Scarred

This post was going to be me freaking out about my day. I'm still freaked out by it, but after talking to my host mom, and my friend Alannah I've calmed down and now feel like it's better to write about my day. Also, I need to mention some things from yesterday. I couldn't post last night since all of Heredia lost Internet for the evening...

Some things from Wednesday:

My drawing teacher told me that my intentions are good and that he can see that I'm trying really hard! He sounded really happy about it so I think I can count it as an accomplishment and perhaps even a compliment. He showed my drawing to the class to show that people need to work harder if a Gringa who hasn't taken Drawing 1 can do better than some of the Ticos that have taken it. I felt kind of awkward about the situation, but at the same time perspective is so hard and I really did try hard. It's still difficult and sometimes my drawings look right. And the other times...

After drawing worked on a project and then headed to this store called Runners. I registered for 5 races!! I'm so excited! I received two shirts already for the upcoming ones. There cool, kinda big, but cool. Picture below. All of the races go towards great causes and I'm pumped. They're all about 6-7miles which is what I've been running right now anyways, so I don't have to worry about anything. There's this other Gringa here who runs for her college. She wants me to run with her on the weekends because she can't get motivated. I hope she doesn't kick my butt with her speed...My dad can tell you I'm not one to be rushed. I'm not slow exactly...but steady....steady is a nice word.

My day today:

My day began really well. My group gave our presentation on the government today and it went really well. I saw a mime show that was on our campus. I also had a piece of free cake. Then I went to the nursing home.

I get to this nursing home with high hopes. I don't know why I always do that. I always go into things with such high hopes, so high that it really is naive. Oh well. Anyways, I get there and this place seems like a century behind the U.S. in terms of medical care. It was also INSANELY depressing. There was this huge confusion between the staff and I at first. They thought I already had some nursing experience and it took a bit to finally get them to understand that my major is nursing but I really have NO experience whatsoever, I just want to work with people and practice spanish. Well then they thought that I wanted to work on my medical spanish, and talk with just the nurses. So I spent the day "job shadowing" this nurse and doing some tasks.

The reason why they thought that I wanted to practice with them and not the actually people living there is because the people living there couldn't talk. Ok, so some could, a little. Most of the people were confined to their beds, strapped down in some way, and definitely not capable of holding a conversation with me. These people were missing more than their minds, but an arm here and a leg there as well. I wanted to cry. I almost did, twice. Here's why:

-The nurse had me helping her change bandages on people with awful wounds, moving people who couldn't move themselves, and I also fed a women milk through this tube that went up her nose. I began to think about how awful everything was, and began to wonder about my own future. These people weren't that old. I really don't think being in your 70s is old. Do the majority of people end up like that? Is that what growing old means? Am I going to be that woman who requires milk to be squeezed down a nose tube? It all hit me so fast. The tears were growing, my breathing was getting faster...I knew I needed to get ahold of myself. I swear, the only thing that got me to calm down was thinking about my own grandparents, especially my great grandma. If a woman, who will be 100 in December, can live in an apartment, still china paint, play cards, and tell stories from the past in her old age then there is some hope. Also, there's a possibility we're sharing genes right now.

-After I overcame that first bout of emotion, a second one came on strong about 20 minutes later. Suddenly I was wondering if I had chosen the right major. I couldn't handle this nursing home and it scared me. If I can't handle these people in this nursing home, then what can I handle? I couldn't get the thought out of my head. It's still bothering me.

I was really depressed on my trip home. I needed to return the Lion King that I rented, so I stopped by the video store. I saw Happy Feet sitting on the shelf looking like a pretty promising mood booster. I've only seen it once but I know that at one part the penguin's sing a Queen song. I couldn't think of anything better in that moment than penguins singing Queen. So it came home with me. It was one of the three things that cheered me up. The second was my host mom.

She told me I should never have gone to that place and that it's a horrible place for someone like me. She said that people are just abandoned there and that the place is not well kept. I did get 10 mosquito bites while I was there. She told me I need to tell my ISEP coordinator that I will not be going back.

The third thing that made me feel better was Alannah. I was desperate to talk to someone after everything and she was just a phone call away. It really was nice. She helped me think through some things too.

That was my day.

