pura vida

I am still pinching myself constantly--I am in Costa Rica! It seems like so much has happened in just a day and a half. I got in late Wednesday night, and although it was nice and breezy outside, it was too hot to really sleep. That's the main thing here: it's really hot and humid, like Arkansas in the summer except instead of hopping in a car, people walk or bike everywhere. The people are really friendly, except the girls in the program call the local guys "tico perros", and from the drama that I've already seen go down, I think that's true. But the people I've met from the program are really cool, there are a few from last month who are still looking for jobs in the country and I've met one guy who's in my group. So far I'm the baby, and I definitely feel like it. Last night we went to one of the local bars for Ladies' Night, and I was in total culture shock...until they started playing Lady Gaga and the Black Eyed Peas, then I started dancing and it was all okay. I'm just gonna say one thing that's really bugging me though, and I never thought I'd say it, but it really sucks being an American female here. Unless you're with a group, you can't stay out after dark, so that essentially means being stuck at the house, and having to be back there by sundown. My classmate Rafi is able to just walk down the beach and hit up the bars whenever he wants. It also kinda sucks that my house is a twenty minute walk from town, and I've yet to find a bicycle to rent. But on the whole it's great, and I finally slept for 8 good hours last night, I'm feeling a nap coming on right now.

Hasta luego!