Hola!
I'm posting a quick update to let you guys know that there won't be any updates for the next 10 days or so. Tomorrow after class we're leaving because it's the start of Semana Santa (Holy Week) The whole town of San Jose virtually shuts down I guess and everyone travels so our program arranged a trip for us! We'll be going to two beaches on the Caribbean side, coming back and spending a night at our homestay then going to two beaches on the Pacific side! We'll get to see monkeys and learn to surf and snorkel and all sorts of fun stuff! Expect lots and lots of pictures to be up the first week of April!
As to the title of this post, I really do hate ATMs!
They have an ATM not too far away that's part of a bank, but I hate to use it because it's just like this little booth off the side of the street clearly marked that's it an ATM. I feel like when I walk out of it I'm putting a target on my back saying "Rob me I have my credit card and a bunch of cash!" I figured out a solution to this problem, there's an ATM at the school. Well today the ATM at the school worked perfectly well for Kathleen then told me "Insufficient Funds, would you like to continue?" Knowing I had plenty in my account to cover it I was confused and hit no. We think maybe the machine had insufficient funds, but I had to go to the scary ATM which wouldn't give me as much as I wanted but at least now I have cash for the week! I'm going to try to use the one at the school again tomorrow before we leave, maybe it'll work better because I won't be getting very much. I'm just scared of running out of money while we're gone! It's a very unlikely possibility, but you never know! :)
Anyway, now I should probably review for my final in my Spanish class tomorrow!
Hasta luego,
me
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
the weekend and class
Hola!
This weekend was a blast! We had lots of fun at the International Art Festival and on Sunday my host parents took me and Deanna to Cartago. First we went to eat at this really cool little place, I don't remember the name but it had an AMAZING view (pics are on facebook check them out!) Then we went to the town of Cartago which is famous for it's huge church which was beautiful. Then they bought us ice cream at this little homemade ice cream shop there. It was sour cream and strawberry which they're known for and it was surprisingly delicious!
Tomorrow I have my last presentation for this Spanish class, which is telling how to make something! My host mom and the maid picked picadillos de chayote for me to make. I went and bought the ingredients and was excited about making it but figured we'd make it after supper because I have to take it to school tomorrow. When I was finished eating supper, Mari (the maid) told me to come to the kitchen and to my surprise she already had it made. I was a little upset because I couldn't figure out how to explain to her that I was supposed to make it, or at least help! She had my host mom explain the recipe to me because I had to write it using commands and now it's made and I didn't have to do a thing.
I feel so lazy I never get to do anything and all they do is feed me. I've ate so much in the last couple days I think I'm going to explode. I haven't really even needed to eat lunch all week because I'm never hungry. They just keep shoving food at me and then when we think we can't possibly eat anymore they bring out a surprise dessert! It's a bit ridiculous but I now understand why the entire family is so huge. Especially my host mom, all she does is eat, sleep, and sit in her chair. Don't get me wrong though, they're very nice and generous people.
Hasta luego,
Chelsey
This weekend was a blast! We had lots of fun at the International Art Festival and on Sunday my host parents took me and Deanna to Cartago. First we went to eat at this really cool little place, I don't remember the name but it had an AMAZING view (pics are on facebook check them out!) Then we went to the town of Cartago which is famous for it's huge church which was beautiful. Then they bought us ice cream at this little homemade ice cream shop there. It was sour cream and strawberry which they're known for and it was surprisingly delicious!
Tomorrow I have my last presentation for this Spanish class, which is telling how to make something! My host mom and the maid picked picadillos de chayote for me to make. I went and bought the ingredients and was excited about making it but figured we'd make it after supper because I have to take it to school tomorrow. When I was finished eating supper, Mari (the maid) told me to come to the kitchen and to my surprise she already had it made. I was a little upset because I couldn't figure out how to explain to her that I was supposed to make it, or at least help! She had my host mom explain the recipe to me because I had to write it using commands and now it's made and I didn't have to do a thing.
