First day in CPI

05/03/2011

Hola a todos!!! Oups... Time for some English!

Today the alarm clock was at 8:15am but I woke up an hour before... Balance of the night...11hours' sleep were enough for me AND for the mostiquoes who bit me 13 times...

When I went out of my room a nice surprise was waiting for me: Maria had made a breakfast  for me and everything was ready on the table: fesh orange juice and a plate with pineapple, melon, watermelon, banana and papaye...all ready to eat! What could I ask more? It was better than in a five-star hotel!

Maria came in my room to announce me good news: I would not have to get lost in the town trying to find my way to the CPI: A friend of hers was going to drive me there! So nice! I arrived a bit in advance at 9:35am instead of 10am, I prefered to be in advance than to be late! I had an appointment with Muni. She called 15 minutes later to tell me that she had missed the bus and would not be there before 11am. It was a great news for me because I had to do some shopping and took advantage of that time to do so. As the little shop in front of the school didn't accept Dollars but only colones I went to the city center to find some. It was a good opportunity to visit a bit more the city.

Old coffee fields

After 25 minutes, going in every direction, I found a bank...but it was closed for renovation: lucky me! Fortunately they had intalled an ATM machine in a truck [yes yes...a truck :)] next to the bank. It was a strange feeling to withdraw 20 000 at once.... well ok it was 20 000 colones so around 30€ but whatever it was still funny...or at least I found it funny :P

Back at the school, I was able to do my shopping and discover a bit more about the school. At 11:30am Muni arrived at the school and she gave me a lot of information about everything here in CPI. We got through the basic and important information and then we moved on to see all the information about the group of tonight. I'm going to work 2 weeks with her and after will be on my own! Looking back at all the information she gave me....I'm a bit scared!

We went to have lunch together and I had "casados" which is a typical meal of Costa Rica. The name refers to the eternal "marriage" of its components, consisting of rice and beans, meat or fish, fried plantains, and a carrot, tomato, and cabbage salad. I had a Chicken Casado and it was ENORMOUS and delicious!

Muni is a very nice person and I'm looking forward to working with her. Right now, we have free time, she got back to her host family and have a nap and I took advantage of that time to go back to the CPI, read the information and give news! We are going to meet again at 7 to go picking the group up at the airport. Then it will be dinner and check in at the hotel!

Tomorrow is another day and it will be MONTEVERDE Day :P See you all there!

Pura Vida: Costa Rica here I am!

04/04/2011

The flight from Houston to San Jose was quite relaxing. This time I didn't have a personal screen but it was about a screen for 3 rows. I was well placed to see and enjoy the movie: "Megamind" and it was quite funny, especially as my neighbor has the same sense of humor and we were sometimes the only ones to laugh. They served us the breakfast: a pancake filled with an omelette, some pieces of fruit and a muffin. I slept nearly all the remaining time.

The Customs went smoothly, only one queue to check passport and answer the same question I had everywhere: "why did you fly from Spain to Costa-Rica through the USA and why do you come from Colombia to Germany?". She then asked me how long I was staying in Costa Rica and I didn't know what to answer. Should I say up to the 15^th of August but going out 3 days in the middle to have a new visa or should I just say a fake date? Well I opted for the first one saying that I didn't know exactly when I was leaving but that it was taken care by the CPI. She didn't ask me more question and put "90days" on the visa. 10 minutes later I had my suitcase and was going out of the airport. There was the driver of CPI waiting for me with a nice welcoming sign.

Going out of the airport was quite a shock: I was expected a cloudy sky and 20 degrees from my last check on the web...and SURPRISE: Shining sun and 29 degree...I won't complain lol but it's true that in jeans, walking shoes, T-shirt, light jacket and jacket...you start to get hot quite quickly :P

The journey from the airport to "my" family was quite quick, it took about 15 minutes by car and Alexis (the driver) was making fun of me because I was looking everywhere, amazed by the countryside.

 

I arrived at the family's house where I'll be each time I will work at CPI Heredia. Maria is a very kind person leaving alone. I have a big room with a double bed, wardrobe, desk and private bathroom with a gigantic shower!!

 

Asking her if she could explain to me how to go from the house to the CPI, she offered me to show me the way. I was hoping to take a shower and change to something a bit lighter but we went right away to the Center. It was a nice ride and a good way to know each other. On the way back, she showed me a shortcut, passing in front of a friend's house. We then entered the house and had a Guanabana's juice which was very good and refreshing.

  

Coming back home, a nice cold shower and a 2 hours'nap were well welcomed! PURA VIDA Jajaja

At 6pm it was time to have dinner. She made me taste a speciality: corn pancakes filled with meat and tomato sauce. It was excellent. The dessert called "mosaico" (mosaic cake) was a bit strange and very English: white gelatine cake with a lot of small and colorful chunks of gelatine.

We then watch TV for a short time: news and a tv series while waiting for Jeffrey to come. Jeffrey was the Spanish assitant in my mum's high school some years ago. He is now a French teacher in San Jose. He helped me a lot before coming, giving me some pieces of advice, information, explanation...etc I brought him some cheese in my suitcase... It was a...hum let's say... "pleasant" smell when I first openned my bag once in Costa Rica! Of course, I didn't think bringing him "normal" cheese...of course not... I brought him Munster, Roquefort, Camembert and Brie de Meaux... Nice smelly mix!

Bed time at 08:30pm...