familia. I was invited to hit the local club tonite with some students so we will meet up back here at around 8:30p.

Fill you in tomorrow….Beunas noches!

February 28 2007

Hola! Es dos y media de la tarde y soy muy cansada!

As I got home last nite I start my homework. Es muchos tareas!! Mi mama tico ayudame mucho. I hit the shower and guido jnr. calls mi a taxi.

We meet up and head out to un baro se llama ‘Tipico Latino’. Apparently it is good on a Tuesday nite. It costs colones 1000mil to get in – about U$2. Mi papa tico me dijo tartar la cerveza ‘Imperial’. About 15 of us end up there. The locals are out in full force and BWOY DEM CAN DANCE!! Salsa, merengue y un otro que looks like dem jumping up and down as dem dance – very exciting…I grab a beer and observe…I do a one dance and that is good enough for me! J need lots of practice…. I head home in a taxi around 11pm. Any men thinking of visiting here will be very happy with the local ‘chicas’ J…

Salsa'ING - Tico Style!

I realize when I get home that my license is no longer in my possession. I was warned about pick pockets but was very aware at the club tonite. Stress! One nite and mi loss something ALREADY! Not happy…these things don’t happen to rita rowe…Anyway – out of my control, so I hit the sack quickly and pray it will appear!

Me levante a las 7:30 de la manana y mi mama tienes desayuno en la mesa…what a woman love cook man!! Fantastico! Hizo empanadas con queso y mi favorita fruta – pina!

I head out on my walk to school…i am a few minutes late for class – but no worries…we work on present progressive tense y la palabra ‘por’.

We were supposed to go to the volcano tour today but there are too many clouds and we wouldn’t be able to see anything. The other option didn’t excite me so I went and had lunch with una otra estudiante de Seattle - Mindy. I found a Caribbean restaurant and buck up some JA’canISH cooks. I have rice and peas and brown stew chicken….YUM!! asked about local clubs that play reggae…will have to check them out.

There is an option to go the beach campus at ‘Samara’ so I sign up for that. It is 5 hours away on bus. I will share a room with Mindy. It is very relaxed and all on the beach so really looking forward to it. It is even HOTTER than Heredia and no internet at school…but will go explore a new spot! Mindy is a kidney doctor that has practiced for 20 years and wants a change now so she decided to travel for 6mths – 1yr to determine what is next for her…

So I noticed at home every time I leave my bedroom or bathroom door open, some one goes behind me and closes it and turns off the light. at least for the first 2 days…I had to get used to it of course but wanted to know Y?? turns out it is for the mosquitoes….imagine me in the lock up room – no fan, no ventilation PLUS mosquitoes….

Most people here have guessed my age to be 21-24….HEAD SWELL U SEE!! Dem frighten when mi tell dem my age! Majority are mid twenties here and younger, but a few range b/w 30 – 60.

Anoche hay un intercambio de los estudiantes. For those students learning Spanish and english to practice with each other.

Mi papa tiene un carro pero no manejo porque they drive like mad people here and the gas is too expensive so he walks to work and the mama rides a scotter to cart the kids around… i hope to get a ride off of it!

Well it is 8:30p and I am back home. Had a fantastic dinner – lawd, dis woman gwe mek mi gordita! Lots of carbs…good ting I am at least walking every where I go!

The exchange with the english students was very good – they speak only english – we speak only spanish. Los Ticos (local CRcans) come to the school to learn english to get jobs, they want to travel, speak more languages etc. There are 2 here that love and know about reggae and Jamaica like you would not believe. They asking me about beanie and buju and sizzla and skalites and vegas and sean paul and general degree – mi couldn’t beleive– dem all a sing di song dem to me! So I break out my i-tunes library and dem go fi tear down di school….hahah! so – we plan to go to a club later that plays reggae and hip hop. Let’s see… me voy a cansar y despues toma un taxi.

Tomorrow is the waterfall tour! Will send pics via Snapfish soon…love to all – more lata.

