Mis Aventuras en Costa Rica!: Explorando San Jose y San Pedro & Mi Cumpleanos

Dia Cinco (Enero 17)

After breakfast and a little ukulele action in my bed, yesterday's purpose (& every other day) was to explore!

We all (the ICDS crew) met at 10am at ULatina to take the bus downtown to San Jose. I came unprepared with no colones, so Ilana spotted me the 265 colones (5o cents US, so cheap) for the bus ride.

First stop, getting everyone's SIM cards in order so we could use the local cellphones ICDS gave us. Second stop, a market full of little trinkets, clothing, bags, etc. Super tight quarters, but lots to explore! The shops seemed to go on forever. It took a lot of effort not to buy all the colorfully patterned flow-y pants, but I think I will be returning to get some at one point during my stay here.

Ellie was enthralled by the shops, as was I, so the group separated into two since Katie had to meet someone for lunch near the Nacional Teatro (about 5 blocks from where the market was). Half of the group went along and the other half stayed at the market a bit longer then went for some pastries and much needed hydration to a panaderia. We talked for a while then set out for the central market (larger than the one we were previously at, but more formal and had a large variety of things - herbs and spices, trinkets, restaurants, machetes, guitars, school supplies, basically anything you could think of was there). Aside from the herb/spice stands and the food, I was not as impressed with the central market as I thought - very generic things to buy, but it was still a cool atmosphere and I am glad we went!

Following the market exploration, we looked around at bathing suits, bought some notebooks for school tomorrow, then we started to get hungry so we walked around a bit and finally settled on a place to get some eats. A little soda place near a park with an upstairs dining area that overlooked the street. I got una empenada con queso, quite yummy, and was ready for a nap at this point (2pm is when I clock out for a bit mentally). We were all pretty exhausted from the hustle and bustle of downtown, so we decided to find the bus stop to head back to San Pedro. This was an adventure in itself. We had walked quite a ways, so we were far from where we got of the bus that morning. We asked two different sets of police officers were we could find the bus stop to San Pedro/ULatina, both gave us the wrong directions. While waiting and waiting at one of the stops they had told us, we decided we had better ask someone else, who told us yet another stop. Could not find a bus that said ULatina or Vargas Araya, but we were getting warmer! Finally the last woman we asked pointed us in the right direction and we hopped on the right bus.

We decided we wanted to orient ourselves in relation to where one another lives in San Pedro, so we walked around to each of our homestays and introduced one another to our families. First stop was my house, where we chatted with my host parents for a bit then went to the second stop - Ilana's. We crashed their family party, they were celebrating the grandmother winning 1 million colones y one of the aunt's birthdays. I told her it was my birthday tomorrow, too, and before I knew it, she was telling everyone my name (which they pronounced "Channa" hehe) lighting some candles, and everyone began singing happy birthday to me! It was so incredibly unexpected and nice, I couldn't stop smiling!

Once the party settled down, we said our goodbyes and walked to Ellie's, Sam's, and Natalia's! Saw two husky's on the way, so sticking adorable. Since Natalia and Sam lived the farthest, they stayed at their houses while Ellie, Ilana, and I backtracked to our places. On our way back, we saw a wild dog ahead of us on the sidewalk. Unsure of what to do, we considered crossing the road, but the dog looked at us and seemed to think "hm, I guess I should cross the road so the gringas don't get freaked out and have to cross it to avoid me", so (we think) he crossed for our sakes and we walked for a while on opposite sides of the street.

Soon we came to Ellie's street, and then on the way to Ilana's we accidentally met back up with the other group that went to San Jose with us that morning! Hannah and Maylin lived near me so I decided to join them as they walked around to orient themselves while Ilana went back home. (All the walking around to see where everyone else lived really made me appreciate how close my house is to ULatina!) We all planned to go to a bar named Chicago near Sam's house, so back up the hill we went to show them where we were meeting up later that night. The sun was setting so afterwards we went back to our homes for dinner (so very exhausted at this point, some of the other students live 20-30 minutes away from ULatina/my house).

Dinner with my host family consisted of delicious chili, yuca, and rice. Freshened up a bit for Chicago, then it was time to leave to meet up with everyone! When I went to leave, my host mother asked what time I would be waking up tomorrow - I didn't know what to tell her because I didn't want to seem lazy ... if I were at home, I would have said 11 or 12 (let's be real here, more like 1) but instead I chose to say between 9 and 10 (my host parents get up at between 5 and 6, oy vey). Grabbed my keys and off I went! Met up with Hannah, Maylin, and Katie to walk together. Most of the ICDS crew was there. I had a tequila sunrise and a mojito - other drinks included orgasmo y sexo en la playa!

While we were there, my dear new friend Ellie secretly drew/painted me a little something for my birthday. It is amazing and now sits propped up on my television antenna until I can locate some tape to put in on my wall!

The bar started playing American music and at one point Queen's "We Will Rock You" came on and our entire table was banging our fists, clapping, and singing the lyrics - it was a great (corny) moment, jaja (today Sam said she actually had a bruise from hitting her fist on the table wrong!).