Crooked

Everything went well today except for two things:

1. The first the my massage professor told me today was that I have scoliosis... 

2. Amber, my dog here, ran out the gate when I came home and I had to literally chase her in the streets.  

I'll talk about the good before I continue talking about the bad. My massage class today was great. We learned some more techniques and it's great! I guess I have an exam coming up and part of the exam is that we have to do our newly learned techniques on our professor for 5minutes... I really need to practice before then. I talked to my professor after class about wanting to volunteer somewhere. He said he knows a ton of health people in the area and can find something for me. I also found out that he runs half marathons! He told me about this half marathon that's in Tamarindo. I've heard about it but I don't know if I'll do it. It's a long drive, really hot, and I haven't ran over 7 miles in a month and a half. Yikes.  

After massage I went to talk to Ivelina, my ISEP coordinator, about volunteering somewhere also. She wrote down my schedule and said that she should be able to get something worked out. So, I will for sure be volunteering somewhere since I have two people working on it for me. Sweet! I'm excited. I also picked up my $25 dollar glasses. I put a photo below if anyone's interested. 

I met up with my language exchange partner, Karen, after that. It was so great!!!! She gave me this bracelet which is really nice and sweet of her. It's the colors of Costa Rica! I was so surprised and happy when she gave it to me. It was so unexpected, and so nice. We hung out for two hours and it was all great!  

After I hung out with Karen I took the bus back to Santa Lucia, where I live. I visited the new AmPm that just opened. It's just like a tiny grocery store. They were selling standard Campbell's chicken noodle soup for 2025 colones...that's roughly $4.50 for one can...Isn't it about 1 dollar in the US? It wasn't even the souped up chunky version either. Just typical plain Campbell's chicken n noodles. Crazy. Then I went to the video rental store next door and rented my first movie! I rented the Lion King for $2. I've been watching it on my laptop. It's still hard to understand everything but atleast I know the story.  

When I got home today I opened the door and Amber just took off into the street. Now the bad news begins. She would NOT come back. Crazy American girl had to run around the streets yelling random Spanish phrases hoping Amber would respond to them. She didn't. The people in the streets were even helping me yell after her but she was literally running away from everyone. I don't know what got into her. I guess she was feeling a little angsty. I had to call my host sister and she ran from the house with a leash. I finally had cornered Amber.  

The even worse news: my professor telling me I have scoliosis?? Great. He said when I get back to the U.S. I can get some physical therapy tests done and they can tell me certain exercises and other things that will help. Great.  

 

They have wooden sides! I'm sure it's just plastic...but it looks like wood atleast.  

 

The bracelet from Karen!! 

 

The delicious plantains I cooked in Nosara...among other delicious things

 

In the act of cooking the plantains  

 

aah, the perfect breakfast. I knew my day was going to be perfect when I uncovered this beautiful breakfast this morning (my meals are always covered with another plate due to bugs, but it's nice to have an unveiling every morning). My burrito has one fried egg, avocados, rice, and beans. It's the best. I also had a ton of fruit this morning. Usually it's not this much and my burrito isn't so full...I think it's because I went running this morning. I haven't for a week since I've been sick. I guess I need to run more to earn more breakfast. =) 

Weekend Wonder

I was extremely fortunate this weekend. EXTREMELY. I had an incredible weekend that I still can't believe was real. Why? Because I feel so lucky that I got to enjoy everything that I did. Here's why.

WARNING: This is about to be a long post.

My friend Alexandra invited me and my other friend, Alannah, to tag along with her and her friend Jonathan to stay in Guanacaste at his parent's house there. I figured I shouldn't pass up the opportunity for free room and board and Jonathan has a car....which means no smelly hot bus ride for twice the amount of time.  So we leave on Friday, around 10am. The trip to Guanacaste by car is about 4 hours, not bad, I bring everyone the last of the brownies, some huge mandarin oranges from the tree at my house, and of course my chatter. It was an awesome car ride.

We reach the house that Johnathon grew up in. THE HOUSE IS AMAZING. Here's why:

The History

Johnathan's parents are both Yoga instructors who moved to Costa Rica over 20 years ago after working in New York City. They moved because Johnathan's dad was so upset, and infuriated when he found out that the head guru that he had so much love and respect for had actually been sleeping around with some of the students. So they had had enough and up and left. They moved to Guanacaste and formed this Yoga institute where people can learn to teach Yoga, or retreat there for a month-many months, and just do Yoga. Apparently his parents are pretty big Hippies, they have every sort of religion represented in their house from the Virgin Mary to Ganesha the Hindu elephant god. So I find myself at a Yoga Institute that has a beautiful section for Yoga and Jonathan's parents beautiful home. I'm of course attaching some photos.  The Yoga Institute is called the Nosara Yoga Institute. (Nosara is the name of the town we stayed in)

