Algunas cosas de Cartago

 A few weeks ago (yep, late again I am) we took a short excursion to Cartago. We saw the basilica there and the ruins of a cathedral (okay...maybe it wasn't going to be a cathedral. I can't exactly remember.) that was never finished because of earthquakes and such. It is absolutely beautiful. If it were in the U.S. It would be a wedding venue. 

Visitors come to the basilica and buy or bring little models of their needs. For example, if they are praying for healing in their hand or arm they might bring something similar to the above items. Sometimes they offer other items that are special to them to "la Negrita"--their patron Saint. It is said that a little girl found a doll in the woods and took it home. Each time it would end up back in the same spot where she found it. The priest in the town decides that the Virgen wanted to remain in the place where the doll was found so they built the basilica in that area.  The holy water from the stream is in the last picture. 

Sugerencias y cosas que he aprendido

First of all, let me give a "shout out" of sorts to my students reading this. You chic@s are the best! 

Also, my Mom, my Dad and my Aunt 'Laine have done an exceptional job helping take care of me this week. Thank you!!! This brings me to number one...

1) If you come to Costa Rica, bring some cash. I don't mean a few bucks. Bring about 75-100 bucks for each week. You can change the money easily at a bank. Also call your debit/credit card companies and make sure they know you'll be using you card in a foreign country. That said, I DID bring cash, but I needed to use my card to get some cash for the last two weeks. I tried at least 4 times, and it wouldn't work. I then called my mom and got her to check on my account. We found out that someone has been using my card in New Orleans...since I've been here. What?! Praise God that we caught it when we did. Had the ATM worked, I still wouldn't know. My precious mom (with the help of my aunt who has an iPhone and can talk to me) got my stolen money back. 

2) Don't be afraid to ask for help. I have a class with a guy named Max. I found out early on that Max is a Believer, and every time he gives a presentation in class, it somehow hits home with me. He isn't ashamed to share his faith, but he does it with grace.  When he found out about my money predicament he didn't hesitate to offer to loan me money. I am so grateful the Lord put him in my path. 

3) The hot water in the shower is heated by an electrical apparatus. ¡Ojo! It takes some finagling to get the warm/hot water. You have to turn the knob pretty far, then turn it back slowly towards the point where it makes the "pshhhh" sound. (Jaja! Yea...I just said that). I shaved with cold water for probably the first week. That was not fun. 

4) One word: batidos. You guys. This is in my top 5 fav things here. They take fresh fruit, ice, sugar and either milk or water and mix it in a blender. We have these for breakfast lunch and dinner. I am such a fan!!

5) Don't count on a nap if you live across the street from a recycling plant. You read that correctly. Sometimes I need a nap after class. But it is so hard to sleep when I haven't really got a wall (There's an open window in my bedroom inside the house.). Then there's an open window on the outside wall that is ALWAYS open--rain, shine, exhaust fumes, dog barking, what have you. I've learned that apparently, to recycle glass, you have to break it manually here. I really don't know, but that's what they're doing. Imagine having a pile of 20 glass bottles and smashing them with a hammer. That should give you the background noise for my attempted nap.  

6) Bring sweaters and pants and close-toed shoes. It's chilly a good portion of the time, and it rains. Wearing pants and close-toed shoes helps you blend in a bit more with the locals. I said a BIT more. Just don't wear Tempos, flip flops and workout attire to class. Okay? Good. 

7) The lit classes require a considerable amount of work in comparison with the other classes. That's all I'm going to say about that right now. 

8) Try to avoid the extreme touristy locations. They are beautiful, but there are less crowded options at times. And da I mention my distaste to cheating taxi drivers?

9) Learn where your fellow MLSA students live. 

10) This is a big one. GO TO THE DANCE CLASS the Spanish language department offers. I had SO much fun yesterday. We danced bachata, merengue, salsa and cumbia/swing. It's even more fun if you can find a guy who can dance! 

I'm sure I have more to add, but I'll have to save it for next time. 

(Oh! I recently found out my AP students did AMAZINGLY well on their exams. I'm so proud!)

Una mezcla

Again, I'm sorry for la tardanza of my post. It has been SO busy here!! 

