Life continues after Rita

Why does it seem like all the national disasters seem to happen when I leave the country? 9/11, Rita, Katrina...I must be good luck for the country. I´m grateful that everyone in my family is safe and sound and heading back home. Hopefully, there wasn´t too much damage to the house. As for me, things are going well here. I´m starting to settle into things and to take things a little slower. I´ve started excercising more frequently now, which I believe is helping with my frame of my mind. I´m hoping to start taking a dance class in October at a place near the school to hone my salsa skills since Lindy Hop in virtually unknown here.
A rather interesting note about Costa Ricans, generally speaking, they can be quite racist - especially against Nicaraguans. I´m not quite sure why there is so much dislike, but the it is intense. I got into a discussion with one of my classes about culture and race and the topic of Nicas came up. One student vehemently told me that she would have nothing to do with Nicas. She couldn´t stand to be around them and would never talk to one. Another told me that there were two problematic people in CR, Nicas and Panamanians. Interesting, considering those are the only two surrounding countries. Then I asked about blacks, etc. They told me they didn´t really have a problem with other races, "as long as they kept their distance" They then proceeded to tell me that CR is very different from the rest of Central America because the people are more educated, whiter, etc. They also said that Europeans don´t shower because they ration water over there. I´m not exactly sure how these statements and "educated" were all said in the same breath. I pointed out that their statements were quite racist, but they wouldn´t change their opinion. The ignorance of these statements just amazes me considering that people have cable and internet, etc.
As for my love life, I don´t really have one. I´m not sure I want to date a Tico considering what I now know about their attitudes towards foreigners. Hopefully, I´ll meet one that is foreigner friendly. I made another weekly trip to Qbico last night to try and talk to that waiter again. I didn´t really talk to him and alos made a complete fool of myself near the end. He gave me the receipt to sign, and I proceeded to try and take the "cap" off a pen that didn´t have one. Just call me "Señorita Smooth." Anyway, not much happening here. This bimester is about to finish up at the end of October. I think we have a few holidays coming up that I´m looking forward to. Other than that, not much going on in this part of the world.

I probably should be planning right now...

Sigh, I´ve been staring at the textbook for a good hour trying to come up with a creative way to teach "extreme" adjectives. The book has a pretty boring lesson about an actor named "Brad Pick." Obviously they were pretty bored too when they had to write that part of the book and couldn´t come up with a more creative name. I´m sure I probably know more than I ever thought I would about English grammar. It´s not too bad though because it helps me learn my Spanish grammar, which is seriously lacking in many areas. Surprisingly, there are a lot of similarities between the two.
Went out last night with some of the teachers from the school and some new friends - none Tico I have to admit. The new friends just happened to be three good looking lawyers, two from the States and one from Mexico. Lucky me... Anyway, we went to place called La Caribeña, which is a salsa place and restaurant in Zapote. It´s located right in front of a huge field where they have an open air market on the weekends and also Christmas festivities. The place has a nice vibe with some terrific "rice and beans." Rice and beans is not just "rice and beans," it´s actually a dish with rice, beans, coconut milk, and other spices. It can be somewhat confusing because Ticos eat another dish called gallo pinto which is also rice and beans, but without the coconut milk.
Afterwards, I hung out with the lawers and convinced them to go to this place called Qbico which is a lounge/bar right next to work. I think this is the nicest place I´ve been to while I´ve been here. It has very urban decor and a nice relaxed vibe. It´s also got a really cute waiter who works there. His name is Douglas (pronounced Dooglas). I´ve been trying to find out if he has a girlfriend, since pretty much every guy in CR has one, but I can´t quite get up the nerve to say more than "Pilsen - michelada, por favor." Pilsen is the name of a local beer and a michelada is basically lime juice in a glass with salt around the rim. It makes beer taste pretty damned good, I have to admit. Anyway, he´s seems like a pretty nice guy, although I wouldn´t really know since I don´t talk to him all that much... I mean how do you go from asking for a beer to asking whether someone has a girlfriend? You don´t. I guess I´ll just have to stick to going there every Friday, ordering my Pilsen, and smiling shyly up at him in the hopes that he´ll get the message. Other than that, nothing else new....

Mixed feelings

Wow...It´s been a while since I´ve been on here. So far things are going okay. I´m still suffering brom culture shock I have to admit. It´s been quite interesting so far because I´m working at British School and living with Costa Ricans. I think I´ve met maybe two other Americans this entire time. Strange considering that CR is supposedly full of Gringos.... I´ve been struggling with a lot of things - adjusting to a 25 hour teaching week, which means about a 50 hour work week.
I think I´ve decided that kids aren´t for me, although I have to admit that there´s not a big difference in personalities when you go from children to adults. Adults are just slightly better behaved. What amazes me though is the superiority complex I get with a lot of my students. I have very intelligent students in my class who act worse than my kiddies- doctors, lawyers, etc. who think that they are the best thing that´s ever happened. They have these expressions on their faces that say, ¨Is that all? Well, I´m done. I´m bored, and this stuff is easy.¨ It´s really annoying because they think their English is impeccable and that they are much better than they really are, which means some irritating moments for me. I´ll chalk it up to another good learning experience. I seem to be having a lot of those....
As for adjusting to life in CR, I have to admit that I´ve found it hard to get to know Ticos on personal level. Although most people are friendly, they are very reserved and some are just insincere. I don´t think it´s because I´m American either. Other foreigners, some native Spanish speakers, have told me the same thing. I think it may be because as a whole the country is very conservative and extremely image conscious. To meet people here you have to make the first move and be really open. After that, it´s a little easier. Quite different from Spain, which is the opposite. People tend to approach right off and start talking to you.
However, the family I´ve been staying with has been really wonderful. My host parents are leaving tomorrow for their anniversary. They are taking a one-month trip to Europe starting from Spain.
That´s about all for now....