OK – so I found a little energy to update u tonite. It is midnight and I just got back home. I went to meet up with los ticos a las diez. They were finishing up a drink in un baro por la escuela. Un tico has a car and he took me and another girl (from GA) to the ja’can club. IT name 2cos (play on ticos)..also known as champs. It is in plaza heredia. So apparently there is a good DJ there tonite – DJ cole. Well as we get out of the car – dancehall is blaring from the club…I AM IN MY ACKEE!!! Well – they play very current music and the ladies there are hot like FIRE!! Men – again – if u single and have a plane fare money – COME TO CR!!! Las chicas son CALIENTE!! So ladies get free cuba libres o vodka y OJ hasta 11 de la noche. I am a scotch drinker, pero anoche bebe la cuba libre, so does Hanna. Our host, Allan, he drinks un Imperial. Well – the place starts to fill up, a mix of folks but mostly dark skinned folks. Some are singing along to the songs and doing the latest dances. I am having a good time grooving and watching di ride. It is a likkle rub a dub spot – nothing fancy AT ALL. Small, dark and perfect for a frowsy rub up!! J

I school allan on the beanie and bounty history, he is very aware of bounty and loves beanie….So we jam till about 11:30p and depart. We have school in the morning so we decide to leave…

Allan has invited himself to Jamaica and I have made him my local host..Puerto Viejo es un lugar cerca de muchos jamicaquenos. I will probably tag along with him next weekend….cheaper than the school tour to same location.

Anyway  - time to sleep. Gotta get up early and finish my homework!

Buenas noches!

CR#1 - The journey begins...

February 16, 2007

I have 10 days before my departure to CR and I am so excited. Nervous but more excited about the experience I am about to have. The next few days will be preparing to go – packing, organizing for my absence etc. My mind seems to have gone ahead of me though and is filled with thoughts of the possibilities ahead. My home-stay family is awaiting my arrival.

What do I want to experience? Hmm – peace, clarity, wholeness and a renewed mindset AND OF COURSE TONS OF FUN!!

February 25, 2007

Mixed emotions – nervous and excited. Got a massage, facial and treated myself to a sushi dinner before my departure. Karla, Taffe, my brother Philip & family and Stephy came to bid me farewell. Ready to go! 2 rhatid bags packed.

February 26, 2007

My Costa Rica Family!

Mi casa en Heredia, CR

Did not sleep one wink last nite. It is now 9pm in my new home and I am tucked in bed. Very tired after a long day. Never wanted to oversleep and miss the JUTA man so I was up all nite. No issue in travel thank God! Got in to CR at about 4:00p. My host father (Guido) picked me up while the rest of the family awaited my arrival at home. The journey from SJO to Heredia was about 25 minutes. He drives a tercel. His wife rides a motorcycle (scooter) – very cool. We hit it off immediately in the car and I start speaking in Spanish. He speaks a little English and corrects me as needed. He strikes me as a family man immediately. I was correct. Upon arriving at the house his son Jose Pablo greeted us and opened the gate. What a sweet little boy – very mansersable. He huggedme and welcomed me to his house. He is 8years old. Gabriela – mi mama es dulce tambien. They have another son Guido Jnr. who I met later. They are on different school schedules. Guido is 11 years old. So Gabirela showed me my room and the house. My room is very small but serves its purpose – a bed, a desk and a cupboard. I sat and chatted with them ALL IN SPANISH for the next hour. I told them I needed to call my family and check email….they don’t have access at home so JP (jose Pablo) walked me to the closest internet café. 2 minutes away and very cheap. He then asked if I would like a tour of the neighborhood. He loves to talk and practice english with me. He showed me the spinning gym, the pharmacy, café and post office.

Mi dormitoro

We got home and had dinner – picadillo (mix of corn, potatoe, chicken) and some chicken dish and rice….Gabriela loves to cook – I told her we will get along great as I love to eat. Her husband does not cook. She is a stay at home mama and Guido works in the airline industry. He also has a second job – not quite sure what yet! She keeps an impeccably clean house. I love that I walked into my bathroom and it was freshly cleaned – smelling like my favorite smell – bleach! I new I would be very comfy J

Mi bano

After dinner, she helped her kids with homework while I unpacked my monstrous bags. That took a while. But I made / found space and organized my little abode for the next 5 weeks.

We had a light snack before bed, I showered and I crashed at 9pm. Very excited about my next day – first day at school - Intercultura Costa Rica.