Scary Papa Tico

April 11, 2009

I never watch scary movies, ever. So, when my host mother asked me if I wanted to watch Disturbia with her at 11pm on Friday night, my initial thought was, “No, gracias.” Ever since arriving here, however, I have felt compelled to take part in every new experience that presents itself, so I ignored my dislike for being terrified and hesitantly agreed to join Mama Tica.

In spite of the fact that she managed to make the setting as scary as possible by turning off all the lights, and making me jump every now and then for her own entertainment, we had a really good time. Then, at the very end of the movie, when all of the violence and suspense and horror was at its peak, someone suddenly jumped in front of the window directly behind us and shook the iron bars while yelling and screaming!!!! Who else but Papa Tico, who knew we were watching a scary movie. What a jerk. I screamed an obscene phrase that he had taught me earlier in the day, and Mama Tica and I started to laugh so hard that we were both sopping with tears and could hardly breathe. That was definitely the hardest I’ve laughed since I’ve been here, and seeing as laughing or making others laugh is basically my favorite past time, I see that as a rather significant event.

Holy week is finally over, which makes me happy because it means the grocery stores will be open again and I can buy fruit. The entire country basically shuts down and everyone either stays home and does nothing, goes to processions that take entirely too long and involve walking at a pace that is so slow it hurts, or they go to the beach. I was privy to the first two of those three options. While I’m glad I had an authentic Holy Week experience, I have no need to desire to ever experience it again. This time, in 2010, I will be at the beach.