My host family is better than your host family

March 15, 2009

My host family is absolutely wonderful, so everything is pura vida!!! I was really disappointed at first because there weren’t going to be kids in my family, but I immediately loved Gabriela and Tony (my Mama Tica and Papa Tico). Tony works from about noon until 1am, and then again from about 2am until 4 or 5am, so I spent most of my first day with Gabi and LOTS of their relatives and neighbors. Gabi and Tony’s relatives remind me a lot of my mom’s side of the family (i.e. they are loud, inappropriate, fond of certain beverages, and incredibly friendly, warm, and loving).

Ok, so this would not be a post on MY blog without mentioning exercise or food, so here it comes. I have an injury that isn’t allowing me to run, which has been the most difficult challenge during this experience thus far. At the training center, I was at least able to use a jump rope and exercise bands, but my training site is going to make exercise a little more difficult. Even if I was not injured, I would not be able to run here for safety reasons. Also, there really isn’t any space even to jump rope, because the houses are too small on the inside, and outside is either on steep hills or rocky, gravel roads. Luckily, my tico uncle who lives one block away has an elliptical, and my Mama Tica dances zumba during the week at home. So, although my fitness routine will be DRASTICALLY different from what I am used to, it is going to have to do for now.

Bueno, I am completely exhausted after another long, stressful, and beautiful day here, but I will try to write as soon as I can with more stories. For now…PURA VIDA!!!