Smells like Hippie spirit

Michelle came to my house in the morning and convinced me to go to La Fortuna with them. We got there around 7 and got a hostel. Then we went exploring and met some people from California who ended up hanging out with us the whole weekend.

On Saturday we found a water hole that looked like it could've been the garden of eden because it was so amazing. There was a rope swing and fish and a little waterfall that we jumped off of. Later we took a tour of Volcan Arenal, which is the most active volcano in south/latin america. It erupts a few times a day but the lava doesnt flow towards the town. We hiked up to a viewing point and waited until it went off. We only got to see a little lava but it felt like a baby earthquake. It started raining so hard, we got soaked and had to hike back down in the mud.

The lava makes the lake a natural hot spring so they took us the a run off where we sat in old lava rocks. There weren't even street lights, just tiki lights.

After we got back we celebrated Michelle's birthday with some cake and then we passed out because we had such a busy day.

On the road again

The waterslide in 400 meters of natural water goodness that they made into a slide. It's super long and if you ask for more water you can go super sonic fast. After a few rounds of that we ate lunch and got on the bus to go home. This was the best week and I don't want to go back to the punt heat and stink.

In the morning we all 40 of us got to ride a horse up the mountain. The trail got really steep but the horses did good. When we got to the spa we spent a few hours doing whatever we wanted. There was a steam room and a mud bath where we covered ourselves in mud and wore leave hats. Then the workerd hosed us down and our skin felt all slimy. They had 5 pools that were filled with naturally hot water in the ground.

After we pampered ourselves we rode our horses back down, which got really scary when all the horses tried to squeeze themselves onto the same trail at the same time. My horse liked to go fast so now I have visible bruises on my rear.

After lunch we got to do the canopy tour, which is ten connected ziplines on the top on the forest. It was so much fun and then they let us do the zip line upside down and superman styles. Leona and I traied superman but they put the pulley on wrong and we got stuck half way. I wont be having babies now, it squeezed me too tight.

There were 13 hanging bridges in the canopy that we went through after the zip line because it was so pretty and we could hear howler monkeys.

While we waited for dinner we went up to the sunset bar and danced with these women who were there on vacation. They bought us pura vidas and we taught them how to salsa. After dinner Hunter and our bus driver played the guitar and sang for us. I went for a late night swim with Becky. We woke up cito by flying squirreling him. Then while looking for our room key that Hunter stole Megan and I heard Wilma the wild bore in the food hall and locked ourselves in the bathroom. This was the most relaxing day ever!

Buena Vista

We left for the border right after lunch. It didn't take as long to get our stamps as it did last time but it's still a pain. We stayed in Buena Vista lodge in Liberia. It was this amazing resort with everything you could think of.

We didn't get there in time to do any activities so we just swan in the pool, which was a sight to see in itself. The lodge had like 5 little lakes besides the pool and it had trails and a field to play on. We ended up just playing truth or dare and games in the pool.

Dia Cachimba

We drove to San Juan del sur right after breakfast and arrived around 11. We walked around the little beach town and Megan and I found honey bunched of oats! We scared the cashier because we were almost in tears from happiness.

We found a lady with a monkey on the street with a cart to take pictures in. The monkey's name as Cindy and she ate my water bottle. After lunch we took a boat ride to a secluded beach where we collected shells and played in the clear water. We also watched the hermit crabs try and run away from us. There were hundred and they all ran the same direction.

For dinner we got amazing lobster and shrimp. Then we went to this place called iguana and danced. We met lots of people who were there on vacation. We met Argentinians, Canadians, Germans and Columbians. We talked with them on the beach until around 3 am before we went back to our hotel.

It takes two to whisper quietly

After breakfast we went on a tour of the city. We took a horse drawn carriage to some of the preserved buildings in Granada. We went up in an old watch tower that had cut outs in the building for rifles and a pit that they used to throw the prisoners in. We got to see churches that went back to the 1500s and their old train station.

After the tour we did a boat tour of los isletes, which are this little islands in the Nicaragua lake (which is the only lake in the world with freash water sharks). There were some fabulous houses on the islands and some look out points to protect them from pirates and such. We also saw a monkey fight!

Then we drove up to a volcano (I cant remember the name) but it was basically a giant crater that smelled like sulfur. We had to clim up 177 stairs to see into the crater but it was too smokey. The volcano hasn't been active in a long time though.

After that we went to Masaya , which is a small poor town that has a cheap market. We spent a few hours shopping then went back to Granada. It was Dionne's birthday and they took us to this fancy restaurant. After dinner we has wine night in one of the suites at the hotel then we walked around Granada. The town was beautiful and well kept, I felt like a real colonial woman.

