Hola amigos~~~

Estoy super en Costa Rica! I've made it to my home for the next 4 weeks...Quepos, Costa Rica. But not without some typical traveling frustrations that always seem to haunt me. My 30+ hour flight landed me in San Jose without my luggage, lots of paperwork to fill out as a result, and without the shuttle bus to my hostel. Nevertheless, I met some great people on my flights. One being a surfer representing the U.S. in the World Surf competition. Pathetic brush with pathetic greatness? I think so Nell and Kate!

I waited around in San Jose for 3 days until my luggage arrived (all in tact) and found it to be a pretty dirty, scary city. Not the best place a 'solo', American girl wants to find herself in for a long period of time anyway. Getting the bus ticket to Quepos was another frustration but thankfully my taxi driver turned out to be an angel.

The bus ride was absolutely beautiful....words cannot describe properly. My head never left the window the entire 3 1/2 hour ride. It was a bit rainy/misty, giving the lush, green countryside its proper jungle look.

Here are a few of my observation thus far:
-I've left a land where curves are found disgusting, where bare shoulders are a "no-no", to enter a land of many curves...curves that have no shame and bare all. This is probably an appropriate transition before going home as most people here are not fat, just chubby. :)
-Costa Ricans, called Ticos, are generally friendly, smiley and helpful.
-Hot showers do not exist.
-I don't remember near as much Spanish as I thought I would. (Molly study hard!)
-I'm as pale and white as they come. No longer a sign of beauty like in Korea but more probably a sign of weakness.
-My body cannot handle average amounts of cheese anymore, nor do I find it all that appealing.

As I was typing this I met two girls who will be doing the TESOL course with me starting Monday, one who just happens to be living with the same host family! Bright and early tomorrow I'll be on a rafting excursion with some other people from my hostel. I'm ready to get out into the exotic nature that surrounds me!

Out of battery power, I'll try to update in a few days!

xoxoxo