NEW BLOG!!! BLOGO NUEVO!!!

1-2 Lunes
Today Olivia, Stephania, and I went to find the public pool. Turns out it wasn't even hard to find (when you know the right people). Dona Ana took us to a street lined with tall white walls, and I admit I was pretty skeptical (there was no pool there). But she did this secret knocking on one of the gates (must be a Costa Rican secret) and this guy came over and for 2000 colones we were able to swim in the pool until 3! I guess it is a family-run business, and they must be really well off from whatever they do, because they have a massive house. The pool also featured a restaurant and bar. A bar! Their obsession with alcohol over here is ridiculous. It's everywhere, and it's just stuff from the U.S. It must be exotic to them.
Speaking of, I am still trying to figure out what we people from the U.S. are people from Costa Rica. I haven't observed or inferred from anyone anything good. Men are just sleazy and the women just look at you like you're dirt. There have been some older men and women who have been perfectly pleasant, but for the most part we've been ignored, or stared at for all the wrong reasons. And Costa Ricans are supposed to be really approachable! I never thought I would experience racism. How naive! I never even thought about it. I wonder if the majority hate us, and if they do, I wonder why? Is it just plain hate or is it jealousy? They have plenty of things here from the U.S., so clearly they will consume our goods. And clearly, they like to because they all do. Everyone is wearing modern clothes, with modern bags, and modern shoes like Crocs (weird). It's not like they have to modernize, that's the thing. They could easily be like Elieth, and not have a washer and dryer, and do things the old fashioned way. But instead for the most part people are dressing modern. They don't have to exercise, but they do here. It's a pretty big deal. Women weighing 200+ pounds bouncing around in skin-tight sweatsuits is quite the sight to see. They don't have to do that! But why do they? It must be the north american/western influence. I must note though that they eat more than they work out, because no one who runs or exercises here is in a the same shape as a U.S. person is.
Another observation is that the fat people here are probably 95% women and kids. There are hardly any fat men. I actually can't even picture a fat Costa Rican man. And it's because the women spend so much time cooking!!! They're the ones in the kitchen, snacking as they prepare the meals (well that's what Elieth does). I think that's pretty interesting. I also see a lot more men just being outside, sitting around, working on cars, etc. that I do see women just hanging around. Machismo is at its strongest over here!
I have a monton of homework to start on. I'm just going to eenie-meenie-meini-mo for the first project and get going. Wish me luck!