Super-recap

Ok. I´m going to try and get through the past several days in one session. I can´t stand being behind any longer.

MONDAY 1.29

First day of new classes. We are all crammed into the tiny dance room with fold out chairs in a oval. Pretty bad set up for a class, but you have to make due with what you have. Anyway, our new primary instructor is named Helen. She's British, slender, very polite, and a little boring. Our classes now start at 800 am instead of 830, but we get out at 1100 am now. It definitely cuts down on the options for going out at night, but gives you a huge chunk of your day to do whatever you want.

Our group of 25 is divided up into four separate groups: environmentalism, women's rights, indigenous groups, and immigration. I'm the last one, along with Jeff, Nicole, Laura, Megan, and Chelsy. Our group doesn't have any of the annoying strong personality types that like to get into arguments with the professors and anybody else, which is great. I know that there are some headaches already from other groups dealing with some "special" personalities of certain group members. I went to the gym to get a long workout in.

I ended up seeing Children of Men with Morgan C. at the Paseo de Flores, the brand-new mall build by current president Óscar Arias (out of his own pockets) located at the south end of town. Not only does it have a movie theatre, but also several nice restaurants, a bar, Taco Bell, Quiznos (I am going to go big there very soon), Subway, McD's, Pizza Hut, etc... Lots of nice stores too, but several are slightly more expensive than American prices. You should check out that movie. Second best non-comedy I've seen (besides Apocalipto) in over a year. Arian--I know you're in Taiwan right now, but you have to see it if you already haven't. Joe--I'm pretty sure you've already seen it since you go to more movies than anybody I know. Good movie on all accounts.

I also bought some protein today at a workout store. It tastes like shit and was way overpriced, but I need it, so it'll have to do.

TUESDAY 1.30

First time I've really been sick the whole trip. Stomach bug of some sorts. I might have gotten it from drinking the water in Sámara the last day (avoided it the rest of the week), but you never know. About half of us have gone down at some point so far. Anyways, tomorrow night is Todd's birthday, so I need to save up until then. Can't miss it. School sucked today, I didn't really pay attention because I felt to bad, and went home to nap. Worked out when I woke up, but had a pretty chill night. Stomach is killing me.

WEDNESDAY 1.31

We met our individual teachers for the first time (Helen is the overall instructor and the indiv. for the environmentalism group). They're all Ticos (expect Helen of course). Mine is named Joaquin. He's got long hair, bats for the other team, and is very smart. He recently taught at a university in Denver (not sure which one yet), and speaks excellent English. We had our meeting in Spanglish for the most part and got our hefty course packs (lots of photocopied articles binded together into a book) regarding immigration. Feel a little bit better. Hit up the gym again with Emily and Turd (my new name for Rolando, the youngest) and followed it up with two hours of UNO. I love that game. Anyways, Emily came up with Turd, because he is like that annoying little brother that I never had that is a smartass and always bugging me. I think we're cut from the same cloth.

THURSDAY 2.1

Can't recall what we did in school today, but I know we met in small groups again with Joaquin. I think we decided which articles each of us was going to read and do a brief summary for the rest of the group. Boring stuff all around.

FRIDAY 2.2

Got up very early to visit Poáz Volcano, which was very beautiful. I got a bunch of pictures of the sulfer lagoon and the actually crater itself, which is the second largest in the world. More than half mile across. The lagoon was another twenty minutes or so, but it was well worth it. It was probably one of the few hottest days we've had in Costa Rica.

Poáz from up above

Poáz with a view in the distance

Lagoon pic


Didn't end up going out tonight because I want to save up for tomorrow night (Club Utopía) and the Superbowl Sunday Party at my place.


SATURDAY 2.3


Hung. Over. Don't think I ended up doing anything today expect for play UNO and workout. Getting ready for the Superbowl Party at my house this Sunday. My money's on the Colts. Payton Manning destroys Rex Grossman in every single noteworthy category as a QB, they finally fixed the holes in their run defense, and they are gonna have the two best receivers on the field come Sunday. Double digit win guaranteed. GO COLTS!

Went out tonight to a club called Utopia with José Miguel as our host. We got a private bus for $5 a person and stayed out till around 3:00 am. I had to be the one to collect money from everybody while everyone else is prefunking, which was really stressful and annoying. Nobody seemed to have correct change, but miraculously everyone paid.


I didn't really get any good pictures showing the layout of the club, but I found three that were either funny or worth noting.

Todd with Katie struttin their stuff.

I somehow convinced Max to go in the girl's baño. Haha.

Nicole and Morgan C. Not the best picture in hindsight.

SUNDAY 2.4 AKA SUPERBOWL SUNDAY

Colts won 29-17, just like I expected and hoped. Play of the Game goes to Devon Hester, who returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a TD only 16 seconds into the game. He should get Rookie of the Year in my opinion. He set the NFL record for most kickoffs returned for a TD in a season as well.

I didn't really take any pics, but the basic setup was a potluck. We had the BBQ going, and very few people opted to drink heavily due to the long night at Utopía. We also did one of those point grids (randomly drawn numbers 0-9 on each side) complete with the full 100 squares at 500 colones each. Payout was 10,000 first quarter, second quarter, and third quarter, and final score correct paid 20,000. Most of you should know what I'm referring to. If not:

Betting SquaresOf course, betting squares are essential for keeping your female guests a part of the day. Here's a quick breakdown on how to make betting squares:
Make a 10-by-10 grid. One team on the top, the other is on the side. Sell each of the squares on the grid. Numbers from 0 - 9 are assigned to each square (draw them out of a hat for the order of each row). Now each team has its own number. At the end of the quarter, if the score matches the numbers you have you win.