I feel so lazy I never get to do anything and all they do is feed me. I've ate so much in the last couple days I think I'm going to explode. I haven't really even needed to eat lunch all week because I'm never hungry. They just keep shoving food at me and then when we think we can't possibly eat anymore they bring out a surprise dessert! It's a bit ridiculous but I now understand why the entire family is so huge. Especially my host mom, all she does is eat, sleep, and sit in her chair. Don't get me wrong though, they're very nice and generous people.
Hasta luego,
Chelsey
Friday, March 19, 2010
Amusement Park & Festival of International Art
Hola!
Today was an amazing day! First of all, for class we got to go to the Amusement Park! Well we got to go to the antique village at the amusement park and do a scavenger hunt for stuff about the country but my class got to go with the other classes so I had Holly, Emily, and Yolanda in my group! After we finished we had a little time left and Holly and I really wanted to ride the roller coaster, we had twenty minutes so we figured we had time. We got all the way on the ride and they asked for tickets, which of course we didn't have so we ran to the front, got tickets (it's like the carnival you get a wristband or tickets per ride) and got to ride it just in time! It was pretty cool and had a couple of upside down loops but was really short!
Afterwards, I came home to find that I now have internet at my homestay! After lunch, Emily, Holly, Yolanda, Deanna, and I went to FIA (Festival of International Arts) and met up with Holly's tico friends! Her friend Andrea (who speaks English) helped us take the bus there and showed us around the park called Sabana which is Costa Rica's largest park and also where the festival is at! We got to see a lot of cool performers, including Romeo and Juliet in Spanish/Italian (we couldn't understand but figured out it was Romeo and Juliet) but the cool part was for most of the play the performers were on really tall stilts and dancing and running and everything! There was also a concert which we sat by a tree and listened too, there were so many people we couldn't see but we had fun talking! I mostly listened but Holly's tico friends like to joke around and we had a lot of fun.
At the festival, I had my first churro and it was really good but the I have discovered the best ice cream treat in the world! They take a pineapple, cut the top off and hollow it out and fill the bottom with pineapple chunks and banana chunks and then put a scoop each of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream and then chocolate and whip cream and a little umbrella sticking out of the pineapple! It was AMAZING! Pictures will be posted as soon as I get them from Emily!
Anyway, I'm going to bed now and I do not have to be anywhere at 8 tomorrow so I can sleep in for the first time in 3 weeks! :)
Today was an amazing day! First of all, for class we got to go to the Amusement Park! Well we got to go to the antique village at the amusement park and do a scavenger hunt for stuff about the country but my class got to go with the other classes so I had Holly, Emily, and Yolanda in my group! After we finished we had a little time left and Holly and I really wanted to ride the roller coaster, we had twenty minutes so we figured we had time. We got all the way on the ride and they asked for tickets, which of course we didn't have so we ran to the front, got tickets (it's like the carnival you get a wristband or tickets per ride) and got to ride it just in time! It was pretty cool and had a couple of upside down loops but was really short!
Afterwards, I came home to find that I now have internet at my homestay! After lunch, Emily, Holly, Yolanda, Deanna, and I went to FIA (Festival of International Arts) and met up with Holly's tico friends! Her friend Andrea (who speaks English) helped us take the bus there and showed us around the park called Sabana which is Costa Rica's largest park and also where the festival is at! We got to see a lot of cool performers, including Romeo and Juliet in Spanish/Italian (we couldn't understand but figured out it was Romeo and Juliet) but the cool part was for most of the play the performers were on really tall stilts and dancing and running and everything! There was also a concert which we sat by a tree and listened too, there were so many people we couldn't see but we had fun talking! I mostly listened but Holly's tico friends like to joke around and we had a lot of fun.
