[ISA Winter 2 and 3 students. Many of them are leaving this weekend - only about 6 of us are staying through april/may I believe]
For me, this place is wonderful for so many more things other than its gorgeous beaches, wonderful weather, beautiful mountains, volcanoes, waterfalls, and all of the reasons everyone comes to vacation here. i find this place wonderful because of its crowded plazas, constant honking of horns, blazing hot humid weather at the beaches and a variation of weather here in Zapote, San Jose. I find this place absolutely amazing because of its people, and the culture that surrounds me. It is fun because I get to speak spanish every single day, which is something I have dreamed of for a long long time. It is a land of adventures, that has allowed me to create a list half a mile long of mishaps, misfortunes, and wild weekend trips that BECAME adventures due to all of the mishaps!
[me in 'front' of the city lights.]
My dream, since I was 15 years old was to study abroad in another country. It was to go somewhere and experience their culture, learn of a different place and it's people, and to be able to speak SPANISH every single day. If you ask me why I love Spanish so much, I couldn't tell you, not even to save my life. Could it be because i feel it is something I am good at? That i have mastered? That i love it because not everyone can do it? Maybe. But there's also so many more things to it.
My other dream, since I entered college, and a little time before, was to minor in TOFL and teach English in another country - again, allowing me to speak Spanish every day, and live with the latino people among their culture, and live their 'wild' life. That dream of mine, left me by the end of my freshman year for a few reasons, and this semester abroad, has brought it back to me - and i DO believe I will be able to realize this dream soon after graduation, if I work hard enough and do my research.
I have fallen in love with Costa Rica. But as I have always said before, "it doesn't really matter where I go, I'll love and adapt to any country that I end up in and i'll be okay, as long as im in a latino country and speaking spanish every day, because THAT is really all I desire." I fell in love with Brazil, for almost the same reasons. Costa Rica is now added to that list. Who knows which country will be added after graduation, but I have no doubts that wherever I end up, it WILL end up on that list.
The culture of Latin America has always fascinated and inspired me. Ever since my first trip to Brazil in 2005 I have talked of how i want to in Latin America for the rest of my life. Something no one really understand when I talk of it. For what reasons could it be? SOOO many! Could it possibly be for the culture? That might be one thing. Because as I have realized over the past years of learning, traveling, and observing, the United States of America is a country of ALL cultures. We are not 'united' in the sense of culture in any which way. We have holidays of ALL religions, basic celebrations that have nothing to DO with any historical event (Halloween, Valentine's Day, etc.) holidays that some people celebrate and other people don't. But in Latin America, in the individual countries [which YES each country is different, and each country has their OWN culture: They are in MANY MANY ways very different and unique from each other] they celebrate the same holidays across the country. They all get vacation from work almost on the same holidays (I believe). They all celebrate in some sort of way, either with family, friends, or big town festivals. Culture can be a hard thing to define, but it is also something that my home country lacks - its OWN - which is obviously due to the fact that the country was created and filled with people from all over the world - that helped to make it what it is today. BUT that, is one reason I love Latin America.
The other thing, the people, are so relaxed, laid back, friendly (for the most part) and just all around FUN. In the states, as they say "Time = Money" and we are always so rushed, and pressed for time, in hurries, and doing so much at one time. Here, we run on "tico time" where arriving late, is expected. I feel that here you dont see so many people worried and stressed, and rushed. Not to say they're never stressed! BUT it's just so different.
Anyways, this has gone completely off path of where I was aiming to go when I started! I was MEANING to write about the things I will miss about Costa Rica (which I guess I did, just went a little more broad. well, here are some specifics.)
Walking EVERYWHERE: is my most favorite thing. Some days, when I have 'nothing' to do, I will go walking around the city, and just take turns as I feel, not knowing where i'm going, in hopes of getting lost, to allow me to explore the city in a new way. I love walking to school, to the stores, to friends houses, and wherever else it may be. Walking to the city and watching the children chase the pidgeons round and round in ciricle - i think that day might have been my favorite walk. I've got a blog entry for that on my ipod - lets see if i can't upload it next time im at school connected to the wireless with it.
Weekend trips: The beaches here are not ALL close, but rather close. And though each trip does take quite some time depending on the route the bus takes, traffic, or whatever other problems we have come across - it is wonderful to be able to leave on a Friday morning to the beach, stay for the weekend to see new places, the beautiful ocean, (which comes along w scorching hot and humid weather) and OH the SUNSETS, are beyond phenomenal.
My Tica Family: My family here is absolutely wonderful. They have been NOTHING LESS than great to me. They have provided me with FABULOUS meals in the evenings and delicious fruit, and other foods in the mornings for breakfast. Since day-- well the 2nd day, after I was over my 2 hours of homesickness... I have felt at home here. My host mother does my laundry several times a week, and puts my clothes back in my closet for me. (I try to get them sometimes before she does because I feel horrible that she does stuff I am capable of doing) She also organizes my room a few times a week and makes my bed - not every day, but many days. And we ALL KNOW how unorganized i am ... which on some days, i tell her to make sure she doesn't come to organize it because it is just TOO much of a disaster - and I will need to do it on my own later. They have taken me to their beach house, and helped me when I have questions. My favorite part of the day has ALWAYS been dinner - where we sit and talk - well I talk alot i think the most! and sometimes since school started the girls dont eat with us (You know how that is - back in high school we would come home, snack, nap if we were exhausted, and wake up around 10 to eat 'dinner') Its the same. ....***I think i need to write a separate entry about my host family too or this one will never end!***
Cheap Drinks: Okay i'm sorry family, but I just HAVE to mention - When we go out for our "social evenings" and have a *drink or two* it is just so inexpensive! I feel like the prices in most places here , are the Happy Hour prices there. Though it is true that on our weekend vacations to the beaches we find the prices a little higher due to the high rate or tourism, but if you go to the right places at the right times, you'll find perfect prices AND did you know that "LADIES NIGHT" here means FREE DRINKS - UNLIMITED for the ladies until a certain hour?!?!! Thats insane!!!
gosh gosh gosh there's so many things i love here - and what a terrible way to end this note by having the last thing be "cheap drinks" BUUUT my "mama tica" is brewing up something DELICIOUS in the kitchen reminding me I need to do a few more things before dinner, causing me to finish on that *horrible* note.
Plus, I could really ramble on and on about how much I love this place, this city, this house, these people, this LIFE, and how much Id love to stay AT LEAST 2 more months if not a whole other semester if that were even possible (WHICH i have already looked into and is NOT due to one *STUPID* gen-ed credit requirement I have left that must be fulfilled at GMU) haha Anyways, gotta get runnin and stop this ramblin.
We'll see when I get to writin again.
[our goodbye dinner was at this restaurant looking over the city lights. Obviously, it was quite a beautiful view.]
[we guessed that the field on the right is Saprissa stadium, but we're not sure. haha]
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