For the second time in Latin America, I have been asked if I am from Germany or Switzerland. Not only was I asked, they almost insisted that I must be and looked quizzical when I responded that I’m from the US. The first time was in Ecuador from a group of the Spanish instructors at the language school, and the second time was in San Jose, Costa Rica this past weekend when my cab driver asked if I was from Switzerland. I said (in Spanish), that no, I’m from the United States, and he responded by saying that I don’t look or act like an American… that they are usually rude, not happy, and nervous. So he assumed I was from Europe since I’m nice (?).
Interesting.
I think I need a haircut. Long hair is fun for a while, but then it just gets to the point where it looks kinda dumb. And I passed that point about a month ago.
My toe is better. Don’t think there is a risk of infection anymore.
Vacation is almost over. We’re in San Jose. I kinda wish I was in Quito.
We met up with Alayna today, who is my friend that I know through my other friend Jessica. She’s totally hilarious, nerdy, and cute. A+. Anyway, we’re heading to her place outside of town to go to the bars and get trashed tonight. I will also hopefully be able to transfer some songs from my iPod to her roommates’ Mac. I love to give people new music. Fun fun.
Tomorrow afternoon it’s back to the ecolodge, and on Monday we start a new homestay. I’m a bit nervous, only because my first homestay family is incredibly awesome and I wonder if the new one can step up. At least I feel more confident speaking Spanish now.
More later…
I’m on vacation from school for 7 days. Harris, Mollie, and I are in Tamarindo. On the beach.
Went surfing for the first time. Caught a few good waves. Unfortunately, I nearly (95%) ripped off my big toenail in the process and it hurts like hell. Hopefully hydrogen peroxide and neosporin are all I need to fix it up. Cause I’m planning on hitting the waves again tomorrow, pain or not. I’m not too worried about it, there’s a liquor store right next door to our hotel. Pictures soon (?).
Why?
1) The food in Costa Rica sucks. Seriously, the only good food I’ve had here is Italian. In Ecuador I think I only had like one bad meal and the variety of places to eat was staggering. The food in Costa Rica is also expensive. At first I didn’t think this, because I ate at some typical local places which are cheaper. But if you want anything that isn’t boring local food you have to pay up. To compare, the other night I had a little tortilla thingy that was about the equivalent serving as 1/2 of a McDonald’s cheeseburger… ie, not much… for $1.25. In Ecuador, in the middle of the tourist district, I could get a whole-grain, organic, veggie burger with half a plate of fresh-cut fries for $1.79.
2) The food at Ecolodge San Luis sucks. They make the same variation at every meal. Beans, rice, salad, steamed veggies, and some kind of meat in a sauce. We’ve had potatoes like once or twice. Once in a blue moon they will prepare something totally different, but normally the food is so bland I don’t even want to eat. I mean, seriously, it’s like Costa Ricans don’t give a damn about food. It doesn’t even compare to the excellent meals I enjoyed at the Maquipucuna Reserve in Ecuador. If Maquipucuna is a 5-star restaurant, Ecolodge San Luis is like eating at Denny’s.
3) Phone calls here are outrageous. 33 cents per minute to call home. WTF? And there are no internet phones… apparently they are outlawed by the government so they don’t take money away from the govt-controlled telephone company. I miss Ecuador, where I could call home for 8 cents per minute.
4) Internet here is expensive. $1-4 per hour. And it’s slow and unreliable. At most places I went in Ecuador, Internet was 70 cents - $1 per hour and a lot faster and more reliable.
It’s funny how Costa Rica is considered (I guess) to be one of the most industrialized countries in Latin America. I guess national health care is great, but if everything else sucks…
Susie (our TA) brought my iPod back from the states when she back to Athens for a week. Thanks to Jenna for dropping it off at school so Susie could pick it up.
I have been dying here only having a limited selection of music to listen to. Now that I have my iPod I listen to it all the time. Oh Echo and the Bunnymen, how I have missed you.
The only thing that sucks is I can’t plug it into the PC’s here. Apparently a Mac iPod is different than a Windows iPod and when I connect it, all Windows sees is an unformatted drive. Damn you Apple! Why can’t it be in a format that both Mac and Windows can read? I’m sure if you plug a Windows iPod into a Mac it can read it fine, but not the other way around. WTF, Microsoft? WTF, Apple?
I miss my iBook.