New Adventures Ahead

Tomorrow I have to say goodbye to the people who took me in as a daughter and sister and have now become family. Tonight, my last night in Costa Rica, was one I will never forget. I had a great meal with my whole family, my tica mom, tico dad, my three tica sisters and my tica dog Kiwi. We put salsa music on and danced and laughed together. In between dancing and laughing we had fondue; a special treat which they told me was in my honor.

After dinner was sister time. Fabi, Fio and Kami (my sisters) and I danced and sang to Lady Gaga, Elvis, Michael Jackson and Taylor Swift. We choose outfits for each other and took pictures as if we were models. We did each others’ make-up and hair, and let me just say that we looked “muy guapa!”

I love my family here and will miss them greatly. However, I’m excited to get back to my family at home in MN. I’ve had so many amazing adventures here in Costa Rica and am sad to see them end, but I know new ones lie ahead.

I’d like to share and end with a quote that one of my classmates posted, one that is simple but has an important message.

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” –Dr. Seuss

Costa Rica, you have made me smile.

La Última Fiesta

Time for one last party before we leave. Last night I went out with Esti, my friends Mariah and AJ, and Mariah’s host mother, Flor. We had our hearts set on dancing, however since it was a Wednesday night not many places were hopping. After checking out three different bars for a few short minutes and crashing a Tico wedding, we ended up at “El Caballo Blanco,” where it was karaoke night. It was basically the invasion of the gringas because in the mix of Latino music, we girls sang Ain’t no Mountain High Enough and Dancing Queen by Abba. I’m pretty sure we were the only ones who understood the lyrics, but I’m also certain that the ticos loved our singing and dancing anyway because we received a huge applause when we finished.

Today is our last day at the ACM building. A Cuban band is coming in to teach us about their music and play for us. Afterward we have one last lunch of rice, beans and plátanos. Yum. It’s bitter sweet to say goodbye to the family and friends that I have made here. I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time in ACM and am excited to bring my experiences back to my home in Minnesota.

Pura Vida

There is only one way to describe this past weekend; pura vida. We took a six hour bus ride to la playa Tamarindo in Guanacaste on the Pacific coast, but the long ride was worth it. Here are the highlights:

1. La Botella de Leche: This is the Hostel we stayed in. The name translated in English is “The Bottle of Milk.” There was a huge sign on the outside in the shape of a milk bottle and everything was cow themed. There were cow spots painted on the walls, pictures of cows on the doors and in the kitchen, the phone ring tone was even “moo.” There was a pool in the center of the living area with a swinging chair where we spent many hours chatting, relaxing and making friends with our other hostel mates.

2. Surfs up!: We took surfing lessons and rode the waves like pros. Not to mention our instructors were “muy guapo.” (very good-looking)

3. Super Woman: We zip-lined through the rain forest over rivers and monkeys. The first line I zipped down as if I were sitting in a chair. However, the other lines were extreme. I zipped with my chest facing down and arms out like super woman. I zipped upside down and I even zipped backwards with my sister.

4. Pura Vida Tropical Juice: We found a local store which sells the best smoothies ever and became friends with the owner, Carmen. We visited her 5 times in 3 days and had fresh pineapple, mango, watermelon, kiwi, passion fruit, blackberry, strawberry, banana, apple, guava, orange smoothies. Qué rico! We took a picture with Carmen during our last visit and she gave us fresh oranges for the trip.

5. Comida rica: We used our creativity and cooked dinner for ourselves 2 nights. We made pasta one night and delicious tacos with mango salsa the other. And all for under $4 each!

6. Alvaro and Ricardo: Our tour guides and taxi drivers. Alvaro is Carmen’s husband and so he gave us a deal on our taxi ride to la playa Conchal, a white sand shell beach 16km away from Tamarindo. He and his friend Ricardo drove us to the beach and also picked us up around 5pm. When they came to drive us back to La Botella de Leche they offered to “Da la vuelta” or take us on a tour. They drove us around another beautiful nearby beach called Flamingo and took us through the mountains to watch the sun set over the ocean. They stopped on a cliff and let us take pictures. During our tour I heard my dad’s voice in my head asking me “What the heck are you doing with two middle-aged men on a cliff at sunset?” But then I realized that I was in Costa Rica with 5 of my friends and figured it was alright. And it indeed it was fine. I’m here to tell the story. Taxi drivers like Alvaro and Ricardo don’t exist in the US.

7. Run like the wind: Esti and I went running on the white sands beach in our bare feet. There is not a better adrenaline rush.

