Class Field Trip to Cartago

My class took a field trip to Cartago (one of Costa Rica's seven provinces) to visit some historical sites. We traveled in a bus for about an hour to reach our first destination, the Ruinas de Ujarrás. Located in the Valley of Orosi (a province of Cartago), the Ruinas de Ujarrás are what remains of the first church constructed in Costa Rica during the 17th century when the Spanish were beginning to colonize Costa Rica. The ruins are surrounded by a garden of different species of native plants and flowers. 

Las Ruinas de Ujarrás

The other site we visited was the Church at Orosi. This church was constructed in the early 18th Century and is still used today; however, the construction of a new church has already begun. The original church will be used for just tourism and historical purposes after the new church is finished. Both of the places we visited were interesting and gave insight to the power colonization can have on a culture, people, and way of life. 

The Church at Orosi

Inside the Church at Orosi

After visiting the two sites, we went to a scenic outlook of Orosi to have a picnic lunch. I think everyone had fun taking pictures and hanging out.

 

Class Photo

Next week I will be traveling to three different places in Costa Rica. I leave this Friday afternoon and will return next Saturday evening.

Vamos a La Playa (Sámara)

This past weekend on my trip to Playa Sámara, I fell in love with this beach. I went with three of my classmates: four girls on a mission to have an awesome weekend. We left class on Friday and took a five hour bus ride to get to the beach. We arrived at Playa Sámara around six in the evening. It didn't take long after getting to our hostel before we were in our swimming suits heading for the beach. Exhausted from traveling and playing in the ocean, we went to bed pretty early that night. 

The next morning we were up bright and early for a breakfast of gallo pinto (a traditional plate of rice and black beans). We went to the bus station to buy return tickets and stopped in a grocery store for some ingredients for that night's dinner. On the way out I spotted a howler monkey. I thought it was pretty cool. We spent the rest of the day playing on the beach and in the ocean. I had a lot of fun jumping and diving into the waves. Playa Sámara is a great place to learn how to surf because the waves are big enough to surf on, but small enough to play in. When we weren't jumping into waves, we were playing frisbee in the sand. It was a great day. I got a little sunburned even though I slathered sunscreen on multiple times (I almost think it's inevitable when you're as fair skinned as I am), but as they say here in CR, it was "vale la pena" or "worth it".

That night we went out to a local bar to practice our Spanish with ticos (Costa Ricans). The stars that night were so visible; it was amazing. I even made a wish on a shooting star. 

Unfortunately we had to leave Sunday afternoon. We took a bus back to reality and went home to prepare for class on Monday. 

This beach is fantastic, in case I hadn't made that clear enough... There were dogs playing the sand and there were not many tourists. There are palm trees everywhere. The locals are friendly and the weather was hot. Its a postcard picture beach. What more could you want? 

A map of the beach

 

Howler Monkey

This monkey was walking across the power lines outside of the grocery store. I couldn't believe it. That was the first time I had ever seen a wild monkey! I was pretty excited about it. At night we could hear the howler monkeys. They make a noise similar to a dog's bark. 

Hammocks at the hostel 

We stayed at a hostel called Casa Brian. It is owned by a nice Canadian man. He made us breakfast in the mornings. The hostel was about 30m from the beach. All four girls shared a dorm style room. I really enjoyed hanging out in these hammocks. 

Me

This won't be the last time I visit Playa Sámara...

Making Tortillas

I wish I would have had my camera with me today. We learned how to make corn tortillas in class. After going over grammar for the first half of the day, my teacher's mother-in-law visited our class to teach us how to make the delicious tortillas. The ingredients are simple: corn flour, water, and some oil. Her technique was spot on. She made a ball with the dough. Then somehow managed to simultaneously flatten the dough and turn it making it perfectly round and even. My tortilla was close to her example, but a little bit more uneven and a little less round. We cooked the tortillas on a stove top. It was a really neat experience. And now I'm a professional tortilla maker...well sort of.

A pretty flower in my neighborhood

(I didn't have any tortilla making pictures) 

Culture SHOCK

Everything is great here in CR. I got an even better grade on my last test and my class is going really well. A couple of my classmates and I are planning on going to the beach this weekend so I'm really excited for that.

