09/10/2008

listening to: Sparks, Coldplay

It’s been a week since I last posted. I figure it’s about time to write an updated post. Last weekend with the family was great. Tiring, but one of the best experiences in Costa Rica so far. Just picture it; five grown-ups and one youngin’ packed into a Pontiac coupe for a five hour ride up through the mountains—speaking rapid fire Spanish… Once there we hung out and ate a bunch of Tico food, saw the volcano, and then went to some hot springs. Funny thing about those waters is that I was got really excited about relaxing in a creek/river, but had no idea what to expect. We all packed into the car again, plus one (Victor) and drove for a good 30-45 minutes until we got to a bridge. We got out and walked down under the bridge, and sat in the water. As you can see in my pictures, it was beautiful and not your everyday-under-bridge scenario; no bums here.

This week started out well on the weekend, but the worst two days of my life ensued directly after. Yeah, those papers and presentations made me feel bad, to say the least.

However, Wednesday of this week was the best Wednesday I’ve had in a good while. I had an oral that morning, which went well, and then we (a small group of friends) went to the mall and spent the next several hours playing cards and minding our own business. After we got tired of awkward stares and whatnot, we guys decided to hacer spinning so we took the bus back to San Pedro in order to walk home. I lost my water stopper (umbrella) somewhere along the way and wouldn’t you know that it began pouring buckets as soon as we got off the bus. What a bummer, not really, I enjoyed the experience. Today I don’t have to be at school until 11. We have group presentations, mine is over globalization—fun times.

Next Monday at 6:30 I board a bus for a 12 hour bus ride to Nicaragua. The only thing I know to expect is poverty. I’m taking a backpack with an extra pair of underwear, a toothbrush, a journal, a book, flashlight, soap, and stomach medicine—for two weeks. So, don’t expect to hear from me for a while after this weekend. I’m staying with a family who has been given a microloan. Microcrediting is a fascinating way of fighting poverty, you guys should look into it at worldvision.org or Grameenfoundation.org. Also, Dale Stephens is raising more funds for the Devisthan school in Nepal. They are planning on building a secondary school which will be called the Beladevi Secondary school. It will have approximately 300 students and cost around $30,000. 100 bucks a student isn’t too bad. With my studies here, I’m finding that education and health are the most important way of fighting poverty. I also find this quote funny: “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.”
- Mark Twain

Peace