Tearful Good-byes!

Though these photos show happier times, spending my last day in Costa Rica and saying good-bye has been sad and tearful. I could have never imagined how much I have enjoyed the family I have stayed with particularly. They alone have made my time in Costa Rica some of the best times in my life. We have all joked about how I was introduced as 'la muchacha' or the girl on my first day, to now being introduced as their sister! Though I knew Glenda, the sister that lives in Indy, I didn't know the rest of the family, nor did they know me. So, no one really knew what to expect. However, in the end, we all enjoyed one another terrible so....thus a tearful good-bye!

Keep watching the blog. There is still much more to post and so much more to tell. For now, I am drying my tears and missing Costa Rica, but looking forward to being back home!

My Sugar Daddy or Cabana Boy!

Well, we all know that I was searching for my Sugar Daddy or Cabana boy! Look! I found him! His name is Cosmo and he loved me to pieces! And, he's pretty hot too! Besitos Cosmo!

Family Bonding

I think one of the things I will miss most is just 'hanging out' for no particular reason. Well, there was usually food involved, but mostly just because they could. For meals at home it was often plenty of food and people. And....home was anyone's home that had food. "Home is where the food is!" Or, coffee could be a reason for gathering, but then you had to have food! I have eaten more and drank more coffee here than I care to tell about! (the good thing is that I have walked sooooo much too! the hills are a bear!)

Colones

Costa Ricans use Colones as their currency. Let me just tell you that I had the hardest time using Colones! We were laughing, but it's true, Americans can't count that high! Our dollar equals about 585 Colones. Imagine purchasing something for 13, 500 Colones! What the hell? Who can count that high? When I was alone and couldn't figure out how much to pay, I'd just give them money and let them figure it out. For all I know I could have been hustled out of money! Lessons learned.....learn how to count in the thousands!

Besitos!

In Costa Rica, and in all Latino Cultures it is most common to great one another with a kiss! This is very different from American Culture. Because I have many Latino friends I knew this and have been accustomed to this for some time. Now, this is usually for people that you know or someone you have just met. It is the polite thing to do, when you meet or are introduced to someone, to say "mucho gusto" and offer a kiss. For other friends and family, you offer a kiss too and a hug if you want. However, the kiss is most common! And with this family particularly, you pretty much greeted with a kiss whenever you encountered them! I had rode the bus with some in the morning, and an hour later we ran into one another again. Yep! You guessed it! Besitos! (kisses) Muchos besitos!

La feria del agricultor

Cada sabado (y en algunos lugares el domingo) por la manana en las diferentes comunidades del pais, los costarricenses salen a la calle par addquirir frutas y verduras a precios mas bajos y mucho mas frescas que en el supermercado. La "feria del Agricultor" no es solamente un mercado. Se trata de una alegre fiesta de colores y aromas, de apretones de manos, de risas, de conversaciones y de chistes. En las ferias no solo se ofrecen vegetales, en la actualidad, muchos vendedores ofrecen sombreros, juguetes, peceras y otras cosas!

Rain, Rain, Go away!

In Costa Rica, there are two season.....wet and dry! This is how it was, jokingly, explained to me. Apparently we are in the wet season now. It has rained every, single day since I have been here! I am not talking a little sprinkle or light shower. I am talking inches of rain! Of all the many things I will miss about Costa Rica, the rain isn't one of them!