New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! All is well here. I am happy to be back in Costa Rica, and I am not-so-happy to say that I am half way through my time here. I`m not ready to go home yet. Of course, I miss people, family, friends, my own bed, American food, and all that good stuff, but I know that when I leave Costa Rica I will be gone. Tilaran`s version of winter is being blown away by tons of wind. I`m amazed that the trees, houses, and power lines haven`t fallen over. Anyways, things are wonderful here. My host family and I enjoyed Christmas and New Years. Here are some differences.

In Costa Rica:

-Christmas gifts are more for children, and not that big of a deal.

-Why would I put stuff in my stockings? I don`t even have a fireplace.

- Christmas diner was rice, beans, and chicken.

-New Year´s Eve is a quiet occasion.

-What is a Hannukah? Did you just sneeze? ¨God bless you.¨

-Kwanzaa is a car brand, like Honda, right?

-Two stores in the entire city sold Christmas trees.

-People wore shorts to the Christmas church service.

-Everyone goes to the beach for New Years.

Nicaragua

Hello again! I have been back from Nicaragua for a while now. To tell the truth, I forgot to write about it. Anyways, it was a great trip. Two days after getting back from Panama, I got on a bus to Nicaragua. On the way there I saw huge windmills, and Lake Nicaragua, which contains not only volcanoes, but sharks. Just by driving by the lake, I could see MASSIVE volcanoes. I never saw a shark, but I can`t say I didn`t try. The next day we boated to various islands on the lake, and went on some tours of Granada. The following morning was the most exciting part of the trip. We went to ¨the mouth of hell¨ which happens to be an active volcano with craters, called Volcan Masaya. There were three craters, two of which merged into one gaping whole from which smoke, sand, and rocks are emitted. The other crater seemed a bit safer, until we got close. It is green, with trees and plants, but steep, and there is no form of railing. The edge of the path ends, and if you fall, you die. And, being the fool that I am, I ran around the edge on slippery paths. It was soooooo much fun! the entire trip to Nicaragua was filled with adventure, danger, and just fun. I almost forgot, when I was on the boat visiting islands, some monkeys boarded my boat!

Panama

I went to Panama last week, and had a great time. The bus trips were long, and crossing the border was anything but fun, but the trip was amazing. I went to Panama City, saw the buildings, went to an island, enjoyed the beaches, and saw the Panama Canal and its locks. The Panama Canal is huge, and awesome. It is great that I was able to see the linking point of two oceans. I also enjoyed eating junk food all week. The trip was amazing, and I have made so many memories and friends that will last a lifetime. Just being able to learn another leangauge, visit another country, become part of another culture, etc. is amazing, and I am greatful to be where I am, and to be learning what I am learning. And guess what. I am going to Nicarauga tomorrow!

FYI

Hey Everyone! I will be in both Panama and Nicaragua for the next two weeks. Things are great here, overall. I just want to explain my mysterious abscence =)

Odds and Ends

As school draws to a close, I feel glad that I decided to come for a year. I still have 7 and a half months left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everything is going well here. While schoolwork may still be a struggle, I am learning more and more every day. Some people have gone so far as to say that I am almost billingual. While I find this a polite lie, I appreciate the compliments. Within the last month or so, many things have changed. I have become a leader in the youth group, and am in charge of my own small group for Alpha. I have also started to learn how to wind surf at Lake Arenal. I have many new friends, and have learned about the culture. I have also taken more pictures than even I dreamed possible. I find myself truly being a part of the family, as we pass through some economic situations. Finally, the water is back, but now the washer doesn`t work. But everything passes in time. Here are some pictures for you!

Funny things people have told me

1. The Little Mermaid is satanic.

2. When a 17 year old girl dates a 28 year old boy, it`s not a big age difference.

3. A girl is ready to marry once she can cook tortillas.

4. It`s possible, and normal to fit 7 people in a 4 person car.

5. Attending classes is optional.

6. Una cosita grande. ( a big small thing.)

7. People wanted me to buy weed for them at the mall, right in front of the police.

8. You don`t plan on getting married in the next 5 years??????????????

9. We are going to climb up, uphill.

10. You are crazy (directed at me on multiple occasions)

Catching Up

My host sister lost my camera. She borrowed it, motorcycled to the lake, and dropped it at some point along the road. I miss my camera so much, and it`s been less than 24 hours. I also had a bit of a disagreement with my English teacher. He tried to tell me that my answer to a test question was wrong, and that fluent English speakers ¨could not pardon my error.¨ I told him that I am, in fact, a fluent English speaker, and that he was wrong. I angrily pouted, and eventually he gave me the points I deserved. Despite this, school is actually fun here. I have made a lot of friends, and the teachers take pity on me, which is nice.
September 15th is CR`s independence day, and I am excited to celebrate. The schools march through the streets, to celebrate, and I decided that it would be fun to march with my classmates. The practice itself is hard: marching uphill in the heat of Costa Rica, but I think that the experience will be worth it. In addition to this, I am learning how to paint ceramics. I had some nice pictures of the finished product, but my pictures are somewhere in the Costa Rican grass or in a black market auction. I am having a great time, and on the 16th, I will have been here for 2 months. My host family and I are like any normal family, and I am so glad that I got placed here.