We eventually found a quieter outlet from the ocean that looked like a natural wading pool. It was pretty nice. Strangely enough I only got burnt on the places I put sunscreen on. It's not bad though, thank God.
After the beach we went to this restaurant that was great. I FINALLY found a place with guacamole. People don't make it here but there was a Mexican restaurant in Jaco and I've been craving it for about two weeks. The people who owned the place were super cool and we talked with them for awhile.
But, the best part of my day, and the best part of my trip so far, occurred on the bus returning to my house.
We were waiting for a bus to arrive at the airport in San Jose to get back to Heredia. It was dark, and pouring (the worst combo) and this man was begging money from everyone at the bus stop. He was getting really touchy and kind of forceful with his begging, especially with this one man who works at the airport. The Airport Man managed to shrug him off though and he left us all alone. He turns to me and says, "that man es crazy". Then we all got on the bus and another guy is trying to sell crappy candy for way to much money, going on about how he needs the money, and my friends and I all say no and he calls us "Gringos"Tacanos", which is basically stingy gringos. Thanks a lot, we just met.
Afterwards the Airport Man offers me his seat (which was really nice, it was a long bus ride).
Finally a third man stands up on the bus. He gives a huge speech about how his child is in the hospital and he has no money to help her. He talks about how his jacket, pants, and shoes are broken and falling apart and that he needs money. He says that he doesn't want money for himself, but for his child. He said some more stuff but I missed it. So he goes down the bus aisle just like the man before and the Airport Man gives him money. I was wondering why he gave money to this man and not the rest, because this man seemed kind of full of it too.
I sat here for a minute thinking about it and got the courage to ask him about it. We talked in spanish so I got most of what he said, but I asked him why he gave money to that man but not the rest? He told me that the other men said they wanted the money for themselves. This man said he wanted it for his child and that is something worth giving money for, even if it may not be true. He said only God knows what is true, but that God would want him to help out a man with a family. He talked about how the man has no job, and that he probably will never have another job again. He said some more stuff and it was the coolest conversation ever. We talked about the United States after that and about drug problems, traveling, his life, and me studying abroad. He spoke in English when he could, and I spoke in Spanish. We both wanted the practice.
I guess it doesn't really sound too amazing typing it out. However, it was a really cool experience and it was the most memorable one yet. He didn't call me a stingy gringo or judge me for stumbling on some spanish, but I did get to learn a little about him and his life. And that's great. I think it's way better than any beach or rainforest.... and that's saying a lot.
Buenas Noches!
PS photos tomorrow!
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