El Fin de Semana en La Volcán Arenal

The Weekend at Arenal Volcano


This weekend was a blast! We left Friday around one, arriving at Arenal Volcano around 5. We stayed at a resort called Los Lagos, which had an amazing view of the volcano. It also had 5 different hot springs. As you venture up the hill, each hot spring gets warmer. So naturally, we had to check out the hot springs and slides the first night of our visit. One slide was, in my opinion, better and faster than any slide I've been on in water parks! 

The next day, I woke up early to go biking through the tropical rain forest. What an experience! I highly recommend it to anyone. Only 3 of the ISA students signed up, but it was actually better that way, because we were able to ask more questions to the tour guide. My knowledge of the Costa Rican flora and fauna has expanded substantially because of that bike ride- haha! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable. We saw howler monkeys, toucans, white-nosed coati, and orioles! Not to mention the lush vegetation! All the natural attractions of Costa Rica never cease to amaze me. We biked about 12 miles around El Lago Arenal (Lake Arenal) at the base of Arenal Volcano. 

Although it doesn't look like it here, the trek was anything but easy! The majority of it was rocky and uphill, but it was so worth it! At the end, we stopped at a river and ate pineapple, mango, and bananas. I was telling the tour guide about how much better the fruit is here. He informed me that the reason the fruit has more taste in Costa Rica than the States is because they pick the fruit when it's green, then ship it to America. However, in Costa Rica, they pick the fruit at just the right moment, so it is able to absorb more flavor. Anyway, when I got back to the resort, we took the buses into a nearby town called La Fortuna, where some girls and I ate lunch at a restaurant called The Lava Lounge (cute, right?) and piddled around town for a bit. There were stray dogs EVERYWHERE! In the restaurants, walking around the streets. It was so discomforting :(. There is over 1 million stray dogs in Costa Rica. How sad is that! I wanted to give them my whole meal, but I'm pretty sure the restaurant owner wouldn't have been too pleased with me. We grabbed some ice cream (lime sherbert-yumm!) then went to a coffee shop called Down to Earth Coffee and learned about the process of coffee-making. 

This is a Costa Rican coffee-maker. They put the beans in the bag, then pour hot water on the beans. We're a bit more modernized, but their coffee is 10 times better!
*To all you coffee-drinkers: The best coffee is harvested at an altitude between 3,000 and 5,000 feet!Also, go for the light roast- it has more caffeine, and is better for your metabolism!
The girls and I then took a taxi back to the resort. My friend Nicole and I walked around the crocodile exhibit at Los Lagos, went back to the room, and got ready for dinner. After dinner at the resort, some girls and I got ready together to go out. We went to the guys' room and hung out, then took a taxi to a bar called Los Establos. A lot of the ISA students were there, and we danced all night long! 

The next day, the students on the "orange" bus (there is 3 buses: blue, yellow, and orange; Blue and yellow went on Saturday while we were hanging out in town) woke up bright and early and went to La Fortuna Waterfall. 

One word: breathtaking. The whole time I was at the waterfall, I thought about how profound God's power and love is. He created the world in his likeness. I couldn't stop thinking about how long and hard he must have worked to perfect this waterfall, but he did it out of love! I didn't want to leave! But we went back to the resort after an hour, packed up, and headed back to San Jose. Great weekend! We have an awesome group of students. 

¡No Soy Un Gringo Pinto!

I'm not a gringo!


In Costa Rica, "gringo pinto" is the Tico term for Caucasians who try to speak Spanish, but fail miserably in their pronunciation. The term is originally gringo, but the Ticos put their own little spin to it, incorporating the terminology of their common dish of "gallo pinto" (rice and beans). 
Yet another fun fact of the day!
Yesterday I had my very first test in Intermediate Spanish! It actually wasn't too difficult. We were tested over medical vocabulary, commands, the past verb tense, and the questions used to acquire information about a patient.  It's interesting how they've managed to combine Health and Spanish into a single course. Although my Spanish professor is definitely more meticulous than my Spanish teachers at home, I think he has played a huge part in my improvement. I catch myself remembering his lectures while speaking Spanish to my Tica Madre. In Spanish class today, we had our midterm: a patient simulation. In a patient simulation, we (the students) pretend to be a doctor speaking to a patient. We had to acquire the patient's general information (date of birth, address, telephone, family history, etc.) and give them commands in order to take their blood pressure, measure their height, and weigh them. I was kind of nervous, but it turned out well I think! 
I was relieved after the tests, because my professor let us out about an hour early both days! I came home yesterday, laid down hoping for a little siesta, reached for my eye mask, and it was gone! Who would've thought that little dog Nano snatched it off my night stand?! So much for that nap. Emy was kind enough to wash it for me, though. 
It's finally the weekend!!! About time. Tomorrow, we leave for Arenal Volcano! I'll be sure to post about my adventures at the end of the weekend! ¡Hasta luego!