Colonial Princesses

We drove our giant bus to the Nicaraguan border and had to wait in line for 4 hours! It was so long. Then when we got towards the front about 15 people thought it would be ok to cut in line and everyone started yelling "la fila!" I thought a riot was going to break out. We made it through though and headed to Granada, which is the oldest colonial city (est. 1524). It has some of the oldest churches like iglesia de Guadalupe. When we were there they were having a poetry festival so there were tons of artsy people selling books and stuff. We got mojitos at the John Lennon cafe and they fried passionfruit for us.

They shot off fireworks and everyone was sitting outside watching these fire dancers. We walked up to the oldest church, which had these giant stairs and was mission style. There were these little boys that were so cute we had to play with them. We had piggy back races with them until their parents were done at church. If his parents didn't make him leave I would've taken little baby Carlos with me.

Our hotel was incredible. I can't even describe it so I put pictures up. Just click the snapfish link on the left side of the blog. We had hot water and air conditioning! I felt like a princess.

Te amo Tanto!!!!

Today was the last day of Carnivales for me because I'm getting out of here. There were lots of people but not as many as I expected. We found bumper cars and rose them for like 5 rounds. Then we heard a few concerts on the beach. I tried staying out all night so I'd be able to sleep on the 6 hour bus ride tomorrow but it's only 3 so I have 3 hours to try and stay awake.

cada vez que te busco te vas ...

The wind was crazy today! It blew the baby parrot to death. I found it beat up at the bottom of the cage. So sad. The electricity went out too so I was banned to my house with no communication.

My brother gave me my first salsa lesson. I'm not very good but I have a final coming up.

Two USACers got engaged! They're from Reno and they've been dating for a long time. They go to Living stones I believe and they're getting married this summer.

I'm leaving for Nicaragua in the morning so I'm spending the day packing.

I'll be back on Thursday!

If you want to sing out sing out

This morning I had a very hungover family. I guess they stayed out real late since apparently my dad was buying. Bridget couldn't even go to work. Carmen and I thought it was hillarious.

I had both midterms today and my bio test kicked my butt. She didn't give us anything to study so anything was fair game.

Today was very nice outside because it was windy and it cooled it down. The wind blows right through my house and sounds like a hurricane. I was eating my salad and it blew right off my fork.

I went to el centro with April and Samantha and we got some fabulous fruit and had to walk home all sticky.

THINGS I MISS:

1. Cold sheets
2. Uswirl
3. Wearing sweaters
4. The gym
5. Foods without vegetable oil

Viva los Spice Girls!

Our dance teacher, Ivan, was stung by like a hundred bees on the beach somewhere and had to go to the hospital the other day. He came back to class today though and our test is next class. We're learning the bachatta, marangue, salsa and cumbio. He's the funnest teacher, he speaks no English and hes allways yelling mas sexy!

Carmen the house keeper is driving me crazy! She yells my name over and over until I get into the room even when I say I'm coming. Then she'll stare me down the entire time I eat. Creeper.

On my way home from my run this dad playfully smacked his sons butt. The kid looked about 9 but he started yelling profanities at his dad. The he cried and ran away. It was priceless.

I went to go watch my brother dance but we missed him. We got to watch other dances though.

Then we went to Encuentros for Jack's birthday. By the time we got there everyone was horribly singing karaoke.

Then when I went to leave my dad pulled up with my uncle and my sister-ish person. He insisted on Megan singing karaoke so she did. The he tried to by us drinks but I told him I had a test tomorrow. Which I do so I need to study but it was still funny. My dad is crazy.

Donde Estoy

Melissa got almost robbed on her way to school. At 8am someone thought they were suave enough to stick their hand in her bag while she was walking. She saw them and hot them but it was 8 am!

Maria jose is sick so she's been very loud all day. She has a fever and I feel really bad for her but I needed a nap. I'm so tired.

i'm going stir crazy. I need a hobby or something because I've just been sitting at home all day when it's too hot to go outside.

I jung out with Becky, Teresa and Crystal and we got apretados and wondered around the punt.

Tonight was Meg's birthday so we went to happy days for a little while. It's monday night though so I decided to go to bed early.

Dia de Amor

To celebrate Valentine's day Megan and I decided to pamper ourselves. We made avocado masks and hair treatments. The we ate some delicious fruit and watched the office.

My host mom brought home a baby parrot. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen. He was crying like a dinosaur. I think she said we were getting the mom tomorrow.

