So today is the second day in Costa Rica. So far I haven't done much. I went to bed at 7 p.m. last night. Yeah, I know, I am a nerd. I could barely keep my eyes open though. I did wake up when fireworks started going off at midnight, so I watched those out my window for about 20 minutes. It was really cool because from my one window I could see about 6 difference places where they were going off, so 6 different sets of fireworks. I kind of regretted that I didn't stay up and go to the fireworks, but then my eyes started glazing over and I realized I would never have made it lol.
Other than sleeping I've just been hanging around the house, and Ana has taken me walking around the barrio (the neighborhood) a couple of times. She showed me a couple of minis (little supermarkets) and introduced me to a lot of her friends, neighbors, and family. Her mom and three of her siblings live in the same apartment building a couple of blocks away, so we went there and she introduced all of us. Ana is very nice. She has 3 kids and 5 grandkids. Her daughter is married to an English man and lives in Ohio with their 3 daughters. Her eldest son is married and has 2 daughters. They live by the airport in San Jose (about 40 minutes away). Her other son lives in San Jose and occasionally comes and stays with her, but has his own apartment. She has been married 2 and lived in Venezuela for like 12 years. Now she goes to the states to visit her grandkids for 6 months at a time and lives in CR the rest of the time with students from the university. She has had one or two students living with her for the past 10 years!
We have mostly been walking around to show me things, like today we went to the university so she could show me how to get there. It takes about 10 minutes or less to walk there. Then we walked to a big mall. Everything was closed for the holiday (New Years is a bigger deal here). But walked around and looked in the windows and we got helado (ice cream). I got my first Costa Rican money as change! When we walk we talk about all sorts of things, so I am practicing my Spanish that way. We talk about a lot of things: both our lives, things around us, Costa Rica, prices of things (everything here is cheaper than the U.S., except clothes). This afternoon we have just been relaxing at the house. Ana went outside to read but all her neighbors keep coming by and talking to her. Whenever we are walking, we see lots of her friends that she stops and talks to. Also, her phone has been ringing a lot all day because people are calling to wish her Feliz Ano (Happy New Years). People here are very friendly and like to visit a lot.
I haven't noticed a TON of differences between here and the U.S., but I already have noticed some. One is that they don't take care of public property the same as the U.S. does. The sidewalks are cracked and dogs can do their duty just about anywhere. There aren't as many cars here, though Ana tells me thats just because most people spend New Year's weekend at la playa (the beach). People here are extremely friendly and talk a lot, more than the U.S. I think. They don't need as much space (all the apartments and houses are smaller, but that might be because land is so expensive - no one has yards) and they live much more simply than we do. Not as much junk.
We have just been relaxing all day - I reading my Kindle (it was a great investment, thanks Santa!) and Ana talking or watching TV. Thats all the updates I have for now!
Pura Vida!
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