At the festival, I had my first churro and it was really good but the I have discovered the best ice cream treat in the world! They take a pineapple, cut the top off and hollow it out and fill the bottom with pineapple chunks and banana chunks and then put a scoop each of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream and then chocolate and whip cream and a little umbrella sticking out of the pineapple! It was AMAZING! Pictures will be posted as soon as I get them from Emily!
Anyway, I'm going to bed now and I do not have to be anywhere at 8 tomorrow so I can sleep in for the first time in 3 weeks! :)
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Liga vs. Saprissa
Hola!
I went to my first ever professional soccer game last night and it was a blast! The two teams playing (Liga and Saprissa) are the two biggest rivals in Costa Rica so I was expecting an intense game, they take their soccer very seriously here! There were a ton of people there. The game was in Saprissa's stadium but Holly, Kathleen, and I and a few other people decided to support Liga! We bought jerseys for less than $9 it was awesome! Everyone else rooted for Saprissa, which I almost rooted for just because their jerseys are purple, but all my teachers and everyone says Liga is way better so I'm wearing my red and black Liga jersey today! Unfortunatley, Liga lost but it was a good game! Saprissa only won by 1 goal, which happened to be the only goal of the game. During halftime there was a fireworks show that was way better than Robinson's fourth of July show ever thought about being! Plus they set them off from right outside the stadium and we were sooo close! When the Saprissa players came out some of the fans set off fireworks from the stands too. I told Deanna I loved fireworks and she said "Me too, especially ones that disregard public safety!" Everyone was singing chants and we really wished that we knew the words! Apparently there are two groups of the hard core fans who have to be separately bused out of the stadium because they get so vicious but I didn't see that last night. Most of the crowd was pretty calm, we figured out it was because both teams weren't playing very good so there really wasn't much to get mad about? I don't know they looked pretty awesome to me. Also, Saprissa was winning and the majority of the crowd was rooting for them! I was glad it didn't get violent because I was afraid to be wearing the losing teams jersey if it did! Walking back to our bus was a little scary because there were police officers everywhere, on horses and on foot and some of them had on like full body armor and were carrying big sticks, it was intense. I'm pretty sure Emily took a picture, if she did I'll steal it from her facebook! I'll have pictures up on facebook hopefully tomorrow! (I still don't have internet they said Tuesday now they're saying tomorrow but with tico time this could mean Wednesday, ugh!)
I'm staying here in San Jose with my host family this weekend, Kathleen is going with the winter group to Puerto Viejo but we're going there during Semana Santa and I've already paid so I'm not paying to go again. I think Ileana and Carlos are going to take me to the mall on Saturday, not sure and to Cartago on Sunday where there's a really pretty old church and apparently a really good ice cream shop! There's also a huge world art festival going on here in San Jose this weekend so we're going to that as well!
Hasta luego,
Chelsey
I went to my first ever professional soccer game last night and it was a blast! The two teams playing (Liga and Saprissa) are the two biggest rivals in Costa Rica so I was expecting an intense game, they take their soccer very seriously here! There were a ton of people there. The game was in Saprissa's stadium but Holly, Kathleen, and I and a few other people decided to support Liga! We bought jerseys for less than $9 it was awesome! Everyone else rooted for Saprissa, which I almost rooted for just because their jerseys are purple, but all my teachers and everyone says Liga is way better so I'm wearing my red and black Liga jersey today! Unfortunatley, Liga lost but it was a good game! Saprissa only won by 1 goal, which happened to be the only goal of the game. During halftime there was a fireworks show that was way better than Robinson's fourth of July show ever thought about being! Plus they set them off from right outside the stadium and we were sooo close! When the Saprissa players came out some of the fans set off fireworks from the stands too. I told Deanna I loved fireworks and she said "Me too, especially ones that disregard public safety!" Everyone was singing chants and we really wished that we knew the words! Apparently there are two groups of the hard core fans who have to be separately bused out of the stadium because they get so vicious but I didn't see that last night. Most of the crowd was pretty calm, we figured out it was because both teams weren't playing very good so there really wasn't much to get mad about? I don't know they looked pretty awesome to me. Also, Saprissa was winning and the majority of the crowd was rooting for them! I was glad it didn't get violent because I was afraid to be wearing the losing teams jersey if it did! Walking back to our bus was a little scary because there were police officers everywhere, on horses and on foot and some of them had on like full body armor and were carrying big sticks, it was intense. I'm pretty sure Emily took a picture, if she did I'll steal it from her facebook! I'll have pictures up on facebook hopefully tomorrow! (I still don't have internet they said Tuesday now they're saying tomorrow but with tico time this could mean Wednesday, ugh!)
