Folks,
Our visitors are due tonight, but I've a chance to lash off a quick mail because their flight is delayed. It's just about 15 minutes by bus from here to the airport.
Preparation for Germany
------------------------------
The Costa Rican preparation for the world cup had a bit of a setback this week. They played Catalonia (region of Spain) on Wednesday, but lost 2-0. However you can see the world cup fever ramping up here. We're getting flyers from Pizza Hut, and there are lots of ads on TV for fast food, delivery services, as well as TVs, surround sound systems and jerseys and flags, and anything red, white and blue.
Crocodile Bridge
--------------------
I forgot to write that when we were at the beach in Esterillos a couple of weeks back, we met one of my work colleagues, Devon, and her Tico boyfriend James. He works in tourism and has a bus, and they gave us a lift home.
On the way back, we crossed what I call crocodile bridge. It's on the main road to the central Pacific coast. You can often see a few crocodiles in the water from the bus. This time we could stop and get out for a proper look. There were about 20 crocodiles, of all ages and sizes. Some of them were huge. While we were there, one of the onlookers threw down a chicken (from the butchers, not a live one), and it really showed me how fast they can move when they want to. The chicken only lasted about a second.
BBC
------
I listened with interest to a report from Costa Rica on the programme From Our Own Correspondent recently. It's so interesting to hear about somewhere which sounds so exotic when you are actually living in.
The item was about the Free Trade Agreement, known here as TLC (Tratado de Libre Comercio). They made the point that Costa Rica is now trying to walk a tight-rope between the USA to the north, and the South American countries to the south. And they also noted that there are more PHDs in the cabinet of the new government than in any other country in Latin America. I'm not sure if that's a good thing!
In praise of podcasting
---------------------------
I'm not singing the praises here for my own very meagre podcast of this weekly update. But I have become a real fan of podcasts in general. There are quite a few done by the BBC, and the Guardian newspaper in the UK. Unfortunately, RTÉ is running a little slow on this initiative. I can only get the Gerry Ryan weekly highlights. They're just sound files that you can set to automatically download to your PC, and then to your iPod or MP3 player.
The BBC have a daily update that is taken from highlights of their news programmes, and it's excellent. And the Guardian have a daily news programme on their site that's like a little radio station. I have an iPod shuffle, so now I'm never without the news. Which, incidentally, is how I heard the BBC report on Costa Rica.
-----
Well, that's it for another week. We're off to the airport now to pick up the two travellers. They've had a long day, and have travelled from Dublin to Amsterdam, to Miami, to San José. So until next week.
Pura Vida,
Éamon
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
World Cup countdown
The world cup countdown is beginning in earnest. I've also learned a little about the police force (from my students, not from personal experience!), and I need to warn any of you who I'm meeting in July that some Americanisms have crept into my speech!
Preparation for Germany
------------------------------
This week the Costa Rican football team headed for Germany. They had a relaxed final training of a few days on the Pacific coast. The news now has coverage from their hotel in Germany and keeps us informed on how they're doing.
There are all sorts of rumours about what bonuses they're on. In Italia 90 they qualified for the second round, and all the players won a car. Trying to dampen the rumours, officials reported that this time the players earn $1,000 a day while in Germany, with $400 extra per match.
They are playing in the opening match against Germany on June 9th. The match is at 10am here, and the government has given all their employees the morning off work. I think the other matches are at 8am.
Obviously, people aren't confident about the opening match against such competition. However, I keep feeling that stranger things have happened. Given that all the pressure is on Germany and nothing is expected of Costa Rica other than turn up. We'll see.
Part-time policing
----------------------
In class during the week, we were talking about modal verbs of permission or obligation, and used the rules of the road as an example. Things like you should wear a helmet on a bike, and you must stop at a red light.
But I was told that at night in San José you may jump a red light if there is no traffic coming, because it's dangerous to stop in some districts. I asked if the police would take any action if they saw you jumping the light. They laughed, and said that this was just at night, so 'obviously' there are no police around.
