Two nights ago, on Tuesday the 10, was the Dia de San Lorenzo. San Lorenzo is a small town within San Jauquin about 5 minutes from where I live in Santa Marta. First let me explain that within San Jauquin there are smaller little towns they refer to as Pueblos. Each pueblo is named after a Saint, most towns and pueblos in this country are, and they are each given a day of celebration. So on Tuesday was a fiesta for San Lorenzo.
When I got home from school, my Mama Tica came into my room to tell me about the festivities of the night. She explained to me that San Lorenzo was one of the nicest pueblos in San Jauquin and there would be a celebration tonight. I assumed all it would be were fireworks, just like when it was the Dia de Santa Marta.
We left the house about 9 pm to go pick up my sister. Just a few side notes: 1. car seats here are not required. I sat in the back seat with my mama tica and baby ian sat inbetween us. 2. I dont think my mama tica drives because my papa tico drove us to pick up my sister then we dropped him off at home and my sister drove. 3. Driving in this country is SCARY.
Anyways, the party was help at the church in the small town. The are was packed. They had game booths, food stands, market, rides, and the coolest part was the dancing. They had this people who were dressed up in all sorts of crazy costumes and had a band going in a hall. Everyone danced and they also had homemade foods such as tamales, emanadas, tres leches, and more. Of corse, being a tica now, I had to try the foods! and they were delicious! i am never let down. But anyways, after the dancing there was a huge fireworks show. It was better then the one i saw fo Dia de Santa Marta. It was a really cool night.
If i had know exactly what i was going to i would have brought my camera! i am very upset that i did not bring it but i will have to explain in full detail to everyone so you all can picture it in your heads.
Tomorrow i head out for my last adventure: RAFTING! My friends Brenna, Erin and I are going to be doing an all day raft trip on the Pacaure River. I am very excited! Wish me luck! Hope to see you all soon, one week from today and i will be on US soil.
Pura Vida
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Gatos vs Perros
so just a quick story/idea. The other day my teacher described the difference between Costa Ricans and Americans. The analogy he used was Gatos Vs. Perros, Cats Vs. Dogs. This is why he thinks so:
Gatos:
Gringos(white people)
Like to be alone
Personal Space
Individuals- dont travel in packs
Sleep In or during the day
Perros:
Costa Ricans
Like to travel in groups and be surrounded
Always in people's personal space, very close
Likes to depend and be close with others
Wake up super early , work all day, and sleep early
Most of it is true i have to say! I just thought it was interesting and kind of funny. So now you know!
Gatos:
Gringos(white people)
Like to be alone
Personal Space
Individuals- dont travel in packs
Sleep In or during the day
Perros:
Costa Ricans
Like to travel in groups and be surrounded
Always in people's personal space, very close
Likes to depend and be close with others
Wake up super early , work all day, and sleep early
Most of it is true i have to say! I just thought it was interesting and kind of funny. So now you know!
This and That
So I was thinking about my trip and realized that a lot goes on during my weeks that I dont really ever awknowledge. I write about all my trips, but never much about what I do during the week. So I thought I would try to recall some events.
About a week and a half ago was the Dia de San Jauquin, the day of my town. It was interesting because most days in this town there are not many people wondering the roads, but this day was different. People were everywhere. Especially that night, when my mama tica came in to ask me if I wanted to go see Fuegos Articiales, at first I had no idea what they were until she explained that they are what we see on fourth of July in the United States. So me, Ian, Laura and mama tica al went out to the town scare to see the fireworks. I didnt even know that many people lived in town! It was packed. The fireworks were pretty good, but not as good as Donner Lake fireworks. It was interesting to me because it didnt seem like they had any safety regulations. For example they were lighting them off in the middle of the scare and people were surrounding them on all sides, but not just that, they were smoking at the same time. It was very interesting. But I was happy my family invited me to do that.
Thursday of last week, I went up to my Abuela ticas house. She lives just up the street, in the house that my mama tica was born in. I soon learned that this is the only street my mama tica has ever lived. And not only that, but her brothers and sisters, three out of ten of them, all live on the block. The grandma, and two siblings have houses all on the same property. Its pretty neat. So when i was over there, they were making a costa rican food that is called Choredas. It is a corn tortilla thing but similar to the thickness of pancakes. So of course, the Costa Ricans love to feed people, so I had LOTS of them. they are very persistent people. Not only was my grandma there, but her friend who lives with her, the aunt and the cousin. So we sat and drank coffee (they think its weird i like mine black, Costa Ricans love lots of sugar in thier coffee) and ate lots of Choredas. They are delicious. Hopefully I will be able to go back over there soon and make some more foods.
