Luis Diego is something else. Yesterday, we got into this huge discussion about relationships. He went on a date with a very attractive woman last week and enjoyed himself, but he does not plan to pursue it further. Why? She plays hard to get but not too hard to get, they had a lot of things in common and she even invited him a few days later to play volleyball with her friends at a local park (to which he refused). According to Luis, it would never work. This woman happens to come from a very wealthy family, and Luis claims that he could never give her the lifestyle she is accustomed to. She is 29 and she works full-time as a psychologist. She makes her own money, but she is wealthy. Luis Diego says he has to marry a woman who makes less money than him. Hello, chauvinist? He said women look at a man's wallet before a man's heart, and she knows he makes a mere middle-class salary. I argued that he is just insecure. If she really cared about money more than love, she never would have agreed to go on the date in the first place or invited him somewhere after. Everyone in the office got involved. Men here are traditional; they have to be the breadwinner or else they don't feel needed. I even asked Cesar if he makes more money than his girlfriend. His response was, "Of course!" Luis Diego is living in another decade if you ask me. Times have changed. Women work. There were so many facets to this conversation that bothered me. I argued in my best Spanish, but I doubt I got my point across.
Last night, Patri told Amy and I the longest story ever about her past. Juan Carlos isn't Karen's dad! Patri told us that Karen lived with her mom and sisters for a long time while she worked in San Jose to make money. For some reason, they didn't want Patri to have Karen. I suspect there is another side to the story. Her mom apparently dropped Karen off at an orphanage without telling Patri. After months and months of struggle, Patri finally got her baby back. Juan Carlos stuck by her side through all of this strife. Karen considers him her one and only father (he adopted her). Growing up, though, Karen was really difficult. She always resented Patri for whatever reason and acted out accordingly. Karen eventually was treated for depression, and the whole family went to see her psychologist. Something must have changed, because now Karen and Patri get along so well. It was a strange story. Latin women are so dramatic sometimes!
Today I was busy at work translating one of the Swedish interviews from English to Spanish all day. It is so draining and took me all day, but I was glad to be occupied. Luis Diego showed me the article I helped write about the Latin American transportation rankings. It looks good, but I don't know if it will have my name on it or not. I hope so.
I finally met David today for our long-awaited lunch date. We met at the bus stop, and David took me to his favorite restaurant. He works in a part of San Jose I've never been to before, and I was pleasantly surprised. I finally found the pretty part of the city! We ate a small corner cafe, relishing our arroz con pollo for only 1800 colones. Afterward, we walked around the area, checking out the street shops and vendors. Weird thing about Costa Rica - pigeons aren't considered a dirty animal. People buy bird food and children try to lure pigeons to them so they can feed the birds and hold them. Yes, they try to hold the filthy birds. We went on a hunt for a cheap dessert (after being mugged last weekend, David is on a budget). We found bakeries and supermarkets, and we eventually settled on ice cream cones from AutoMercado for 275 colones. I'm happy I found a more picturesque area of the city. The street I work on is so drab and industrial looking.
Later this afternoon, Numar (a butter manufacturing company) came to Summa to do some sort of promotional event. I walked into the conference room to find a spread of all different types of bread, crackers and cookies all over the table. Numar models (literally, they wore tiny yellow dresses with frilly white aprons) presented different types of butter and margarine, emphasizing the advantage of their vegetable oil and lighter taste. It was so comical. Everyone indulged themselves in the bread spread and enjoyed complimentary coffee (really high-tech machine with four different flavors). I couldn't get enough of it. It was like I died and went to carbohydrate heaven. Or maybe hell. Carbs kill.
After work, I forced myself to go to the gym. I ended up running into almost everyone I know here on the way there. I saw Tyson (David's roommate) on the street, and then I passed Sam walking home from work. I practically ran her over with my nervous energy and excitement for the Harry Potter release tomorrow. She, Natalie and I are trying to go on Friday. Then, David and Evan were both at the gym. By the end of my cardio, David's other roommate Keith was on the machine next to me. It was comforting to know I've met people. I have a life here. Exciting, isn't it?
I finally spoke to my family on Skype! Ila is coming in a little over a week, and David got home from Israel last night. He is so tall; I can't believe it. He had an amazing time. I couldn't be happier for him. It was good to talk to my parents, too. They had a relaxing week in beautiful Tuscany. I'm a little jealous, but not really...I'm in Costa Rica and loving it!
Tomorrow I am working and then attending our last guest speaker. After that, there is another Crash party at the University for an incoming group of study abroad students. It should be fun!
Pura Vida,
Lauren
p.s. Patri bought another fish. It's a little black one that looks like the tough guy in the fish tank in Finding Nemo. I can't remember his name, but Patri named this one Chumeco. Chumeco is another word for a small black thing. Little black dogs are chumecos. It can also be a racist term, but the family uses it so casually. Oh, Costa Rica.
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