They warned us about this prior to leaving, but I think culture shock has finally hit me. Culture shock is when cultural differences can be well, sort of shocking. The fact that another culture does something differently than your culture may be frustrating, surprising, or even displeasing. It takes time to adjust to a new culture; culture shock can occur during this adjustment period. It is not to say that the new culture is looked at negatively, but certain aspects may be upsetting or shocking until a person is used to the new culture and accepts that it is different from their own. Even during my short time in CR, I have experienced culture shock.
Walking past the quads on the UCR campus, I guarantee there will be couples laying in the grass. This wouldn't be such a big deal in my culture except that the couples are rather intimate with their public displays of affection. When I first witnessed this, honestly I was a little thrown off. I thought to myself, "This would never happen in my culture. I can't believe they're doing that in public". Culture SHOCK. I had to stop and remind myself that this wasn't my culture and I couldn't expect this new culture to have the same social norms as mine.
Another instance when I have experienced culture shock is when I was trying to get directions to a store. There are no street signs in Costa Rica. Directions are determined by nearby landmarks and other buildings. Today when I was trying to get directions to a store, I was a little frustrated. How was I, the girl with no sense of direction, going to find this store with out any solid point of reference? How do the people living here find anything? Culture SHOCK. I reassured myself that if they can get their way around Costa Rica, then so can I. I just had to be a little more patient and forgiving when I couldn't find what I was looking for on my first try.
I will continue to post about my experiences dealing with culture shock. In my opinion, the greatest value needed to overcome the shock of differences between different cultures is tolerance (and acceptance, too).

A sign at the entrance of a park

The fact that this sign prohibits romantic scenes in the park was a bit of a shock to me. I was surprised that would even be an issue, but this isn't my culture; I need to remember that. 

Along came a spider...

I had absolutely nothing to do today: no homework, no class, no anything. To cure my boredom I decided to take on a challenge. Some readers shared their disbelief of the improvements I have made regarding my arachnophobia.  Because I had nothing to do and wanted to go outside, I chose to hunt for spiders to further show that I am conquering my fears.

Weird? I'd say so. Interesting? Yes. Scary? Just a little. 

During my search in the neighborhood I encountered plenty of spiders. The spectrum of spiders I found in such a small area (I just looked around two streets), amazes me. They're actually pretty cool creatures. And for the record, I was really close to the spiders and I didn't even freak out. 

Big brown spider (In the middle of the picture)

This guy was hard to take a picture of because I think he knew I was there watching him. He tried to hide from me in the nest located in the middle of his massive messy web. I snagged this picture, but it doesn't do justice for his size, impressive web, and overall ability to be a frightening arachnid.

White dangling spider

White spider on the tip of a leaf

Gold spider under his web

Tiny spider floating in his web

Spider hiding in the corner 

Fiesta spider! 

(This is the most colorful spider I found)

Spider Slayer

I took my second exam in my class today. I think it went okay but I won't know until Monday.

I used to be terrified of spiders. In the past, you may have either heard me scream after finding a spider. Actually, the likelihood that you have witnessed me flailing my arms, running away, and/or screaming irrationally due to the presence of a spider is about equal to the probability of the sun rising in the morning. Simply put, arachnophobia got the best of me. Prior to leaving for CR everyone warned me about the numerous spiders I would encounter in this climate and area. The teasing ranged from simple comments to my mom sending me pictures of the biggest, nastiest Costa Rican spiders she could find on the internet.
Today I am proud to say that I, Sydney Golditch, have drastically decreased my irrational fear of spiders. Exposure to the many spiders I have seen in CR has helped me realize that I can easily smash them with a shoe. I no longer scream or run away; I conquer. Not to say that I want spiders crawling on me or even close to me... I can tolerate their presence. I've even had a couple of spiders accompany me in the shower. I'd call that forward progress.

I saw two interesting spiders in the plant in front of my house today. To test my tolerance level I took some up close and personal pictures of the spiders. It was a little windy outside so their webs kept moving and the pictures are a little blurry, but I think they are kind of cool.

Spiders 1

(a spider is visible to the left)

Spider 2 (making a web)

Spider 3

Spider 4

Maybe I'll stay for a while

GOOOOOL!
On Tuesday some us went to a local bar to watch a Costa Rica soccer game. It was a qualifying game for the World Cup. Costa Rica won. I had a lot of fun watching the game and spending time with everyone.

I feel like I am finally starting to become adjusted to life in CR. I already know where many places are, how to get to those places, and what stores I can go to if I need something. My comfort level for walking around the city and taking buses by myself has definitely increased; I still take the necessary precautions when I should, but I'm not fearful. Now that I'm becoming more familiar with the area, I'm finding new favorite places to go. The little bakery (panadería) that I pass by on my way to the bus makes the best chicken empanadas. And I always recharge my phone at the Mega Super by the park. I'm really loving San José. Who knows? Maybe soon, I'll be a regular tica.
(Tico/tico is a Costa Rican term for Costa Ricans)

Rain, Rain on Soli's B-Day

It has rained everyday since I arrived in CR. It usually rains in the afternoon and at night. In the afternoons the rain doesn't last that long, maybe an hour. It's pretty manageable and I don't mind it. I haven't had to walk home in the rain until today. It rained all day long. The rain varied from pouring to a light rain (pelo de gato or cat hair as they say in CR); either way everything got wet. I put my massive purple umbrella to good use today.

