Classes!

Written: 11:53pm Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Buenas dias!
My classes are so wonderful. The teachers are really cool and the students really want to be here. Even the 8AM class is fun (go figure). I have Spanish M-F 8-11, Latin American Politics Monday afternoons, followed by Latin American Cuisine, then on Tuesday afternoon I am auditing Tropical Conservation Biology (with many political undertones), Wednesday I will have Latin American Dance (mostly Salsa and Merengue), and finally—on Thursday I may audit a Costa Rican culture class. Whew! It sounds like lots of school, but really is not. It is much more laid back here due to the Pura Vida attitude around here. My beginning Spanish (also teaches culture class) teacher is so interesting, funny and intelligent. He speaks English, Polish, Italian, French, and, of course, Spanish. Amazing. The politics teacher has many valuable things to say, on subjects that I’m very interested in- including US involvement in LA Politics and current issues like Venezuela/Hugo Chavez. The biology teacher is an ex-pat who has been here for 9 years, but never bothered to learn Spanish. Funny. There will be many field trips with that class. There’s not better place to study Tropical Biology than in the tropics!
I will find out about the dance class tomorrow, but some students had it today, and loved it. Several friends will be in that class.
I had such a good dinner tonight- it was a big salad with tomatoes and warm pieces of fried chicken breast on it. Of course, to accompany it, there was rice and beans- although my mom doesn’t serve them every meal like most. After dinner, I finished my homework and Fernando corrected it. I helped him last night to study for an English exam. I can understand most of what my mom says and I am trying to speak as much as possible. I can’t believe it’s been less than a week. Most students feel like this is home and we don’t want to leave! We will see if that is the case in 4 months. Some have never been out of the country or even away from home! Tonight, a student from U.Mass, Derek invited us to a piano bar his host family runs. His dad opened it just for us, so it was really cool. A few professors came by too. I have made friends with 2 students (Agatha, who is Polish, and Tony) from Chicago, so we can root for the Cubbies together! I also made friends with a pre-med student, Lauren from Tulsa. Also Kelly from PA- see picture on the beach at the link to the right.
I am getting a bike tomorrow, it is the best way to get around town and most students have one at this point. I am pretty close to school- about a 15 minute walk- but it’s so hot to walk that far with a backpack. The heat makes us all sleepy in the afternoon. My family is so nice and tries very hard to make it comfortable for me here. The only (very small) thing I don’t like is--- cockroaches. They are only in the bathroom and only at night. But it scares me to go in there if I wake up in the middle of the night. Ewww. However, it is very clean here and my mom tries had to maintain everything. She told me she will do my laundry tomorrow and any day I want.
This weekend is our first group field trip. Because there are so many students, half with go on Saturday and half on Sunday. I’m with the Saturday group with my friends, and most of us will travel together on Sunday to another beach across the gulf, probably Montezuma.
I think I may be adjusting to the heat, or I’ve given up on being cool. Our classrooms have A/C, thankgoodness! I’ve posted a few more photos, so check it out.
Hope everything is going well back home. I would love to have visitors, I think I will extend my stay until the 1st week of January, so come travel with me! (Mom, A. Kathy, Cheryl, Janet—this means you!) ;)

Love to all.