Got back from the beach today and celebrated my official 2 weeks of being here. Believe me, it doesnt feel like 2 weeks. But I do feel like a lot has changed in this short time... for starters, I went from being a business woman to a student. From coming and going as I please to having to stay put most of the time. From communicating in all english, to trying to communicate in all spanish. From sleeping from 10pm to 7am almost daily, to now 1am-6:30am daily. From blow drying and straightening my hair almost every day, to not having picked up my blow dryer or straightener since I got here. From being prissy about my nails.. oh wait.. that I have still managed to hold on to... from being HORRIFIED by bugs to accepting them and just brushing them aside. From walking fast, to walking slow. From coming down here by myself, to having a group of friends... and it's strange and fun to sort of pick up a whole new identity for a while.
I am noticing some social changes in myself as well as my friends since we have been down here also... When we're traveling for the weekend, it's interesting to answer the "where are you from" question. We all say, "San Jose." When did that happen? It's pretty cool. As mentioned above, we walk slow too. We call it the "tico walk" and I will just tell you my Chicago friends, this would not fly in our city. You would get SO annoyed walking behind us now. I have found that everyone moves at a slower pace in general, except when going to the movies. We went to see Harry Potter tonight (yeay!) and I will just say, going to the movies is the only exception to the "tico walk" that I have seen. It's more like a race - in this instance, they would put the "Chicago walk" to shame. It's hilarious.
Some things will never change though. For example, I still picked up sea shells at the beach this weekend, as well as last. I still fed the random dogs and cats from my plate.
So two weekends in a row at the beach... my official word of Puerto Viejo is: laid back. It rained about 70% of the time, thankfully giving up for us to enjoy a nice full day at the beach. But the rain fell so steadily all night that we literally had to use ponchos and umbrellas from bar to bar. It didnt stop us at all though... It sounded exactly like my rain maker that I sleep with at home (and yes, I did bring it...)! I think it added to the character of the place, so laid back, so calming and peaceful. LOTS of rasta. It's exactly like a mini Jamaica. And there were crabs and frogs all over the place!
This also reminds me, I would like to start a list of the wildlife I have seen so far: red and blue parrots!, crabs, frogs, geckos, iguanas, and either a monkey or a sloth or both this weekend. I definitely saw a monkey, but the other times it could have been a lazy sloth because it wasnt moving. I am sure this weekend (at Arenal Volcano!) I will see more wildlife and add it to my list!
I just have to say, I am so excited to become a teacher. Since about 90% of the other people in the program are at a lower level Spanish than I (thats right, I'm a bad ass (or just old..)) I have actually been teaching a lot of people some of the stuff I know and have learned. As simple as it sounds, I taught one of the kids how to order in a restaurant a few weeks back, and this morning at breakfast, I heard him use what I taught him. I complimented him on it, and he said he has been using it ever since I taught him. I have actually taught him a lot so far, and I am so impressed to see him using it! It's so awesome! :) I know that being a Spanish teacher is my calling and I am so excited to start my new career.
Anyway, it's been two weeks. :) 3 more to go. I am half way done with my classes and thank god because they are stressing me out so much. But all in all, so far I absolutely love it here and would never trade this experience for anything else.. I would do exactly this again, especially if I knew it meant I didnt have to use my blowdryer anymore! How freeing.
Much love always.
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