daredevil, i know.

2.09.10

Wow! 2 posts in a row!! This just means I'm procrastinating, obviously. Well I have class in 6 minutes and guess what? I'm not going. I don't feel good and I'm tired and I have an assignment due by midnight. See guys, i DO have homework here. It's actually for my class with Ticos, which is a really good class (Aesthetic psychology) but I don't like the people in it. It's all girls and one boy and the girls are conceited and stuck up. Anyway let's not talk about that.

I had a quiz today, super easy. I'm going on a fieldtrip this weekend for my Environmental Impact and Social Awareness class. Everyone goes on cool trips here, like the rainforest, beach, etc. I don't remember the last time I went on a field trip :/ how sad.  Anyway, not gonna lie but I'm pretty jealous of TCNJ's snow day tomorrow. Although I'm not complaining about this weather at all, it's gorgeous.

I went grocery shopping today (because host families only provide breakfast and dinner) and it reminded me of how much I hate grocery shopping. I'm so much better at shopping for clothes. Which reminds me, things are not as cheap as I expected them to be here. I guess with all the tourism, prices get hiked up. But there hasn't been anything where I'm like "Wow what a deal!" For lunch, we usually go to this great little soda (small restaurants) down the block from our school called Las Lenitas orrrr we go to this little stand in our school plaza owned by the cutest little man.."Don Ro." I usually get a hamburger because they are super gooood and pretty cheap. OH and might I add I found a snickers bar yesterday for only a little over a dollar! Yes, it's exciting because all the good chocolate is expensive here :( So if any of you (which all of you should) want to bring joy into my life, mail me lotsss of chocolate and candy! :D

MMM dinner is almost ready. Thank goodness because I'm hungry. Oh, and I don't know if I mentioned this, but tourists are only allowed to stay in Costa Rica for 90 days (I'm here longer than that) which means we have to leave the country for 72 hours.. So we're probably going to Panama, Nicaragua, and El Salvador :) I want to try to go to Colombia since I'm so close, but it's more expensive than if I were flying from the U.S! How crazy.

Well my avid readers, I will write next time with more interesting news. In the meantime, here are some pictures from  past trips ( in case you haven't stalked my facebook yet :D)

Pura vida queridos amigos!

Angy

Random cute monkey with a banana I gave him :)

Manuel Antonio National Park

LOL

self explanatory

Costa Rican elections>US elections

Facebook | Videos Posted by Ryan Powell: If Only U.S. Elections Were Like This [HQ]

2.8.10

So it has come to my attention that I should actually keep up with my blog. But theres just not enough time and I forget things easily. So here goes..This is going to be a long one..You stand warned..

Ok where to start..Well 2 weekends ago, was our first free weekend. A couple of us went to Volcan Poas which is one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica. What really stands out about this Volcano is thatBut it was pretty misty that day so we were literally in a cloud and couldnt see the crater. INTERRUPTION!!!! An earthquake just occurred, and did I feel it?? No. Everyone else did (my neighbors, even my host dad in his room), but where I'm sitting in the living room with the rest of my family? Absolutely nothing!! There has been 3 earthquakes while I've been here and I've felt nothing!!! Gods protecting me a little too much lol. ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Ok anyway, it was all misty so we couldnt see the crater. But we were able to see a lagoon, which was pretty cool as well. After that day, we walked around downtown San Jose for a little, met some cool girls from Belgium on the bus, and called it a day. The next day, Sunday, I went to Puntarenas Beach with a couple of girls. Puntarenas Beach is not a touristy beach at all. It's where all the Ticos go because its one of the closest beaches. Most tourists go to Puntarenas to take the ferry to get to the nice beaches. The beach wasn't that bad, but seriously, I'm used to the Jersey Shore, enough said. We saw a dead rat & dead stingray on the sand though. Haha it was pretty nasty. Towards the end of the evening, the tide washed up soo far that it wet all my stuff! Pretty upsetting but I was able to salvage my bag with my camera in there. Then on Monday, ISA took us on a day trip to Cartago, one of Costa Rica's 7 provinces. (That number could be wrong, don't quote me on that). Cartago was Costa Rica's first capital. We saw the ruins of Cartago, They tried to build the church 3 times and each time, and earthquake destroyed it. Then we saw the Basilica which was an amazing cathedral. We ate lunch at a local mall and got back to our town, Zapote, in time for class. The next day, Tuesday, I started my first intensive month class. It's from 8am-12pm EVERY SINGLE DAY. For those that know me, you already know how happy I was about that...............yes, sarcasm. But honestly, it hasn't been bad at all. The teacher is soo laidback, just as every other teacher is. For example, today we spent an HOUR AND A HALF, talking about how everyones weekend went. Then, we had a half hour break (every 4 hour class does), then we watched a short video, then went to the computer lab for an hour to "work on our presentations" due on Friday. I actually have a quiz in that class tomorrow...I should probably start studying.......

Anyway, in that same class, oh yea it's called Cultural Heritage (and its in Spanish), we watched a film on Friday called "Voces Inocentes." It's about the civil war that happened in El Salvador around 20 years ago. It was so so so depressing, especially because it was based on a true story. I cried so much at the end and the teacher had to hug me saying "lo siento, lo siento." Haha. I definitely recommend it.

Ok this past Thursday we went to "El Pueblo." El Pueblo is like a bunch of barres/discotecas. It's like a mall but for bars haha. We had a lot of fun dancing and just hanging out. Theres a great nightlife here, and its so cheap!

On Saturday, like 15 of us went to Jaco Beach. It's the other close beach. Only 2 hours. We had a good time and the sun was scorchinggg!! I surfed for a little and managed to get up after my 3rd try! It was so exciting! Definitely trying that again. We took the 5 o clock bus back and got back to San Jose around 730. Then 4 of us walked around and saw the pre-presidential elections festivities. Everyone was driving around, honking their horns, and waving their flags. It was so awesome because its not like that in the US at all. Every different political party has different colored flags. The only time I've seen something similar is the heritage parades in the states. Then I finally get home that night, wanting a nice hot shower, and there was no water! The water had been out the wholeee day. I almost cried. It finally came back at 11pm. The next day, we just hung out at home since it was the presidential elections. I went with my familia tica to vote. There were so many people and everyone was repping their political party. The 3 main candidates were Laura Chinchilla, Otto Guevara, and Otton Solis. I don't know enough about any of them to tell you who I would have voted for, but a lot of people were voting for Laura. I ended up getting a Laura banner and an Otton hat, haha. I was walking around with both on, and was getting pretty strange looks. Then later on that day, almost all of ISA met in Stan's Irish Pub to watch the superbowl. YEAAAA SAINTS! I was pretty indifferent towards the teams but my sister (my real sister) enlightened me and said we couldn't root for the Colts because of Peyton Manning (and everyone knows I don't like the Giants and Peyton is Eli's brother sooo yea, how about that reasoning?) Haha. It was a good time. Except for the fact that I lost my keys somehow! I haven't told my family yet cuz Im scared lol. The thing is that ISA says if you lose your keys, you have to have the locks changed and stuff. I highly doubt my host family will make me go through with that, but still. Ugh. Anyway, Laura Chinchilla won!!! First female president!!!!! Its so cool to be able to be here for such a historical event.

Ok well I should really study for my quiz..But thanks for reading and I will realllly really try to update more often. But this intensive month class is killing me.

I love & miss you all. Seriously.

Pura Vida,

Angy