I'm staying here in San Jose with my host family this weekend, Kathleen is going with the winter group to Puerto Viejo but we're going there during Semana Santa and I've already paid so I'm not paying to go again. I think Ileana and Carlos are going to take me to the mall on Saturday, not sure and to Cartago on Sunday where there's a really pretty old church and apparently a really good ice cream shop! There's also a huge world art festival going on here in San Jose this weekend so we're going to that as well!
Hasta luego,
Chelsey
Monday, March 15, 2010
Monteverde
Hola!
I went zip lining this weekend and it was AMAZING! We went to this place called 100% Aventura and it was so cool! They had 9 lines, a rappel, and a tarzan swing and we got to do the last (and longest line) superman style! It was sooo much fun! I was terrified of the tarzan swing and the superman style one but after I did it, it was amazing! There are videos and pictures on facebook! Anyway it was a nearly 5 hour bus ride to Monteverde from San Jose and the trip up was uneventful except for the part where we overslept and almost missed the bus. That was probably my fault as Kathleen came home and couldn't get her key to work at 2 and I didn't want to wake up at 4 to wake her up so she could take a shower so I gave her my alarm.....didn't think that it wasn't a very loud alarm and it didn't wake her up. So at 5:30 Emily and Yolanda were yelling outside our window (we were supposed to be at the bus station at 6) So we got dressed and ready in record time and ran down the road and Emily caught a taxi and we got to the station...only it was the wrong one! But a nice tico that worked there helped us get another cab and explained to him exactly where we needed to go! So we made the bus and all was well! We got to the hotel and explored the small town then ate dinner at the Tree House restaurant which is a restaurant built around a tree! It was kind of expensive but I'd found it a long time ago on a yahoo list of the coolest restaurants so we decided to go!
The ride back was more eventful. At the stop at the airport a couple got off and I wasn't paying much attention until I heard yelling in Spanish and some lady cussing out the driver in English and realized it was our bus that had the problem. Apparently the lady had put her bags under the bus on the driver's side which I guess by law here can't be opened until the final stop so if you're getting off before then you have to put it on the other side. I'm pretty sure that lady didn't speak Spanish and said she was going to San Jose so they put them on that side since the last stop was San Jose-the airport isn't actually in San Jose. Anyway she got the police involved and got her bags, holding us up for at least 30 minutes. Then we got back and it was dark and all the taxi drivers line up and then take you to where they parked because there's like no parking really close and we got a pirate taxi so we refused to get in because it was a black car and legit taxis here are red with a yellow triangle on the door. So we finally found a taxi driver and on the way back there were a ton of drunks and prostitutes and crazy people in the street and the driver almost hit a girl and then some guy jumped in front of the taxi and started juggling oranges but he wasn't good so they kept landing on the taxi. Finally, we all got home safe and sound! Suffice it to say, I never care to see downtown San Jose at night ever again!
All in all, it was a fun trip despite the little mishaps!
