Yesterday, I returned to Costa Rica for the start of a 2-week vacation. My first week I plan to spend in Santiago de Puriscal as a volunteer with Cross Cultural Solutions. The second week I will spend traveling along the Pacific Coast and up to Arenal, perhaps with Mr. Brett Winkelhake.
Like most trips, there were certainly a few hiccups that occurred. Supershuttle was late picking me up from Compton -- arriving about 45 minutes late. Once the guy arrived, besides not be able to see the lighted gate dial (seeing as it was 4:30am he arrived), he also suffered from a bad, bad case of B.O. Fortunately, arriving at LAX at the crack of dawn means there are few lines and few security headaches, thus I breezed through the process in 30 minutes. Easily making it in time for my flight.
Unfortunately, meanwhile back at the ranch (also known as the Condo in Compton), my normally mild-mannered, stoner cat freaked out. Apparently, when Chris opened the front door to see if I had left, the cat made a mad dash for outside. Then, once outside began to run away from home. No idea whether this was because he was upset that I had left, or simply wanted to wander outside. Whatever it was, this cat that never makes a peep, suddenly began to hiss, scratch, claw, wiggle, and throw all of his weight around to get Chris to put him down. The result was that he did, and my cat went missing shortly before I boarded the first leg of my trip from LAX to MIA. Obviously, I then started my flight a bit perturbed. Moreover, I heard that while searching for the cat, Chris encountered a racoon. Add to this, each morning I leave my house I drive by a pack of street dogs, and you can imagine my angst. Fortunately, by Miami, Chris reported that the cat had returned. Either (a) to alleviate my stress while vacation or (b) the cat returned when he got hungry. I'm choosing to believe that Chris is honest and the cat, true to form, returned when hungry. Otherwise, this trip will be a little more difficult to enjoy.
I arrived in Costa Rica and immediately was reminded that it had been a
really long time since I last spoke Spanish. I chatted up the driver, trying to take the opportunity to learn a bit about how Costa Rica has changed in the past three years, and unfortunately half the words slipped through my ears and out the other side like a sieve. On the upside, arriving a day early allowed me to accilimate a bit to the country, the heat, the slower rhythms, and the pace of life I'd like to get to while here. As a first step in that direction, I walked out to the Cultural Plaza outside of the
Gran Hotel and listened to this family group singing. It was so cute to see how proud the parents were of these two "kids." The music had mom jamming with her tamborine with a good crowd of people.
Sunday I met the other volunteers at Cross Cultural Solutions -- Puriscal. There is Grace from Toronto (my roommate); Emily, Deana, and Adam the family from Rhode Island; Greta from London who has been here 11 weeks; and Robert "The Star" from Edinburgh, who has been here for 5 weeks and will pass 12 weeks in total. It's an eclectic group with different beliefs and expectations of what international volunteering means. Moreover, it's already been an interesting cultural exchange hearing how each of us perceives one another's country's.
Tomorrow, rise and shine around 6am, breakfast at 7am, and orientation prior to volunteering begins at 8am. It should be a good day of good work, I hope. So far, my attitude has relaxed incredibly just by seeing all of the natural beauty surrounding me. The lushiness of the countryside, the intense vibrancy of the flora, the wild birds floating around, and the wonderful people that I have met in between. Oh, and I should also mention the Pisco Sours at the Gran Hotel (muah!) they are fabulous! And the margarita at the local bar for 2,000 colones (about $4) is strong, but also very nice. I look forward to all of my finds and stories to come.
Oh, and welcome back to my blog!
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