tamales and tired...

This has been a whirlwind of a week. And its funny saying that because its already Tuesday, and I am referencing last week.

I much prefer to be busy in the office...lately I have taken to printing things like student information sheets, questionnaires, and entrance exams to be ready for the busier weeks. Next week we have 11 new students...this will be my biggest Monday orientation yet. I hope I have more energy next week.

On Friday I went out with some friends and stayed out all the way up hearing my alarm ring to catch the morning bus to go to Heredia. How is that for crazy? I couldn't sleep much on the bus either, so I was pretty tired all afternoon. I went to San Joaquin and stayed with my Familia Tica there all afternoon, we made tamales!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tamales here are traditionally made with masa,have some veggies or meat inside, and then the whole blob is wrapped in banana leaves, tied, and cooked. Since this particular item requires a lot of work (washing the banana leaves, cutting them, making the masa, preparing the veggies and meat to go inside, putting the tamal together, wrapping, tying, and cooking) it is usually seen only at Christmas, served as a traditional dish at the table for the family (and how handy that the family is there to help make tamales!). we spent quite a while putting everything together, and now I know how to wrap and tie a tamal like a Tica : )

I also got to visit with Elliott in San Jose, we got dinner and walked around the mall San Pedro. We ate at a little place in the food court called "la burrita urbana," and the style was JUST LIKE CHIPOTLE!!It was great, the burrito even came wrapped in foil just like burritos from Chipotle. A little bit of Dayton...

On Sunday I watched the Superbowl downtown, it was funny being in a place filled with gringoes! Afterwards I met an old friend from the summer,Roy, a chofer who worked at CPI, and we joked around for a while and danced some merengue with his friends. It was soooooooo much fun! I have had a dancing bug the last few days, every time I hear salsa I close my eyes and imagine spinning around on the dance floor. Excited for dance class with the students this Thursday!

This weekend I am tentatively planning a trip to Puntarenas: the festivals in the Puerto will be on, and I want to go with Muni and Royner, and maybe stay at Elliott's house in Esparza. We will see how it all pans out, but it would be a fun experience to go to a typical festival, especially with Muni and Royner.

My goal this evening? Paint my toes, make lunch for tomorrow, and rest.
Verbo of the day: contemplar, or contemplate.

Pura Vida!