Salud, Dinero, y Amor

Health, Money, and Love


My Spanish professor sneezed three times in a row today, and the 6 of us said "Salud" each time, the equivalent of America's "Bless you." He then corrected us, saying that the second time a person sneezes you are supposed to say "Dinero" and the third you are supposed to say "Amor." Basically wishing them health, money, and love. I thought that would be an interesting fact for the day!
Yesterday was a good day! I got up early and went to the gym with Katie, ate breakfast, did some homework, and ate lunch at a Pizzeria next to Veritas before Spanish class at one. At the pizzeria, I got the dish called an "Antipasta." It had lettuce, mushrooms, zucchini, olives, eggplant, cheese, and red peppers. (In Costa Rica, it's popular to mix cold and cooked veggies in a dish) It was so good, I had to go back and get it today for lunch :).
Yesterday and today have been quite gloomy. I'm not sure if it's from the weekend, all of the rain, or a combination of both, but everyone is dragging, including myself! Hellooo Costa Rican coffee! ¡Que rico! (How rich!) Anyway, I spent last night writing a 10-minute presentation on Diabetes in Spanish. I've never been a public speaker, especially not in Spanish, but I got a 94%! Happy day! In Costa Rican Health Care and Tropical Medicine today, we watched a film called Sicko by Michael Moore. I actually enjoyed his satirical approach to the American Health Care System. I think everyone needs to watch it. You won't be so critical of Obama's health care proposal (Not saying that I'm still not uneasy about it, but just a suggestion for those of you who are completely opposed). 
Today in Spanish, we learned several different verbs (with a medical approach, of course). I swear, the Spanish language has a word for everything! For example, when a person has a cold, he says just that: "I have a cold." However, in Spanish, there is a whole separate verb: resfriarse. And that's just ONE example! Well, I have to go study for a Spanish test tomorrow. ¡Chau!

¡El Fin de Semana para Playa Tamarindo!

The Weekend for Playa Tamarindo!


Before leaving for the beach on Friday, Emy walked Darrian and I around her neighborhood and surrounding areas of San Jose. No rain, so it was scorching hot outside! However, we ventured to Pequeño Mundo, a large store that resembles Sam's, except it carries more inexpensive clothes and house decor than food items! Construction workers live for cat calls. As we walked down the street, we received quite a few "Buenos dias" (Good morning) and "Te amo" (I love you) shout outs. My Mama Tica told us to ignore them. It's amazing the difference between American and Costa Rican cultures. I know some guys shout out at girls walking on the street in the U.S., but it's definitely not as common. In addition, we have to get used to how often people use their car horns here! In America, we're taught to associate the horn with frustration. On the other hand, Ticos honk ALL the time! They honk to tell you the light is about to turn green, they honk to say hello, they honk to tell you they're turning. You name it, they're honking! I find myself whipping my head around every time I hear a honk, expecting to see a terrible driver on the loose!
Anyway, Darrian and I came back to the house, grabbed our stuff, and got on the bus destined for Playa Tamarindo! We left around 1 and arrived around 7:30, but we took a pit stop. So all in all, the trip took a little less than 6 hours by bus. Just our luck, the DVD player wasn't working either! So everyone was either sleeping or listening to their iPod. I tried to do both, and failed miserably. Sleeping straight up isn't exactly my forte. Luckily, on the way back, the DVD player worked and we were able to watch Rio and Dinner for Schmucks. Anyway, after arriving at Playa Tamarindo, we took our luggage to our rooms and went back down for a typical Costa Rican dinner. You guessed it--rice and beans accompanied by veggies and fruit. After dinner, some of us changed into swimsuits and went for a little night swim. The pool was amazing! Swim-up bar, bridge, fountains. Not to mention, ending the night with a 5-star resort bed and hot shower. I fell in love! 