Me in the rain with my purple umbrella 

(I just got home from class)

In addition to a rainy day, today is also Soli's birthday (cumpleaños). Yesterday Sara and I went on a two hour adventure to the store that sells orchids. I picked out a purple orchid because the color of Soli's favorite soccer team is purple. Soli really like her present and gave me two big hugs after thanking me. 

Sitting in the living room 

(The orchid I gave Soli for her birthday is on the table)

Sugar Cane

I got a good grade on the test I took Friday. I feel like I am learning a lot in my class. Even though having class four hours a day, five days a week can be a little tiring, I really enjoy the class.

Soli brought home a stock of sugar cane yesterday from our trip to Escazú. My dad has told me stories about the kids he saw in Mexico chewing on sugar cane and their elders who did the same. Consequently some of their teeth were in bad shape. After hearing this story for many years, I was excited when she brought the cane home. I watched Soli chop the sugar cane into segments and peel away the outside. She sliced the inside into thinner pieces and handed me one. I chewed on it. I'm not sure how to describe what it tastes like other than it's the sweetest thing I've ever had. Sugar cane is like the best candy; I can see why kids would love it. Don't worry, I brushed my teeth immediately after I finished chewing on my slice. I'm not trying to lose any of my teeth.

The whole sugar cane 

Chopped up sugar cane

Sliced sugar cane

Guess what I had for lunch

I'll give you one guess about what's in this pan. If you guessed anything other than cow tongue, you're wrong. 

Today we went to visit and have lunch with one of Soli's brothers who lives in Escazú (another province of San José). Soli's brother and his wife were both very nice to me and included me in the conversations. They live in a nice house with a beautiful garden, yard, and patio area.  We had lengua (cow tongue) in a tomato sauce with rice and fresh vegetables for lunch. When I left for CR, I knew I would encounter foods, customs, and situations that would be different than I what I was used to. I consciously decided that I would approach everything with an open mind regardless of my previous conceptions. I happily ate my entire meal. There were a few instances where I felt a little uncomfortable, but I just kept telling myself that it's food, they eat it and I can eat it, too. Plus, the flavor was pretty good so that helped. I'm glad I had the opportunity to try something that was a little outside my comfort level; I'm also proud that I approached it with such an open mind. 

Lengua tacos at the taco truck, here I come! Well, maybe... 

A flower from a Granadilla Silvestre plant

(it produces an orange fruit)

A wall commemorating the annual run with bulls that is done in Escazú every Christmas.

Me standing by the wall 

Quick trip & Pictures

We went to Guadalupe (a province in with about 21,000 people in San José) to visit Soli's aunt (tía) and cousins (primos). Everyone was very nice to me, as usual. "Tía" made some of the most delicious pozole (a traditional soup of pork, corn, and spices) and I was lucky enough to get a whole bowl full. It is definitely one of my Costa Rican favorites. The drive to Tía's was only thirty minutes, but we passed by a petroleum refinery and what seemed like some of the less affluent areas of San José. I'm glad I tagged along. 

After we got back to the house it started to pour. I went for a walk around my neighborhood and took some pictures when it had stopped raining.

Taken from the car on the way to Guadalupe

A hibiscus flower 

Stop sign 

My neighborhood sign 

First street I walk down every morning 

The sleeping dogs I pass by everyday

(I haven't given them names yet)

Secure community sign 

Aloe plant in front of my house

Crossing the street

I realized I really like where I live. On the way to the bus stop I walk by several little stores including a bookstore, a soda (a small cafe/ restaurant), a bread/pastry shop and a small snack store. I felt adventurous today so I stopped in the snack store. I bought three pieces of candy for about 25 cents. I plan exploring all of the different stores at some point. I'm glad they are close to my house and are convenient to go to.

Looking both ways once before you cross the street in the U.S. may be sufficient, but in Costa Rica unless you want to be a pancake on the pavement, I suggest looking at least six times. Unlike in the U.S., in Costa Rica pedestrians do NOT have the right of way. Crossing the street here is like playing a game of Frogger; one wrong move and you're toast. The combination of the fast rolling "stop" that is the usual at stop signs, and the fact that speeding through red lights isn't uncommon in addition to disorganization and going over the speed limit yields a big challenge for people attempting to cross the street. Yes, there are cross walks but they are located in somewhat inconvenient places and not all streets have them.  I'm not trying to scare anyone; I just want to shed some light on what it's like here in CR. I do everything I can to make sure I can cross the street safely... it just takes a lot more effort than in the U.S.. I haven't had any close calls, but I've seen people that have. All I can say is if you are brave enough to cross, keep your head on a swivel, walk fast, and hope for the best.

