Well it has been an exciting last couple weeks… to say the
least. Last weekend I ventured out
to Poas Volcano (about 1.5-2 hours by car from San Jose). I am proud to say that after living
here for 5 plus months that I was able to navigate the bus system in Costa Rica
by myself… This is an
accomplishment because all bus companies are privately owned and there are no
route schedules or bus times and buses are hardly ever labeled with where they
are going it is just something that you have to learn from word of mouth,
getting on a bus and seeing where it takes you or asking the bus driver if it
goes where you need to go. Basically,
it is an extremely effective bus system, ha. I left my house at about 7am to catch the first bus from my
neighborhood to downtown San Jose then from San Jose I went to Alajuela then
from Alajuela I took the bus to Poas and arrived at Poas at about 10:30am which
made for a long trip for a relatively short distance but I made it! I was even able to help a few Gringo tourists
along the way! Once at Poas we
were told that the bus back would leave at 2pm so we had 3.5 hours to roam
around and check out the Volcano. However, it turns out other than looking
at the Volcano and the small lake near by there is not much to do but it was well
worth the trip and I made a few friends with the other gringos visiting Poas
and a local on the bus ride back to San Jose.
Poas Volcano!
Poas Lake
Karaoke. On Tuesday night Anais, my German friend Alissa,
and I decided to make our way to a Karaoke bar. With it being my first time
going to a Karaoke bar I was excited but also severely intimidated when I saw that
it was a live bad playing behind you not just a TV with the words scrolling a
crossed it. My nerves multiplied after
the first three people went up and sounded like professionals! However, I did it! … Not alone but I
did one song with Anais and one with Alissa! We were sitting next to a younger guy sitting alone and
Anais asked if we could see if he wanted to join us so that he didn’t have to
sit alone. He was a really nice
guy and was extremely grateful that we invited him to sit with us because in
the Tico culture that would never happen and he liked that we were so inviting
and out going. He was so grateful
that he ended up paying for our food and drinks before we even had a chance to
pay! Overall, Karaoke was good
experience but I will spare the audience with my tone-deaf voice and keep my
trips the Karaoke bar limited.
Anais and I singing!
All good things must come to an end. This past Friday was my last day of
co-op … I can’t believe it is over!
It really did go by incredibly fast! In celebration of my last day of co-op and a welcome to the
person who is taking over my position my boss, Wirlan, took us out to dinner
and after we got a few drinks. All
was well until it all went bad… Wirlan dropped me off at my house around 11:45
and I dropped off my work things and was heading back out to meet up with my
friend. I am well aware (now) that I was an idiot for walking up to the main road to grab a taxi to meet my friend instead of having a taxi come to the house. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Two blocks was all it took… I was almost to the main road when a red car pulled
up and before I knew it someone ripped my purse off me and another person held
out a gun and asked for my cell phone that I was holding. Obviously, the gun trumped my phone and I immediately handed over my cell phone and luckily they got back in the
car and drove away. Lesson
Learned. I am well aware that I
needed this lesson and that I was getting too generous with my confidence of
walking around at night in Costa Rica.
I was told it was unsafe to do so and had done it before so I thought I
was fine but I obviously it is not.
So now I am petrified of red cars and leaving the house after dark…
lesson well learned. I know I am
incredibly lucky and grateful that they only got away with my cell phone some
cash and my purse and most of all happy that I was unharmed. For my public safety announcement…
don’t walk around at night alone in an unsafe neighborhood the chances are slim
but it only takes one time.
L-R, Nick, Myself, Wirlan
The Costa Rican adventure has come to an end. The past 5.5 months have been a huge
learning experience and something that I would suggest for everyone to do. Moving to a foreign country, not being
fluent in the language, not knowing a soul in the country and living there for
an extended period of time is the biggest life lesson anyone could experience. You grow up fast and learn things about
yourself, other people, cultures and the world. Overall, I am proud of myself for doing this because at
times it was really hard, you can’t call your mommy or your friend to come help
you… you have to figure it all out by yourself. I know this all sounds cheese but it truly is a great
experience and if anyone reading is considering moving abroad or thinking of
traveling to Costa Rica contact me I would live to answer any questions that
you have!
I will be leaving Costa Rica on wednesday morning and especially after my little run in with a pistol being pointed at me I am ready to go home to my little ole' home town in upstate New York for a few weeks. And then… the adventure continues! I was accepted into a summer study program in the Balkans for
the month of July so I will be updating this blog with my travels in Serbia,
Kosovo and Bosnia! See you in July!