Love,
Chelsey
I went zip lining this weekend and it was AMAZING! We went to this place called 100% Aventura and it was so cool! They had 9 lines, a rappel, and a tarzan swing and we got to do the last (and longest line) superman style! It was sooo much fun! I was terrified of the tarzan swing and the superman style one but after I did it, it was amazing! There are videos and pictures on facebook! Anyway it was a nearly 5 hour bus ride to Monteverde from San Jose and the trip up was uneventful except for the part where we overslept and almost missed the bus. That was probably my fault as Kathleen came home and couldn't get her key to work at 2 and I didn't want to wake up at 4 to wake her up so she could take a shower so I gave her my alarm.....didn't think that it wasn't a very loud alarm and it didn't wake her up. So at 5:30 Emily and Yolanda were yelling outside our window (we were supposed to be at the bus station at 6) So we got dressed and ready in record time and ran down the road and Emily caught a taxi and we got to the station...only it was the wrong one! But a nice tico that worked there helped us get another cab and explained to him exactly where we needed to go! So we made the bus and all was well! We got to the hotel and explored the small town then ate dinner at the Tree House restaurant which is a restaurant built around a tree! It was kind of expensive but I'd found it a long time ago on a yahoo list of the coolest restaurants so we decided to go!
The ride back was more eventful. At the stop at the airport a couple got off and I wasn't paying much attention until I heard yelling in Spanish and some lady cussing out the driver in English and realized it was our bus that had the problem. Apparently the lady had put her bags under the bus on the driver's side which I guess by law here can't be opened until the final stop so if you're getting off before then you have to put it on the other side. I'm pretty sure that lady didn't speak Spanish and said she was going to San Jose so they put them on that side since the last stop was San Jose-the airport isn't actually in San Jose. Anyway she got the police involved and got her bags, holding us up for at least 30 minutes. Then we got back and it was dark and all the taxi drivers line up and then take you to where they parked because there's like no parking really close and we got a pirate taxi so we refused to get in because it was a black car and legit taxis here are red with a yellow triangle on the door. So we finally found a taxi driver and on the way back there were a ton of drunks and prostitutes and crazy people in the street and the driver almost hit a girl and then some guy jumped in front of the taxi and started juggling oranges but he wasn't good so they kept landing on the taxi. Finally, we all got home safe and sound! Suffice it to say, I never care to see downtown San Jose at night ever again!
All in all, it was a fun trip despite the little mishaps!
Love,
Chelsey
Friday, March 12, 2010
Grey's night!
Hola!
I hope everyone is having a good week! Mine has been great! Last night, our host family let us have Holly and Emily over for dinner and a Grey's Anatomy party! Ileana's brother came over too and we all had a lot of fun! Unfortunatley the Grey's that came on at 8 was a rerun, so Ileana's brother took Holly and Emily home and then at 9 a new Grey's came on! I love it how they have it in English here! Anyway, last night was a lot of fun! Tomorrow, we're going to Monteverde and zip lining! I'm super excited! We have to take the bus at like 6 am tomorrow and we'll get there at like 10, then we're leaving again at 6 on Sunday morning but they said that'll be plenty of time! Apparently, Monteverde is the best zip line in Costa Rica, we're going on another one later but it's in a different type of forest and apparently isn't as cool! Plus, Luis got us a good deal! I'm really excited but I'm not too sure about how the whole bus at 6 is gonna work out! I guess we'll find out tomorrow!
Hasta luego,
Chelsey
I hope everyone is having a good week! Mine has been great! Last night, our host family let us have Holly and Emily over for dinner and a Grey's Anatomy party! Ileana's brother came over too and we all had a lot of fun! Unfortunatley the Grey's that came on at 8 was a rerun, so Ileana's brother took Holly and Emily home and then at 9 a new Grey's came on! I love it how they have it in English here! Anyway, last night was a lot of fun! Tomorrow, we're going to Monteverde and zip lining! I'm super excited! We have to take the bus at like 6 am tomorrow and we'll get there at like 10, then we're leaving again at 6 on Sunday morning but they said that'll be plenty of time! Apparently, Monteverde is the best zip line in Costa Rica, we're going on another one later but it's in a different type of forest and apparently isn't as cool! Plus, Luis got us a good deal! I'm really excited but I'm not too sure about how the whole bus at 6 is gonna work out! I guess we'll find out tomorrow!
