Bailar es vivir

To dance is to live. It´s not a Costa Rican saying, but I think I could live by it. My tico brother (ticos and ticas are the people of Costa Rica) José invited me out Friday night to have a few drinks and go dancing with his friends. I met Anita, Anika (José´s girlfriend), Stewart (who is half American and knows English) and another girl whose name escapes me. We had a good time sitting outside a bar on the sidewalk at a plastic table with plastic chairs talking about who knows what. More than one conversation went on at once and I missed a lot of the jokes and remarks they threw around. They get so much amusement out of teaching me slang or "la palabra del calle," more often referred to as "pachuco." Some new additions to my vocabulary:

un playo = a gay (generic term, non-derogatory)
mimando = absent-minded
borracho(a) = drunk
picado(a) = buzzed
me cago en ______ = I crap on _______ (Often used jokingly by this group)

The thing is, when they teach me something new that seems like an insult, it´s hard to figure out whether it´s a curse word or just slang. I don´t want to lose any of the few friends I´ve made, though they are very forgiving since they know I´m not fluent.

After an hour and a half and a couple drinks (more for some of them, but not for me) we walked down the street to Piel Caliente (Hot Skin) which is one of the two best dance clubs in town, right across the street from the beach. The name is quite fitting considering there is no AC, only fans and open windows. With the humidity here, the sweating is pretty instantaneous. Most of the music they play is Reggaetón, a cross between Latin American Hip Hop/Rap and Reggae. The beat is infectious. I danced the night away despite my lack of energy. The scene was very similar to American dance clubs except people were smoking right on the dance floor. Not everyone, but several. Usually they stood close to the open windows. The drinks here are incredibly inexpensive. At the club two rum and cokes (a VERY popular drink here, which is quite convenient for me considering my affinity for the mix) cost only $2, but you have to buy two at once. I´m certainly not a fan of holding on to that much alcohol at a time and trying to dance considering I drink it very slowly. The men here stare but they aren´t terribly forward on the dance floor which is comforting. I was also among a circle of friends which is much better than being alone.

By the end of the night I was completely exhausted, quite sweaty, but (don´t worry Mom) quite sober. Which is less than I can say for a few members of our group. Praise God for the wisdom to know how to have a good time in moderation.

Today was our orientation. We got a tour of the town then they talked at us for hours. Useful information, but long and somewhat boring. My rear was aching even though the seats were padded. Oh and they are making me take 12 units, which stinks because that means I can´t audit my tropical ecology class and I had to pick up a Spanish Conversation class even though I am obviously in Spanish conversation every day. I may still change things up, I have two weeks to add and drop classes. Whatever happens, I´ll still learn a ton so I´m happy with that.

Oh and today marked a few firsts for me: first Costa Rican sunburn (not too bad, but obvious) and first cat call (from a car driving by as I walked down the street). I just laughed.

Until next time,

Pura Vida!