Last night we were all hoping for this fabulous homecoming meal. We were immensely disappointed. It was so weak. We had salad, boiled yuca (potato-like vegetable, but not really), beans, rice, and questionable-looking ribs. So I ate beans and rice and a little bit of yuca but felt nauseous afterwards. Ugh what the crap, kitchen staff? They kind of made up for dinner with dessert--banana bread. Mmm.
So surely we were going to have a fabulous homecoming breakfast, then. False. The main course was plantains, which I did not eat because I am trying to atone for the week of feasting in Montefuma. So I was left with fruit and gallo pinto. There was also farmer's cheese floating around, but farmer's cheese isn't like real cheese. It's this incredibly bland, leaking triangle of cheese-like texture. I'm more of an emmenthal or a brie girl. It's just this weird thing I have- I like my cheeses flavored.
We started round two of classes today. We are all taking Ecology this semester, so that's weird-- having all six of us in one class. I feel like I'm not able to get the attention I need in such a large class, but life goes on I suppose. So Ecology professor is Scott. He actually studied abroad in Costa Rica for his undergrad. The man is intense. He talks about a mile a minute and is ready to fit as much material as he possibly can into the limited time we have left. He kinda freaked out yesterday when he realized that he only has two lab days, but no worries- he is making them into four lab sessions and will find time for more during our field trip next week.
We had our field trip orientation yesterday afternoon. I am frightened. Our days are jam-packed with 6 am bird watchings, three-hour hikes during the day, and then night hikes and black light lectures in lieu of sleep. And we are doing all this without access to warm water, electricity, or much of anything for that matter. I am seriously going to die. I can only imagine the facial expression I was offering to poor Fabrisio, our TA for the week, as he went into immense detail about each day. Fabrisio works on campus, but we haven't really had any interaction with him before now. His English is rockin. Apparently he has an American wife, which would explain his effortless uses of "en route," "the idea is to..," etc. I obviously need a Spanish-speaking husband. Or French. Actually, both would be nice.. So yeah 7 days of getting my butt kicked all over northern Costa Rica. Sweet. We leave on Sunday- so I will be training until then. Pray for me.
I started Spanish lessons back up today. Rachel, a resident naturalist, has taken Kathy's place so I am not alone. She's super sweet. I hope she doesn't bail--yesterday she was getting pretty frustrated at not being able to find the words she needed. But I can tell she's a trooper. Lessons themselves went surprisingly well. Turns out all I needed was a good dose of Carla to get my Spanish back on track. We are starting with the subjunctive, though, which blows. And we have an oral presentation on Thursday. Ugh.
My schedule for this half is ridiculous. After breakfast, I have Ecology then Spanish back-to-back, and then I'm done with my day. It's so nice. Today I did my Spanish homework and then went back to the bungalows and curled up and read my book. My life rules.
Lunch was pretty good-- veggies, rice, garbanzo beans, salad--the usual. They had cookies out, but I resisted. A personal first. Go me.
We were really hyped for dinner because we could smell and hear something being fried. It was fried chicken. Good stuff. We also had rice and beans and salad and veggies. Then for dessert sweet Diana brought us ice cream. We had the choice (!!) of chocolate or macadamia. I went for the macadamia. So good.
After dinner the ecology crew had a movie night that we were invited to (gasp!). So Annie-poo, Abby, Tia, and I represented LLC and came and ate all their popcorn. We watched Amor/ Perros, which was so weird and so long. Ann and I dipped out early because we were falling asleep.
So now it's time for bed.
peace love and macadamia ice cream