It turns out that the police finish about 8.30, and there is no coverage overnight. They were amazed when I told them that police-keeping at home was 24-hours.
Americanisation
--------------------
Just a warning, before I travel home, that some Americanisation (Americanization?) has crept into my speech. I teach American English, while always also telling my students the British/Irish English equivalent. But this constant use of American English is creeping into my speech. I've talked about 'movies' a couple of times to Jack. I'm quite comfortable spelling color and neighbor. I use the bathroom (they think toilet is quite a crude word!), form a line instead of make a queue, throw out trash, and I call people, rather than phone them!
The Irish phrase I'm lost without is 'giving out'. I still can't make out what the Americans say for it. They use 'scold' to translate the equivalent Spanish word engañar. But they feel it's old-fashioned and don't use it in normal speech. They don't say 'telling off' which I think is more British. So I still say 'giving out' and no-one has a clue what I mean.
I also surprise people when talking about 'your man' to point someone out – with the reply 'Did you just call him my man?'
I'll be looking forward to July when I can top up on Hiberno-English!
-----
Well, that's it for another week. We have visitors arriving next weekend, Jack's niece and her boyfriend, so we're really looking forward to that. So until next week …
Pura Vida,
Éamon
Today's headline in La Nación: US Senate defends the rights of foreigners working in agriculture
Preparation for Germany
------------------------------
This week the Costa Rican football team headed for Germany. They had a relaxed final training of a few days on the Pacific coast. The news now has coverage from their hotel in Germany and keeps us informed on how they're doing.
There are all sorts of rumours about what bonuses they're on. In Italia 90 they qualified for the second round, and all the players won a car. Trying to dampen the rumours, officials reported that this time the players earn $1,000 a day while in Germany, with $400 extra per match.
They are playing in the opening match against Germany on June 9th. The match is at 10am here, and the government has given all their employees the morning off work. I think the other matches are at 8am.
Obviously, people aren't confident about the opening match against such competition. However, I keep feeling that stranger things have happened. Given that all the pressure is on Germany and nothing is expected of Costa Rica other than turn up. We'll see.
Part-time policing
----------------------
In class during the week, we were talking about modal verbs of permission or obligation, and used the rules of the road as an example. Things like you should wear a helmet on a bike, and you must stop at a red light.
But I was told that at night in San José you may jump a red light if there is no traffic coming, because it's dangerous to stop in some districts. I asked if the police would take any action if they saw you jumping the light. They laughed, and said that this was just at night, so 'obviously' there are no police around.
It turns out that the police finish about 8.30, and there is no coverage overnight. They were amazed when I told them that police-keeping at home was 24-hours.
Americanisation
--------------------
Just a warning, before I travel home, that some Americanisation (Americanization?) has crept into my speech. I teach American English, while always also telling my students the British/Irish English equivalent. But this constant use of American English is creeping into my speech. I've talked about 'movies' a couple of times to Jack. I'm quite comfortable spelling color and neighbor. I use the bathroom (they think toilet is quite a crude word!), form a line instead of make a queue, throw out trash, and I call people, rather than phone them!
The Irish phrase I'm lost without is 'giving out'. I still can't make out what the Americans say for it. They use 'scold' to translate the equivalent Spanish word engañar. But they feel it's old-fashioned and don't use it in normal speech. They don't say 'telling off' which I think is more British. So I still say 'giving out' and no-one has a clue what I mean.
I also surprise people when talking about 'your man' to point someone out – with the reply 'Did you just call him my man?'
I'll be looking forward to July when I can top up on Hiberno-English!
-----
Well, that's it for another week. We have visitors arriving next weekend, Jack's niece and her boyfriend, so we're really looking forward to that. So until next week …
Pura Vida,
Éamon
Today's headline in La Nación: US Senate defends the rights of foreigners working in agriculture
Monday, May 15, 2006
Thoughts of home
Having been here a year, it’s possible to compare the start of the rainy season this year and last, and there’s so much more rain this year. We’ve booked our holidays home to Ireland in July, and Jack’s started guitar lessons.