So we've arrived at this hippie realm of amazement. We're greeted with the cutest golden lab ever, his name is Pepe, and lunch that has already been prepared for us....talk about spoiled. It was great food. Everyone in the area it seems is vegetarian, so all of the food was super fresh and super healthy. Their house is chalk full of wonderful, beautiful, nice things. There kitchen is pretty high class and filled with all kinds of food that I love. Everything was Le Crueset too...one pot is over 200$....yeah we're talking high class here. It was great. They also had this weird pH water balancing machine? I don't know but the pH of my water was 9.5 for three days....I got to cook though, a little. One morning I cooked pumpkin pancakes with craisins for everyone. They loved them! A different morning we ate leftovers and I cooked up some plantains!  

The beach is literally a 1-2 minute golf cart ride from their home and it has to be my favorite beach so far. The water only went up to our bellies, the waves were wonderful and not dangerous, and the beach had a maximum of 20 people on it. All of the people who live there are either locals, other Yoga instructors, or other Americans just trying to escape life....basically everyone is really cool, really chill.....and a hippie.  

My friends and I did two Yoga Flow classes this weekend. They were great. I'm sore from the last one. If anyone is under the impression that Yoga is easy, they are greatly mistaken. Restorative Yoga is the easy one, it's just mainly relaxation, but Yoga Flow? Whew! It can get pretty difficult, but everyone should try it! You feel so amazing afterwards.  

This weekend was mainly just a bunch of relaxing, swimming (oh yeah they have this amazing, super deep, saltwater pool too), playing games, watching movies, going to the beach, in general just hanging out. It was sweet. I got a little sad during parts and here's why. 

-We went to this great restaurant that's owned by a woman who is a Buddhist Monk in India for half of the year. She lived in France for 20 years and then decided she wanted to become a monk. She did, and was there for many years, but then decided she wanted to do it only half the time and the other half I guess she wanted to be in Costa Rica at this tiny restaurant cooking AMAZING food. Once again, it was all vegetarian. I split an Avocado-Hummus sandwich with Gouda, Tomato, and Lettuce, on just baked wheat herb foccacia bread. I also split a seaweed sushi wrap. They were all so mouth-wateringly good. For dessert, the buddhist Monk of course makes her own gelatos, and I had 1 scoop of coffee and 1 scoop of Dark Mayan Chocolate with cocoa nibs....oh and I split a vegan chocolate chip cookie. Oh and the woman gave me a complimentary glass of carrot-goji berry-ginger juice. SO GOOD. Anyways, it was all delicious but it all reminded me of Seattle, which reminds me of Peter and Kelsey and the good times we had in Seattle. I miss you guys!   

We also went to another great restaurant where I had sweet potato fries, a handmade black bean burger with avocado and at every table they have Lizano salsa which is only made in Costa Rica. I drenched my burger in it...it was Heaven. I also had a quinoa salad....Yes...again, I was in Heaven. If only it wasn't four hours from where I live. They had a lot of other stuff I wanted to try, as did the Buddhist monk restaurant.   

Here are some photos: 

 

The amazing salt water pool

 

Religious symbols were everywhere! 

 

The entrance to Jonathan's parent's room

The entrance to our room (which was Jonathan's when he was growing up)

 

The tub that was connected to our room....

 

This photo doesn't do the bed justice. We slept three girls in this bed and still had a TON of room....I don't know what size it was...it was the widest bed I've ever seen.

 

Amazing chairs that were on the balcony of the house...they had two more on the opposite side of the house. So comfy. 

 

aaw Pepe!!

 

This is Jonathan. 

 

All of the big trees surrounding the property said "Shri" followed by the name of the tree. This is the Guanacaste tree. Shri is apparently a word used in Sanskrit for a most highly respected person. 

 

I thought this tree was cool since it looks pregnant

 

Same pregnant tree

 

This is where we did our Yoga classes! All of the instructors were really nice

 

A giant frog in the house! 

 

Pepe

Eyes

My mama tica is making me wear socks in the house now.... She blames my sickness on the cold tile. No one goes barefoot here ever. Such a shame. That's just one more thing to look forward to when I come home. My eye is really inflamed and red again... It was like that when I woke up and it continues to show its fury... I even wore my glasses all day today.

