Hey Everyone!

I hope this finds everyone doing well. Things are going fine here. I got into Tibás on Friday afternoon, and it was super hot and humid. It's not so much hot here but the humidity is much higher than in the US. ... My host mom Inés picked me up at the airport and took me around town. It's so much different than I expected.  With having only Germany as my other foreign experience Costa Rica (San José area) came as quite a shock! It's very crowed, a little dirty, has lots of pot holes, and bars on everything. Don't let this fool you though, because behind the bars it's GORGEOUS!

My family lives in a gated community with 24 hour survellience (sp?). I have my own room. I have 2 host brothers (22 and 20). I just met the younger, Sergio yesterday because he was with his grandparents in the country. Eugenio is nice, but super quiet. He kinda avoids me I think. :o) The youngest, Gloriana is 12. She's gorgeous and a tom boy. She loves to listen to music - she's jamming all day. My host mom is young (39) and is great. She's very considerate of me. It's weird though because she's almost waiting on me... it's kinda unnerving, but typical here. They have a chiuaua (sp?) named Mini. She's super nice for a chiuaua and is very cute. But she sorta reminds me of a bat. ;o)

Today was our first day at the school. We had cultural training in the AM and in the PM we had language leveling (basically we talked for 3 hours). Same thing tomorrow through Thursday, and then a 3 day weekend. We're all planning on going to Puerto Viejo this weekend (SUPER gorgeous beach). I'll update you on that.  I really like most of the people in my group. 1 or 2 not so nice females, but eh- what can you do? ;o)

Interesting things I've seen in CR so far:
1. I ate a LEMON with green skin and orange pulp
2. They keep their margarine in the grocery stores in wire bins in the aisle
3. At the feria (like a farmer's market) they had coconuts with straws so you could drink the milk (YUCK)
4. They drive like idiotic maniacs!!

I miss all of you and will update again soon!

Love,
Heather