8. Belly laughs: I can’t count the number of times I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. That’s the sign that I’ve made some pretty good friends here.

Pura Vida Costa Rica!

Día de Acción de Gracias

Happy Thanksgiving from Costa Rica! Believe it or not we did have a thanksgiving meal here, although it had some Tico flare.

I had my doubts that we would be able to eat turkey because this morning when I arrived at the ACM building the power was out. I was very concerned since turkey is the most essential part of the meal. So I asked my professors, “Cómo vamos a cocinar el pavo sin electricidad?” (Translation: How are we going to cook the turkey without electricity?) Their response made my heart stop. Here’s what they said: “Vamos a cambiar la cultura. El día que nos comemos mucho, vamos a ayunarnos.” (Translation: We’re going to change the tradition. Instead of eating a lot, we’re going to fast.) Well, I wasn’t exactly ok with that and I think my expression showed it because they then started laughing and said, “No podemos preparar un pavo!  La comida está cocinando en otro lugar. No se preocupe, el pavo casi viene.” (Translation: We can’t cook a turkey! The food is catered. Don’t worry, the turkey is almost here.) It’s a good thing my professors didn’t have confidence in their ability to cook a turkey because I’m not sure we would have eaten otherwise. But we did eat; juicy turkey, tico-style sweet potatoes (they were green, not orange like in the US), stuffing, corn, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. I did miss my grandma’s gravy and Aunt Heidi’s apple pie, but I am thankful for the meal I got to share with my classmates and professors. This year I have many things to be thankful for;

1. My family; Mom, Dad, sister, Grandpa, Grandma, uncles, aunts, cousins. I’m so glad I had the chance to skype with you all today. You made my Thanksgiving in Costa Rica feel more like home.
2. My Tica family; Mamá, Papá, mis tres hermanas. They have made me a part of their family and I feel like I have a home here.
3. My classmates and new friends. I’ve made so many great friends during my time here, relationships that hopefully we’ll maintain into the future.

Phrase of the Week: Estoy agradecida. – I am thankful.

Fiesta!

Last Saturday was a dancing party! We had our goodbye fiesta with all the families. Luckily it was a beautiful sunny day. We started the festivities with a futbol, or soccer game as we Americans call it. It was the families versus the students and we had been training for weeks on the soccer field in front of our school. However, the sprints, box jumps and quick feet exercises did not pay off because the families annihilated us.  Futbol is just part of Cost Rican blood.  After the game the dancing began. Roy, our famous dance instructor came and led us in dances the whole afternoon, from salsa and swing to musical chairs and the limbo. And let me just say, my second tica mamá (Esti’s mom) was the life of the party. She not only won musical chairs, but also dressed up as a hula girl in a grass skirt and flower lei.  She knows how to have a good time.

Now we only have 10 days left here in warm Costa Rica until we return to snow and cold. But, I have learned some new dance moves to keep me warm. Get ready Minnesota!

Coffee Coffee Coffee!

Last Friday my taste bud journey through Costa Rica was completed. I had already seen the production process for two of my favorite foods, chocolate and bananas, and tried an uncountable number of exotic fruits. And now I have learned how to grow, process, and roast the bean to make my favorite drink; coffee.

We went to a coffee cooperative called Llano Bonito in the province of Alajuela. It’s located on the top of a mountain, literally. We stood in the clouds and looked down on the rows and rows of coffee trees. Now I know what it’s like to have a bird’s eye view. The scene was incredible.

We toured the coffee factory and got to see the process of making coffee from picking the bean to drinking a hot, foamy cappuccino with nutmeg. The man who gave us the tour told us that Llano Bonito coffee is the best coffee in the world. And he wasn’t just saying that because he is the owner and is biased. It was really rated the best coffee in the world. And I agree. The smokey, sweet, woody taste electrified my senses. Thank goodness Llano Bonito exports their coffee to the US. I don’t think I can live without it after this experience.

Word of the week: café = coffee…yum

Dear Minnesota, Please send me my winter coat and boots

What is the first image that comes to mind when you hear “Costa Rica”? Sun, palm trees, beaches and HEAT, right? Wrong! We have all been freezing here in San Jose these past two days. There is a freezing wind that whips through the streets as I walk to class…and I thought I was escaping the wintry Minnesota wind. This morning I saw people wearing fur boots, winter stocking hats, mittens, scarves and down jackets. Who knew I’d want my long-johns in Costa Rica. Wednesday we are suppose to go to the beach to snorkel and “learn” about marine life. I have just one request…

Dear Costa Rica,

I’m giving you two days to change weather and heat up.

