I would have to say that this is a very atypical Christmas eve for me. I arose early to get to my only class of the day. I have to say though that I really enjoy my classes. My teachers are great and my main class is very small - four people only. It is great for asking questions and making sure we understand and plenty of laughs. After class, we headed for the beach but decided to go to the farthest part that was fairly isolated. Pretty yes, comfortable I would say not. Too many rocks - really more like tidepools so it was too hard to get to the water and it was too hot for me to lay in the sun. You'd think that because I get cold so easily I could take laying in the warm sun, but no. I think overall I am a wimp when it comes to temperature. Maybe my body just doesn't do a good job of regulating it. Besides, my dermatologist told me that I really shouldn't be laying in the sun, so I slathered on lots of the sunblock and then tried to stay cool as best as possible (with my face very very covered). I had a good book and good company though so I certainly can't complain.
The beach here has some interesting qualities. Of course there are the people coming up to sell their goods to you and all your normal tourists there enjoying the sand and surf. There are also dogs EVERYWHERE. In fact, there were dogs at the club last night. They are welcomed in any place it seems like. The dogs are friendly, happy, and look well taken care of. They just run around as if to bark "Pura Vida". That was definitely an interesting sight though - a dog walking right across the dance floor as if of course he should be there? Why not? Then dogs play and jump around on the beach, I saw one wading deep in a pool of water today as if hunting for something. I have to say that I wish my doggy were here bouncy around happily experiencing the pura vida life. I think she would love it. She might even get along with the other dogs because she would be just as relaxed as I. Near the waves I also saw shells that were slowly making their way across the sand. I know things live in the shells, but I don't recall every seeing them actually move on the sand back at home. Too many people and probably too picked over?
So, we came back for lunch - oh by the walk back I was so hot that I just went right into the ocean water with my terry cloth cover-up on so that I would have some nice wet material helping to keep me cool - it was a bit of the trek. I am hoping that by not having snacks available at every turn (like I did at home) and all this walking on the sand, I will lose those few pounds I gave up on losing the last few weeks at home. My calves have actually been quite sore the last few days just because of all the walking on uneven ground - that's the only thing I can figure out. I walk quite a bit every day and quite quickly at home with Hannah, so I know it's not distance of speed here.
I love the conversations I have with the other students here about their countries and cultures. After lunch today it was about Poland and France. The differences in language, culture, history, etc. all fascinate me. So many nationalities - it's great! Of course it still surprises me just how pervasive the American culture has become worldwide.
Last night my roommate and I stayed here to have dinner in town and then go out to a club afterward. I really enjoyed the place we ate - it was your typical little grass covered patio with an open restaurant that you would imagine you'd find in a tropical paradise. Afterward we came back to play card games until 11pm when the club would be full of people. The cards were fun, but my shot of coca-cola for losing a game (yes, it was coca-cola) was enough to upset my acidic stomach. I have little tolerance for liquor of any sort it seems in my stomach just as I have an intolerance for most fruit juices and soda. This makes me feel old...sad but true :) Nothing a little tums wouldn't help though!
I have to say though that while it was a great club we went to last night (open and very tropical feeling - the dance floor was a nice area with a grass covered roof as well) sometimes I think I am certainly a fish out of water. The introvert comes out and the water in my hand was certainly the only one of it's kind that I saw. It is fun to be there and watch the people, listen to the music, dance a little, and just enjoy the time with nothing really important to do. When we left though, my very kind roommate made extra special care to watch out for another friend of hers that was quite drunk and had her ride with us in the taxi to get back to our host families. The way the girl seemed to feel (and the stuff she was puking out the window) definitely reminds me why I don't see a need to use alcohol to have a good time. I'm glad I'm comfortable enough in my own skin to not need that kind of stuff to give me a boost and I can have a good time without it. I think through my time here, I am certainly experiencing more of the typical "college life" that was not present at Simpson for me. I'm glad I'm old enough to not mind being the proverbial "fish out of water" and can enjoy my time anyway. That is definitely a benefit of getting older :)
I think I shall go. I am hoping for the traditional tamales dinner tonight and hope to experience some Buenos Noches, although I am not sure that my host family is doing much. We learned about the Costa Rican traditions yesterday in a class but I doubt how much I'll see of it in person. I did learn a few interesting things - bull fighting is a huge here between Christmas and New Years and most Ticos spend their time relaxing on the beach on Christmas day. For them, the big celebration is Christmas Eve - many will do some kind of Posada, the Advent Candle lighting too.
I don't know that I will be on here for the next few days, so I wish everyone a Merry Christmas! It makes me a little sad that the real reason of Christmas, Jesus, seems so lost here, but I am grateful to have this opportunity to experience the holiday with a family that lives here.
Merry Christmas!
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