This and that...

Hmmm. I think my last post was about orientation. This is my third week of classes, so lets catch up on campus life and other things. I will definitely ramble because I have stopped keeping a journal because Im lazy. The campus here is maybe 2 or 3 times the size of AU and 10,000 people go here. It was initially difficult to navigate because of the terrain and ongoing construction. They might actually finish if the construction workers would stop playing soccer and actually construct something. One day, I was wandering around with a buddy and found the "ruta alterna" which takes a shortcut through campus along what we have labeled the "Ecuadorian Ridge" The ridge runs along a small terraced valley, lined with swiss-cheese plants (the plants look as if they are eaten as a defense mechanism). Dont fall. People hang out in this valley like our quad and occasionally sample other tastier plants. You can follow this path to the cafeteria or library where there are often musicians. Ramble on.

I think on Tuesday of last week, I went to go play some indoor soccer in the school gym. When I arrived, I was informed that it was first round of try-outs for the school team and not time for pick-up. Whatever, Ill try out, Im able to as an international student, what the hell, love of the game, right. Well, after running around the gym 50 or so times to make us tired and then doing drills for an hour, we got to play some "futbol sala" for another hour. These guys are soccer nuts with mad skills. I was impressed and also very sore and tired. Though I was not the worst trying out, I dont think I will be making the team. Especially, since I cant understand the coach. Later that night, I go out drinking (its valentines day) and have quite a few. The next 2 nights, I battle some sort of fever or sickness. Dont know if that was connected. By Friday, I was done with class and all pain, so I went to Playa Hermosa (Beautiful) for more surfing. Catch one. My room is the second floor on the top of a cabina and I can see palm trees and the ocean from a giant window in front of my bed. The owner assures me that is not rat poop in our room, "actually its just gecko poop." I go to sleep to the sound of an airconditioner and the postal service. I wake up to the sound of waves. Had to return on Saturday because my friend cut up his foot pretty bad with his board and I had class at 3pm on saturday which I had been planning to skip. (The dictator, I mean professor, is leaving for all of march and assigned 3 sat classes) Fuck that.

What else. I am very settled in to my family here. My Spanish is getting quite good. Of my four classes (in Spanish), 2 are with gringos and 2 are IR classes with all ticos. I dropped a drawing class and now have tuesdays free in additiion to friday-sun. During march, I will only have class on Monday and Thursday. I can almost always understand what we are talking about in the IR classes and the specific point maybe 70% of the time. My weak point is talking because I have to keep listening and formulate my own point. If translation is required for both of those processes, it is impossible because it takes too long. I can listen in Spanish of now, but I must think in Spanish. get it? maybe not. All of you damn people in the English speaking world...The group of American students in our group love to hang out all the time because it is a retreat from Spanish. However, this can quickly become more English than Spanish as is always true during beach trips (weekends). This is a struggle to avoid since I like some of the group. I also have a bit of Megan`s fire towards the group and stupid Americanism. It is hard to break into Tico student culture, though I do have a few friends from groups in classes. Thats all for now.

Pura Vida,
Rob