My house 

Up the street from my house 

Down the street from my house

Mi casa es su casa

It didn't rain today. Just kidding... it poured as usual. Good thing I bought a fancy big umbrella yesterday.
Class today was a lot of fun. We played a game involving grammar structures and gave short presentations. My class is four hours long (9 am-1pm), but my teacher makes the class enjoyable so we're not bored out of our minds. After class a group of us went to the mall together. I bought a coin purse to to hold my change for the bus. Once everyone was finished shopping we went our separate ways. Three other students and I walked home from the mall (the mall is farther away from our houses than the university).  I think next time I'll stick to taking the bus... it was a longggg walk.

I haven't written about my host family or their house yet, so I will now. I mentioned this in an earlier post, but I live with two host moms, Soli and Sara. I also have a pet; Axel is a small yellow bird that likes to sing in the mornings. I like him a lot. Soli is a lawyer for the government and is gone for most of the day. Sara works for the newspaper but she is usually home. They both are really nice, understanding and helpful. I have my own bathroom and room with a closet and a desk. The house is very nice and I feel comfortable living here. Sara cooks most of my meals. The food is always delicious. I am lucky to be with such a great family.

Axel in his cage 

My room 

My bathroom

I will post a picture of my house and moms when I get the chance. 

Cell Phone Info

I killed my first Costa Rican spider today but more importantly, I had a great first day of class.

I was placed in the Advanced 1 class. Today was an easy day; we just talked about ourselves and read newspaper articles. I really like my teacher. I was surprised to find out that some of my classmates are from other countries. There are two people from Switzerland, a girl from Japan, a girl from Taiwan, a girl from South Korea, and there is a girl from China in my class. It's really cool because I can communicate with these people (in Spanish) and I might not have been able to otherwise.
In addition to class, I ventured out into the streets of San Jose (with Sara as my guide) to buy a cell phone, towels, and some toiletries. My phone costs the U.S. equivalent of $20 and they put the same amount of money into my account. Pretty awesome if you ask me. Due to some of the stares I received today, I think I am beginning to realize how much I stand out as a foreigner even though I wore skinny jeans and sneakers (that's the typical Tica attire). Tomorrow I am going to attempt to get to the university, or as they say here: "La U", by myself. I'm confident that I can make it without any problems, but I'm glad I have a cell phone just in case I get lost.

My cell phone and workbook

My cell phone number is 8517-1166. To call or text me you need to enter the U.S. code (011) to dial out of the country and the Costa Rica's country code (506) before dialing my number. When you call me you will enter: 01150685171166.

So Far, So Good

There's hope... Today at lunch Sara told me that I like to talk (no surprise there) and that that is a good thing. She predicted that I will "have it" (referring to my Spanish abilities) in 2 months. I hope she's right.

We drove home from Santa Cruz today. It was a really nice drive. With the windows down and wind in my face, I couldn't have been happier. I purchased my first Costa Rican item at a store called Más X Menos. I needed a notebook for my Spanish class tomorrow so we stopped at the store to buy one. It costs 1,100 ₡. 
Like I mentioned, I start my Spanish class tomorrow morning. I have no idea where the building I'm supposed to go is located; the UCR campus is huge! Luckily, Sara offered to accompany me to and from the university. I'll write about my experience tomorrow.

The landscape 

(This picture was taken from the car on the way home) 

A butterfly in Santa Cruz

I will write about my host family, house, and pet soon, too. 

Family Vacation

I learned close to a million new things today, including how people drive in CR, what a Costa Rican squirrel looks like, and the beauty of Playa Hermosa.

First, a quick tutorial on how to drive in CR.

1. Go at least 25-45 kph over the speed limit

2. Do NOT look over your shoulder when changing lanes

3. When braking, brake hard and fast

4. Pretend like pedestrians are obstacles that you barely miss

5. ALWAYS tailgate the car in front of you

If you can master these five steps, you will be a competent driver in CR. 

Buena suerte

I learned all of my Costa Rican driving skills because I spent around six hours in the car today driving through the countryside. My host moms and I went on a little family vacation to Santa Cruz (they have a house here). Driving through the countryside was literally like driving through the rainforest. Aside from the pastures that have been cleared out for cattle and crops, huge rainforest trees surround the roads. Everything is green and beautiful. I thought it was kind of humorous that even in the middle of the rainforest/countryside/middle of no where there are areas of land that have been cleared and are dedicated to fútbol. For breakfast we stopped at a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant. I had my first breakfast of gallo pinto (a traditional dish that consists of rice and black beans) and a piece of fried cheese. It was delicious! We finally arrived in Santa Cruz. The house here is very nice. Soon after arriving we left for the beach. We went to a beautiful beach called Playa Hermosa. The ocean, the beach, everything was so perfect. Sara and I walk the entire length of the beach barefoot; we had a good conversation. I found a cool shell, too. Overall, I had a great day. 

Playa Hermosa 

A Costa Rican Squirrel (Ardilla) 

(I did not take this picture, I stole it from Google)