Rice and Beans

Guess what everyone? I am alive and well, would you believe it? What can i say about Costa Rica? Its lovely, and my group is fantastic. Its not more beautiful than Santa Barbara, but I am a little bit biased. I am going to be very sad when we have to split up to our host sites in a couple of weeks. Unfortunately a couple of the people I have really bonded with are 5+ hours away, but apparently thats nothing here. The roads are very poorly paved if at all. Also, the water is safe to drink, but they tell me it takes some adjusting to. I have been going half and half. Our directors are pretty great. I am having trouble breaking through with one of them, but I'm sure i just need to get to know her. We got in on Monday night, I was the only person to travel alone, I arrived about two hours before the rest of my group because they were delayed, but I got some one on one time with John, our orientation advisor. That first night, we stayed in a hostel. The following day was jam packed in San Jose. We went to the American Embassy, our in country medical clinic and lord knows what else. Then we made our way out to Orosi, the town where I am currently staying for 3 weeks. Orosi has a lot of tourism despite its small size and it is located in a very green valley between the mountains. Actually, I can see an active volcano from my house. There is a language school here and we are doing morning sessions in Spanish with afternoon sessions on teaching and such. This year is definitely going to be an adventure. I am in one of the intermediate classes and I am actually shocked by how good my Spanish is. I really thought that it was going to be terrible, but I seem to be getting by relatively well.
Other than that, last night we had a pool party which was nice and we all got to hang out. I had some really fantastic conversation, which I needed. I will get an "address" as soon as i can so that you guys can send me things like kleenex, towels pillows and teaching supplies. If you do, try to send things in big envelopes instead of boxes because then i guess it doesn't have to go through customs. It looks like I may not be able to get a cell phone here, but I will have calling cards and promise to do my best to call you on birthdays and so on and so forth.
The Rainy season starts in May and goes through November, so if you want to visit, February-June is probably the best time, though, I want to have people visiting all year, obviously.
My host family is nice here, but the house kind of smells like chemicals and I think it has been causing a little bit of a head cold for me. If you know me, you know I never get sick, so I am having trouble handling that particular aspect of the adventure. The little kids in my family keep coming into my room and going through my things which is less than ideal, but is nothing that I can't handle.
There are several marathoners in the group so we have been able to run together, which is really nice and has been helping to pass the time and to have something calming to take me back home, so to speak.

Things I have learned since my arrival:
GalloPinto- Is when rice and beans are mixed together other wise you just call it rice and beans. Some variation appears at most meals.
Not only are there no addresses in Costa Rica, mail can take 1-3 weeks to arrive so if you send me something, be patient for a response from me.
Ticas (Costa Ricans) shower every day, but the water is cold most of the time.
They don't save food here.
The electrical wiring here is so bad that if you iron barefoot on a tile floor you can get shocked/electrecuted.
I am going through serious culture shock: Translation, I miss you more than I can say.
More as soon as something happens or I can get to a computer.