Carnival day 3

Yesterday I went to watch the horse parade where all the farmers from all over come with their horses and trot down the street. It started two hours after it was supposed to and it went on for days. While we were waiting for it to be over Jenna got her cacique stolen, Drake got 25 dollars stolen and Andrew got his camera taken out of his buttoned pocket somehow. No one here has any respect.

My uncle took Kike and me to lunch and they tried to get me to eat octopus or squid but i'm not quite ready for that so I stuck to shrimp.

After the parade one of the horse guys let me ride the horse!! He even let me steer. It was so much fun.

Me gusta fuego me gustas tu

Last night was the first night of Carnival. We danced and hung out on "the strip" (thats what my uncle calls it). It was super fun until Kate and Danger got mugged on the beach. I guess she didn't want to give them her bag so they fought her for it and then Danger tried to stop them and they beat him up too. Luckily they didn't have weapons and they're fine, just a little bruised up.

I forgot to set my alarm so I didn't wake up for class :( but this is my first absense.

If I had a bed back in Reno I'd trade it in for a hammock.

Today we practiced our tico bird calls. Whenever we walk by a tico they have to say something or make a nonsense sound at us. Lately we've been hearing a lot of bird calls so we practiced acting like birds to scare them away. Then Miel taught me how to ride a bike Trinidad style.

Megan and I tried to run but it was kind of dark and I'm afraid of the beach now so we didn't get very far.

Todo me parece bonito!

Yesterday Miel and I were having a nice run when it got dark by the water when a dog tried to eat us!!

Her parents made chinese food and they said I could eat with them, it was the best fried rice i've ever had. While we were eaating dinner there was this short film on tv with little kids who had stuffed their shirts to made them look older and one of them was having a baby and she threw it in the river. It was hillarious.

At 5 am this morning Carnivales officially started and they made it known by shooting of crazy load fireworks things but no one knew what was happening. I thought someone was being shot. It went on for a long time too, really scary. I could hear it and I'm the furthest from the beach.

Carnivales is going to be insane. Everyone from everywhere come to our tiny peninsula to celebrate on the beach. There's going to be music, dancing, parades, clowns, and crazy people for the next 9 days. They've been building a two story bar thing in front of our school all week, and there's random buildings they're put up in the middle of the streets including (drumroll please) TACO BELL! I'm so excited.

This is my real face

Yesterday Miel and I went to Kike´s soccer game. We got eaten alive by mosquitos. The I thought it would be cool if I cooked American food for Kike but I realized the only food I can make at home are fajitas and hashbrowns so we got empanadas instead. Kike´s English is pretty good but he makes the funniest mistakes sometimes. Soap in spanish is sopa (pronounced soapa) and Kike wanted to say that we should make cat soup for dinner but he kept saying cat soap. Then we were taking pictures and Kike was making a funny face and he said ¨this is my real face¨ instead of this is my normal face.

Pepe Pepe Pura Vida Pepe

On friday night it was Becky's birthday so we went Happy Days and my brother was teaching me and Megan how to salsa. Then my this group of guys wanted to fight my brother and his friends even though they were just dancing so we had to leave. My brother wouldn't talk to me about it so I'm really not sure why they were mad but they punched him in the face. Not fun.

On Saturday I woke up early and went to Jaco with my tico friend who's family owns a resturant so we got to eat for free and they let me sleep there. We went to the beach and went roller skating. Adrian couldn't skate though so i felt bad. I asked adrian why all the trees in Costa Rica are painted and he said because it's pretty haha. He was also telling me how Costa Rica doesn't have an army??? I guess they have a deal with the US though in case they get invaded.

The elections were today so everyone was loud and crazy. I haven't seen my family either so I don't know how his party is doing because we don't have a tv.

I went to happy days to watch the super bowl and it was all gringos. It was a nice change to not be stared at by everyone because we're white haha. They had hot dogs and doritos! I haven't eaten those in sooo long.

I left early so Miel and I could go to Lee's house to watch a bible study or something. I'm not sure what it is but I think it's going to be a sermon on video.

Elections

Today are the Costa Rican elections. There are three candidates: Otton, Otto, y Laura. From what I've learned Laura would be considered more republican (partido liberacion nacional), Otto would be even more republican (movimiento libertario) and Otton would be Democrat(progresista). The topics they're fighting are much much different. Republicans are anti education, anti environment, for a capitalist market, and the president now is republican. They say that the republicans are corrupt because they bribe people to vote for them or they'll talk something away from a group of people and if they vote for them they'll get it back. Otto believes in globalization and human rights. Otton's main platform is fighting against corruption.

