I took a cab home and laughed the whole way back. My taxi driver was singing along with the radio the whole time. He wasn't just humming; he was actually belting out the lyrics and laughing at himself. It was great. I guess Costa Rica really is the happiest nation in the world...
Patri gave me sad news when I got home. Chumeco, also known as Michael Jackson (because he is small and black), passed away. Patri claims it's because he went to be with the ghost of Michael Jackson. She's also not upset about his death because Juan Carlos bought this fish and she only likes fish that are bigger.
An old friend of Karen and Patri's stopped by Monday evening while we were getting ready to go out. He was a cool guy: young, scruffy, kind of a bad boy look. He sat with us while we ate dinner and had all intentions of going out with us later, when suddenly he got up and excused himself. When he was sitting with us at the table, Karen was shooting him death stares from her bedroom. She didn't like that he was talking to us. Latin women are so jealous here. Anything and everything makes them fume with envy. Whenever we went out with Amy's friend Leo and he ran into a female friend at the bar, that same girl would almost always text him after she left asking questions about the other girls he was with (us). Girls are just jealous.
Monday night, we went to El Cuartel, known for it's live music scene on Monday nights. We were slightly disappointed. It was swamped with students and young people from the United States. The bartender spoke to me in English. I hate that. After a while, we left to check out El Pueblo, a string of bars that Amy discovered last weekend. It was completely deserted with the exception of one bar that had maybe five people inside. We danced by ourselves for a while, but we left quickly. Amy and Alira wanted to go back to El Cuartel, but Natalie and I went home. Not impressed!
I finally worked up the courage to ask Patri if I could take leftover dinner to work the next day. Yes, it took me six weeks, but I finally did it, and she didn't mind at all. I didn't know, but Natalie has been taking her lunch for weeks. On Tuesday, I finally fit in at work. I brought my rice, beans and spaghetti with chicken and potatoes (such a strange combination of foods that is completely normal here) in a little plastic tupperware to the cafeteria. I felt so Tica. Someone at the table brought a bag of crujientes to share with everyone. Crujientes, as far as I can tell, are kernels of corn that are partially heated until crispy. It's not popcorn. Popcorn is the seed heated until it explodes. This is the kernel of corn removed from the cob and then cooked and seasoned (in this case, barbecue flavor). They were so interesting. Crujientes are popular snacks here in Costa Rica, but I have never seen them in the United States. Provecho!
I helped edit a few pieces and researched banks in Panama for the upcoming August issue. I worked with Cesar to make the changes on his computer. He makes design look easy. We talked about how he entered the drawing for Green Cards to the United States and lost. Part of him wants to move to the United States and be successful, but another part of him doubts he'll ever actually go. He thinks he would miss his family too much and have trouble creating a successful career for himself. He loves the States, though. His 10 months as an Au Pair in Michigan turned him into an English fanatic, so we practice speaking together.
When I got home last night, Patri and I had another one of our many heart-to-hearts. She told me all about Marco's family and his personal problems while we watched her favorite telenovela (soap opera) on channel 6. She loves this telenovela; the acting is horrendous. Marco's life could be its own telenovela. He had a sister with cerebral palsy who died recently, and he has another sister who his parents shower with money, love and attention. His father is super machista and believes that Marco needs to be independent. His father is strict and traditional; the wife does not work. She does all of the cooking and cleaning. They do not support Marco in any way financially and haven't for years now. Marco paid his way through university and now works full time. He pays rent to live with Patri. He's been having girl problems, because his love interest, Jessica, told him that she won't be his girlfriend unless he changes. According to Patri, he has been raised without affection and doesn't know how to pursue women or show affection. He's been secretly seeing a psychologist to deal with his family problems for weeks now, but he doesn't think Patri knows. He tells her he has meetings for work on Saturdays. Karen told Patri the truth in confidence, and now I am sworn to secrecy as well. So dramatic! Patri also asked me if I believe in heaven. I said I wasn't sure, but I would like to believe there is somewhere you go after you pass away. She agreed with me and told me that after her near fatal accident, she felt her soul leave her when she was in a coma. She said she felt an incredible sense of peace that didn't leave her for months. It was fascinating, but part of me thinks that Patri has been watching one too many telenovelas.
I found a gift in my room from Karen. She gave each of us a decorated coffee cup filled with candy and little figurines. There was the sweetest note attached. Karen is leaving for Mexico on Saturday, so we have to say goodbye early. The sadness is setting in. I also wrote in Patri's journal yesterday. She keeps a book for all of her exchange students to write her notes before they leave. It was cool to read the previous entries. Some of the students had the same inside jokes as we do, and almost all of them picked up the same funny slang we always use (tuanis, chiva, etc.). I wrote a long message, leaving every member of the family a small note. I should record it here. It made me realize how fast my time has gone here and how much I'm going to miss living with my family.
Later, Patri took her three hijas (Natalie, Amy, me) across the street to her friend's house for pedicures. She showed us her old house on the corner and their old soda (a little convenience store on the street, usually with sandwiches and drinks). Her friend was a doll. She works in her salon during the day and lives upstairs with her son and father. She wanted to hear all our gossip. Natalie filled her in on her boy situation, and we were pleasantly surprised when she understood all of our slang English words for bad boyfriends (I'll leave them out here). She was hilarious. She told us that her job is half salon, half psychology with all the advice she gives.
After our pedicures (I tried a bronze color for a change - I like it!), Natalie and Amy had Burger King cravings. They are such bad influences! The four of us took a cab to BK (also known as Beh Kah) for a late night snack. I'm still fascinated by the prices of fast food here. It's so expensive compared to everything else. Fast food is costs just as much, if not more, than it does in the United States. Patri told us she likes hanging out just the four of us. I think she's going to miss me!
Natalie, Amy and I have been watching The Comeback every night. It's about an actress (played by Lisa Kudrow) who used to be famous for an old t.v. sitcom and is now trying to make a comeback with her own reality show. It's funny but painfully awkward to watch. I feel bad for her.
This morning, I ate gallo pinto y huevos alone. Patri had some errand to run. I'm leaving in less than two weeks, and I can't believe it. What am I going to do without gallo pinto? Without Patri? Without Costa Rica? I don't want to think about it yet. I have a lot of planning to do before Ila gets here. We're going to have a fantastic time in Tamarindo. I don't think Natalie and Amy are going to Guanacaste anymore like they planned. They went to spend one more weekend relaxing and going out here in the city. They're going to go to some farmer's market with Patri. I'm jealous, but I am looking forward to spending time with Ila. After she leaves, I can let the depression sink in. I don't want to go back to the U.S.
Tonight, the group is going go-kart racing somewhere near Cartago. They're calling it the Grand Prix. Much better than a boring guest speaker, verdad?
Pura Vida,
Lauren
p.s. Rafa just gave me old Costa Rican money. Costa Rica used to have paper bills for 5 colones. The coin for 5 colones is futile now; I can't believe they had a bill for it in 1989. It's colorful; there is a purple lily on it. Cesar told me that within two years, the Costa Rican government is going to make new bills. Right now, 10,000 colones is the largest bill. Soon, there will be 50,000 bills. Their economy is changing so fast. Ok, ciao!
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