Tamarindo...not really Costa Rica, but still good

Because we missed our buses to Nicaragua, for which I take the blame by not having a watch: we went to a nearby beach called Tamarindo. It's one of the most built up towns in Costa Rica. Por ejemplo, this guy selling us something only spoke to us in English until it got to money of course. We kept speaking in Spanish but with him...always with English. I don't think most people in Tamarindo spoke Spanish at all actually.

It was a good place to go if your sole mission is to relax and have a vacation. If you want a vacation in the real Costa Rica...try some other place not as populated with tourists. It's basically a resort area, high end shops and restaurants. Although most of the surf shops are still owned by Ticos. I was disappointed by the surf actually. Everything said that Tamarindo had great waves. I guess during the times I wasn't there at the beach there were. But for the most part it was a good place for those learning: the surf shops definitely capitalized on lessons. Although there was a nice board for cheap there too, priorities.

If you've ever spoken with a girl that went to Central America they'll probably say something about being whistled at or talked to by the locals. It's a cultural thing, they do it to everyone. In Tamarindo I got my fair share of attention from all. Ticos and travelers alike. Not to be braggy but I think because I'm so moreno (I'm super tan right now) they see my complexion and are like hey, that's cool then they see my face and it's super exotic. I got some interesting sayings this weekend.

Por ejemplo: This guy and woman were in a store and speaking in Spanish, which I heard. It was a bit awkward. Then in English she says what they were talking about..."He likes how you look." Obviously it was awkward for all of us in that area at the moment. Admittedly he was very cute, but, under the circumstance, what really can be said after that? We thought we could leave and go away from the situation...I did say Gracias. But our friend was still trying things on. We did get the hook up on where to go that evening though.

Later at the bar they suggested we met some cool guys from the U.S. They were all cool. Funny thing about traveling, because no one knows where I'm from usually I say Washington D.C. just to make things easy. So We're talking to these guys and they say they're from NYC. I ask where in the city and they said..."Actually we're from Connecticut. No one knows where that is though."

Entonces, the next day was a beach day, flat, flat waves. Nice hot sun. We got back and I guess all of the doing nothing got to me and Sandra because we laid down to rest until dinner and ended up sleeping until 8 the next morning...oops.

The ride home was uneventful if not a bit long. We did run into an arrogant American living hopefully in college because it seemed he didn't do anything but surf or snowboard. I didn't ask how he was able to do all of those things. It was bit annoying to be told that you don't know the place your live (I consider myself a resident)who told me I was wrong to say there were no hostels in Samara. To which I said it wasn't a surf town so why would there be? Some people...

I'm sad about leaving, I'm a total beach girl and it's hard to imagine myself not by the shoreline.

Sun and the sand and a drink in my hand

Yesterday was a day of serious bumming around. We missed our bus to Nicaragua, not so good. But because I had already taken the test for my class I opted out since it would only be the same stuff I had done. So Off I went with my friends Geoff and Kelsey to this awesome beach restaurant Las Velas de Latina. Amazing food at all prices and the drink and drink menu were the best Ive had so far. The vibe and conversation were great.

Geoff had class so after me and Kelsey just bummed on the beach until we had so much sand on our bodies and on our faces we had to wash off. I love just enjoying life and nature and I really hope to be able to coordinate this vibe and feeling in to my life somehow.

Its one thing to visit places and after say..oh that was nice. But I feel that way I am the way I travel, cultures get under my skin and leave a little bit of themselves inside so that it changes the way I see things and appreciate life.

Pura Vida...can mean Pure life, Live pure, Super or as I see it and most of the locals do...Its whatever, just live your life.

Random

I don't have any pictures posted because I'm using the school computer...and this wont be too interesting of a blog. I forgot to add this from the post the other day. While at Lake Arenal when we bought these sweet handmade...real handmade and not made by hand in a factory.

To my sister and sisters in law, do not take offense to what I'm about to type...literally the woman who sold me this bracelet was the most beautiful pregnant lady in the world...ever. She had no make up, no good lighting or anything those magazines and stars use to still look good. I hope I can look half that great if/when I'm pregnant.

Um other than that nothing too special here. Por que no means why not, which we say a lot. And I still want to be a bum and be bumming it in Central America. Since I do have real world experiance I could also probably get a real job as well down here. But why do what when you can be a bum?

I want to be a bum

I've been here for about a week and a few days and from this time I have decided that I want to be a bum. Yes, I like my classes but I like just chilling out more. My friend Kelsey is just at a homestay and gets to hang out all day on the beach at the school. Lucky duck, looking back I totally should have signed up for just one week and chilled for the rest of the time.