My Dad is the congressman of Puntarenas and he's running again for the partido integracion nacional http://www.alvaromorenodiputado.com/. His party has an alliance with the party of Otton.

Laura seems like she has the most support here but the polls are always bias. Last year they said that one person was leading by 20 percent and after the votes were in it was a tie and they person who won is the president right now. I don't think people here are very educated as far as politics goes, they just vote for the people who they like on tv and on posters. Kinda like in America.

Laura Won

Lazy Days and a Lazy Susan

Today I took my final for Spanish and did pretty good.

The power and water were turned off for the whole city from 8 am to 4 pm. So no a/c in class which really sucked and no drinking water so I was dying. Megan and I spent the whole day in the pool and downloading music since there's no pirating laws here, which I'm definitely a fan of.

My family fed me three meals today! For lunch we had mahi-mahi and for dinner we had something similar to swordfish. It was absolutely incredible. I also got a chance to really talk with my family so I'm much happier and I'm glad I didn' t try and move out. The elections are on Sunday so we have flags all over our house and they turned their truck into propaganda by putting megaphones and a giant poster in the back. My Tico mom even braided my hair for me and told me stories about all the inappropriate things other students have said on accident.

I'm waking up early to go to Jaco tomorrow with my tico friend, but Megan and I are still going to go out dancing because Kike agreed to teach us how to salsa. He's an awesome dancer and he gets to dance at carnival.

Tu no eres para mi

I have my Spanish 211 final tomorrow. I can't believe I've already been here a month.

The night life here is so much fun and way different than the states. Everyone from school goes to the same bar together to dance. No one's getting extemely drunk and acting like a crazy person. It's even better when our teachers understand that we're tired because we were dancing our hearts out. Sometimes they bring us coffee, mine didn't even wake me up when I feel asleep in class one time. He also gives us life lessons on marriage and parenting and safety. Sometimes he brings his radio and dances the bachata for us. Tomorrow he's teaching us the words to Mexico en la Piel.

Finished my last book. Have to find a new hobby or some more friends.

I hung out with my tico amigo today and got apretados. His aunt owns a resturant so I get to go eat there. It's in Jaco though but it's worth the bus ride.

Asi se siente Mexico

Wrote postcards.

Ran by the beach.

Our teacher brought us

queque and squirt.

Learned about deep sea

animals.

Had a bubble gum flavored

apedata. which is basically

home made ice cream in

a bag.

Gave girl advice in Spanish to

my brother, hard.

Watched a soccer game.

Ate fruit for once!

Waited for my parents

to cook me dinner but

they didn't.

Julia's birthday.

Learned how to say toilet

paper.

Watch the Simpsons in

Spanish.

Looked at stars.

Danced.

dulces suenos!

No me Importa

The tide was higher today. Only from 5-6 though. My house was on the new because our street flooded the most. It didn't get inside though. I hope it wasn't sewer water because we rose our bikes in it and it got all over us. Yuck! The trash bags were floating down the street and I saw a woman sweeping the water on the street??? why would you do that?

It's so hot during the day. I take lots of naps because you can't do much when it's hot out. I don't understand how I get more hot when I'm asleep and not moving because I always wake up all sweaty and gross. I take two or three showers a day to keep up with the heat. I'm also on my last Jodi Picoult book. I'm on number 5 right now! I've never read this much before. I guess I'll need to find a hobbie. Maybe the cleaning lady will teach me to cook. mmm paticones

I think I need to learn how to say toilet paper because I'm out....

Kike, Miel and I got pizza and these ice creams in a bag. They we're so good, a lady makes them in her house. You'd never know except for a little sign and she sells them for .40 cents. You have to bite the bag open and eat it through the hole.

I learned that to fart in spanish is tirar un pedo which literally means to throw a fart.

No fui yo

The Punt is going underwater tomorrow. The tide is going to be the highest it's been in a very long time and I live on th ocean. My street is already starting to take on water. This is real scary EEK! Here's a picture of my street.

I was walking my bike into USAC to and i kinda fell on the side of my foot and it hurt so bad to walk on now :(

I went to my hermano-tico's soccer game tonight. Miel and I met these awesome chicitas who fed miel ice cream and took pictures with us. I tried to explain to Enrique (my brother) that his nickname (kike) is a racial slur in English. He had no idea what I was talking about and flipped me off. He makes me miss my real brothers less because he acts just like them. jajajaja

Puertoburguesas= Costa Rican Awful Awful mmmm mmmm good