The next day, my friends Sam, Shayla, Katie, and I woke up at 7 and went running on the beach. No, we aren't crazy! We wanted our beach time in! Can you blame us? Ticos walk up and down the beach, and I swear every single one brought his dog! I'm a dog lover, but when pit bulls are jumping on me and chasing me, I get a little scared! 

Anyway, after running, we ate a delicious breakfast provided by the resort and Sam, Lindsey, Danielle, Katie, and I headed to the beach to lay out! 

At 1, Katie and I, along with about 78 other ISA students, boarded the catamaran! It was a blast! We just hung out out on the boat while driving to an island. Once we arrived, they anchored the boat and we jumped off, snorkeled, and swam for awhile! We got back on and ate some tasty snacks of guacamole, salsa, chips, pasta, and fresh fruit! 

The catamaran then headed back to the resort. Before getting off, they anchored the boat again and we all used our new salsa and merengue dance moves while watching the sunset. What a perfect day! 

After getting off the boat, Katie and I showered up really quick and went to dinner with Lindsey, Sam, and Danielle at a beachfront restaurant called Beach Bar. It was so relaxing with the strung-up lights and serenaders. 

My dinner of Chicken Curry Salad

After dinner, we walked around for a little bit and headed back to the resort to hang out in Lindsey, Sam, and Danielle's room. We were worn out from the day! 
The 5 of us woke up again at 7 the next morning to get some more beach time in! Yes, we love it-haha! Unfortunately, it was a little cloudy, but it started to clear off around 9. Danielle and Lindsey decided that they wanted to basque in the comfy bed before leaving.  Sam and I played in the waves for a little bit, and then we headed to the pool to swim with Katie. 
Afterwards, I headed back to my room to pack up and take one last hot shower for the week! I can't complain, though, because I'm incredibly grateful for God leading me down this road. He gave me these challenges to make my trust in Him stronger! I take so much for granted at home, and now I'm even more grateful for everything my parents provide for me. It's true: you never know what you have until it's gone! 

¡Relajarse!

Relax!


Because I was unable to blog yesterday, I'll update you on yesterday and today!


Yesterday I woke up and met my friend Katie between our casas (houses), and we walked to El Gimnasio Diamond. The gym is really nice! It has a lot of spinning classes, so I'm one happy girl! Oddly enough, Diamond Gym doesn't let you work out unless you have a towel with you. And, who would've thought?! They have towels for sale for about $4 in colones. How convenient! Haha
After working out, Katie and I walked back to our respective houses. Then, I got ready for school and ate the pancakes my Mama Tica made for breakfast. I then went to Spanish where we learned mandatos (commands). My homework entailed writing 5 positive and 5 negative commands for Costa Ricans when San Jose has been plagued by mad cow disease. Figuratively, of course:). My professor is a goofball! I love it! After class, I went home, ate dinner, did some homework, and went out to a local club called Los Profesionales. First night to go out in San Jose! So much fun!

Today, my day began with education on the American Health Care System in contrast to that in Costa Rica. I'm not going to bother explaining it because it's too long and, quite frankly, I don't really fully grasp the whole concept. We got out of class early, and Darrian and I went to turn in my paperwork and payment for my Student Visa. Stupid customs. It was such a pain, but now it's off my chest! Then, we met up with three of our friends and had lunch at a soda. In Costa Rica, soda's are their version of the American cafe. Delicious and outdoor seating that overlooks the mountains! 

Anddd we reluctantly went back to class on a beautiful day with no rain. A miracle in San Jose during the wet season! At the beginning of Spanish class, a doctor spoke to us about signos vitales (vital signs) and how to measure them. For the last part of class, we practiced the process of speaking with a patient (in Spanish, of course) while taking their blood pressure. For dinner, Antonio cooked sandillas. Sandillas are boiled and peeled squash with cheese in the middle and cooked with eggs. An exotic taste, but very good! 
Some random photos:

Southern Sub! Represent!

