Just Another Day in San Jose

Afternoon and Evening all,

Yesterday was my first day working at the school. I left the house at 7 am so that I would make it to Santa Ana by 8:30. I walked down the pedestrian street to le Coca-Cola (this is the name of the bus-hub in SJ) and got on the Santa Ana (la Pista, meaning "by highway"). The bus had to go through the city and the traffic was horrendous. I really did need that hour and a half and I would make it on time.

We got off the highway at the exit for Santa Ana, pulled to a stop at some businesses I did not recognize, everybody got off and I heard the bus driver say "Adios". What? I thought we were going to Santa Ana?! Isn't this the same bus I took on Thursday with Maria?? Guess not! So I got off and got on the first bus that said Santa Ana. The bus ended up in a town that looked very similar to Santa Ana but was not, and again, dropped everyone off at the final stop. Donde estamos? (Where are we?) I asked the driver. "San Antonio" AHHHH!!

I saw a bunch of cabs sitting across the road so I decided to pay the extra money and just get there, dammit! It was 8:30 and I was uber late. The taxi driver told me we were about 7 km outside of where I needed to be, so we drove. 10 bucks and 20 minutes later I had arrived finally at my destination.

I walked in, explaining to the guard that I was a volunteer, and we went together to find Rosa, the other English teacher. She was not expecting me (big surprise, as everything was working out smoothly, right?) so we communicated enough to get the objective of my being there across.

First class was grade 3, a class of 36 (FML). We were learning vocabulary. In fact, with all of Rosa;s classes, we were learning vocabulary. The next class was grade 4 (28 students), then grade 1 (31) and grade 6. All of the classes were oversized, with only one teacher in each. I could not believe it. For class sizes like that, it is nearly impossible to work with every kid, and really difficult to manage. (Props to those elementary school teachers that do this everyday!)

I guess I shoule explain a bit how the school works. It is an elementary school (grades 1-6) that works on a high school-like schedule. 45 minutes per class, and the teachers move from class to class, teaching their subject areas, like high school teachers. For half of the day I work with Rosa and the other half I work with Ingrid. Rosa works mornings on Mon, Wed and Fri, and Ingrid on Tuesday and Thursday. Then they switch at lunch.

The kids were really cool, they were somewhat patient with me not understanding quick speech, and they enjoyed me at the front of the class. I enjoyed them alot. In the 2nd grade 3 class I help with the little girls kept coming up to me and giving me stickers. My Spanish-English dictionary is now covered in stickers. (awwwww) Oh and the hugs!! Already I can barely walk down the hall without being bulldozed by kids! I love this place. :)

The rest of the day yesterday was good, I left around 2 and went into town. Met a dude name Manuel on the bus, we spoke in Spanglish and I am pretty sure he fell in love with me. After a bit of talking and a bit of creepiness on his part, we parted and I went to find some shoes. I managed to find some wicked hot pink and white Pumas, at a store near the centre of the city. I love them so much I dont want to wear them.
(BTW: My keyboard keeps doing weird shit and I cant use an apostrophe or my arrow keys. FML)

Last night I wasnt tired so Maria and I went to a Monday night club for some wicked live Latin music. It was Ladies Night but you wouldnt know it because of the number of dudes!
We met some other Anglos and the bar was pretty much and a balanced mix of tourists and locals. Albeit pretty cool.

Today I had the day off because the school was having a 5 hour meeting (for what, I dont know) starting at 7 ending at 12, with classes in the afternoon from 12:30 until 2. So I didnt go. I will be full timr starting again tomorrow.

Today I went outside on the patio in the morning to catch some rays (and apparently sweat profusely). Went to the Auto Mercado for some necessary lunchable snacks and tupperware, and the came home.

After a few minutes of downpour the sky cleared up and I decided to go to Savana Park, San Jose;s equivalent to New Yorks Central Park.
I walked down to the center, but not before stopping at the giant touristy market where I got told off by a Tico that his assumption of me being American was soley justifiable. And with good argument, I might add. So I look like an American. I guess thats fine.

I got on the bus to Savana and secured my purse to my arm. I was wearing jean shorts under my dress so that I could store my camera and ID and stuff, thinking it was safe. I had my camera in my back pocket so I took it out and held it because it was uncomfortable to sit on.

As I listened to my iPod and watched as the people went on with their daily lives as we drove bus in the stinky hot bus, I felt a hand on mine, the one with the camera. I looked over and there was a guy standing up saying something and urging me, but I couldnt figure out what he wanted. I took a bud out of my ear with the other hand and he urged some more, this time forcing the realisation that he wanted my camera. I immediately said no and pulled my hand back, and he proded towards his belt, trying to convince me that he had something there, perhaps a weapon. All I could think of was how that was my camera and not his and what the fuck do you think youre doing? When I realized he was persisting and persisting to threaten me, I yelled for help in English and Spanish and finally someone said "hey!" and the bugger ran off.

Just another day in San Jose. I thought to myself. I wondered if I should still go to the park, and then some of the people who saw this happen, came and sat near me. They asked how I was doing and immediately I started to cry. The shock had worn off and I realised that I had just experienced something pretty shitty, for any tourist or even local that lives in Central America.

I continued on to the park, but when I got there I realised that there were a lot of singled-out men, just sitting, and then others riding around on bicycles. Due to my recent experience, I didn't (yay apostrophes!) stay long, so I sat at a park bench for a bit and headed home.

I got back in to the centre of the city, went for a yummy mint-chocolate grande cone, and walked all the way home. In my head I wanted to run all the way, go to a kick-boxing class, learn how to fight, and start wearing grubby clothes and no make up.

The hardest part that I am dealing with right now is that I didn't want it to come to this. By this I mean, I didn't want to have to change how I do things, or how I look, or how I trust people, because of where I am in the world. The unfortunate realisation is though, that I need to start adapting to my surroundings and to stop wishing they would adapt to me. This is a huge culture shock-realisation, and it had to come by way of a shitty experience, but in the end, I still have my camera, my sanity, and my rational frame of mind... but it took some talking with Jenn and Maria, to realize that it sucks, but I need to adapt.

Still in love with San Jose and Costa Rica,

Good night!