Nicarauga

Jan, Cecilie, and I spent a very long but really nice day today in Nicaragua. We saw the city of Granada, Lake Nicaragua, the Masaya Volcano, and an artisan market. We also ate really delicious locally-harvested cashews and chocolate!
I learned from my teacher last week that all borders from Nicaragua north to Mexico are open and can be crossed without a passport. But Costa Rica keeps its borders closed, so I expected the border crossing to be a little intense. It wasn't...pretty easy (though not entirely clear) process. I also felt very safe in Nicaragua, despite its history and stereotypes. NOT violating stereotypes, however, were the other people on the tour bus with us. All North Americans and mostly Canadians, they drank ALL day, bargained perhaps too much with vendors, talked loudly about real estate investments, and spoke no Spanish. Jan and I were actually able to talk about them without them understanding, right next to them, by speaking in Spanish!
Some pictures from the day are below.
En espanol:
Jan, Cecilie, y yo pasimos un muy larga pero buen dia hoy en Nicaragua. Veiamos el ciudad de Granada, Lago de Nicaragua, el volcan Masaya, y un mercado con artesinias. Tambien comiamos semillas de marinan deliciosas y chocolate locale!
Apprendi desde mi maestra la semana pasada que todas las fronteras desde Nicaragua norte a Mexico estan abiertas y se puede atravesar sin pasaporte. Pero Costa Rica mantenen sus fronteras cerradas, entonces yo esperaba que el cruce frontizero estaria intenso. No estuve...estuve un bastante facil (si no del todo claro) procesa. Tambien me senti muy segura en Nicaragua, a pesar de la historia y los esteriotipos. NO violar los estereotipos, sin embargo, fueron las otras personas en el excursion con nosotros. Todos los norteamericanos y canadienses en su mayoría, ellis bibieron TODO el dia, se negociaba tal vez demaciado con los vendadores, hablaron ruidosamente sobre casas se vende, y no hablaron espanol nada. Jan y yo podía hablar de ellos, muy cerca, sin que ellos lo sepan, para hablar espanol!
Unos fotos abaja.

 

Celebrations

There were many reasons for celebrations around here this week: Mardi Gras, Dia del amor y amistad (Feb. 14th), a fellow student's birthday, our housekeeper Yeti's birthday, and the (semi?) annual weekend fiesta (festival) in the neighboring town of Brasilito.
On Tuesday, I joined Paula and Caio, my Brazilian apartment-mates, on an afternoon excursion to a nearby town known for its authentic indigenous pottery. (The only common language the driver and the three of us had was Spanish, so it was another fun, but exhausting, challenge.) When we returned to Flamingo, a Mardi Gras parade through the town was just starting! (I think this was started by the large contingent of North Americans in Flamingo, but I'm not sure.) Our van actually found itself in the parade line,  so we waved. :)
On Wednesday, we found out it was our housekeeper Yeti's birthday!  So John, our neighbor, friend, and fellow student, played a song for her on his ukelele!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdihRjAt9K0&feature=youtu.be
February 14th in Costa Rica is el dia del amor y amistad (love and friendship). I love that friendship is included! We celebrated with a pinata at school (the student whose birthday it was took the first strike), the staff gave us chocolate, and my friends Jan and Cecilie and I went out to a nice dinner.
This weekend there is a fiesta in the neighboring town of Brasilito, so a lot of us students checked it out last night. These festivals move around to different towns each weekend in the summer. There are carnival rides, games, churros (mmm), bull riders, and dances. There is a big arena, and each night they release bulls, with a rider, into the arena. Anyone who wants to can get into the arena and run with (or from!) the bulls! It's quite a sight. Three of the guys from school that were with us jumped in the ring.  We saw Yeti at the fiesta, too, and danced with her.

Y en espanol:

Había muchas razones para celebraciones por aquí esta semana: Mardi Gras, Día del Amor y Amistad (14 de febrero), el cumpleaños de un compañero de estudios, el cumpleaños de nuestra ama de llaves Yeti, y la fiesta de fin de semana en la vecina pueblo de Brasilito.

El martes, me uní a Paula y Caio, mis compañeros de apartamento brasileños, en una excursión por la tarde a un pueblo cercano conocido por su cerámica indígena auténtica. (El único lenguaje común del conductor y los tres de nosotros tuvimos fue el español, así que fue otro divertido, pero agotador desafío.) Cuando regresamos a Flamingo, un desfile de Mardi Gras por la ciudad estaba empezando! (Creo que fue iniciado por el gran contingente de norteamericanos en Flamingo pero no estoy segura.) Nuestra camioneta se encontraba en la línea de parada, así que nos saludó. :)

El miércoles, nos enteramos de que era el cumpleaños de nuestra ama de llaves Yeti! Entonces Juan, nuestro vecino, amigo y compañero de estudios, tocó una canción para ella en su ukelele.

