Wrapping up.....

It's hard to believe that this is my last week here. I just finished my final exam for my Spanish Composition class, and turned in my final paper for my Conservation Biology class. All I have left is my final for Spanish Conversation (which I'm not too worried about; we just have show up and talk with our professor), and then I'm done! Time feels a little strange right now, because I'm not used to the semester system. School-wise it seemed to drag on, but in every other aspect time has flown by. My last few days here will be filled with packing, getting a few more gifts for my family, and spending as much time as possible with my friends. Maybe we'll even be able to fit in one more beach day. I think I'm going to be in for a shock when I get home, as far as the temperature goes, heh.

Living in another culture/country can be quite interesting at times. There are definitely some things that I did not like about this place. For example, there is an over-grown population of stray dogs running around (and not just in San Ramon; a lot of them are grotesquely skinny or sickly, and it's sad; fortunately they are not aggressive), a lot more trash along the roads (San Ramon is actually pretty clean, which is nice, but when you get into the bigger cities it can be a problem), and there are a lot more mosquitoes and bugs here (I occasionally walked into my kitchen to discover a cockroach scuttling under the appliances). Some things were just different, such as the fact that pedestrians do NOT have the right of way and you have to be very careful while crossing the street because drivers here are nuts (my own host brother actually got in a car accident; fortunately it wasn't serious, but driving here is just scary). Another thing is that no (and I mean no) toilet paper can go in the toilets; every bathroom has a special bin for toilet paper. That didn't bother me, but it's going to be interesting adjusting to that when I get home. Also, the water and electricity services are not as reliable here. The water in San Ramon is completely clean and safe to drink, but there were several occasions where the water was shut off and we didn't know why. It was always turned back on by the next day, but my host mom had to go and buy some bottled water to get through the evening.

Then there are the things that I love and that I'm going to miss when I get back to the states. Here is a list:
-the geckos: there are always geckos hanging out on the walls around our houses; they are really cute and they make surprisingly loud kissing noises; it was fun to be in my room doing homework and hear them
-the scenery: the landscapes here are pretty breathtaking, as I'm sure you've seen from some of my pictures; I never wanted to sleep on the buses while traveling because I didn't want to miss something
-inexpensive and convenient transportation: it was always possible to get where we wanted to go on the bus, and I was able to travel to many places; also, the taxis around town were great for getting around at night; they cost less than a dollar and were much safer than walking
-salsa dancing: I'm so glad I took the dance class; we learned the Merengue, the Salsa, the Bachata, and the Cumbia, although Merengue and Salsa were my favorite. It was a blast to go out to the clubs on the weekends with my friends and Tico friends and Salsa dance
-the food: I personally really liked the food here, and I'm planning on cooking some of the same dishes when I get back to the states. Some of my favorites include gallo pinto (a breakfast dish consisting of rice and beans; in the Caribbean it was prepared with coconut milk and was absolutely heavenly), queso blanco (a specific kind of white cheese; I don't know if I'll be able to get it in the states), picadillo (ask me about this one and I'll explain it), my host moms rice dishes (eg arroz con pollo o camarones (shrimp)), and the fruit, such as papaya, mango, mamonchinos, and fried plantains. Rice and beans were eaten with almost every meal, so I'm probably going to cook a lot more of those when I get back.
-the coffee: this deserves its own bullet point. I'm sure I drink way too much coffee here, but it is delicious. It's also different than the states; the taste is different because it is much more pure (or so I've been told by the Ticos). I'm bringing some back, but it will be sad when I run out of it. Also, we have a favorite coffee shop directly across the street from the university campus, and you can get a cup of coffee for 300 colones (575ish colones = $1), and it's always pleasant to go in the afternoon and sit and relax.
-learning/improving Spanish: I feel that I have improved my Spanish skills immensely since I've been here, and it has been frustrating at times, also amusing, but most of all rewarding. I'm planning on working hard when I get back so as not to lose what I have learned.
-the laid back lifestyle: San Ramon is very tranquil and relaxed. I don't feel as stressed out as I did before I came, and it's great. I'm hoping to keep this state of mind with me when I return.
-the people: There are only 16 people in my group here, and we all get along really well. We have become very close, and I know I've made some lifelong friendships. It has been a blast getting to know and spending time with everyone. It will be difficult to say goodbye on Friday, but I know that we will all keep in touch, and it won't be the last time I see everyone. I have also become good friends with a couple of Ticos, and I'm really glad I formed those friendships, because I was able to experience more of the culture that way. Keeping in touch with them will also give me a good excuse to come back and visit. Also, my advisors and professors have been amazing. They do so much for us, and I really appreciate everything. I hope to keep in touch with my ecology professor and potentially come back to Costa Rica for an internship in the future. Who knows.

This has been an amazing experience. This may sound cliche, but I do feel like I have learned a lot about myself while I have been here. It has also shown me how important my family is to me, and I am so excited to come home and see them on Friday! Overall, I am so glad I came, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Thanks for keeping up with my blog. I hope you enjoyed it, and I'm sure I'll be talking to you soon!

Thanksgiving!

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine was good, but it definitely felt a bit strange. I had Thursday and Friday off, so a group of five of us did a longer trip down to the southern Pacific coast.

First we spent Wednesday night at a hostel in San Jose, and then left at 5:30 in the morning to head to Uvita. We arrived at around 11:00 am, so we had the afternoon to enjoy. We stayed at a nice little cabina, with our own kitchen. We first went to the beach. Marino Ballena National Park (next to Uvita) has a really nice beach. Uvita is a quiet little farming/beach town, and there weren't a lot of people there. It was very relaxing. That night we improvised for our Thanksgiving dinner, and we had mashed potatoes, vegetables, bread and cheese. For dessert we made mini peach cobblers (using mostly canned peaches and granola). It was definitely the most interesting Thanksgiving I've ever had. I missed the stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pies (and of course my family and friends), but we did our best. It turned out well.





Friday we hiked to a waterfall, and Saturday morning we spent at the beach again. Then Saturday evening we headed north to Quepos. Quepos is a bigger port town that is the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park. Manuel Antonio is very famous, and incredibly crowded and touristy. We got up early Sunday morning and made it into the park before 8, and discovered it is famous for good reason. We were able to get within a few feet of monkeys (Capuchins, or white-faced monkeys, or carablancas in Espanol), and the beaches are breathtaking. It was a really good thing that we got there so early, however, because as we were leaving at around 10:30 there was a huge line to get into the park and hordes of people were coming in. I can't imagine what it's like during high tourist season.





Then we made the trip back to San Ramon. It was a nice trip and I'm glad I got the chance to see the south Pacific. It was my last trip while I'm here, because I am now finishing up school and starting to make the preparations to come home. 11 days! I'm excited.