Fungus of the arm...oh my.

So, where to begin? I've been doing a lot of random things lately. I spent a day at this girls grandparent's house and it was really nice. After everything I said, the grandmother would say "Que bueno" very enthusiastically. This went on for 7 hours. And it was a good time. Let's see, what else has happened? Oh yeah, I'm in the Peace Corps office right now. We have IST (in-service training) for the week. Only, it starts tomorrow! It's easy for me to lose track of which day is which and what date is what, so I'm here...a day early! I'm going to have to stay in a hotel because I don't want to travel all the way back home, just to turn around in the morning! There's a nice hotel up the street...I'm on my way there after I finish writing this! Whoops! In other news, I had a pretty successful turn out to my little meeting about my english course. I have around 30 people interested in being in my course and I was so proud of myself because for an hour straight I explained everything to the them...in spanish! I really feel like I'm making some progress in the language! But it's still easier for me to speak than to listen. But we already knew that! Oh, and the Costa Rican version of "So you think you can dance?" has started. That can be quite interesting to watch. It's live and ends whenever the dancers are done...This can be over 3 and a half hours! They have different programming here. So shows start at 1:17 in the afternoon or can end at 5:42. You can never be too sure when a show is starting or ending! But anyways! I think I'm going to head off for my 1 mile walk to the hotel! Tomorrow is the real first day of IST and I'll be here for 1 week and then it's back to my town to start my english course and to start helping all the english teachers in the high school! Next time I should be able to post some more pictures! Bye for now!

Hijo de Piña!

This is a farm with plants called Cane India.

Two cool butterflies!

This is the guy....Yecson!

This is my sister and our friend Steven!! (Steven has some German family down the line!)

So, I have officially fallen in love with Costa Rica. Do you want to know why? I have a pretty good reason. Costa Rica sells eggnog. Oh yes they do! And not just during Christmas time! They sell it all year...everyday!!! Except, it's called Rompope here. I had no idea what this unusal thing was. It's sitting next to the yogurt at the supermarket. I thought it was a white yogurt, or plain yogurt. When I finally asked somebody and found out what it actually was, that is the moment I fell in love! And it's delicious! But enough about eggnog! I've got even bigger news! Nace un Estrella. That means "Born a Star". It's a show on tv here that is the equivalent to American Idol. This year's winner is a guy named Yecson, (pronounced Jackson). Long story short, by a stroke of fate, my sister here (Amalia) met him in San Ramon (a town close to mine). They immediately clicked and have been dating ever since. He showed up at the house and sang to us and it was incredible! His voice is great! And by Costa Rican standars, he's a big shot! Famous! I know famous people in Costa Rica! This is awesome. And the best part is I had him rolling! I was telling stories from America, mainly about my Korean grandma, and it was a hoot! I really wonder how I sound to them. How bad is my accent? Are they really laughing at my jokes, or at me?! Who knows, but it's funny all the same! Anyways! Things are going really well! Next month, I'll be starting my English courses for the community and also start helping the high school. I met all of the english teachers in the high school, so I'll be making a schedule with them and I'll start going to the school to help their classes everyday! I can't wait! Did I tell you guys about Dowglaus? It's a guy I know here, and his name is pronounced Douglas by the way! He and his family make all natuarl shampoo and it is awesome! It's made with honey and aloe vera and doesn't have any chemicals or anything! My hair has never been better! Anyone who wants to buy some for real all natural shampoo, let me know!! Anyways! Gotta skoot! I'll try to write again soon!