Geckos Chirp

I am learning so much already about Costa Rica and love love love it!

Today started so smoothly, with a yummy breakfast and good coffee. Laughter and smiles were abundant with all my new mates.

At 8:00 AM we all met for our official tour of Cuidad Quesada. The city has a population of 30,000 and our CCS home base is right in the middle of it. Our walking tour was only about 45 minutes but we saw a lot and didn't really have to go very far. We saw a view of Arenal Volcano, the parqe, the banco (very important), the mercados, the best ice cream stand, the big Catholic Church in the center of town (oh my did they have a big Jesus! I have to go back when Mass is not happening and get a good picture.), and then we saw another Volcano view. All within 1/2 mile of walking. Pretty great! After getting back we had a decently long meeting regarding the rules, dos and don't, of our stay here and our work. There were some very good topics discussed and lots of useful information.

Then it was lunch. OMG... the food is good. I may get sick of rice and beans, but so far I'm really enjoying it and I'm not having issues with gas (as some people might think I would be---me included). Maybe it's because everything is so fresh and tasty and we eat outside... whatever it is, I'm glad to be fed well.

In the afternoon we had small chats about our placements. I'm really excited about mine. I learned that no one at my placements speaks any English. No better way than to learn than getting thrown into it, right? Plus body language is underrated and I'm pretty good figure things out that way.

Although I do the opportunity to take an hour long class, twice a week, with my fellow No Habla Espanol mates to learn some. So along with good food, good people, nice accommodations, and a good atmosphere, we also have the opportunity to take useful and well taught classes? Rock on! We also can take sign language classes and dance classes. I will most certainly be taking the dance classes. We also have a chance to go on weekly field trips. I believe this week we get to go to a dairy farm. Fabulous!

I have also learned a few random things. I sleep above a bakery. It smells good. too good. There is a pet store across the street. There are puppies barking all the time. Seriously, someone buy the puppies and take them somewhere else to bark PLEASE! I was awoken this morning by barking puppies. Not so awesome, but it was "time" to get up. It was 6 AM. The sun comes up earlier and sets earlier here... or so it seems. By 6 PM I'm hungry for dinner but also ready for bed. Maybe it's the rain plus the darkness but it seems late either way. There are packs of wild dogs all over town. They are funny, dirty, weird, and sad all at the same time. Watch out for crocodiles while swimming in the ocean! I guess it's mating season and male crocs are fighting for turf. The losers swim into the ocean to find another delta. Recently two surfers were attacked. Thankfully not near where I'll be surfing this weekend (Tamarindo!) Catholics are abundant in Costa Rica. Not really a surprise, considering it's a Latin based country; but I was interested to learn that it's the official religion of the country, written into their Constitution and it's taught in the schools (that means prayer in school and no talk of condoms or birth control... can you say unwanted teen pregnancies anyone?)

Lastly, I also learned that Geckos chirp. who knew? not me. I think it's cute though. I'll have to find one and take a picture, so I can put a face with the chirp. Pura Vida!