Speaking of glasses.... I purchased a pair of prescription glasses (with no glare lenses!) for $25 today. Puedes decir barato??? I purchased them because I really don't like taking my nice glasses on my weekend trips in the rainforest, beaches, hostels... So for 25$ I don't have to worry about it.

I don't really have much to report today. My friend had a case of travelers diarrhea this week and was so appreciative when I wasn't disgusted by it. She said, "Oh yeah you want to be a nurse, I'm sure gross stuff doesn't bother you." It used to bother me but after dating someone as open as Caleb for three years things start to lose their disgusting charm... Haha I joke. Kind of. Sorry Caleb, I love you. : )

Oh! I received two cards this week from Julie Sommers and Anita!! Thank you SO much. I love them and put them on my bulletin board!

Miss you all,
Sara

Quick Post

I give this link my nod of approval:
7 things that the Majority of people do Wrong

The reason for this link: My Spanish teacher told me that it's common for Ticos to brush their teeth 5-6 times a day. They're obsessed. I was talking about the tooth brushing with my friend Alexandra and we started talking about the old debate: brushing before you eat breakfast, or after. Now, Peter, Kelsey, Caleb, and I all had a mini debate/talk about this topic in Seattle. It was a tie Schamber's vs. Lee Sommers. We never thought to check the internet for the answer....Both Peter and I prefer to brush after breakfast. Turns out we're wrong. Goodwork Kelsey and Caleb! You've been doing it right this whole time haha. I also appreciate the section on childbirth that's talked about within that link too. Read if you want!

Mi Amigo Tico

This is Oscar (one of my few Tico friends)

He invited me yesterday to eat lunch with him and his tica friend. I was pretty excited since obviously I want to meet more Costa Rican people. When Oscar met up with me before lunch he told me that instead of just one Tica....there would be three. This made me a little nervous. I was worried that with that many Spanish speaking girls I would just be left there to catch snip-its of whatever they were talking about. Well, it was kind of the opposite. After it took Oscar 6 minutes to warm up his food in the microwave we went to meet his three tica friends (Oscar has a lot of friends that are girls since his major changed from aviation to preschool education...long story). We get there and only two girls have arrived, Gabby and Alanna. I spoke right away so they would know that I wasn't completely incompetent in Spanish...I told them some funny story about me embarrassing myself. They laughed and said a couple of things but then it was just complete silence....no one spoke....for a good 5 minutes...One girl started painting her nails. I actually got to watch paint dry...

Thankfully a little later the last girl, Ellie?, showed up and she was SO much better. She asked me the typical questions about where I was from, where I've visited...and then she talked to Oscar about teaching preschoolers. However, she constantly made eye contact with me and she actually included me in the conversation. I was so grateful. That concludes my awkward lunch story.  I'm supposed to hang out with more of his friends Sunday. I really hope the results are better, he told me I can invite some of my American friends. It would be nice to have some gringa sidekicks (they make the best security blanket...which is kind of bad.)

I'm feeling better today. I had my drawing class and dance class today. Just writing that sentence just now makes me think, yet again, that I should be doing something more. I think I'm going to talk to my Spanish professor tomorrow about somehow volunteering at the hospital or a nursing home in Heredia. My Spanish needs the practice, I would love the person-to-person interaction, and if it's medical related it'll help with my major. I would love to job shadow too. Anything... We'll see what my profe says.

I'm excited for this weekend! I'll keep everyone posted on the events. For awhile I was starting to think that every weekend something bad was going to happen. After last weekend, I feel like things will be just fine. Hopefully I'll have some good photos too!

Buenas Noches,
Your Gringa in CR,
Sara

Sick

I can't blame the cats anymore.... I'm actually sick. My whole body is so sore for no good reason other than sickness... And my nose hates me as does my head. I was feeling exceptionally lousy around 3pm today and managed to make it to the loving hut where they took good care of me. :)

I had hot tea, fresh fruit....and a teeny tiny cookie... In Spanish they call tiny cookies galletitas! The regular sized cookie is just a galleta.

I woke up at 5:30am today to make guacamole for Steve's arrival. I was searching in the fridge wondering where my avocados went and then I see that my host mom had already started cutting them and the onions! I help her chop the rest of the stuff and we made it together! It was really nice we talked about the differences in American and costa rican food. Everyone LOVED the guacamole and brownies. Everyone was so crazy about the food.