I had two presentations an a midterm exam this past week. I made a 100 on the lit exam and got full credit on my presentation. I'm still awaiting the last grade. My presentation was on a short story titled "Eva, la sucia" by Jorge Franco. It's about a woman who refuses to bathe, clean or generally take care of anything until her husband returns. He doesn't return because he has been kidnapped by a group in Colombia. 

I was definitely in my element. I basically got to lead discussion and teach the story. Dare I say I enjoyed it? Okay okay. I did. 

We didn't have classes on Friday so we decided to buy bus tickets to Manuel Antonio National Park. We stayed in Tabulia Tree Hotel. I wouldn't recommend it. We were without water for an evening. That was interesting. 

We did, however, get to see monkeys, iguanas, toucans and a sloth (oso perezoso)!!

We did get to go to la playa Espadilla a couple of times. The sun isn't out as much as, say, at an Alabama beach so the beach days are shorter. 

We did eat some delicious food. I had some of the best nachos I've ever had. The chips, by the way, are thicker, but they are so good. I also had a good bit of seafood, which I love. My madre tica never cooks fish. She is allergic and begins to feel "fatal" if she eats it, so I have to get it elsewhere. 

Note to anyone traveling to Manuel Antonio. Be aware of how taxis normally work in Costa Rica. The taxistas should run the "maria" or meter to give the correct mileage/charge. They tried to cheat us numerous times. You guys know that I hate being treated like I'm stupid so that didn't go over well. Let just say an old man started yelling at us and there was basically an agreement amongst some of them to NOT help us. Needless to say, I was pretty angry. 

We got back to the city (San José) Sunday evening. I still had reading to do...

P.S. I was so proud of myself for packing light! This is an achievement worth documenting. If only my hair would look as good as it did in MA sans a hairdryer on a regular basis. Jaja

La semana pasada

Wow! (According to my housemate I use that word a lot. You come to notice idiosyncrasies like that when you live in close quarters with people you barely know, but I digress.) 

It's been a busy week, and I'm tired, but I have got to update you guys and gals on my trip. Last Sunday, we went to La Paz Waterfall Gardens and to visit the Poás Volcano. We couldn't really see the crater at the top of the volcano becauSe it was cloudy (we were in a cloud forest), but the tropical surroundings are beautiful. The waterfalls themselves were worth the trip. We also stopped for some strawberries along the way. Interestingly enough, they offered to put sweetene condensed milk and chocolate syrup on top. Try it. It tastes like a sundae. 

We then started classes on Monday. My first class, Contemporary Latin American Literature is from 8-10:20. Let me just say that that is a long time. I love a good literature discussion; don't get me wrong, but this becoming a student again is tough business. My next class is from 10:35-12:50. It's an advanced conversation class and the Profe is younger than I am...not that I'm old. It's just a bit (okay, maybe a lot) nerve racking to have someone tweaking and grading my conversation, grammar and pronunciation skills. I had to give a 10 minute presentation on a topic of my choice on Friday (July 3rd), and I was so nervous!! I'm a teacher, yes, but I'm also a perfectionist. When I'm the student that combination equals stress even though talking to people and guiding them verbally along a learning journey (like that? Learning journey?) is my job! So glad that presentation is over. I talked about teaching ESL on Wednesdays and the people I've met and how I involve my regular school students.  I got a 95. Praise God! I have another one coming up this Thursday. Say a prayer. :)

Below are some pictures from our cruise (via catamaran) to La Isla Tortuga on Saturday. It. Was. Spectacular.

You guys, it was so beautiful. We rented chairs, went snorkeling (I saw A fish), ordered fresh coconut water still in the coconut and had a DELICIOUS lunch. I want to take my friends to this island. 

It was a great way to celebrate the Fourth of July!! 

Sunday we visited Café Britt to learn about coffee growing. Coffee is a huge export here in Costa Rica. Did you know...

A coffee plant grows for 3 years before it produces a crop. 

It produces good coffee for only 25 years, but can live about 100 years. 

Colder temps mean harder and heavier beans, which give a more even roast. 

The volcanic soil here is ideal for coffee plants. 

Coffee plants are from the gardenia family. 

Gourmet coffee beans are picked by hand. Only 20 percent of the coffee bean is used for actual coffee. 

So cool. Or "chiva" as they say here. 

I have a few interesting facts/things to share, but I'll have to put those in another post.