San Jose!!!

Well this weekend was interesting to say the least. We spent this past Thursday through Saturday in the capital of Costa Rica, which is the city of San Jose, and we stayed on the campus of the Nazarene Seminary there right outside of San Jose. The first thing I should mention about Costa Rica is the driving. The style of driving here is quite different. Some people would probably call it crazy. I would say I lean a little more to the crazy side, but I don't want to be judgmental so let's just say that it is different. And with that comes a different driving etiquette haha. The drive down the mountain on which I am located, which is officially named Cerro de la Muerta on the maps and means Mountain of the Dead haha, was a little traumatizing at first. This mountain is named so because of all the car accidents I have been told, but it is also a little over-exaggerated and has been passed down over many many decades. I assure you that I am perfectly safe in my travels, and these bus drivers do this trip multiple times a day every day and know what they are doing. But as this large bus accelerated down the narrow, moist, winding mountain road I at first questioned the intelligence of making such a trip. I should also add that since every seat was full me and another student from QERC had to stand in the bus aisle the entire 2 hour drive from San Gerardo to the outskirts of San Jose. I was glad to be off the bus finally. This is where the real fun begins haha.

So while we were in San Jose we had an assignment. It was a scavenger hunt of sorts. We were required, just like in the valley, to find a number of locations; do a number of things; and purchase a number of items. We were given enough money to cover any costs that were incurred. This was interesting because we were given no map and no real instructions other than to meet back at a certain place at a certain time. We were responsible for finding and doing all of these things using whatever Spanish we knew. We were also responsible for navigating the city using the public transportation, which was a new experience altogether for me as well seeing as I have never really had the need for public transportation. The scavenger hunt overall was a lot of fun, although I would be lying if I said it was not frustrating at times. Not knowing the language and not knowing the culture or area made things quite difficult. Like I have said before, I have never really been in the situation of being a foreigner. A foreigner that will be living in this new country for the next four months. Although there were some obstacles to overcome, we were successful in our many endeavors in the city. My Spanish is already improving and I am becoming quite comfortable with using the Costa Rican currency, the Colones. I must say the people of Costa Rica were an immense help during this process. I was so grateful for everyone from shopkeepers to random people on the street doing everything they could to help us minus our taxi driver. I will not harp on the situation, but let it be known I will never take another Taxi haha. They are a tourist trap. The end.

Other than the taxi incident, I would say it was an overall great experience. Though I enjoyed the city, I am quite happy to be back in San Gerardo. I missed this place of tranquility. This is now my home for the next four months and it sure feels like it. This weekend was a little overwhelming at times and I welcomed QERC with open arms.

Classes start this Monday and it is kind of a bitter sweet thing. I am excited to begin some of the coursework, but I know I will miss being able to only worry about enjoying my surroundings. Either way coursework is a cross I must bear unfortunately haha. These first two weeks will be interesting because I will have 3 hours every afternoon of strictly Spanish. This is pretty much lay, in only two weeks, our foundation in the Spanish language that we will build upon over the course of the semester. It will be intense and fast paced, but I am really excited at this opportunity to begin learning another language! I am excited to at some point be able to communicate with some of the people in the valley and interact with the people of Costa Rica on another level than I have been. We will also start our other courses, but as you can tell I am more excited about the Spanish part haha. Anyway I am a little exhausted from my weekend in San Jose, and I think I am about to call it a night. Wow this is strange seeing as it is only 10:24 right now, but I guess this is a good thing haha. I am going to enjoy my last day of complete freedom in Costa Rica tomorrow before the real work begins!

¡Pura Vida!