So last night, I had some very good luck! After my spin class, I took a cab home with a girl in my program. I was dropped off first and then her. Turns out I left my wallet in the Taxi! It was terrible. I go into my house and realize this, but my Mama Tica wasnt home. But my papa tico was. So i had to interrupt his tv session to explain to him what had happened. And let me tell you, it is hard enough speaking spanish when im calm but panicking made it all bad. So my papa tico drove me back to the gym since they were the ones who had called the taxi for me. Luckily I have made friends who a guy who works there and he speaks perfect english. I ran up to him and explained what happened and he told me oh no worries, it happens a lot. Ill just call and get it for you. So he made about ten phones, being connected to different taxis and and finally got ahold of my taxi driver, and YES my wallet was in there. I was soo happy! So I told my papa he could go home since there was a big soccer game on and I waited with my new best friend for my wallet. LESSON OF THE STORY: costa ricans are the nicest people and most helpful people ever!
So I am more then halfway done with my program. Two more weeks of classes, its very hard to believe. The first two weeks were rough, and hard to get settled in, but now I cant believe I have to leave so soon. My spanish has improved but hopefully the next two weeks will get even better. I have been talking to my mama tica abotu her food here becuase it is amazing, but no one seems to have recipes. Everything is by taste, so i am working on learning how to make the delicious foods! Hopefully i can bring back some good skills!
NOTE: anything edible means it is okay to put lots of mayonaise on it according the the Costa Ricans. But if we were to ever try to make them put peanut butter on something it is not okay because it has to much fat, ironic right?
Tomorrow i am off to Monte Verde- the cloud forest! Hope all is well with everyone at home! See you all just a few weeks.
Pura Vida
About a week and a half ago was the Dia de San Jauquin, the day of my town. It was interesting because most days in this town there are not many people wondering the roads, but this day was different. People were everywhere. Especially that night, when my mama tica came in to ask me if I wanted to go see Fuegos Articiales, at first I had no idea what they were until she explained that they are what we see on fourth of July in the United States. So me, Ian, Laura and mama tica al went out to the town scare to see the fireworks. I didnt even know that many people lived in town! It was packed. The fireworks were pretty good, but not as good as Donner Lake fireworks. It was interesting to me because it didnt seem like they had any safety regulations. For example they were lighting them off in the middle of the scare and people were surrounding them on all sides, but not just that, they were smoking at the same time. It was very interesting. But I was happy my family invited me to do that.
Thursday of last week, I went up to my Abuela ticas house. She lives just up the street, in the house that my mama tica was born in. I soon learned that this is the only street my mama tica has ever lived. And not only that, but her brothers and sisters, three out of ten of them, all live on the block. The grandma, and two siblings have houses all on the same property. Its pretty neat. So when i was over there, they were making a costa rican food that is called Choredas. It is a corn tortilla thing but similar to the thickness of pancakes. So of course, the Costa Ricans love to feed people, so I had LOTS of them. they are very persistent people. Not only was my grandma there, but her friend who lives with her, the aunt and the cousin. So we sat and drank coffee (they think its weird i like mine black, Costa Ricans love lots of sugar in thier coffee) and ate lots of Choredas. They are delicious. Hopefully I will be able to go back over there soon and make some more foods.
So last night, I had some very good luck! After my spin class, I took a cab home with a girl in my program. I was dropped off first and then her. Turns out I left my wallet in the Taxi! It was terrible. I go into my house and realize this, but my Mama Tica wasnt home. But my papa tico was. So i had to interrupt his tv session to explain to him what had happened. And let me tell you, it is hard enough speaking spanish when im calm but panicking made it all bad. So my papa tico drove me back to the gym since they were the ones who had called the taxi for me. Luckily I have made friends who a guy who works there and he speaks perfect english. I ran up to him and explained what happened and he told me oh no worries, it happens a lot. Ill just call and get it for you. So he made about ten phones, being connected to different taxis and and finally got ahold of my taxi driver, and YES my wallet was in there. I was soo happy! So I told my papa he could go home since there was a big soccer game on and I waited with my new best friend for my wallet. LESSON OF THE STORY: costa ricans are the nicest people and most helpful people ever!
So I am more then halfway done with my program. Two more weeks of classes, its very hard to believe. The first two weeks were rough, and hard to get settled in, but now I cant believe I have to leave so soon. My spanish has improved but hopefully the next two weeks will get even better. I have been talking to my mama tica abotu her food here becuase it is amazing, but no one seems to have recipes. Everything is by taste, so i am working on learning how to make the delicious foods! Hopefully i can bring back some good skills!
NOTE: anything edible means it is okay to put lots of mayonaise on it according the the Costa Ricans. But if we were to ever try to make them put peanut butter on something it is not okay because it has to much fat, ironic right?
Tomorrow i am off to Monte Verde- the cloud forest! Hope all is well with everyone at home! See you all just a few weeks.
Pura Vida
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