El14 de febrero en Costa Rica es el dia del amor y amistad. Me encanta que la amistad está incluido! Lo celebramos con una piñata en la escuela (el estudiante cuyo cumpleaños se llevó el primer ataque), los maestras nos dijeron chocolate, y mi amigos Jan y Cecilie y yo fuimos a una cena deliciosa.

Este fin de semana hay una fiesta en el vecino pueblo de Brasilito, así que muchos de nosotros los estudiantes fueron anoche. Estos fiestas mover a las ciudades diferentes cada fin de semana durante el verano. Hay juegos mecánicos, juegos, churros (mmm), toros, montadores, y bailes. Hay un arena grande, y cada noche se liberan los toros, con un montador, en la arena. Cualquier persona que lo desee puede entrar en la arena y correr con (o de!) los toros! Es todo un espectáculo. Tres de los chicos de la escuela que estaban con nosotros saltamos en la arena. Vimos Yeti en la fiesta, también, y bailamos con ella.

Here are a few photos from the week!

Meeting a Real Tico Family

Yesterday, I found my way to a nearby town called Santa Rosa to visit a family that Laura lived with when she lived in Costa Rica, years ago. Laura gave me a gift to take to the family if I was able to visit them.  They don't speak any English, so I practiced what I wanted to say to them a lot before going there!

My friends were planning to spend the day at Playa Tamarindo, and Santa Rosa is only a few kilometers from there. So we all rode in a taxi together to Santa Rosa, and the driver helped me ask a few people in the town which house was theirs. After we found it and found them home, he took my friends to Tamarindo where I met them later.

How great to meet a real Tico family, and to be able to deliver Laura's gift and greetings! They were so surprised and happy to hear that Laura is well. I met Noemi and Julio, their son Diego, and their daughter Maria. I talked with them in their backyard for maybe 45 minutes, which was definitely a bit of a language challenge, but so rewarding! When they had to leave for church, Diego gave me a ride to Tamarindo. They were so warm and friendly to me, a stranger from another country, and I am so glad to have had the chance to meet them!

Y en espanol... (corrections still welcome, Spanish speakers!)

Ayer, me encontro mi camina a un pueblo cercano para visitar una familia con quien Laura vivia cuando ella vivia en Costa Rica, hace muchos anos. Laura me dio un regalo para traer a la familia si yo pudiera (?) visitarlos. Ellos no hablan nada ingles, entonces yo practique mucho lo que queria decirlos.

Mis amigas estuvieron planeando a pasar el dia a Playa Tamarindo, Santa Rosa esta solo unos kilometros de alli. Entonces viajamos juntos en taxi, y el chofer me ayudo preguntar unas personas en el pueblo cual casa es de ellos. Despues de encontrarla y de encontrar ellos a la casa, el trayo a mis amigas a Tamarindo donde yo los encontre mas tarde.

Que magnifica conocer un verdad familia Tica y poder traer el regalo y saludos de Laura! Ellos estaban tan sorprendidos y felices a oir que Laura esta bien. Conoci a Julio y Noemi, su hijo Diego, y su hija Maria.  Hable con ellos en su patio durante cerca 45 minutos, cual estaba bastante desafio, pero muy gratificante.  Cuando ellos tenimos que irse para iglesia, Diego me llevo a Tamarindo.  Ellos estaban tan amables y bienveniendos (?) a mi, un extrana de otro pais, y estoy tan feliz haber tenido la oportunidad de conocerlos!

Rincon de Vieja (or: Monkeys!!)

I spent today at Rincon de Vieja National Park, about 2 hours north of Flamingo Beach. I went on the tour with two couples close to my parents' age, fellow students. These two couples have so much in common, it's so cool they met  during their week here. My friends here and I agree they will probably be lifelong friends. I was glad to be able to hang out with them for the day.

Rincon de Vieja is a volcano, and the park has boiling mud pots and  fumaroles (thank goodness that word is the same in English and Spanish, because I can barely remember it in English!). We saw a lot of such geothermal features, along with a big geothermal energy plant (good use of resources,  CR!), ficus trees, a beautiful waterfall, and most importantly, so many monkeys!!! There were 2 white-faced monkeys (of "Friends" fame) and a big group of spider monkeys. I was thrilled. Our guide was great too, speaking to us 95% in Spanish so we could practice. We finished this great day by covering ourselves with therapeutic mud and soaking in volcanic hot springs!