Here are the photos of my loving hut food and Steve's arrival to class today!
Ps sorry for the lousy photo quality I used my iPod!

Massage

The highlight of my day today: Massage class!!

This morning we finally got to learn some massage techniques! It was kind of hard to learn in Spanish but it worked out. We literally practiced the entire two hours of class. I learned several different techniques....which I need to practice because the last one was kind of difficult. It's like this cupping thing with your hands and then you pitter patter down someones leg. It's hard to explain...and kind of hard to do perfectly. It's also hard to practice since a person has to be laying down. That makes it a lot more inconvenient. My friend and I walked around a lot this morning to find the massage oil that we needed for the class....unfortunately it made my nose even worse.

At my mama tica's sister's house yesterday they had two cats...I went to bed last night with my throat so swollen and sore. In the morning, and now, I couldn't stop sneezing and my nose won't stop running! Que horrible! I've scared so many Ticos today with my sneezes...they're pretty loud...like scream-sneezes...oh well.

My massage teacher gave us all handouts describing the different massage techniques. Tomorrow I plan to make sure I understand every single word...which means a lot of translating tomorrow. After class my friend Alannah and I went to some markets and stores to find ingredients for brownies....and more guacamole (I can't believe how cheap the ingredients are!). Since Steve is coming back we went to my friend Jyl's house and made brownies for him! I 'm also making guacamole for him in the morning. We all have class together at 10am.  

Not much else happened today....Alannah and I got caught in a terrible thunderstorm/sheets of rain...but the highlight was my massage class!

Hasta Luego,
Sara

El Amor de Costa Rica+More

The love in Costa Rica is outstanding. I feel like that sounds cliche but it's so true. I have seen so many different kinds of love in Costa Rica; it's so beautiful. Here are some examples of what I mean:
-A mother stroking her childs hair
-the love that all of the ticos have for their country
-a guy putting his arm around his girlfriend and kissing her on the cheek
-a man/woman offering an older man or women their seat on the bus
-the way families interact in large groups (loud, lots of laughing, lots of hugging, lots of pictures)
-the way friends are more than just friends, almost brother and sister
-people talking and playing with their dogs
-Women breastfeeding with the whole family present
-people selling fruit at open markets
-family dinners

There's so many more examples...it's just amazing how obvious it is here. It's something that I already know I'm going to miss so much. It's going to make coming back to the states that much harder. The people love differently here...or so it seems. I think it's perfect.

My day today: Great! Again!

I did a walk today with one of my host dogs, Amber. I wanted to walk with Bruno...but like I said, they all hate Bruno. He loves me, but shakes and cries when my host mom goes near him....

Anyways, the walk was to benefit the pets of Costa Rica since there are so many strays. The walk was a 2.5K that ended in the central park of Heredia! There was water along the way for the dogs...and some of those dogs relied on that water. So many obese dogs haha. Some were hyperventilating and had to be driven to the end...A lot of the small dogs were wearing outfits. I managed to get two photos of a dog in a dress before my camera died =/ Luckily my friend Alannah met me at the end of the race and took some photos for me. There was a HUGE great dane that participated. He was beautiful. The walk really made me miss Millie, the new addition to our dog family. She would have been much better, and easier to walk with. Amber and I did finish second though. We actually started in the very back...because I didn't want her mixing in with all of the dogs since she had been previously freaking out. However, Amber wanted to walk in front of everyone instead. I didn't realize there would be a prize for finishing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd but there was! Amber and I won a bag of dog food! Which I got to carry the 20minute walk home. haha no worries. The registration fee was only $8, and with that $8 I received a tshirt, a bandana for Amber, a bag of dog food, watermelon and bananas at the end, and water along the way for Amber! It was probably the best $8 ever spent.

After the walk I came back to the house, showered really quick, and then we spent a lot of time at my mama tica's sister's house. It was cool the whole family was there to celebrate mother's day. I talked to her husband about the government, the police, taxes, the president...things I would never talk about but I figured I needed to since I have to do that project on the government. I liked talking with him and he seemed to enjoy it too. He told me my Spanish was really good! That's two Spanish compliments in two days! My heads about to get big with all of these Spanish compliments! We took some family photos before we left too.

