November 2011
1 post
Thanksgiving
Haven’t tumbled in awhile, I find myself busy with enormous amounts of homework and weekend trips. Apologies. It’s difficult to believe that tomorrow is already Thanksgiving, that means I only have 24 more days left.
Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Costa Rica, but my tika family, and others from the international program, are still respectful of the holiday. Tomorrow, I’ll be...
October 2011
12 posts
lluvia
Traveling to Costa Rica I knew I was going to be here during the rainy season, but I didn’t know it was going to be THE RAINY SEASON. It rains here every single day, in the afternoons or evenings between 3 and 7pm. October is the wettest month of the season with at least one week of non stop rain 24 hours a day. I have never seen rain like this, it can be described as torrential downpour...
Granada, Nicaragua
Nicaragua! Going to Nicaragua this weekend was one of the most culturally eye opening experiences I’ve ever had. It is not like the United States in any way. Although environmentally beautiful it is a 3rd world country, with dirt streets, shacks, and kids who don’t have shoes. It’s like one of those places you read about in National Geographic but never get the chance to...
Pura Vida
“Pura Vida”, I hear pura vida here everywhere. Local Costa Rican’s use it as a greeting, a goodbye, to describe how they feel, to describe the day, and even as a blessing to others. It means “pure life.” I see it on souvenirs and tattooed on people’s bodies. I think it describes the Costa Rican culture really well. Pure life. Costa Ricans are pure, they’re...
Puerto Viejo
WOOOW! I had a crazy time this past weekend. My study abroad group took trip to Puerto Viejo which is a small town, about three blocks wide and ten blocks long, built on sand right next to the Caribbean. Imagine Bob Marley on a ship from Pirates of the Caribbean. It had the ocean/pirate Caribbean-isk from pirates but also a laid back reggae feel. Imagine sandy dirt streets lined with small...
Mi casa es tu casa.
The woman I am staying with in San Jose is incredible. Her name is Catalina and she’s an amazing cook. Every day for breakfast, she, her daughter, my roommate, and I all eat breakfast together. We have scrambled eggs, beans, rice, toast with guava jam, coffee, and freshly blended papaya juice. (it’s tradition for families to always have breakfast together) The house is located about...
September 2011
3 posts
My studies.
Today was the second day of class and I am overwelmed by all the wonderful things. I’m studying at Veritas Universidad, pronounced ’vare-et-aas’ ‘un-e-var-ce-dad,’ taking intensive spanish, intercultural communications, tropical ecology, and drawing. The school is composed of two separate building that are certified green. (there’s even an open rainforest-like...