I can definitely think of worse ways to spend a day. A few pictures are below.

Y en espanol (Spanish speakers, feel free to correct me!)...

Acabo de pasar el dia en el parque nacional Rincon de La Vieja, se queda dos horas norte de Playa Flamingo. Fui en el ture con dos parejas cerca del edad de mis padres, tambien estudiantes. Estas parejas tienen mucho en comun, es magnifica que ellos se conocieron durante su semana aqui. Mis amigas aqui y yo estan de acuerdo que ellos seran amigos de vida.

Rincon de Vieja es un volcan, y el parque tiene barro herviendo y fumaroles (gracias a Dio que esa palabra es la misma en ingles y espanol, porque no puedo nunca lo recordar en ingles!). Vimos muchos de estas caracteristicas geotermas, y tambien una fabrica de energia geoterma (buena idea, CR!), matopalo arboles, una cascada bonita, y, mas importante, tantos monos!! Habia monos de cara blanca (como en "Friends") y un grande grupo de monos aranas!  Estaba muy emocianada. Nuestra guia tambien estaba magnifica, hablando a nosotros novente cinco por ciento en espanol de modo que nosotros podimos practicar. Terminimos esta dia magnifica para cubrirnos con barro terapeutico y banarnos en las termas.

Puedo pensar de maneras peores de pasar un dia! Unas fotos estan abaja.

The first week in review (La primera semana en revista)

Happy Friday! I've completed my first week of school here, and I've learned a lot and met some great people. I'm living in an apartment building owned by the school, with about 10 other students. There is a really nice dog named Eruz who keeps a friendly but protective eye on all of us. There is also- I love this!- a band, like a marching band except they don't move around,  that plays in the field across the street every day at 3pm! I want to figure out who they are. I sort of want to play with them!

Four of us share my particular apartment unit- there are four private rooms with private baths, and a kitchen/dining are and patio we share. My apartment-mates are a young woman from Norway and a couple from Sao Paulo. The woman from Norway, Cecilia, is basically fluent in English.  The couple from Brazil doesn't speak much English,  although the guy, Caeo, speaks a little more than his girlfriend Paula. So, we speak in [basic] Spanish, which is great! The apartments have a really nice pool where we all spend a lot of time hanging out in the late afternoon.  Cecilia and I, along with a lot of other North Americans here, do socialize in English a lot, but so far the balance of English and Spanish in my daily life is such that I am making friends but still definitely improving in Spanish, so I like it.

My class at CPI, the school, was good this week. At first it wasn't great- the teacher didn't seem to understand our questions and there was sometimes down time. But it definitely got better and today was very good. We played "Tabu" in class-- Taboo the board game in Spanish! I love that game anyway, and it was a great vocabulary builder. There were four people in my class- the max allowed. They place students by level and it was pretty accurate for our group. Next week two of us are continuing, so we'll have a new teacher and probably two new classmates. I also signed up to do some extra conversation classes in the afternoon next week; I want to get the most out my time here.

The staff at the school are fantastic. They won't speak to you in English unless you're really struggling, but they'll help with anything. The daily routine is that the bus picks us up at the apartments at 7:30 (or so...), classes start at 8, and there's a break at 10 during which time they serve traditional Costa Rican snacks like fruit, fried tortillas with bean paste, and pan de coco (coconut bread). Classes end at noon. After class there are different optional activities; this week there was salsa dancing on Tuesday, cooking class on Wednesday, and an excursion to another nearby beach, Playa Tamarindo, on Thursday, among other things. 

Playa Tamarindo is very touristy, it's pretty terrible.  I went into one very nice store, and when the shopkeeper spoke to me in English, I kept responding in Spanish. She asked me where I was studying and when I told her, she gave me a discount. :) Despite hourds of tourists, though, the beach was lovely.

Today, four other students and I signed up for a canopy tour (zip lining) nearby. We were virtually assured we'd see monkeys! Unfortunately, we got to a point on the small road where traffic was backed up. Our driver got out to see what the problem was. When he came back, he told us there had been a fatal accident, and that the road would probably be closed for the rest of the day. It sounded horrible- very tragic. We will reschedule our ziplining for next week. The roads here are narrow, not well kept up (I'm told the country invests instead in health care and education), and dangerous. Very sad.

