Costa Rica! Pura Vida!: A little late coming...

OK,

So I probably should have started this before now but I didn't think I wanted to blog! Now after being here just over a week I've realized that it is going to be impossible for me to remember all of this unless I write it down. And, I might as well share it with you all! <3 (P.S this first one is longer than I want them to be normally bc I have to catch up a whole week!)

I have been here since Jan 2 and have learned SOOO much. I feel like I have been here a long time... it's an odd feeling. My host family is SUPER great. They are a really young married couple. The dad, Kenneith, is like 32ish, and the mom, Mariella, is about 26. They rock. But for real. They are both super animated and funny. They are able to make conversations happen, even in Spanish! haha. They also have a super cute/funny/smart baby named Monserrat (aka Monsse)The number one rule of the house is: NO inglés! (No English). It is a bit frustrating sometimes but really neat. I can understand a lot more than I thougt I would because my parents will repeat, talk slower, and describe things with their hands. I love it.

There are 5 girls staying with this family, including me. We have two "apartment" type houses put together. They literally are like two next door connected apartments, we just use both doors and go into both "houses." I live on the side with the family, along with another girl, Nicole. The other girls live in the other side. They are: Heidi, History, and Ellen. They are all better at Spanish than me, but so far it doesn't bother me. It actually helps.

I have met SO MANY girls that are Christians here! (and two boys!) It is such a blessing. I was worried that everyone would be crazy party-ers and such, and there are some people like that, but I have started a pretty good friend group of really cool people. It's just amazing because with many of them we didn't have to even say we were Christians at first...we were just kinda drawn together. :) I am trying to get a Bible study going one day a week for the girls. Because 3 months is a long time to not have any fellowship, plus Bible Study in Costa Rica=coolest thing ever.

We went to the beach this weekend. It was a town called Tamrindo. It was very touristy by Costa Rican standards, and there definately was lots and lots of souvenir shops, but it was not like Panama City Beach or anything. Not half as big and there were not TONS of hug hotels on the beach. The actual beach was beautiful. There was darker sand than Im used to (I think it's vocanic?) and the beach was very long. And OH WOW there were just big hills, almost mountains, surrounding the beach. Very Picturesque.

We were told that this would be a great beach to try surfing for beginners. I was not planning on it 1. Because it was money and 2. Because I was afraid of the waves and getting dragged under and such. But, i ended up doing it! There were two girls that left their boards with the group while they went to eat lunch. So, me and my new fav friend here, Kelsey, decided to try it out. She made me go first and it was so fun! There were bad currents when you got far out, but the beach was so great bc you could stay in water like up to your belly or chest and still get great waves!! I managed to stand up twice. Yup. Good beach. And on that trip I actually found some guy friends. I had only made friends with girls up to that point. (two of the guys were the christians). We all went to eat and got gellatto and then "attempted" to make a bonfire on the beach. haha. It turned into us only burning palm leaves bc the wood was wet. But it was fun!

Oh yeah--SCHOOL-- well, I am here studying. I am taking a Spanish class (4hours a day mon-fri) and then a History/Culture class and a Marine Bio class. Im learning so much in all of them! Well, Spanish is more of a review but my teacher is super nice and easy haha. The History/Culture class has a teacher from England! The two classes are taught in English so I get to hear her lovely British accent. :) I could listen to it all day. And the class is fascinating so far (we've only had 2 classes) because we are learning about the culture of the "Ticos"(Costa Ricans) and I LOVE CULTURE! The Marine Bio class is all new stuff for me because I am not a science girl and havent had many classes. We are going on field trips in all the classes for ex to the old Capital City, National Museum, and snorkling twice for Marine Bio.

The food and stores and stuff here are very comparable to the US price-wise. I was a bit shocked. All the US brands are more expensive here than back home. YUCK. Glad I brought shampoo and stuff like that!!! The food is good. A bit weird...well differnt. For example for breakfast yesterday I ate a tortilla with Gallo Pinto(rice and bean yummyness) and a fried Plantain(sweet banana) with sour cream (said Natilla in SPanish!). And I liked it... So Im not starving :)

More observances: the people are BEAUTIFUL. Most are of european and indigenous and african decent so many are lighter skinned, have lighter eyes, and lighter hair. They are beautiful.

Also, houses and places here do not have directions. You have to say "it's 300 meters south of the KFC" etc... CRAZYNESS. But fun.

Ok thats about it for now! Im gonna try to stay updated so the rest wont be so long. Here are some pictures, but they are all on my facebook! Adios! (P.s those of you who have skyped me, THANKS!)