Una Pausa

This weekend was my break, or pausa. Every weekend, I have been traveling and I was so ready to take a break and not ride in a bus for hours. It was just as great as I thought it would be. Thursday was El Dia de Amor y Amistad, or as known in the states, Valentine's Day. Here, according to my mamatica, the day isn't like it is in the states. Friendship is a much bigger emphasis here. So much so, that one of the tico design classes made my class breakfast when we arrived. It was really cool. Then, my teacher even gave us candy during class. After school, my friends, Shelby and Devon, and I went to walmart for the first time. It was so strange. Everything was the same, even the smell. The only difference was that the prices were in colones and not in dollars. A good little taste of home, but I don't think that I will be going back anytime soon. After, we took a quick taxi and then walked home. I then left and took a walk with my tico friend, Manuel. Since it was the day of Amistad, I brought him an orgami flower that my papatico made. He surprised me with a peluche, or Teddy bear, and my absolute favorite chocolate. He is a pretty good friend of mine. It is awesome practicing my Spanish with him. After our walk, I went home and my roommate and I gave a rose to Mamatica for being so awesome. Then, I went out with my hermanatica, Lorna. We bar hopped and had a blast. I was able to hang out and understand her friends without problem. We ended up at a park for a little while and then went home.

On Friday, my teacher took us on a field trip after a little bit of class time. We went to the barber shop and talked with the barber. This man was so cute. It was really fun talking with him in Spanish. He told us about his time working and how the world has changed. After class, I went with a bunch of my friends downtown San Jose. We ended up mainly at the Artisan Market where there are just a ton of tents all connected where you can buy really cheap things. I was able to barter for the things I bought. It was so much fun. I think that bartering is my new favorite thing to do. I bought a hand painted cross, a rosary bracelet, and a pair of earrings. I have plans to go back and buy a hammock and backpack and maybe everything else that they have there.  I walked back with my friend Josh and then took a much needed nap. I went out that night with my hermanatica again after quick dinner and chat with my mamatica.

Saturday, all of my friends went for a hike up in the mountains that surround the city. I decided to sit out because I was exhausted and they were leaving at about 9. Never the less, I woke up unbelievably early because that is what my body is used to. So, I got up and I ate a delicious breakfast made by mamatica. After a quick walk and some time in the park, I just chilled at the house until Manuel got off work. We met up and then went to a fair of typical Costarican food at the Antigua Aduana building. We had chocolate covered strawberries, coffee, aloe juice, wine, and finished with graniza (sno-cones). After, we walked to the Parque Nacional and spent some time together just hanging out. After, we taxied it up back home. I had been planning all day to go out with my friends that night to a bar, but after the plans fell through, I ended up just chilling at home watching Harry Potter 1. Yes, I found out that my familia tica has all of the HP movies except one. And they're in Spanish. Is this real life?!

Sunday, I was able to sleep in a little bit. I went to mass at the local church. It was different because after every reading, not just during the homily, the priest came down and talked with the people as the children came and got a sucker from him. I loved watching all of the little kids walk up and get candy and then run back to their pews. So cute. After, my hermana tica and her friend and I went to  Chepe Joven 2013. It was a huge techno music concert in the streets of San Jose. We spent about 3 hours just hanging out in the streets watching all of the people and dancing to music. I know that I go to a really artsy school here because I saw so many of my classmates at the festival having the time of their lives. After, I watched the Saprissa and Liga futbol game at my house because they are two of the huge teams down here. Liga won, much to the dismay of my friend, who is a Saprissista. that night, my friends Taylor, Shelby, Katie, and I went to Ingravito at Teatro 1887. It was kind of a modern dance mixed with some acrobatics on ribbons and live music. I enjoyed it, even if I didn't necessarily always understand the different parts of it. After taking a taxi home, I spent the night working on making my summer and fall schedule for classes. Nothing is weirder than thinking and planning about when I come home while I am still out of the country. Nevertheless, it has to be done.

After this weekend, I feel wonderfully rested. I don't think that I would want to do this every weekend because, while it is fun to just hang out at home, I do enjoy traveling and seeing more than just San Jose. I really did need this pausa though, especially since I have almost every other weekend booked until my spring break in March.