My Costa Rican Adventure

Hi everyone,
I will try to keep this updated so that you can all share in my adventures - or misadventures. The trip certainly started off with a misadventure. I almost missed the flight out of LAX. I think I am naturally on Latin time - thanks to my family - because I am late to most everything. So, when I arrived at LAX the line was ridiculous to check-in. I asked the lady at the counter if I would make it - she quite soundly said yes. But then I got in the x-ray baggage check line and that moved soooo slowly. So, I thought, "nope, I'm missing this flight. Hope they have another one!" But, the nice TSA people said that they would help me get through. This nice young man stood by me for the last few minutes and assured me again that I would make the flight. He put a "last bag" tag on my suitcase so I guess they would know that was the last one to make the flight. Then, he escorted me into a shorter (thank God - one hour in each line already was enough) security check line. I made it through, ran to the plane, which had already been boarded and sat in there for at least 20 minutes while they got everything ready. I wasn't the last to get on the plane, though.

I arrived in Mexico City around 4:30 am their time (so, 2:30 our time) and went to the gate my ticket said to be at and waited. I slept on and off, curled up in a ball over my back-pack and purse. I was freezing! Most people in the airport had heavy jackets and boots - I had sandals and lightweight pants, luckily I carried a long sleeve shirt and lightweight sweatshirt with me. I put on my obnoxious salmon-pink fuzzy socks and walked around in them because I was sooo cold. I didn't care how bad I looked. I did have some warm milk from the Starbucks, which was nice and looked all around for an internet connection. Of course, I could not get on the internet, and later when I looked at my receipt from Starbucks, I realized that there was an internet password on there - but I was already in San Jose by then!

So the four hour delay passed and they still had not called for my flight. I went up to the desk and discovered that the gate number was only for informational purposes - it was not my gate. So, I hurried to my gate where they were boarding and thought everyone had already gotten on the plane. They asked where my immigration paper was. What immigration paper? The one I was supposed to have already gotten. The lady said I had ten minutes. So, I ran again. First to the booth in the lobby. Not the right one. I ran downstairs and thank God there was NO line. I hurried through and ran back up (totally winded - doesn't help I was tired and still am fighting a cold). Luckily I saw a big line just boarding - so they had just started; not already ended! So, I got on just fine and made it to San Jose with no problems. My driver met me outside with another new student and we had a pleasant, although hot and humid drive across Costa Rica. Beautiful countryside - we saw long long snake crossing the road too. Yikes!

I arrived at my home - complete with bars on the windows as I noticed most homes here have. It is a nice little place and I have a room to share with a young girl from Holland. She has been here a week. I am finding that I am certainly in the minority. I am older than most by about 10 years and most seem to be here at least 3 months. My family is very nice, and I conversed with them for awhile in the middle of the futbol game (Puntarenas vs. Arelia?). I conversed very poorly, but I could at least talk about my family and my job (thanks to Coffee Break Spanish). After dinner, they took me to the rodeo in town. Very interesting - though I was exhausted! Apparently anyone who wants can go in the ring and tease the bulls. That was sad, I thought. They had a few bullriders and some ropers. I did see one guy get hit by the bull and thrown way in the air, he fell and bounced a bit and they had to carry him off unconscious. Another guy was trampled by the bull and I think he may have broken bones in three places. I don't think I like watching this kind of stuff. I don't like to see the bulls being taunted so and I don't like seeing people hurt. But, it was a good experience of the culture!

I went to bed rather early - 9:30 here - so really 7:30 back at home! I was grateful for the sleep though! I am still really stuffy today, but I feel alright overall. I just want this cold gone for good! It is very humid here, probably in the 80's, but that is hot enough with the humidity.

This morning I arose and had breakfast by 6:30. Too much food to eat! I hope my host family starts to make a little less or else I will come back weighing 10 pounds heavier! I just took an exam at the school to decipher how much Spanish I know...which I am sure is very very little. I know I did muy mal (very bad). I didn't even know what most of the questions were asking. Now I know how students feel in our country when they come to school and get thrown into high school level classes with little to no English. I see why they stop trying on their tests! Knowing that though, helped me make sure I did my best on each question - I refused to give up.

Alright, I need to get going - I have another class in a few minutes. Time to aprendar Espanol!
Thanks for your prayers, keep them coming! Especially for my stomach. So far I am good, but I am afraid it may have a hard time adjusting to the water and food here. No Montezuma's Revenge please!