4/6/15
Well, I wanted the experience of a lifetime and I’m
definitely getting it!
After a four hour bus ride, that included switching busses
in the middle of the road, I finally made it to Manuel Antonio. I met up with
my friend Danika. She helped me get my things temporarily put away. I went into
Manuel Antonio and grabbed a quick dinner. On my way back I got my first
mosquito bite (welcome back to Costa Rica).
When Danika got off work we went to a bonfire at the beach.
Apparently the Friday before Easter is a big holiday here. There was a DJ,
drinks, and a lot of interesting people. Unfortunately my lack of Spanish made
it difficult for me to communicate. But I still had fun. After the bonfire we
met some other friends for a drink, but we were both very tired so we called it
a night early.
Later that night I took my first cold shower. I panicked
slightly when I realized that I probably won’t have warm water the entire time
I’m here. But, guess what? I have now taken 4 cold showers and I am just fine.
I even enjoyed the one I took today because it is so hot out! I am on this
journey to explore myself and my limits, and sometimes I am going to be
uncomfortable but that is all part of the adventure. It’s what I signed up for.
The adventurer in me is excited every time a new challenge arises.
The next morning Danika had to work early, but she wanted me
to be able to catch up on sleep. I woke up around 9 a.m, ate breakfast, took
another cold shower, and went into the town of Quepos. Unfortunately because it
was Easter and a Sunday most places were closed. I decided to go into Manuel
Antonio since it’s a touristy town I figured more would be open.
I met Danika at the hotel, but she still had to work for a
few more hours. I decided to go down to the beach and walk around. On my way to
the beach, one of the peddlers stopped me. He is a hilarious gay man who
stopped me to tell me I was wearing my wrap wrong because I was not showing off
enough skin. He proceeded to show me 4 or 5 different ways to wear it until he
found the one he thought was just right, it was a little revealing for me, but
when in Rome... Costa Rica is different from the rest of Central America in
that way. People here have no problem wearing tight, small, or practically no
clothing. I ended up buying a moonstone bracelet from his brother. He got my
email address, told me not to date Tico men (good thing before I came I decided
dating was off the table for me for a while), gave me a million and one kisses,
told me never to change my figure (if only it was that easy), and then I was
off to the beach.
I walked down the beach. I took pictures. Manuel Antonio is
known primarily as a gay friendly community in Costa Rica. But it is also one
of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It is very popular and always
crowded. I decided to walk all the way down the beach and enjoy the setting.
With my newly (muy) shorter dress, I was able to walk somewhat far out in the
water. Towards the end of the beach, I found a beautiful little hotel with a
bar overlooking the beach. It was around 1 p.m. so I decided to stop for lunch.
I ordered ceviche, which is the one thing my mom would not let me order on my
last trip, out of fear we would get sick. I figured I had enough medicine in my
pharmacy (thanks dad!) that if I got sick I’d be ok and I just wouldn’t eat it
again (it’s been over 24 hours and I still feel perfectly fine).
Happy enjoying Manuel Antonio
After that I went back to meet Danika. She pointed out that
I was bright red. It seems that although I was covered in sunscreen, I have
gotten my first sunburn of the trip. I
called my mom one last time before I didn’t know when I would have internet
access again and then we were off to Danika’s mother’s home. We were going to
stay there one night and then Monday (today) I would go to the school and begin
working.
Danika has been an amazing host. For almost the entire 2
hour car ride to her mother’s house, Danika taught me random words in Spanish.
She also wrote down some basic phrases for me to practice. Turns out, Danika’s
mother had made us homemade ceviche for dinner as well. Her ceviche was
amazing! She promised to teach me how to make it before I leave. She also made
rice with shrimp and so much flavor I almost forgot I was in Costa Rica! After
we ate we went about 20 minutes down the road and saw Danika’s niece and
nephew. They are beautiful, sweet children and I can’t wait until I can
communicate with them better. She and her sister are trying to encourage her
nephew to learn more English and they hope me being around and having me speak
English around him will help.
After that we went to bed in preparation for todays a big
day. We got up around 7 a.m. and went to Danika’s mother’s elementary school.
Originally I was going to help there instead of the high school, but things
changed. Danika’s mother still wants all of the children to know me though, so
she took me around to all of the classrooms and introduced me to the children.
After that we went to her father’s restaurant. He made us a delicious tipyco
breakfast. His fried plantains are the best I have had yet. I’m not sure how he
made them, but I want to learn.
After breakfast, we got in the car again for the 1 ½ hour
drive from Piedras Blancas to Puerto Jimenez. I will be living with Danika’s sister
I will be working at Puerto Jimenez High School. I met with the principle,
Jessica (Danika’s sister), and an administrator to figure out what I am going
to be doing. The school is fairly advanced and focuses a lot on math and
science. They already have 6 English teachers. They want me to work with
specific students in conversational Spanish. My understanding is that I will be
with a specific group of children all day and I will go to all of their classes
with them. I am only allowed to speak to students in English EXCEPT during
their Spanish class, which is when I will get to learn.
I am staying in a modest two bedroom home with Jessica. We
are about 20 miles outside of Puerto Jimenez. Our home is in the country. We
have two neighbors, and lots of land surrounding us. There are even a few dogs
roaming the property. My room is small, but more than enough for me. I have an air
mattress and plenty of room for my clothes. Today the school is putting
together my schedule for the next few months so I have a couple hours of free
time. I wanted to go on a run or exercise, but it’s so stinking hot that I
decided to take a nice cold shower instead. I am going to have to get up early
and exercise, but I need to make sure to maintain that as a priority.
my bedroom
This evening when Jessica gets off she is going to take me
to the beach closest to her house, which is supposed to be beautiful. Jessica
loves teaching and is only going to be speaking Spanish to me at home. I wasn’t
here 30 minutes and she had already given me my first lesson. I am fairly
overwhelmed right now with the amount of Spanish being spoken to me. I don’t
understand much, and people speak so fast. But I know that it is a very
important part of this adventure. I am here to learn Spanish, I am here to
immerse myself in another culture. Being overwhelmed is a part of the process.
Eventually I will start to understand more and I will be
less overwhelmed; cold showers will not bother me, the heat will be normal, my
hair will be under control, and I will be used to the bug bites. In a few months I will start traveling and
understanding these things and being able to speak Spanish will be absolutely
necessary for me to get around. The reality of my adventure is setting in and I
can’t wait to see where it goes.
Love you!
Al
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