CR #7...

Marzo 15, 2007

It’s been a while – all of 3 days…not like I been swamped with work or anything!! J

Let’s see – what has happened since Monday…no mucho gente. Level 5 is MUCH more work…all dem irregular verbs and conjugations and past tense and now reflexive verbs hotting up mi head! All di people wid 4-5 languages feelin it and a talk a bad bad mix of span-glish-frances-aleman-swiss – ALL IN ONE!

Those here for a few months tell us ‘green beans’ that by week 4 frustration sets in and breakdowns are common… I witnessed one in Samara – her brain just couldn’t tek no more…she say she cant speak english / Spanish or anyting else right…pobrecita! Lots of information to soak up…I do like the teaching style though – I think it is effective! Check me back on this week 4-5 though J

Martes,13th – school and nuff exercise. I did laps in pool and went gym afta school…I crush by nite time but still got up some energy to go out..ended up at di salsa place – only to hear entry is 5000colones (yes, dats about $10)….not one a we pay – too much money for folks with no income man! Last time it was 1000 colones..apparently they had a live band so jacked up the price…we get them down to 3000 colones for about 12 of us to get in – still people bawl so we bolt to another place a likkel further out…it is close to that school for young boys I went to my first week here…we all get in for 1000colones a piece and are thrilled! Usual stuff – cumbia, merengue, salsa – some new students in the mix and love it up…I watch an’ nurse mi scotch cause I just not feelin di music! I should – I know! Contemplating clase de baile…de instructor at di school not patient with beginners though…anyway!

These ole Spanish men come out of the wood work when dem see a group of ladies at a table bwoy…dem draw fi di ‘rubias’ FIRST…they take a special liking to our Swedish contingent! J one all get rose…great people watching! I am fully entertained with the people dynamics / cultural interaction.

I labrish with a Tiko who looks more like a rocker from USA…motorcycle riding and all…I attempt to leave early but there are no taxis and a few crack heads outside trying to offer me a drive…oh dear!! Also – it is FREEZING!!– as well as one ‘taximan’ in an unmarked car dat vex wid me when I tell him I not going no where in no ‘unofficial’ taxi..i go back inside and wait till the crowd is ready…safer than sorry… I am told that was a good call…can u imagine – mi loss inna CR? No sah…

At week 3 I getting a better feel for the lay of the land and I suppose like ANYWHERE else – if people see an opportunity to get one over on u – they will…gotta be careful. Shadiness is RIPE here…

I have heard of at least 3 horror stories from students – mi nuh able ! 1 swissa girl in my class – a guy tried to yank her bag off her on the street after he sat behind her on the bus ride…he didn’t succeed thank God…another USA guy (jimmy carter is his name) – he was robbed at gunpoint walking home one nite….he had NO business walking the streets at 1am grant it but still unfortunate…. Funny – afta he met me and we got to talking – he said he pegged me as a consultant type – do I LOOK ‘accenturish’ folks? nah – cant be – I don’t think so at all…. He knew what business process redesign was (try saying that in spanish) and figured I was associated with one of those consulting houses…one other guy – his camera / bag was stolen from the beach- one guy distracted him in the water (very far from the shore) and another snuck the bag away…when him look up him catch di rake – too late. L


mas tarde gente...