Veritas Auditorium

Las trabalenguas

Tongue-twisters
First day of classes! Here's a few pictures of Veritas University. ¡Es bonita! It's pretty!

These are little open-aired areas to sit and eat that I'm obsessed with!

Anyway, I thought today would never end. However, my teachers are Tico through and through. We're on "Tico Time," which means that classes have several breaks and start late. My kind of schedule! Tropical Medicine seems to be an interesting course. My teacher is actually a practicing physician in Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, doctors go straight to medical school after high school. It only took him 6 years!! Not to mention that one semester at his public university cost about 70,000 colones...that's about $150!! Crazy. Anyway, we learned about the "sistema de salud" (health care system) as well as the indigenous peoples. I think the class is going to be very interesting! After that class, we have an hour break for lunch. I walked across the street with some friends and had an amazing lunch of Casado..

¡Este es delicioso! Casado is the typical dish of Costa Rica. It entails rice, beans, salad, meat, plantain, etc.  After lunch comes the killer...5 hours of Medical Spanish with a professor that only speaks Spanish. In addition, there's only 4 girls in my class, including me. It's going to be challenging, that's for certain, but the professor is funny and tries to make it interesting with different activities. Today, we focused on pronunciation. I never realized how important it is to know the letters and emphasis on each one! My homework for tonight is to ask a Tico to teach me a Spanish "trabalenguas," or tongue-twister. My tongue feels like it might roll into a knot! After the long day of classes, my friend Sam and I decided to try out a Yoga class that Veritas offers. It was actually pretty challenging! The teacher required us to use each other for balance...yet another representation of the Costa Rican concept of personal space. I had to hold the hairy leg of the girl next to me...ew. I then came home, grabbed a quick dinner, and Sam, Darrian, and I went to a dance class also put on by Veritas! It was a blast! We learned the salsa, merengue, and a Colombian dance. Watch out Ticos! 

Está lloviendo muchísimo

It's raining cats and dogs!

Today had a great start with a delicious breakfast of huevos fritos (fried eggs) and tortillas! Then, my housemate Darrian and I headed to orientation at Veritas University. We learned about the differences between the Ticos and Americans, one of which is the concept of personal space. Ticos are closer to each other while conversing, standing in line, and even driving! I'm afraid once I get back to the States that I may come off as a creep- haha! The day started off very sunny, but it started storming about midday.  We then ate lunch and took our oral placement exam. I was placed in Intermediate Spanish, which is just what I needed to receive credit hours! I'm hoping the course won't be too difficult. We start class tomorrow. I have Tropical Health Care from 8 AM to 12 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Spanish from 1 PM to 6PM Monday through Thursday. Not too bad of a schedule, but Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to be killers! I'm definitely ready to get into a routine, though! Anyway, after the last part of our placement exam, a group of us went to make copies of our passports to turn into the ISA office. We soon discovered that most places have limited amounts of change. But Darrian and I received our copies fo' FREE! Sure, it was cheap, but a little bit goes a long way! My happiness soon subsided when I turned in my papers to the ISA office. The secretary informed me that the lady at Customs at the San Jose airport wrote that I was only to be in the country for 30 days when she stamped my passport. She then told me that I could either leave the country for 4 days and return, or I could pay $100 to get Veritas University to write a letter and an additional $60 to get the permit to stay in the country. Now I know what illegal immigrants feel like. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper. Luckily, I met another girl in my program named Jackie who has the same problem. We became fast friends out of spite- haha! Anyway, a group of us decided to take a bus and check out downtown San Jose. It was busy as ever! We saw the Teatro Nacional...

And here's a picture of a street downtown...

We had an interesting experience at the bank. I felt very safe because guards check your purse before entering! Also, you aren't allowed to be on your cell phone inside (I got yelled at). Anyway, we then took a taxi back home where Emilia (my house mom) took Darrian and I to the "super," or the supermarket. It was no Wal-Mart, but it had all the essentials and was considerably cheaper.  Emilia informed us that typically stores charge for usage of plastic grocery bags!  We ended the night with a dinner of picadillo, pork chops, rice, and black beans along with Criminal Minds. I'm off to bed. Tengo una día larga mañana. Buenas noches!