Also this week, I ventured into the aforementioned animal rescue place down the street, along with a fellow student's girlfriend who's visiting, an animal lover like I. The place is run by a German woman who takes in abandoned dogs and cats and, sort of unoficially, tries to find them better homes. When we stopped by, she was taking care of the skinniest dog I'd ever seen. I'm so glad she's doing what she's doing!

This place is a small world in many ways. There was a man in my class who lived in the next town over from me in NC for 9 years. One of my new friends, who lives in Oregon, discovered that one of the guys here who's just out of college dated her niece's roommate in college, in Wisconsin. Wow.

Tomorrow, I'm off to see Rincon de Viejo volcanic national park. I hope to have lots of wildlife pictures to post soon!

Sunrises and sunsets

The title of this post sounds so poetic, but I'm being very literal!

When I first arrived here on Saturday night, I noticed my apartment-mate's vocabulary list hanging on the wall of the shared kitchen.  There were no English translations, only pictures. (I have since come to realize that there is a strict policy against the use of English in the CPI school building. Definitions of new words are provided with explanations in Spanish or drawings.) The first picture I noticed was of the sun with an arrow down, and an arrow up.

"Amanecer"= sunrise.
"Atardecer" = sunset.

I have seen both lately. Though I know at least a few people will not believe me, I've been up at dawn each day so far this week. The bus for school comes at 7:30, and classes start at 8. Costa Rica really is an early to bed, early to rise country, it seems. Things start early because of the heat.

And as for sunsets, it's a beautiful thing being on the Pacific coast AND having warm water! You can see the sunset on the beach while not freezing; it's fantastic. Tonight three women from school (including my apartment-mate from Norway) and I went to a new restaurant at the beach front here in Flamingo Beach, to have dinner and drinks while watching the sun set. A really fun night.  Here's a visual... more soon.

Expectations

Today is my first full day here in Flamingo Beach. I spent the first part of the day wandering around the town and buying groceries. So far, there are some things I expected and some things that have surprised me. More surprises, so far.

Expected:
- Signs in the Liberia airport are predominantly in English.  This wasn't a surprise, and in some ways it's comforting that there are people around who can speak English if I need it, but it still disappoints me.
- The town of Flamingo Beach is small, hot, and dry.
- There are a lot of Americans...probably 30% of the people I passed in my wanderings were, judging by their language, accent, and San Francisco t-shirts. (I stopped to talk to that guy. :) )
-People here in Guanacaste love to dance! Laura had told me so, but driving through small towns last night on the way from the airport, we passed no fewer than four huge outdoor dance parties!

Surprises:
- The driver who picked me up at the airport, Victor, didn't speak any English. I was surprised, given his employment at an international language school. But all the better as I got to jump right into practicing Spanish during the hour ride to Flamingo. And it went pretty well! There was some story he told me about his cat that I failed to fully understand (something about "estomago" and "patas" -paws- and "alto"??) but overall I got all the information I needed, fully in Spanish!
- I met four other students last night on the ride from the airport. They were hitchhiking (!) home from being out at one of the aforementioned dances (bailes) in a nearby town, and Victor picked them up. I thought I'd be surrounded by North Americans here, but these girls were all from Europe- Germany and Holland. Also, I just met my roommate, she is from Norway.
- There are a lot of well-cared-for pets here. Laura had told me that often pets here get "room but no board" ...but I have encountered several well-loved animals. (Now, keep in mind that I really have no idea what Victor was telling me about his cat...so that could be a point in support of or against my theory!!)  A dog lives here at the residences! There is even an animal shelter just down the road from my residence. (Don't worry, Dan! Mama, interested? :) )
- So far, language has not been the biggest translation challenge, but rather units! Victor was asking me the temperature in CA, but I could not convert F to C very quickly. He also asked me how tall Dan is (??), and I was expected to respond in meters. When I said close to 2 meters, I thought,  Victor was incredulous. I must be way off. I'm going to have to make myself flash cards on metric units in addition to vocabulary. At least "3 km" was understandable.
-Playa Flamingo was so named because it is said to have incredibly white sand, even taking on a pink tint. The sand I saw today was virtually black. I must be missing the famous beach.
- I am way more grateful than I ever thought I'd be for air conditioning in my room! I usually hate overused A/C, but it is HOT out there.

Below are a few first pictures, of the school, the marina, and the Villa I will stay in for the next three weeks.

More soon. Classes start tomorrow.