Hasta luego,
Chelsey
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Host Family Update
Hola! Well not much new has happened in the last couple of days. Yesterday after class we went to the National Museum and the Artisan Market, which was really cool! I wanted to buy everything! Also, yesterday our host mom asked us to stay with her for the full four months instead of just the one like we were supposed to. We couldn't say no, they're wonderful people! Our only real problem is they don't have the internet, but they said they'll get it so that's great! Hopefully, we'll have it soon and then you all will get much more regular updates!
Hasta Luego,
Chelsey
Hasta Luego,
Chelsey
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Jaco
Hola!
We just got back from Jaco Beach and it was awesome! It was about a two hour bus ride and we stayed at a condo that someone from CEA owns! All the guide books said it was like the worst beach in Costa Rica but we all really liked it! Now we're looking forward to the next beach we go to because it can only get better from here! I managed to get back without getting sunburnt, but I don't have much of a tan either, oh well! Pictures are posted on facebook....
here's the link
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=150847&id=557884442&l=1dfebc0ecc
hasta luego!
We just got back from Jaco Beach and it was awesome! It was about a two hour bus ride and we stayed at a condo that someone from CEA owns! All the guide books said it was like the worst beach in Costa Rica but we all really liked it! Now we're looking forward to the next beach we go to because it can only get better from here! I managed to get back without getting sunburnt, but I don't have much of a tan either, oh well! Pictures are posted on facebook....
here's the link
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=150847&id=557884442&l=1dfebc0ecc
hasta luego!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The beginning of class
Hola!
Classes have begun! I'm doing pretty good in my class and I understand my teacher perfectly! Probably because I'm in Spanish 102 for the third time! I have a problem of putting everything in present tense when I speak so they think I don't know the past tense. It's just hard for me to think when I'm speaking! The weather is still amazing and I'm loving it! This weekend, we're going to the beach! Luis in the international office found us a hotel for $15 a night and the bus ride will be like $6! I'm super-excited. Also, next weekend we might be able to do a service trip next weekend if they'll let us come late after class, it's similar to Habitat and we'll be building houses, I really hope we can go! My host mom also wants to take me and Kathleen to a church she says is really pretty! I'm having a great time and I'd write more but my laptop is about to die!
TTYL
Chelsey
Classes have begun! I'm doing pretty good in my class and I understand my teacher perfectly! Probably because I'm in Spanish 102 for the third time! I have a problem of putting everything in present tense when I speak so they think I don't know the past tense. It's just hard for me to think when I'm speaking! The weather is still amazing and I'm loving it! This weekend, we're going to the beach! Luis in the international office found us a hotel for $15 a night and the bus ride will be like $6! I'm super-excited. Also, next weekend we might be able to do a service trip next weekend if they'll let us come late after class, it's similar to Habitat and we'll be building houses, I really hope we can go! My host mom also wants to take me and Kathleen to a church she says is really pretty! I'm having a great time and I'd write more but my laptop is about to die!
TTYL
Chelsey
Monday, March 1, 2010
Orientation
Hola!
Today has been good! We had orientation this morning and took our placement tests. I think mine went ok, I probably won't get the level I was in at USI but I'm okay with that. After one month, I will pick up a lot and then I'll learn much faster! I finally got my money exchanged today and we're going to go to a store later called pequenos mundos which apparently has everything for really cheap! yay! I feel rich now but I really still don't have that much more money, it just looks like it! I find out later today what class I'm placed in and classes start tomorrow, I'm excited!
Today has been good! We had orientation this morning and took our placement tests. I think mine went ok, I probably won't get the level I was in at USI but I'm okay with that. After one month, I will pick up a lot and then I'll learn much faster! I finally got my money exchanged today and we're going to go to a store later called pequenos mundos which apparently has everything for really cheap! yay! I feel rich now but I really still don't have that much more money, it just looks like it! I find out later today what class I'm placed in and classes start tomorrow, I'm excited!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