Mi amiga Maylin offered to pay for my drinks since it was my birthday weekend, so kind of her! Then we took a taxi home - dropped off Katie first on our way, taxi driver was so nice and waited for Katie to get inside her gate before driving away, without us even asking him to. Got home safe a sound (taxi ride was only 1,200 colones = $2.20), locked up the house, said buenos noches to mis padres, then went straight to my room. I was quite exhausted, but it was a wonderful day and worth going out to Chicago! An episode of Grey's later, a sweet video of Sara and Nick singing Happy Birthday and photos from Rory (my sister's dog, aka my other niece), and I was out.

Dia Seis (Enero 18 - Mi Cumpleanos)

Today I decided to sleep in a bit, I usually get up around 7:30-8am, but I got up around 9:30-10am instead! I received adorable photos from my Aunt Carly of my little Grammy wishing me a Happy Birthday and of my aunt's dog Jinxy (notice the Jenna loves dogs trend, all of my family knows to send me pictures of their dogs to make me happy, jaja).

Once I finally gathered myself enough to get out of bed, I greeted my host sister (who was also still wearing pajamas, so that made me feel confident in my abilities to sleep in, no problema) and papa in the kitchen. Mi mama was getting ready for mass, when she came out of the bathroom she looked at me all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, arms open wide for a hug and said "feliz cumpleanos!!" It made me smile :) Since mis padres were going to church, mi hermana cooked me desayuno (an egg con queso, pan, y tea). I have not spent much time talking with my sister, to be honest I am a bit intimidated. I know it is probably just because I do not speak much Spanish, but I feel like she doesn't really want to get to know me. In any case, breakfast was nice because she asked me about my sister back home and made an effort to talk to me!

Once I finished up eating breakfast, I snatched some of the fudge from the fridge that I bought for mi familia (folks - I just realized how long it had been since I had some chocolate... 6 days is way too long), with my chocolate boost I then took a nice hot shower and got ready for the day!

Met up with the ICDS group at ULatina at 1pm, as planned! When I went to leave, Maylin (who lives down the street from me) was on her way, too, so we walked together. Today was a bit overcast and looked like it was going to ran (I forgot my umbrella but luckily did not need it), so it was a bit chilly as we waited for the rest of the group to arrive!

Soon enough, everyone was there except Wendy and Meira. Meira came hopping/running (literally, she's so cute) into sight like her usual joyful self, and then we were waiting for Wendy who couldn't make it until 1:30pm. In the meantime, Ilana, Natalia and Katie went to a bakery to get some cookies for Ilana's host mother (which turned out to be code for going to get a piece of cake and a gigantic dulce de leche pastry for my birthday to sing to me once we went to lunch, hehe). Wendy arrived and we were off like a pack of wandering gringas, in search of a good lunch spot. It didn't take long before we came across a cafe named Kai. However, it took us a good bit of time to figure out how to cross the road to get to Kai...jaja. Drivers in Costa Rica are, let's say, relentless, loco, unmerciful. Crossing a little one way backstreet is tough enough, let alone the main avenida with two way traffic. After waiting and waiting for an opportunity, I decided we were going to be there all day if we didn't just go for it, so I found myself running across the street and everyone yelling "Jenna! Don't die on your birthday!" (I didn't, woohoo!).

Kai was super yummy. They served pasta, so Ilana and I found ourselves doing the usual and splitting two different pasta dishes that we both were craving - penne pesto and fettucini alfredo (except they didn't have fettucini so it ended up being spagetti). Funny story, we got the choice of three additions to our pasta, so I chose zucchini, mushrooms, and chicken, and Ilana chose eggplant, zucchini, and peppers. The waiter kept returning to the table after we ordered, first no eggplant - had to switch, then no zucchini - had to switch, after the first two Ilana said, next he will come out and say we ran out of pasta, and soon enough he came out and told me there was no fettucini :D It was great.

Anyways, the pasta dishes hit the spot and everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals - laughing over great conversations and eating, how could you go wrong? I seriously was contemplating being a fatty and ordering a brownie con helado, but then Ilana pulled out the cake and pastry that she bought me and that would satisfy my chocolate craving. The whole table sung Feliz Cumpleanos y Happy Birthday to me, love those ladies.

Some more laughs and a piece of cake later, we paid the bill and attempted to visit a tapestry shop we had seen earlier in the week. Since it was Sunday and a festival was happening in town, a lot of the shops were closed - including the tapestry place. So we ended up walking to a little mall called Plaza de Sol and the rest of the girls without SIM cards got theres while we explored the stores. Next was another failed visit to a Chocolate Shop that was closed (SO sad), and a walk home to rest and eat dinner before a fiesta at Ilana's casa tonight!

Dinner was served at 7:00pm, steak and rice with an awesome hongo y tomate (mushroom and tomato) sauce, complete with a strawberry cheesecake for my birthday! They lit a candle, my papa played guitar, and they all sang "Feliz Cumpleanos" to me :)

The cheesecake was soooo good, and I bonded more with mi hermana y mis padres before leaving for the other fiesta! Even got a quick FaceTime session in with my sweet little munchkin and Sir Nicholas (Sara was at a work party sadly ): ). They got to say hola to my host family, too!

Around 8:00pm Hannah, Danielle and I left for la fiesta! Everyone was hooting and hollering as we walked in, so much fun. Drinks were had, dancing was done, ukuleles were played, cake was eaten, and memories I will never forget were made. Such an amazing way to spend my 21st birthday, surrounded by new friends and so much love for life!