I definitly have to say, you can't be affraid to feel awkward if you study abroad. It is a constant feeling. It is hard to believe I have been here for 3 weeks already. It makes me feel like I need to step up my game with my Spanish if I plan to learn anything in the next 4 months. I have learned a lot about myself so far too. That I am my own person and can survive awkward situations and do things alone. Living with a host family also makes me analyze the family system in America compared to here and see similarities and differences. I have learned to open up my mind to different thoughts, customs, ideas, and people because just because I was raised a certain way, does not mean it was ... read more

This week I have just felt exhausted...I'm seriously contemplating taking a nap immediately after writing this. I don't know if it's the sun, or the Spanish, and classes or what. The language exchange club I am in has been pretty cool so far. Amanda and I have 2 girls that are friends on Tuesdays from 12-1 but last Tuesday we hung out longer than that and then last night we went to a movie with them. We saw War Horse...it was in English with subtitles in Spanish. The one girl speaks English really well but the other speaks Spanish with us. I have been feeling frustrated with the school system/noise/and men all week lol. I walk to school, takes me from 30-40 minutes just to get to the campus (not my classes) and the entire way ... read more

The university here is very spread out. Yesterday I attended the Spanish intermediate class and then right after went to the advanced class because she wanted to see how i felt in them both. The intermediate was super easy...so i am thinking I am now in the advanced from now on. After that class, I ate the lunch my host mom packed for me and then wandered around campus aimlessly. Becuase it is the first week of school, there has been a lot of live music in the open areas. That is pretty cool. The spanish class with with all americans and I have it from 10-1130 tuesdays and thursdays. Amanda and I got a smoothy and we did a lot of walking around...the wind and sun were making my eyes hurt. Me, Amanda, Callie and ... read more

Pura Vida is most definitly a way of life here. They never worry about anything...just go with the flow. We have been told several times that our teachers probably wont come on time for class...maybe even being an HOUR late...(our classes are like 3 or more hours)...and that students come late often or do not come at all. We have also noticed several times how people don't care if we don't know what is going on. We end up waiting for our supervisors almost everytime we are doing something. I am hoping I catch on quick to this life style and mantality of life. Other differences...I have been wistled at, honked at, starred at, told "I love you", been called "honey" "baby" "guapa" "macha" and "gringa", several times. People go out of their way to say ... read more

Yesterday, we took a bus to San Jose to walk around and check out the area. Amanda and I sat on the wrong side, we were burning and experiencing heat exhaustion the entire way. It took about a half an hour I suppose. Our ISEP director and our SPanish teacher were our "guides". I have to say, I am already getting frustrated with the way they are always so unprepared seeming. THey never tell us what we are doing or where we are going, or why we are waiting around. We do sooo much waiting. If I were running it, I would get everything done in an hour. They take up 8-5 with sitting around, waiting for the next thing...which isnt even relevant really lol. We saw the Nacional Theater and 2 churches, that was cool. ... read more