Wait, we actually have to take classes?

So this was our first week of classes, and so far, they all seem really interesting. It's going to be more work than I expected...mainly because I expected to lay on the beach for 4 months under the guise of "studying" abroad...who knew that they would acually make us go to class?
But now that we're getting used to a schedule, it's nice to have a bit of a routine during the week. My program is about various topics focused on latin america: justice, development, human rights, gender, poverty, politics...it's really interesting! 4 classes, one a day mon-thurs, and then 2 of those days we also have spanish class. Then we get 3 day weekends every week, which is stellar!
Last weekend we went to Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park (we didnt go directly into the park, but we went to the beach there). It was GORGEOUS and my first taste of a Costa Rican paradise. The beach was beautiful, and there were monkeys!!!!!! monkeys!!! So exciting. And we cracked open coconuts and drank them...basically, I'm never coming home. It was great. This weekend we decided to stay a bit closer to home...tomorrow i'm having a lazy day-- sleeping in a bit, relaxing, walking around our neighborhood. I don't actually live in San Jose (which is nice since it is super sketchy at night), but I live in a smaller suburb of San Jose called Curridabat, like 20 minutes from downtown by bus (with traffic, it can take over an hour...). Saturday is the annual Palmares festival, which is basically the Costa Rican version of Carnaval, and its only an hourish from San Jose. Its just like a 10 day party, and Saturday is the last day so we thought we would check it out. Sunday a bunch of us want to explore markets and maybe a museum downtown (during the day, of course).
So i've been busy and happy. Everyone in my group is great--we all get along really well and have a lot of fun together, so it should be a great 4 months. Just dont ask me about the 2 months after that, since I spend hours and hours with my guidebook trying to plan a trip, and yet nothing is worked out yet. BUT this week I should be booking my flight to visit Alyssa in Buenos Aires for spring break, which I am super excited about! But if anyone is serious about backpacking with me this summer, shoot me an email with when you can come, how much time you have, and what country you want to do (preferably nicaragua, honduras, el salvador, belize, or guatemala) and we can plan together.
For those of you who keep asking, I promise to post pictures soon. It's just hard having internet so sporadically, which I will stop complaining about in every post. But google "quepos beach costa rica to see where i was last weekend. Also, ya'll keep asking me about my life, which is obviously more exciting than yours right now...but that doesnt mean I dont want to hear about life back home! Please update me and keep me posted; i'm very far away (but not so far that you cant come visit easily!) and hearing about home makes me happy.
Let me see...what else can I say? ummm I promise to eventually come home, i'm sorry that its a blizzard in NY and Boston while i'm sunburned, I found out today that there are 42 ingredients in a McDonalds chicken nugget (fun fact of the day), coffee is delicious here and im way more addicted than ever, i still enjoy rice and beans since i really have no other choice, i eat tons of fruit every day and it is sooo delicious (everyone should try guanavana juice, just dont ask me what it is or how to find it in the states), my host mom is adorable and I love her, everyone here is really stoked about Obama which is exciting, and basically, all is fantastic.

Stay warm!

Setting in

Hola familia y amigos!
Everything is still great...we don't start classes until Monday, so we've been busy getting settled, having orientations, getting to know one another, and of course, speaking spanish and planning trips. Tomorrow a bunch us are getting up before sunrise to head about 4 hours away to a beautiful beach, which I am very excited about!
If you want to come visit me, you better like rice and beans with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I'm getting used to it though, you learn to enjoy it.
I thought that being here would make it easier to plan my summer backpacking adventures, but it's actually getting harder since I keep learning about new places that I want to go! I definately need to cut out some countries and spend more time in each...Central America has so much to offer and there are so many options. Evya, we have some planning to do!
Everyone needs to keep me updated on their lives back home...I miss everyone, and its definately been an adjustment not having internet in my house. Once we start classes I should have wireless access Mondays-Thursdays during the day, but other than that, I have to harass my friends who have internet, and I feel bad about doing that too often. But i'll figure it out, so bear with me!

Con mucho amor,
Raquel :)

Oh, hey summer. It's been a while

Hola from Costa Rica! I'm wearing flip flops and a T-shirt as I write this, and I could not be happier. My host mom is fantastic, my house is beautiful, and did I mention the sunshine? I live on the same street as a few other people in my group, so we spent the morning walking around our neighborhood (which is lovely and safe, mom), and now we are of course watching Obama. Tomorrow we see our school for the first time and head out of the city for 2 days for an orientation. I dont have internet access in my house but almost everyone else does (of course), so I should be able to find a computer to use every few days, and at school we supposedly have wireless. But after a very long day yesterday (waking up at 2:30 am was special), I am happy to say that everything is wonderful, my spanish is damn good, and I am very very content in my new home.

Thats it for now...more updates to come soon.
Happy Obama Day!

Bring on the sunshine!!

Hola everyone!!
As most of you know, I am all packed up (well, I will be soon...) and I'm heading to Costa Rica! I'll be studying in San Jose for 4 months, living with a family and taking classes. Mid-May when my program ends, my parents and sister are 100%, definately, without a doubt coming to visit me, and then I decided to stay for an extra 2 months and backpack around Central America! For everyone who wants to join me on my travels (and that should be everyone reading this because you all love me and flights are reeallly cheap so no excuses), the plan is to head up to Mexico or more likely, Guatemala, and then spend June and July making my way down to Peru, where I fly home from July 29th. So pick a country that you like (Honduras, Nicaragua (sorry mom), Panama, El Salvador, Belize, or Guatemala), and I'll make sure to get there.
I have to keep this blog for school, so you will be getting very regular updates from me, whether you like it or not. Once I get there safely on Monday, I can let you all know my address, where I expect packages and mail daily. My skype name is rklein108, so GET SKYPE if you dont have it, add me, and you won't even know that I'm gone.
For those of you who have been to Costa Rica or cental america, keep sending suggestions and tips.
I'm super excited but I will miss you all! So please keep in touch!
The next post will be from my new home, in the sunshine! But enjoy the snow in NY and Boston...I do feel really bad for you all :)

Besos, abrazos, y mucho amor!