Second Day of Classes (1-7-08)

Previously, this was a note to Dustin, but I will change it to a blog about Wednesday.  So Wednesday morning I got to the ISA office to do my usual computer stuff and  check on my class changes.  I am officially in a 3 month program with 4 electives.  Two will be taught in Spanish and two in English.  I have all of my mornings free and nothing on Fridays.  I'm sure this time will be later filled with volunteer work.  Now, my plane ticket will change to March 31st to come home with Dustin after his visit.  

Around 10:00 am Sarah and I grabbed a taxi at Veritas to go to la Multiplaza del Este which is a nice mall that my host mother recommended.  Little did I know these Ticos love to recommend American things at high prices.  I really needed a jacket and a watch.  I came to find out that the cheap Timex watches that usually cost a maximum of $20 in the States cost a minimum of $80 at this mall.  I wasn't sure when I would be able to shop again and was sick of being cold on walks home.  So....I splurged on what I thought was a $60 jacket and turned out to be an $80 jacket!  Trust me, it's not worth $80!  It's khaki, zips up the front, and has a little flower embroidery on the back.  Nothing special, but it keeps me warm I guess.  (For those of you that didn't know, most nice items are imported from the US with HIGH import taxes making things that would normally be $10 or $20 in the states like $50 here.) Oh well.  After circling the mall to find anything worth the prices they were charging, Sarah and I decided to get back for the 12:15 pm ISA meeting about our weekend excursion.

On Friday at 1:00 pm we leave for Manuel Antonio, a nice beach along the Pacific coast.  It will be about a 4 hour drive by bus.  I'm very excited for this!  They offer additional excursion while we're there to see the dolphins swim or go horse back riding.  I figured I'm already at the beach, I will pay extra to do cool things when my family or Dustin comes with me!  Then, since I wasn't completely positive I was changing courses yet, I didn't attend what will be my 1 - 3 class on Dialects in Latin America.  We grabbed a bite at Soda Montealegre where I ordered a shredded beef burrito that came smothered in some kinds of sauces.  I ate the whole thing and it was magnificent!  I returned to Veritas for my 3 - 5 class on Latin American Human Rights.  It will be a very interesting class as well.  Then I hurried home before nightfall.  Luckily the downpour of rain only happened while I was in class and I had a dry walk home.  Once home I organized my school things and ate arroz con pollo with my host family's grand-daughter, Maripaz.  She is adorable and afterwards I helped her bathe her Barbie, do puzzles, and find the Disney channel in Spanish.  She wore me out though and I went up to bed around 8:30.  I read until 9:30 and crashed out.  I had plans to meet a friends at 7:30 am to walk to the school in the morning so I needed the rest!  I will blog about today later!  Thanks for your comments!

P.S. Dad, sorry!  I will call you too sometime soon!  It's just easier to catch Dustin when he's not at work.  I hate bothering you and mom at work.  But I will call you next time I'm on Skype! :)  I love you!