hey hey.

We just got back from our waterfall hike. It was freaking awesome. Just a ways down the road from campus there is this sweet trail that leads you to this massive waterfall that is absolutely breathtaking. For once, I was dressed appropriately, in shorts, chacos, and all things water resistant. We had to wade in a couple of rivers, and running water covered parts of the trail, and then it rained the entire way back. Tia actually jumped into the freezing water when we got to the waterfall. She is one crazy gringa. Dean thinks she OD'd on rice. It's a good possibility. After our hike, we had lunch with the woman who owns all the property up until about 50 meters away from the waterfall. She and her family are responsible for the upkeep of the entire trail. She was so sweet and fed us delicious bananas. She invited us to come back whenever. We can help with picking the oranges and limes she grows, or just come back to walk the trail again. I intend on indulging in both. For lunch I had pb&j. Oh my gosh so delicious. I have missed peanut butter so very much. And it has only been one week. Yikes.

The Ecology group got back to campus last night. They are from all different schools and they all seem really cool. It's weird that we are like sharing campus with them now. We had breakfast with them this morning and they have challenged us to a volleyball match. They have been talking a lot of smack, but they'll see what's up later this afternoon when we play. Rutledge and intramurals have me conditioned to dominate. Losing is not an option.

This morning's breakfast is a new fave: huevos con tomates, el pan tostado, la mermelada misteriosa, el gallo pinto, las frutas, y el cafe. Delicioso. After breakfast we went and sat in on a lecture about Costa Rican geography with the Ecology program, then we set out for our hike.

Last night was way fun. It began with the Quaker school pizza night and talent show at 5. We got there right at 5 and were super awkward because everyone knows everyone else in their little community. But whatever all of the pizza was homemade and amazing, and all of the parents were awesome hippies. We basically spent our entire time there eating and people-watching. It was great. We came up with nicknames for all of our favorite people. Creepy? Slightly. Don't worry about it. The talent show was like a community-wide thing. It was a very eclectic bunch of performances. There were cute little 3rd graders acting out a story, some bluegrass music, poetry readings, a darth vader with star wars music on the piano, and a crazy banjo man. My fave was this older couple that did the Cajun two-step. Oh my gosh they were so precious. They were all smiley and giggly at each other and just so adorable. It made my heart melt. We told our taxi driver to come get us at 8 so we ended up having to leave at intermission. We took two taxis on the way to school, but we only needed one on the way back because it was downhill. Love me some tico taxis.

So we got back to campus at like 8:30 and we were all pretty tired. I miserably watched espn.com as the dawgs struggled through the second half of the game against bama. Dean, Kathy, and Jeff had been watching the entire game. It's a really horrible way to watch if you have not yet had the experience--watching little instant messages pop up about penalties and interceptions and all sorts of bad news. Depressing stuff. At some point I walked off to go to the bathroom and passed by the K/Carlas, Tess, Tia, and Geovanny. They stared at me and made me feel awkward then Tia asked me if I wanted to go dancing. I said why not, and a second later Geovanny was on the phone getting a taxi for me, Tia, Tess, and himself. 15 minutes later, we were in a cab on our way to Bar Amigo. I freaking LOVE Bar Amigo. 3 hours of crazy loud music and dancing and fog machines left me a sweaty mess absolutely reeking of smoke and all things bar. It was SO much fun! I made new friends and danced the meringue and then just danced like the crazy gringa I am. I was shamelessly breaking it down and loving every second of it. I mostly danced with Geovanny and his friends, but the first guy who grabbed me to dance is a sophomore at the University of Maine. Seriously? He was a cutie but he couldn't dance so he had to go. But yeah it was just a crazy fun night and I can't wait til next time when we get the rest of the girls to come with us.

Umm the rest of the day was cool too. I'm trying to remember what we did.. Okay I just consulted with Abby and now I remember. So in the morning we had french toast and all the other standard breakfast staples and then after breakfast we had our homestay orientation meeting. We just went over the basic do's and don't's of homestays and then found out who we are staying with. I will be with a couple and their 18-year-old son (weird?) and their 12-year-old daughter. Wait I think it's girl. Crap. I can't even remember that. And you know I do not even vaguely remember their names. I guess I will just figure it out tomorrow when I'm dropped off at their house. Ahh! I'm a little bit nervous, but mostly excited. The whole Florie experience just sort of screwed up my feelings about exchange programs, but I'm sure it will be great. Right? Right.

At 10 we went to the botanical garden to plant trees with Lucas. It was so great. Lucas is so cute and Dean was just cracking jokes the whole time. I don't know what I am going to do with myself when he leaves. I planted 3 baby trees before it started pouring on us. It was just before lunchtime anyways so we went over to the palace for high tea with Dean and Kathy. Then we had lunch and then free time until we left for the Quaker school at 4:45. Free time was spent reading for my classes and trying to nap [to no avail].

I'm really glad we went to Bar Amigo last night because otherwise my first Saturday in Costa Rica would have been a fat snoozefest to read about. Plus it shows how awesome and spontaneous I am. So go me.

Okay sorry that was so awkwardly ordered and confusing, but I don't much feel like going back and fixing it. So just deal.

peace love and pura vida