Monday, August 23, 2010

Through Tica Eyes

If ya'll didn't know, Costa Rican people are called Ticos. That is the first lesson of today. As for the rest of stuff, I decided to just share some information about what I see on a daily basis. Number 1. Driving around on the streets everywhere are Toyota Land Cruisers. They are the coolest cars ever! When asked what car I would be for an interview I said a Toyota Land Cruiser. They are so amazing. They come in a variety of colors and styles, which now it sounds like I am talking about fashion but really they are cars and I suppose I should really say models. Either way, their coolness factor is way high. I really want to own one. I should just drive back to the States come the end of November, and then I would have the coolest car ever made, and I would say my car came from Costa Rica, which is another element of the awesome scale. Number 2. I see countless rat tails on a daily basis. No, not the real tail of the little varmints, but the kind of hairstyle Luke Skywalker had. I don't know if they are trying to use the force or what, but guys and girls alike rock the rat tails. Some are braided, some have beads, some are a dread; either way rat tails are not a thing of the past or just from movies from really far in the future, or the past or whatever fictitious world Star Wars was made in. Number 3. I see crazy drivers. The people driving here are insane. The honking of horns is like its own language. I hate when people honk. Here it's like a way to communicate all kinds of things. People honk to tell them to go thru the stop sign, they tell them to go in front of them, they tell pedestrians not to walk because they will mow you over, the taxis honk to tell you they are coming so if you want to get in. It is truly a language all of it's own. It is really crazy. Also, if there is a line of buses and one is not going, every single bus honks and ever car following in that line the entire time. It is insane. I hope all these things have given you a little insight into just the average day of a Tica. Well, me trying to infiltrate the Tica world.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Doing Big Things

First for updates. Today is the one week anniversary of living with my Tico family. They are great. I feel like it has been a lot longer that I have been here in CR. We have done lots of things though. One of the highlights was a late night run to Taco Bell for fiesta fries. Yes, fries at Taco Bell. I think I have tried more new foods in this past week than I ever have before. Everything is delicious! Things from the US that we have that are good, multiply that by deliciousness, freshness & better, and that is the equation for the food down here. I now like coffee. I hate coffee in the states, but here, it's incredible. That horrible after taste thing doesn't exist. The bread here is like mana from heaven that I eat for breakfast along with fruit that is wonderful. I wish I had more adjectives for the food here because really it is incredible. Classes have started, and they meet on a weird schedule for me. They only meet once a week, aside from Spanish which meets everyday. And here, everyday means Mon.-Thurs. because I don't have class on Fridays. That is a fabulous thing I could get used to. This weekend I think some friends and I are heading to Manuel Antonio, which is a beach next to the rainforest. Basically, it is the best of both worlds. I supposedly will see monkeys & sloths roaming around in trees as I sit on the decks of restaurants there. I watched Ice Age last night on my computer just to see Sid the Sloth, so I would know what to look for this weekend. It should be, from everything I have heard a weekend filled with lots of sun and lots of pictures.
As for the address that some of ya'll keep looking for, here it is...
If you wanna send stuff make sure you put on the package somewhere "FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY- NO COMMERCIAL VALUE"
And, just for the record things take about 2-3 to arrive here.
NAME OF STUDENT
Seccion de Movilidad Estudanil
Ofincina de Asuntos Internaccionales y Coooperacion Externa
Universidad de Costa Rica
Cuidad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio
Apartado postal: 11501-2060
San Pedro, Montes de Oca
San Jose, Costa Rica

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Life in the Big City

So here I am in San Jose, Costa Rica. I have been here for 2 days (almost), and so far I am highly exhausted. I am safe and sound in my hotel room, and I will be meeting my family tomorrow. (They won't actually be living inside the city) We have had orientations and we will continue to have them all this week. We have walked around the city a lot. As I walked I noted several things about this city. There are birds EVERYWHERE. Pigeons are not a joke running around like ants do at home. They are everywhere!!! I hate birds for all of you who have somehow missed this in my life. I have jumped from them and have ducked as they fly around just above my head. A bird pooped right in front of me as I was walking and that will just not be ok with me if something from the sky drops & hits me. I think I may end up drop kicking a bird by the end of this trip. Next thing. There is NO DEW down here. I have a minor liking to Diet Mountain Dew & there is not a Dew to be found down here. They have Pepsi products, but not Dew. Bad news. I may or may not write on here again this week mainly just because I may or may not have internet in my home when I get there tomorrow afternoon. Anyway- Over & Out from CR.