Well, this is my last post on the blog. Because my time here is over, is time to return to my country. My husband, my family and my work are waiting for me. This experience was so great; I met a lot of people and shared funny time whit each of them. I keep with me many nice memories like Brenda´s Birthday, Alejandra`s birthday, and Valentine`s Party. Also, there are other wonderful things, let´s me see: the trip of the Riverboat, the trip to Memphis and of course Graceland. About classes, I learned about American Culture, the kinds of music in the history of the United States. Now, I know that the blues, country music and rock and roll started here in Mississippi. I learned sometime about the differences accents of the people depend on the state where they are living. I noticed how hard the pronunciation here is and the differences between writing system and reading system.

I will leave on Saturday 21. I am so grateful whit everybody who gave me your friendship, because they helped me to be a better human being. Thanks to the teachers who were much more kind that I could imagine. I really appreciate this time on Oxford. I want to bee in touch with you, this is my e-mail rquesada@uveritas.ac.cr.

Bye

Customs in Costa Rica are Changing

Nowadays the customs around the world have changed and, our country is not the exception. Costa Rican life was different some years ago.

In the beginning of the last century most of the people worked in their own farms. Also, people wore other kinds of clothes, that were more practical and useful too. Men always wore hats and sometimes did not use shoes. Women wore aprons over their clothes because they cooked without electricity only uses wood. Furthermore, the family met at breakfast, lunch and dinner to take the meals together. Typical foods like “gallo pinto” (rice and beans mixed), tortillas, eggs and plantain.

In our country the changes are not only in food or clothing. The beliefs and the life style are changed too. Before, the families were very big. For example, my grandparents had 10 children. In contrast, today the families are smaller. My brothers only have two or three kids. Besides, the unique religious was catholic for that everybody had the same beliefs and the persons were more conservatives. Currently, catholic is the main religious but you are free to choose yours.

Today the Costa Rican’s life is faster, more complicated and sophisticated. The life’s styles are changed. People works very hard in their work places and do not share much time with their family. Before, most of people, lived in small towns, and their houses were simple. Now, houses are more expensive and most of the population lives in bigger cities.

Also, everybody has more facilities like electricity, drinkable water and a lot of services. Example of this is the transportation. In other times, the horses were the unique way of transportation now it is fast cars.

Definitely, our customs have changed. So for many people this is good, for others are bad. I really prefer old times because the families were happier than today. But, the real thing is: the world has changed and us too.

SOMETIME ELSE ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD AND MY TOWN

I grew up in a small town in the pacific cost called Quepos. I lived there for about 10 years. Many years ago in this town the main activity was banana’s plantation. Actually, there are old buildings of Banana Fruit Company.

I only have nice memories about this town. I not change my childhood for anything. Quepos is a very quite place and peaceful too. Every building are in a small area for that reason is possible to cross the down town very fast and is impossible to get lost. I remember when I was a child I got to school walking.

In those days I spend my time played with my friends outdoors, running in freedom. Always we took fruits directly of the trees.

I lived very close to the beach but my mom didn’t like to go. Sometimes she prepared something to eat and everybody went to the beach. We really had a great time together.

The most popular place in Quepos is Manuel Antonio. It’s a National Park localized 7 km south to the down town. Every year thousands of persons visit it. The number of tourist has increase because this park has three wonderful beaches, great wild life, nice weather and fantastic sunsets, just to relax and enjoy. If you love animals you can see many of them like monkeys, iguanas and birds.

Furthermore, if you prefer other kind of activities there are a lot of sports like canopy, swimming, surfing and the sport fishing is well known in this area.

Nowadays, the most important activity is tourism. They have a variety of places to go: restaurants, hotels, discos many options to choose.

Perhaps times have changed more people go there, and more buildings have been built but Quepos still continue like I remember: a Paradise in our Pacific coast.

THE NEW PHONE OF MY PARENTS

I am really happy because my parents have a new phone. I will tell you why. They lived out the city in a little town called Guápiles. Some months ago the moved to San José again for health reasons. They did not have telephone. While my time here was impossible to talk with them. The birthday of my father was on January 24 and could not call him. The last sunday I called my sister and she told me the good news they have phone now. Inmediatly I took the phone and called them. Was a nice sorprise for my parents. Now I can be in touch with them whatever I want.

Shopping in Tuppelo

Hello, everybody!
Today I will tell you about the trip to Tuppelo the last Saturday (January 31).
I enjoyed it and had some fun. I bought many things more than ever. I had a list of the things that I have to buy. My husband ask me a digital camara, a friend of my husband wanted one, and I need one. I bought in total three digital cameras, a tripod, and some accesories for them.
I wanted to buy some gift for my family and my friends and maybe some clothes for me. The time there was not enough always I been in a hurry. I would like to go again, but is impossible because there is not a public transportation and can not go by myself. I will buy the other thing that I need maybe in JC Penney or Wall mart.

Bye,

Hairspray

Today at 8:00 p.m. was a performance "Hairspray" on campus. I read is like a Broadway show. I wanted to go, but here in Oxford the transportation is to difficult. I live out campus, in Chesnutt, near to the Public Library. The only way that I have is taking a bus. The problem is the schedule. The last bus is at 6:30 p.m. The distance is not so much, and I enjoy to walk but is so hard because of the weather and mainly at night. I could not do anything about it. I lost the only chance.

This is my country Costa Rica, is in the middle of Central America. I really love it, is a beautiful place. God gave us many blessings like beaches, volcanos, waterfalls, and a variety wildlife. Is possible to cross the country in few hours and enjoy the landscape in Pacific cost and Atlantic cost. Is a pacific place without army, we only had haven one civil war in 1948. But now, we don´t care about this kind of things. I grew up in a little town called Quepos in the Pacific Cost, near to Manuel Antonio National Park. My childhood was so nice because I could climb up to the trees and pick up fruits by myself.