| | Excerps from Emails and Journal entries: One day, my amazing friend Meredith and I were wandering around killing some time before we had to go to el Museo Nacional. So we saw a protest with loud music and yelling and tons of ppl...protesting TLC (some trade agreement pending between CR and the States). Of course at Orientation our leaders had made a big deal about not going to protests or getting involved bc we could get into such big trouble. And what do we do but walk right into one. But we were sure it was safe because they were all peacefully singing, and there were tons of policia solemnly lined up. We got as close as we could, although we got a few stares b/c what the heck were total Americans doing at that kind of protest?!?! haha. We stood around and watched for a while and then it broke up so we left. At the museum, then, we sat on some cannons and took sweet pix.
So I totally stole a few pix from Gayle to tide you over till this lazy chick gets her own up.
We had a Clase de Frutas, or Fruit class, one day at school. That's, from L-R, me, Meredith, Chaz, and Brian getting ready! 
We have also been nearly killed, raped and robbed a number of times, especially since the traffic here is absolutely atrocious. Like what is up with ppl? Once we were in a cab on our way to a Daddy Yankee concert (haha...ever heard of him? Ill tell you that one when I get back) anyway, we had 5 girls crammed into this cab, one in front, 3 in back, and one laying across our laps. The cab was crossing an intersection where everyone was yielding. This huge semi, however, didn't yield. Its headlights were shining bright and he slowed down a little and just kept coming and coming as we were halted in the interesection. Definitely the closest brush with death up till that time. Then one night Meredith, my roommate Louisa, and I were meeting the rest of the group at a bar, but we didn't know where it was and the cab driver didn't either. So we had him let us off at el Teatro Nacional and we were wandering around in the dark trying to find it. While a beautiful bustling place during the day, it definitely was the wrong place to be at night. We stopped a guy to ask for directions and while he didn't know where it was, he told us to go up street b/c we were in an especialmente peligroso [dangerous] area. So then we started looking for a cab driver who actually knew where it was. It looked like a legit taxi, but he offered to take us there for one American dollar. And of course what do we stupidos do but take his offer. Amazingly, we got to the bar no problemo. Yesterday we were trying to find el Museo Jade, and we definitely got lost wandering around a totally new part of San Jose. And ended up in another part of time we definitely shouldn't have prolly been in. At least it wasn't at night, and we explored a new place, which was totally MUY DIVERTIDO.
My roommate Lousia, me, Meghan, and Gayle herself in the mountains for our farewell dinner the last week.
Another friend, Meghan, accidentally deleted 122 our of the 177 pictures I had from the first 2 weeks. Since then, I've taken next to no photos I am so discouraged. Thankfully a lot of pals have the same prints Ill get, but still, everyone said I had THE best crocodile pix and some of the best monos and just friend pix. One of the best Meredith ones she wanted for her blog but it s no longer...*sniff* However, later on I got this really hysterical picture she used as her facebook profile pic. You guys will have to see it as soon as I can get it up.
I wish I could say I'm getting fluent in Spanish, but I definitely am only getting fluent in Spanglish. Between Mere, Meg, and me we coined the phrase "Totalmente Dulce" and had tshirts printed. They are the envy of our group and are, simply put, totalmente dulce!! My teacher here thinks I'm totalmente loco.
Oh so I also have a friend whom everyone calls my Tico novio, and for good reason I suppose. I met him at our "Monday night bar." His name is Sergio, and he's been emailing me in Spanish. Which of course means I can't email him often because it takes me forever to respond back in espanol tambien. I really can't begin to tell you all about all the amazing things I experienced and the wonderful ppl I have met through this trip. This entry was mostly about the danger and excitement, which is only the beginning. Next time, for those of you who wonder what sort of studying I got done, I will focus more on academics. haha! And en serio, I will have más pictures también.
San José at night. It reminded me of the movie Mary Poppins, and how for all the London scenes the scenery was painted on glass, with little holes poked through where light shone behind. Only this was real. Ok, random thought I know. But it was very breathtaking.
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...suffering for the Lord...... 
