Top 20 of Costa Rica

This weekend I know you were looking forward to hearing about my amazing adventure, however we decided to stay home in Santa Ana and relax and save our money. It was still a great weekend laying by the pool on Saturday and exploring Santa Ana on Sunday. School work has started to consume our lives now that we are full time teaching now. Between the junk we have to do for OSU and actual teaching we thought it would be smart to stay home and concentrate on that stuff. We are all well rested and ready to bring our A game this week because of University supervisor is coming to check up on us and observe our teaching.

Since I thought my weekly post this week was going to be boring I thought I would enlighten you with my thoughts and some things I have learned or experienced since being here. I am no Socrates or Aristotle bringing deep thoughts, but I hope you find these enjoyable and you just might learn something...
My Top 20 Things about Costa Rica
1. I can live without a TV. Although it is going to be tough when Glee comes back on.
2. I love the way people here live such simple lives. Their source of entertainment is the people around them and they just need the necessities in life. It really makes me realize I have way too much stuff and what is really important in life.
3. I take my car for granted. I think having a car is one of the things I miss the most besides friends and family of course. Not having to wait on a bus will be beautiful thing.
4. I can get up at 5:30 and function, but that means going to bed really early too. Even on the weekends making it out past 10 is an accomplishment. Needless to say my social life doesn't really exist, goodbye to those late nights and late mornings in college. It makes me feel like I have already graduated and started working, the only thing missing is a paycheck.
5. Costa Rica's McDonald's has pastries. U.S. needs to get on the ball with that.
6. Air conditioning is not a necessity although it would be nice on the really hot days. But thank God for fans!
7. I am a Gringa here and I stick out like a sore thumb with the Ticos.
8. There are quite a lot of Americans living here, I was pretty surprised and I love meeting them. Even though I love it here I cannot imagine moving to a foreign country, but who knows what the future holds...Just kidding my mom would flip.
9. Costa Rica is probably the prettiest place I have ever been to or probably will ever be.
10. Being away really makes me appreciate my family and friends more.
11. I am overwhelmed with how hospitable and kind most people are here.
12. It is crazy how many things from the US are exported here. Being a picky eater I am very grateful for my beloved cereal and granola bars so I don't starve. And the movies at the theater are almost all American.
13. The pineapple here is like a little piece of heaven. It puts American pineapple to shame and don't even get me started on the canned kind.
14. One thing I will not miss is the whistling and being stared at by men. Don't worry it's not because I am considered incredibly attractive here, it's cultural. Any woman can be here for 10 minutes and will get whistled at. Some may say it is a self-esteem booster though.
15. Friday night I experienced my first earthquake, but slept through the whole thing. I was a 4 point earthquake that shook the whole house is what my house mom told me the next morning.
16. Ziplining through the rain forest was the best $40 I have ever spent.
17. It is much more windier here than I thought.
18. Stop signs here are more of a suggestion than law.
19. I laughed when our teachers first told us to be careful when crossing the street because people had been hit by cars. Now I don't laugh, I say a quick prayer before I cross the street. I don't think I could even put into words how crazy the drivers here are, so just trust me they are crazy.
20. Pura Vida- The slogan for Costa Rica. It means pure life or basically if anything is wrong, there is no need to worry, just relax. I will use it in a sentence if you still don't get it. "We were suppose to be there 30 minutes ago. Oh well, pura vida"

That is all I have for now, I know that was a lot of things but I just started writing and couldn't stop. I hope y'all have a great week! Pura vida!