Days 23, 24, 25

So nothing spectacular happened on Day 23 or 24 except....I happen to like my class a lot!

Now onto the 25th. San Jose. Oh yes we, Stephanie and myself explored another area on our own time by ourselves.

It all started with a 5hr busride at 3am. Below is a pic of the first mall we went to.

Notice the MULTIPLE stories.

Here is a view of one of the streets and all the red taxis. :)

Well after 5hours on a bus, several hours of shopping (including 2 malls and one really long street,) a wonderful lunch, speaking spanish everywhere and a 5.5hr busride back...we danced.

Tonight was Pacifico. This is a term you might here a lot in Costa Rica. Tonight is...Pacifico, Aqua, Monkey Bar, ect.
So here is a pic of Pacifico :)



Overall today was one of the greatest days while in Costa Rica. It was incredible doing things on our own and having to use Spanish everywhere, since San Jose is not a tourist area. We took several taxis, where of course I asked them a million questions. The final one I think gave us a discount too :)


Tip 9: Bring some multivitamins...everyone gets sick. The longer you stay the more times you'll get hit with whatever it is that week.
Tip 10: Start taking pics and buying items your first week of everything. Waiting last minute makes everything a last minute rush.

Accomplishment day 25: Executed a whole day trip to another area with another student..and it was AWESOME!

Days 19, 20, 21 & 22 - AMAZING

Day 19:

Thursday night was an overall good night. I stayed at the school for the free pizza, which we later found out no one signed up for and that was a requirement for free food. Instead we ate out at our favorite pizza place. It is "our" place for birthdays, last days, new people and anything else we feel like celebrating together.

After the food a few of us went out to Le Beach Club for the live music. It was FANTASTIC! I have a newfound appreciation for live Jazz and other such music. From the live music we walked to VooDoo Lounge where we met the fire guy (he goes EVERYWHERE for tips.) He always manages to amaze me but he also concerns me for my wellbeing.

After a little bit of dancing me and another Jennifer left for our homestays. It was definately an awesome night.

Accomplishment day 19: Listened to live (semi) Costa Rican music.

Day 20 - 21:

It started out with not wanting to go out two nights in a row...it ended with sleeping outside on a porch.

Mellisa was wanting everyone to go out and if it wasn't for her I wouldn't have. But shese my chica and it was her last night that I would see her....so guess who went out?

After my homestay dinner I took the public bus, which none of my girls were on, then I had no clue of where were meeting. I looked at two diff. places and no luck so I walked back to the school. Keep in mind the searching and walking everywhere all took place in the dark by myself.



Met Stephanie at the school and borrowed a skirt then we had dessert, since we had eaten, when everyone else ate dinner at VooDoo. As we finished we saw two students that were supposed to be in Nicaruaga heading towards us. Apparently one is Russian and Nicas (Nicaruagan people) won't let them inside their country. The other had a passport that expires in 5 months and the expiration has to be 6 or more. Our expressions were pricelss when we saw them.



After dinner we went to Monkey Bar then onto Aqua. I found myself without anyone to go home with, as my pal was no longer being a pal. So, I found a taxi that a friend of a friend relys on and trusts; I took a taxi by myself home. That was the BEST thing ever!



The taxi man and I talked the ENTIRE way home in Spanish and he even gave me a lecture after the fact for going alone and how I need to be more careful and other such things. Oh, it was great I felt as if my mom or dad was giving me the same warnings.



This is where the porch comes in...I forgot my key on my bed because my descision to go out that night was last minute and I set it with my things for the next day. Needless to say, my "madre" laughed at me when she came home in the morning.



Accomplishment Day 20: Tried VooDoo for food instead of dancing.

Accomplishment day 21: Talked with a taxi driver for forever! :)







Day 22:


After breakfast I had a long nap. Then I got ready for Festival Espinar. Oh yes, I left about 4pm and returned around 7:30/8am. It was glorious! Great friends, and new ones, decent food, awesome atmosphere and just a grand amount of fun.



PS. I happen to love being in the middle of the action. Oh yes, elbows were very helpful in keeping the drunks who kept shoving everyone from moving forward anymore. Especially when I was ALMOST in "touching the singers' hands" distance.

The picture on the left is of Sean Pual and the one on the right is of my "hermano" and I.

Accomplishment Day 22: Someone coming up to me and asking, "hables ingles?" Then for me to hardly understand them because they talked soooooooooooo slow in English.

Day 16/17/18 - School and Erika

School is going great, the German Baker is still delicious and Erika insurance is a definate must.

What is Erika insurance that I speak of? If you happen to study abroad it "pays" for any medical expenses. However, the one downside is you must pay upfront and there is no telling how much it will cost you.

For instance Andy got clipped by a surfboard and required stitches. Erika will pay Andy back for the medical expenses.

Here is a lovely pic of Andy and a guy from the pharmacy telling him that Andy needs to see a doctor to get stitches. Yay Andy!

This weekend I will be going with a small group to the Sean Paul concert. I am EXTREMELY excited not to see someone who speaks English but to be there during a huge festival.
There will be a large number of tico singers and dancers performing along with all the "usual" festival activities.
I am not sure what all we all will be occuring but I know the festivities are from 4 p.m. Saturday until 6 a.m. Sunday. This will be a VERY long day where I hopefully will truely experience the Costa Rican life.