 

Word of the week: abrigo–winter coat

My Two Mothers

This weekend my gringa mom, not to be confused with my tica mom, came to Costa Rica to visit me. Esti and I were so excited to see her and decided to greet her at the airport. Her flight was scheduled to arrive at 2:50 on Wednesday. Well, as luck would have it, there was a tropical storm passing over Haiti affecting all of Central America with heavy rains. Wednesday was the rainiest day of the year in Costa Rica.  Esti and I watched the screen continually change the time of arrival to later and later. And let me paint a picture of the airport for you. No one waiting for arrivals is allowed to enter the actual building. Instead, everyone waits outside under a cement roof staring at the large glass window where you can see everyone who has come through customs and immigration. There are no chairs to sit down, just cement pillars to lean against. Since there were so many people waiting, Esti and I did not get a pillar. Instead we stood waiting for 5 hours, pressing our anxious little faces against the large glass window even though we knew our mom was not in Costa Rica yet.  During the time we decided to take a break from the window we talked to everyone around us and practiced our Spanish. We got the life stories of many Ticos and now we have some pretty good buddies. Finally my gringa mom arrived, after a short 3 hour stop in Nicaragua to wait out the storm. Esti and I peeled our faces from the window and ran to greet her with hugs.

It was a very special experience to have my gringa mom experience my life in Costa Rica. My tica mom made us a traditional dinner and my gringa mom had the opportunity to meet my tico parents and sisters. I worked as a translator between my two mothers. I think they understood each other more or less…mother’s have a language of their own.  And everyone understands the language of laughter and smiles. Friday we went to Esti’s house so that my gringa mom could meet her tico family. We lived the translation experience all over again.

Saturday was girls’ day. We took a three hour car ride through the mountains to the hot springs of Volcano Arenal, the only active volcano in Costa Rica. We relaxed in the warm water for two hours, chatting and soaking up the serenity of the forest around us. At night we returned to San Jose and had a delicious meal at a Japanese restaurant called Samari. It had the best sushi of Costa Rica! Although that might be a biased statement since that was the only time I’ve had sushi in Costa Rica.

I am so thankful for this weekend and for both my gringa and tica mothers.

Cahuita- Am I still in Costa Rica?

This past weekend we traveled to Cahuita, a community in the province of Limon located in the southern part of the country on the Caribbean side. Although we were still physically in Costa Rica, I felt like I was in Jamaica or some other Caribbean island. Bob Marley and reggae music could always be heard coming from the two bars that lined the small street of downtown. Coconut, chile picante, and garlic were in every dish I ate. And guess what language most people spoke?  No, it was not Spanish. English. Everyone spoke English. And I thought I was coming to Costa Rica to practice my Spanish.

After listening to a community leader recount the history of Cahuita I learned that it has a strong Caribbean and English influence. In the early 1800s Will Smith, a colonizer from England arrived integrating English culture with indigenous and Afro-Caribbean tradition. As a result the people of Cahuita today speak three languages: Spanish, English and Creole which is a mixture of the indigenous and English language.

We stayed in a “cabina” called the Goddess.  It was no small cabin in the woods, but was a 4 star eco-spa located on a black sand beach. We were living large.

On Saturday we visited the Miss Edith’s restaurant and learned from Miss Edith herself how to make pati, a traditional food of Limon. Pati is similar to an empanda. It is a dough filled with meat or vegetables, which of course are seasoned with coconut, chile picante and garlic. And let me tell you, my Minnesota taste buds were on fire! Costa Rican chili peppers are much hotter than those I have eaten in the US. Next time the pati should come with a warning label.

Saturday afternoon we visited the national park of Cahuita and relaxed on the white sand beach and swam in the ocean. It was very pura vida. In the evening we listened to a local band perform calypso music, the traditional music of Limon. And of course we danced. At midnight was when the night really started. The light of the full moon guided us as we walked to the beach and using drift wood built a bonfire on the sand. We brought a little bit of our own culture to Cahuita and roasted marshmallows and made s’mores, without spicing them up with coconut, chile picante and garlic. We spent three hours listening to the waves, watching the stars, laughing and talking. It is an incredible memory I will never forget.

 

Home Sweet San Jose

I made it home alive from my adventures in el campo. I will miss my delicious bowl of fresh oranges, papaya, banana and pineapple every morning, fish which stares at me from my diner plate, fields and fields of piña, my life as an accountant and unbearable heat.  However, I’m glad to be reunited with my San Jose family, my long lost sister and the rain. Tomorrow we start the second block of our classes. I guess that means good bye vacation in Pital. Hello studying and school work!