After we left we went to the hospital to visit my papa tico. This is the first time I've gotten to visit him. I haven't seen him in what feels like forever. =/ Only one visitor is allowed at a time, and you're only allowed 30minutes. So after my mama tica visited him, I went next. I have NEVER seen such a happy person in a hospital. He hides his condition so well. He was clearly tired but he had the best smile the entire time and kept telling me it wasn't too bad since he had a great view of the city, and a TV. He shared his room with 5 other people who apparently love him too. There was this one American guy there who has a getaway home in Costa Rica and his permanent home in New Orleans. I guess he had a heart attack and found himself in a Costa Rican hospital....not being able to understand or speak any Spanish...My host dad told me he had a lot of difficulties trying to understand the medical things going on and even if he wanted sugar in his coffee...He was pretty happy to talk to me haha. He told me that he really respected my papa tico and that he is a great person. I translated what the man said to my papa and he just waved it off haha. My mama tica told me he is actually worse...He has to have an operation tomorrow, they're putting some sort of tubing in his body it sounds like? Running from his arm to his heart? I don't know much about it. He's being transfered to the hospital in San Jose in the morning for it. I hope it helps him get better quicker...and not worse. He told me his chest always hurts. How terrible....

My dinner was delicious again tonight....My favorite meal that my mama tica makes for me. Fresh juice, fish, rice, beans, plantains, fresh cut tomatoes and cucumber. Delicious.

 

Schamber and Amber! --->Amber sounds like Schamber with the Spanish accent =)

 

The food that we won! They made us pose for a victory photo haha

 

After the race with my mama tica!  

(she told me she likes her hair in this photo hahaha)

 

The family! (Well the women....)

 

More women! 

Natural Wonders

A naturally wonderful day....one of the best days ever.

This morning I woke up and started to get ready for the mountains, volcano, and zoo! However, my mama tica didn't realize I was leaving so early and forgot to make me breakfast. No problem though, I just grabbed some bananas. She felt SO terrible when I got home...she was so concerned!

Our bus left at 7:15am and we got to the Volcano around 9:30am? It was pretty chilly, but so refreshing... it felt wonderful. The volcano was absolutely amazing and breath taking...I have photos below of everything today. We walked around the Volcano park for awhile and then headed this resort for lunch and some more sightseeing. The resort was so amazing. I wasn't expecting it to have so much but there was a huge buffet, huge waterfalls, a jungle cat exhibit, a butterfly exhibit, and aviary, a hummingbird section, snake exhibit, frog exhibit, orchid exhibit....and I know there was more. It was so nice. The waterfalls were absolutely breathtaking. I can't even describe the feeling that I felt looking at something so tremendous and so loud! It was very humbling, that's for sure. So amazing...the orchids were also super beautiful and the animals as well. However the impact of the waterfalls was much greater. So fantastic.

Also my Spanish professor went with us today to everything and she told me that my Spanish is getting a lot better!! I was really happy. It's so weird my Spanish can be really on the ball....or really bad. I'm not sure why. I love my Spanish professor and it's so easy to talk with her....we talked about everything today from Volcanoes to Meg Ryan's nasty case of botox. She also called me a little girl today. I wore leggings today (due to the "cold" weather) and I slide down this super slick long wooden table to greet my ISEP coordinator, Ivelina. I thought I was cool. Apparently it was childish... I'll take it. I bought a Costa Rican charm today for my charm bracelet! (which is pulsera in espanol!) It's a little Costa Rican gecko...in honor of my roommate. Also, I went to the gold museum in San Jose and this sculpture was in the exhibit! So cool. I think I have more photos than words at the moment so here you go!

 

AMAZING

 

hahaha That's me and my ISEP coordinator posing Titanic-style 

  

Some of the girls and I from my group at the wonderful resort!

 

Love this =)

 

This was HUGE

 

A different waterfall, look how small I am in the photo!!

 

I went back to the oxes to whisper in there ears. The man that takes care of them enjoyed my Spanish ox talk. I first asked them (in Spanish) if they speak Spanish or English (the man told me Spanish) so then I complimented the ox on his handsomeness, his beautiful hair, his eyes...everything, all in Spanish! The man was laughing a lot. I think I said everything right though!

 

I LOVED these orchids...there were so many more too

 

I tried for like 5 minutes to get a hummingbird to land on my finger...I got pretty close a couple times

 

The shyest monkey I've ever met!

 

My little lizard charm in honor of my new roommate! 

There are so many more photos than this of course. There all on my computer/facebook but it would take forever to post them here. I hope everyone liked the photos though! It was a great day today. Tomorrow is another even earlier day and it should be great! More photos and stories tomorrow! 

Buenas Noches!