Blogs from San José, San José, Costa Rica, Central America Caribbean - page 28

Day 19 - Dancing Without the Stars September 22, 2008 Today we had a test in Spanish class. But after that, we spent the last hour and half learning to dance with a dance teacher our professor brought in. We learned the basics to merenge, salsa, and cumbia. It got really hot in that room and I was sweating like crazy, but it was fun. I went for a run for the first time in forever today, I want to get back into the habit. I feel so much better when I run and work out. I think Ticos were taken aback by the blond white kid with short shorts running through their town. Tonight I went to my first dance class. 5 classes for $22 isn’t bad at all. Learned more merenge, salsa, but also ... read more

Day 17 - Counting Cards, Waterfalls, Chess, Hot Springs, Longest Day Yet. Make sure you have some time on your hands if you are going to read this entry. It’s a full one. I woke up at 5:00 am to get to school by 5:30. On the way to Arenal we watched “21” on the bus. I enjoyed the film. Well done in my opinion. Worth renting for sure. We stopped at a park in Zarcote where there was awesome hedged art everywhere: archways, animals (including dinosaurs, birds, and horses), funny faces, patterns and designs. Check out the pictures. I think this is what we need to do at SU though. Seriously. We should have a huge redhawk hedge somewhere central as well as a huge SU one (the athletics logo one), right outside the new ... read more

Day 15 - No military = More $$ Had a big discussion in class today about racism and discrimination and the like. It was very interesting to talk about, especially because for the last 2 weeks (and the next 3 months) I’ve been the outsider. I talked about how that is somewhat ironic because I have a scholarship for Latin-American back at SU. What if someone that wasn’t Latino needed that money and was more qualified for the scholarship than I? Hmmm. Interesting things to think about. At home I had a discussion with my Mama, brother Gustavo, and his girlfriend Wendy about taxes, healthcare, economy, etc. Apparently, in Costa Rica everyone (with a job) gets an EXTRA paycheck for the month of December - straight up. It’s not like getting taxes back, not like getting ... read more

Day 12 - Denim Diapers September 15, 2008 Today was Independence Day - not just for Costa Rica, but for all of Central America. I didn’t know that’s how it was until I got down here. On September 15th, from Mexico to Costa Rica (not Panama), they all celebrate independence. In my opinion, that’s a pretty cool concept that brings unity to an entire region regardless of their present differences. They apparently run a torch all throughout Central America leading up to the 15th, like the Olympics. There’s just no Michael Phelps. Or Bob Costas. But there probably should be, Bob Costas that is. I went to a parade in Guadalupe with some friends and I’ll admit - not my most pleasant experience in Costa Rica. There was just wayyyy too many people, it was grossly ... read more

Buenas tardes Everybody should go buy some malaria tables and a plane ticket and go to La Fortuna in Costa Rica to see red lava boulders bouncing, and disintegrating, down the perfect volcano at night. And then you should all have the best vegetable sandwich in the world that is available there - of all places, I mean really, how cruel. Then you should sit on your hotel patio drinking almost undrinkable Cuba Libre from a can and watch the red glow fom the volcano crater all night. Perfect. Other highlights include: * being amid two groups of howler monkeys having a little tiff - branches were angrily snapped off and hurled * white water rafting with a mischievous little Scottish guy in a kayak singing slightly risque songs in Spanish * seeing sloths (though I ... read more