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Costa Rica is definitely different than I expected it to be. My experience here has been completely the opposite than my experience in Spain. This first week is just a free week to learn about the area and get accustomed to things before classes start on the 19th. However, I live in the outskirts of San Jose in San Pedro where there is really nothing but houses. Also, the streets here have no names. It is pretty much just a guessing game if you want to go on a walk...and if you're lucky you will be able to find your way home. For this reason, this is the address of where I am staying:
Barrio Pinto
150 Oeste y 50 Sur de la Pulperia "Los Angeles"
San Pedro, San Juan, Costa Rica
In English, this pretty much means: we live in the neighborhood Barrio Pinto, 150 meters East and 50 meter South of the supermarket "Los Angeles".
Thank goodness I made it to school without getting lost. Lets see if I can find the house again. :)
The family that lives in the house connected to my apartment has invited me to every meal even though food is not included. They are absolutely wonderful. Rosa is the grandma and prepares all the meals. She likes it when I call her "mamita". For breakfast it is typical to eat Gallo Pinto, which is toasted rice and beans, with a cup of coffee. The coffee here is out of the world! For lunch, Rosa usually serves chorizo, potatoes, rice, beans, pasta, and a glass of fresh squeezed lemonade. Then around 8 or 9 we have a cup of tea with fresh bread covered in butter and pineapple jam. I spend most of my time chatting with Rosa and Valeria. Valeria is Rosa's great granddaughter (9 years old).
My host mom is technically Eugenia but she is a lawyer and works all week. So if I'm not in the house with Rosa and Valeria, I am with Coni, Eugenia's sister. She is retired so she offered to take me around the neighborhood or to school whenever I need to. I haven't seen much so far, only a couple parks and the business district of San Pedro. However, Eugenia's house is constantly packed with family so I have meet a lot of people and spoken a ton of Spanish. I feel like I'm definitely getting a more authentic experience of life in Costa Rica than I got in Spain.
Coni offered to take me to Catarago today to see a famous Basilica. Also, we are going to take a day trip to the Irazu volcano this weekend.
If you haven't heard, there was a major earthquake here last Thursday. It was really devastating to the people here and it destroyed one of the most beautiful areas of the country, near the Poas volcano. The news today said we should feel a little more trembling of the ground today, nothing major. But, there's nothing to worry about. There is an extremely small chance that there would be another quake while I'm here.
Also, the weather here is definitely not as warm as I thought it would be. I have to wear a sweater or a light jacket everyday. The sun is warm but the wind is chilly. My life is sooo hard! Hey, I heard you guys got snow again... :)
P.S. I have been having a hard time with phone cards here. I am trying to get it figured out and once I do, I will be able to call more. Sorry mom, phone card cut off last night. I will call again today with a new card.
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