Randomness from Rob.

Vacation over, alone in Costa Rica

Just to update everyone, yesterday my family went back to the states and I am left here for my study abroad trip.  It’s funny, I have never been so anxious for class to start!

Because:

• there will be Americans
  • (I know I should practice my Spanish, but it’s really comforting to be with your own kind. If anything, this trip has taught me so much about life as a minority in the USA - and I haven’t even experienced any descrimination!)

• class will occupy me
  • Maybe I’ll get to know Heredia better after living there a few days, but it is very “inner-city”/dirty urban.  So basically, it scares a pampered white boy like me.  I don’t see any shady characters hanging out on the street, it’s just that the buildings look crappy, and I stick out like a sore thumb among everyone else. Might as well put a target on my head with a sign: “Disoriented Tourist With Lots of American Cash”

Well, I am taking a taxi to Heredia in half an hour to meet my host family and move in with them.  They should be nice, since they’re offering this service… but I’m afraid it’ll be awkward or something. I’ll let you know.

In other news, I had taco bell today for lunch. At first their crunchwrap supreme (called “crunchy wrap”) tasted weird. Then I realized thhey don’t use the delicious yet fake liquid cheese we are used to for nachos and whatnot in the USA, this crunchy wrap had only real cheese.That made it seem more dry, but it was kinda good.  Also… the combos come with fries. WOW taco bell fries are amazing ;)

When I first got here yesterday, everything was closed because it was Sunday and I didn’t know where to go, and I was afraid to walk the streets alone. Finally I got up the courage to walk around and I found a restaurant that had a DELICIOUS steak. That’s about all that I have for you now.

I got skype unlimited as I said in a tweet. So I get free calls to the USA for three months, and a number for calling my computer and voicemail.  (248) 430-8218

If I’m not online it just goes straight to the brittish-lady-voicemail, haha.

Also, don’t forget to check flickr.com/broganr for pictures occasionally.  I haven’t put any up in a few days, and that’s because I need to resize the photos or I’ll use up all my account space.  If anyone has a good batch photo resizer for linux (xendros) let me know.  I downloaded one, but have no clue how to install it.   I wish more things had installation files, I’m so clueless to linux. Also frustrating that you can’t really install things in this ice environment.  I need to figure out how to go to desktop mode on this eeePC.

Alright, rambling here.

Adios 

Day 7 ( I think)

I’m just going to write this out and post it all at once since I’m at a computer with internet.

I think the last bit I told you was that I was going to Heredia with my Dad ‘tomorrow’ (today), but I didn’t end up doing that.  We decided to just look at stuff online and call in a reservation on Saturday.  Instead, we picked up my brother and his girlfriend from a port nearby (they came in on a small boat that was a shorter trip to meet us).  I even found wifi on the beach and skyped Beckey! Haha.

Once we got everyone in the car, we left Jaco for an hour drive further south to San Manuel Antonio - supposedly the most beautiful beach in all of Costa Rica. I haven’t seen much of it, but it does seem pretty nice. Tomorrow we will hang out on the beach, and I’ll get pictures. Although you can click this link which is the homepage I get for the hotel I’m at. It’s a pretty cool place:

Hotel Parador Costa Rica

and check out the pool ;)

 Ok, so what did I do today? Well, after driving here and whatnot… Ryan and Maureen got a different hotel, we got this one in the link and then I went to the internet room to look up hostels and stuff about my study abroad that is needing to get wrapped up here before parents leave me behind.

I didn’t take any pictures today, sorry! I have loads from the past entries (I think 5 and 6) that I need to get up, but unfortunately the internet is pretty crappy bandwidth here.

I did go swimming a bit in the nice pool, eat lunch, and I had a shower in the cool bathroom… haha… then we went to dinner at La Mariposa (a nice restaurant in a well-known hotel there).

I came back here for dessert and cafe con leche, and ended up on the computer again.  Ryan kinda ditched us for hanging out for dinner, so there isn’t much to do, and it’s dark for the beach.

I’m rambling, so I’ll cut this off here.  You may not get pictures til sunday or monday depending on my internet situation, but I’m going to see some cool forest and beach tomorrow morning.

Adios