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!