1.  Arrival in San Jose, being the only German.
     So I’m in San Jose! My host family is great.  It is a couple with a 9 year old daughter and a 4 month old puppy!  They are so incredibly welcoming, though I have found that almost everyone-from taxi drivers to tour guides-is extremely hospitable.  The house is very brightly colored and very classy.  I have my own room and own bathroom, and I dont know what to do with such large amounts of personal space.  Additionally, I have the internet and – this is the big one – hot water!  Oh thank you, San Jose.  Yesterday my host momma brought me a hamburger and french fries.  I know, some of you will think that is gross (sarah!) but it had such a magnificent factor.  It was almost In-and-Out good, though I lack perspective since I haven’t had anything like french fries for over a month.  But thats when I really knew we would be getting along well.  And it made up for the fact that they drink PEPSI (ew).  Almost a deal breaker!  The other saving grace is that soda is made differently down here – they use something other than corn syrup.  So at least it doesn’t taste like American Pepsi, aka sewage.

    Last night they invited me to the birthday party of their nephew.  There were something like forty people there, from the elderly to a bunch of screaming kids. Again, they were all very friendly and pretended that I spoke decent Spanish (that is a stretch).  I, of course, was the only one with naturally German-wheat blonde hair (and one of the few in all of Costa Rica; I’ve never felt so conspicuous before) and thus was a real novelty for the kids.  They immediately zoned in on the “gringa,” which apparently is not considered an insult here but is their way to describe Americans.  They wanted to see if I could speak Spanish — what is this?  That is your hair-teeth-chair-purse-eyes-ears.  Lucky for me they were asking intro vocab, or it may have been a different story.  Then they wanted to hear everything in English, and a few wanted to try out the English they were learning in school.  What is your name?  It was incredibly cute.  One of them told me my voice sounded like Lindsay Lohan (compliment?).  And – since everyone in America knows each other – were interested to see if I knew, of all people, Jackie Chan (I don’t).  

    The grandmother of my host momma asked me what my last name was. I say, Lutkenhaus.  My host momma turns around upon hearing the word and is is like, what?  And I say, oh that’s my last name.  She responds, that is difficult!

2.  My adventure in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints:
    So this morning my host momma asks if I want to go to church.  Me, not having anything to do and wanting to get out into Costa Rica, say sure.  Since the country is 90% Catholic, I don’t bother to ask what type of service it is, I just borrow some nice clothes (I have to explain I don’t have any heels because I have been tramping about in the jungle) and go.  We get there, sit down, actually next to three English-speakers who were very nice to me.  And then…SURPRISE!  Its Mormon!  And even better, it is their biannual conference so the service was broadcast live from Utah for 2 and a half hours.  It was in Spanish, so I only understood about half of it, but it was interesting at least (1/2 an hour was devoted to the story of the persecution of Jose Smith).  Do I go back?

3.  Cheerios
    San Jose is a somewhat large city – more than 2 million people.  They have everything we have back in America, except Chipotle, to my utter resignation.  My host momma asked what I wanted for breakfast, and presented me with Cheerios.  Her daughter, Raquel, has more Disney princess stuff than I do (almost).  Classes start tomorrow.  Its a return to high school, Spanish from 9-3.  At least my Spanish should get better quickly!  The best part is that after class they offer cultural lessons, like cooking and dancing.  So I’m pretty much going to be cultured by the time I come back, I may even have manners.  Be prepared.

    Our election news is everywhere.  I haven’t broached the subject with my host family, but I get the feeling the W is not too popular down here.  Which is great, because Obama is up to 65 on intrade.com.  Kansas still predicted as over 90% McCain though. Its interesting how knowledgeable they all are about the US, though I suppose it isn’t really surprising.  Everyone asks me what state I’m from, and seem to have a basic idea of where Kansas is.  A lot of my friends at school don’t have a basic of idea of where Kansas is (I’ll give you a hint: it was not a part of the Confederacy). You know who you are.  

    I feel more connected now that I’m back in an actual town.  I may even get my nose pierced (that is for you Mom and Dad – reaction? haha if I can’t guess already).  But it all makes me miss everyone back home! Enjoy your visits with Joe Biden at the Home Depot.