From Paradise to Class...

Dear Dr. Thacker,

Ok, let's see if I can get caught up on this thing...

Sunday I went on a one-day cruise to the fantastically beautiful Tortuga Island off the Pacific Coast.  I got up at 5 AM to take a taxi to La Casita, the MLSA headquarters.  We got on a nice tour bus and rode an hour and a half to the port city of Puntarenas, where we had breakfast.  Then we got on a catamaran and set sail through the gorgeous Golfo de Nicoya.  The boat ride lasted about an hour and half, and for most of it I sat at the very front with two other students, talking, taking in the amazing view, and enjoying the feeling of being on a boat.  The catamaran was great; the crew members kept walking around and offering everyone fruit and stuff.  It was pretty amazing.

As we approached Isla Tortuga, the first thing I saw was palm trees, and I knew I was going to love it.  As the white sand and clear turquoise water came closer and closer, it looked like something you'd only see in a travel brochure.  I didn't know such beautiful places actually existed.

We got off the catamaran, and our awesome tour guide, Erica, told us the rules of the island.  Isla Tortuga is a private biological reserve, so we couldn't go into the mountains; we had to stay on the beach.  However, I had more than enough to take in at sea level.

The first thing I did was go snorkeling, which I'd never done before.  They took us out in a boat to a place a little bit offshore and turned us loose.  After I got my mask, snorkel, and fins adjusted, I stuck my head underwater to see hundreds of brightly colored tropical fish inches away from me!  It was incredible.  I chased the fish around for a while; I got so close to them but never actually got to touch one.  In some places I could see the ocean floor, and when I dove down to get a closer look, I was able to see coral and starfish and even a manta ray!  It was incredible.

When we got back from snorkeling, the gourmet 4-course lunch was served.  The fish salad (a lot better than it sounds), coconut chicken, rice, vegetables, and bread were unbelievably good.

After lunch I wandered around the island and took about 300 pictures (which I finally just put up on Facebook, and I'll try to figure out how to post them here soon...) of the island.  I took so many pictures of palm trees....I'm kind of obsessed.

Later I went on a "banana ride," which was like a giant tube shaped like a banana that 7 people could ride on.  We were pulled by a little motor boat, and we got flipped over several times.  It was basically tubing on the ocean, and it was fantastic.

All too soon, however, we had to get back on the catamaran and leave the gorgeous island.  On the way back I sat on the front again and enjoyed the warm sun and fresh breeze.  When we got back to Puntarenas, we got back on the bus and headed home.

The next morning, classes started.  Hannah and I walked to UCR (Universidad de Costa Rica), which is about 2 miles from our house.  I'm taking Composition II and Conversation II.  I really like both of my professors, and I think both classes are going to be really good.  There's been a lot of review in the first couple of days, but I'm hoping they'll get more challenging soon.

Monday after class, Hannah and I and our new friend Nathan walked to the organization where we wanted to volunteer while we're here.  We talked to the guy in charge, and he said that in order to work with them, we'd have to pay a "small fee" of 100 dollars!  So I guess we'll have to find some other way to get involved.

Walking home, we got caught in a torrential downpour...without umbrellas.  They're not kidding when they tell you to never leave the house without an umbrella!  We were completely soaked by the time we got home; I don't think I've ever been that wet, even swimming!  And since it's so humid here, it took all of Tuesday for my stuff to dry out completely.  Lesson learned: umbrellas are my friend.