Tip 6: Bring less clothes and more evening activities (cards, books, ect.)
Tip 7: Ask a million questions to everyone, not just your teachers.
Tip 8: Learn a few sayings before you arrive. Such as "no se" and "no comprende." The first meaning you just don't know and the second being you don't understand. These are very helpful tools in class. If you don't understand, your teacher will help you.

Day 15 - Moving day

Had an amazing breakfast with Steaphanie today. We made cinnamon sugar apples with cinnamon sugar tortillas. I don't think it was all too healthy but very delicious!


Afterwards and throwing a few last minute items into my bag I moved into my host family. They are VERY sweet! I live with a mom, her son and two other students. There is also this family friend guy who is learning english so we were helping each other out. Although him making me explain English in Spanish helped me more than I think I helped him.

My new bedroom!

After a few hours us homestay girls left for dinner..a birthday dinner! Good friends, good food, good scenery...what could be better?

The birthday girl and her family.

Accomplishment Day 15: Taking my first taxi...anywhere.

Day 14 - WOW

Words cannot possibly describe how amazing day 14 was. So why don't I show you some of it (backwards)...

This is the canopy (or zipline.) There were SEVERAL of these where we were at. And the best part was that it seemed like we were in some secret world. I felt like maybe I had just found the lost world.
Anywho there were straight accross, tarzan, rapel, free fall and monky crawl ziplines. It was SPECTACULAR.

This would be the river rafting we did. The water was FREEZING but so well worth it. Also the rapids were actually very strong but on those I didn't want to loose my camera so I packed it away inbetween calm waters.

Well after we road horses to this secret waterfall we enjoyed the freezing water and very strong currents. Although cold, it was very exciting. Okay..I do want to offer one bit of advice; DONT JUMP OFF THE WATERFALL!!!

So yes, Guachipelin is definately my favorite excursion so far.

Some people prefer to go to the national park and look at all the animals and plants but personally I prefer to be out there and active.

That is why this excursion was perfect. It was one very long and exciting day of horseback riding, swimming at a waterfall, tubing on the rapids, a buffet lunch, a large canopy (which they let me go upside down on for many of the lines) and the hot springs.

Did I mention the hot springs included a sauna, mud bath and hot springs? Yes, we painted mud on ourselves. In the end we actually all shined with a newfound tan!

FYI, tomorrow I move into my host familie's house! :)

Accomplishment day 14: Trying more than one thing I have never done before.

Day 12 & 13 - Testing, Germany, Italy & window shopping?

Sidenote...yesterday I went to the Monkey Park as part of my class. We learned about the animals by our guide and also by asking questions, everything in Spanish. I found their website online afterwards and I think I might have to return here one day to volunteer at the park. They provide a bed, bathroom, a bike and food. What more does a person need? I want to do good and that just makes sense.

Day 12:

Dear first test,
I hope you met your match today.
Yes I had my first test today and as much as I studied over the days and did some extra last minute cramming, I am pretty sure I did alright. One thing about me though, I don't like to settle for alright. I prefer awesome, amazing, spectacular and ect. to describe all that I do.
I'll find out Monday how I did. If I did really good, then I can move up again, which would be AWESOME! I like working with people that are slightly better than me. It doesn't make me feel bad, it just makes me want to work harder to achieve their level.


Day 13:

Dear possible future students,
Love the German baker. Wow! Everything he brings is AMAZING (and very decently priced!!!!)Today I bought a slice of chocolate cake and a ham and cheese cresent.
Well me and the Italian guy (When everyone is from different countries all over the world this is not considered a negative thing to replace their name with their home location, and it is very common) went to lunch. He showed me a local place for meals and it was easy to tell it was not a tourist place. :-) So while I had a person from another country with me, I couldn't help my self...I asked a MILLION questions. On the way to lunch, at lunch on the way home and even a little bit afterwards. The subject? ITALY
I find myself being nosy with every person here. I want to know everything about their county and if it is at all like the movies portray. I want to know their culture, weather, social activites and social norms.
Later, my roommate and I went window shopping for a couple hours. Now we are watching a movie in Spanish.

Tip 4: Bring old flip flops and be thankful of the roads you have. Your legs will always be muddy.

Tip 5: Learn more than Spanish. Cultures from all around the world live at the school. Utilize that, take advantage of the opportunity and learn about the world while your here.

Day 11 - July 14, 2010 - My big bubbas wedding day!

Okay, so today is not about me...yes I realize this is my blog.

My brother, Josh, just married my now sister-in-law, Hollis. Wow! I am so excited for them! They are the worlds' cutest most amazing couple EVER! (Sorry mom and dad but really..they are ADORABLE and well, your my parents.)


So let me give some shoutouts.

Thank you Kristen, mutual friend of both, for bringing the worlds cutest couple together! Without you taking the chance none of us would have known the love and support that Hollis brings each and every day.

Thanks to parents on both sides for raising such wonderful people who are filled with love, respect and honesty.

Thanks bro for always being my rock, I love you like a TON!

Thanks Hollis for well, being you and accepting my brother's proposal with open and loving arms. I love you sis!

Lastly, thank you to anyone and everyone who are a part of Josh and Hollis' life.

Accomplishment day 11: Tengo una mas hermana!!!