Hopefully the rest of my stay I get some surfing in. The waves here are pretty good at time and can get real big but sort of lack the energy that they do on the east coast and most definitely on the pacific of the U.S. There are double sets a lot of times. You duck dive one and and another wave is right behind it. Crazy.

I really am enjoying getting to know people. I went on a trip to Monteverde and Lake Arenal this weekend past. We had a great group of people go and it was really fun. Lots of inside jokes were had and I'm apperently in the works of a new nickname...porque no? The Arenal volcano was AMAZING. Sin palabras. It was beautiful and just so perfect looking. Our guide was really fun and informative. Apparently he usually only has groups of older people so we were a Mega Super fun time.

I'm loving the homestay family too. We eat breakfast and dinner together and during that time we talk and eat and have fun. The twin girls are into playing with my hair at the moment.

This weekend we're trying to plan a trip to Nicaragua. Should be fun...I'll let you know.

Por que no?

Playa Samara

Hola muchachos. Nosotros estamos en Playa Samara, Costa Rica. Hoy es nuestro segundo dia de clases. Me gusta mi clase, profesora y el grupo que estoy estudiendo Espanol conmigo. Ahora tenemos tiempo libre.

Hi everyone. We're at Samara beach in Costa Rica. today is our second day of clases. I like my class, teacher and the group I'm studying Spanish with. Now we have free time.

we have some great pictures to put up but not the time at the moment. It's really beautiful here. I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't this. It's very tropical but very real as well. It's not like the sort of beaches you see on TV. I really love it here. The people are very real and very sweet. There are so many random things happen: Wild dogs and horses roam free and the pace of life is very slow. It's an accessible beauty that we're taking advantage of. Today we're hoping to go surfing and perhaps take a weekend trip to Monteverde and the Arenal volcano, do some kayaking and hiking.

The people that come to study here are really great too. We've met people from Europe, U.S., Canada and the U.K. It's a nice range of levels. I think that the testing system for placing students is held a bit high. Basically they do an interview of questions because they want to test your speaking, which makes sense. However, one of our friends is a Spanish major at college and was told she needed to prove she should be in a class above the level they placed her because of how she did on her interview. It's frustrating for me as well because I can listen, read and write well. Speaking I get a little nervous, mainly when we need to use specific things such as a question word and a specific verb. Which is hard in English as well. Try it. Using only the "5 W's" and words such as sing, listen and look make up questions about the past... it's hard.

Anyway, we need to go get our boards and hit the waves.

Lata

Fearless

There's somethin' 'bout the way
The street looks when it's just rained
There's a glow off the pavement
Walk me to the car
And you know I wanna ask you to dance right there
In the middle of the parking lot
Yeah
Oh yeah

We're drivin' down the road
I wonder if you know
I'm tryin' so hard not to get caught up now
But you're just so cool
Run your hands through your hair
Absent mindedly makin' me want you

And I don't know how it gets better than this
You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don't know why but with you I'd dance in a storm in my best dress
Fearless


I love country and my new favorite has to be Taylor Swift. She's just so full of life young but has an old soul and is definitely wise beyond her years. Every song on her albums has either been written or co written by her. She's extremely talented and though she's typically thin and blond like all teen sensations seem to be, she's uniquely beautiful. Every song she has is like a memory for me growing up in the country and going to school in the South. We just grow up fearless.

In my country

My stay in South Korea has come to an end. I'll miss the food (most of it, boondaggi, no) culture and more of all the people who have come into my life.

I can't be grateful enough for all of the memories that I have with the new wonderful friends I made. My spirit was the most free when I was connecting with people. Seeing beyond culture to the person. There are beautiful souls everywhere and I'm so blessed to have met such wonderful people. The relationships we have in life are the most important. I don't believe that it's how much you talk with someone that determines how close you are with them. I feel it's some sort of unspoken connection that you get. Language barriers don't matter when two hearts truly care for each other.

I love traveling and will be a traveler for the rest of my life. With that said I've discovered you can't really understand a culture until you've lived it. Meaning that you need to be in a culture six months minimum before you can even get over yourself. For the first six months people are usually in the state of "newness" and culture shock. Nothing is really routine until you get over yourself and stop saying "In my country..." or mention how a country is better than the one you're in: you're not in your country. It's all apples and oranges, we need to stop comparing the two and appreciate the differences.

I miss everyone that we left but it wasn't goodbye...it was a see you later