Travelling home
---------------
I hate searching for complicated flights on the internet. I always end up with about 16 browser windows open, and flit between them tweaking dates to try to get the best fare. This time the best fare turned out to be a crazy route. But still, best fare is best fare, and we’ve gone for it.
We’re leaving here on July 2nd, arriving into Dublin on the morning of 3rd. We don’t leave Ireland until 31st, so it’s a good long break. The route we take is, wait for it, on the way out; San José, Miami, St. Louis, Chicago, Dublin. And then on the way back it’s Dublin, London, Miami, San José.
We’re really looking forward to catching up with people at home, and I’ll have so much more time than my quick trip last August.
Things you miss from home
-------------------------
Whenever anybody comes out, they always ask what we want brought over from Ireland. To be honest, there’s really not a lot that we miss. I’d kill for a batterburger and chips, but it’s not very realistic. What I’ve got people to bring so far includes the predictable Barry’s Tea. I didn’t bring any with me, because I think the milk abroad is often dodgy. But it’s fine over here.
I’ve also asked people to bring Blu-Tack. I’m not sure why, but you can’t get it here. There is a fantastically equipped American office store called Office Depot, which has more items than I’ve ever seen available in Ireland in it’s large warehouse. But no Blu-Tack. It’s amazing how much we’ve managed to decorate the apartment walls since it’s arrived.
The only other thing is a favourite from my childhood. Erin Irish Potato soup. Just a simple packet soup, but ideal for days with tropical rainstorms. They should use that in their advertising!
Guitar lessons
--------------
I got Jack a guitar for his birthday, and he’s now taking lessons. My boss’s brother, Colin from the US, is a very good player and is giving him lessons for just over €5 an hour. So he’s practising loads at the moment, shredding his fingers away in the process.
Drifting exchange rate
----------------------
Another aspect of Tico life is that the currency, the Colón (or Columbus), is constantly falling in value. When we arrived it was C467 to the dollar. It’s now C508, a fall of nearly 9%, and that happens year in year out. It doesn’t fluctuate. It just falls.
Because of this, the dollar acts as a surrogate currency. Most of our bills are in dollars, and they have a dollar conversion rate to give you this months total in colones for payment.
-----
Well, that’s it for another week. The rain continues. A couple of minutes ago we couldn’t hear each other speak for the din on the tin roof. There’s a respite for the moment. So until next week.
Pura Vida,
Éamon
Today’s headline in La Nación: Schools fail to check schoolbags daily (for weapons!)
Travelling home
---------------
I hate searching for complicated flights on the internet. I always end up with about 16 browser windows open, and flit between them tweaking dates to try to get the best fare. This time the best fare turned out to be a crazy route. But still, best fare is best fare, and we’ve gone for it.
We’re leaving here on July 2nd, arriving into Dublin on the morning of 3rd. We don’t leave Ireland until 31st, so it’s a good long break. The route we take is, wait for it, on the way out; San José, Miami, St. Louis, Chicago, Dublin. And then on the way back it’s Dublin, London, Miami, San José.
We’re really looking forward to catching up with people at home, and I’ll have so much more time than my quick trip last August.
Things you miss from home
-------------------------
Whenever anybody comes out, they always ask what we want brought over from Ireland. To be honest, there’s really not a lot that we miss. I’d kill for a batterburger and chips, but it’s not very realistic. What I’ve got people to bring so far includes the predictable Barry’s Tea. I didn’t bring any with me, because I think the milk abroad is often dodgy. But it’s fine over here.
I’ve also asked people to bring Blu-Tack. I’m not sure why, but you can’t get it here. There is a fantastically equipped American office store called Office Depot, which has more items than I’ve ever seen available in Ireland in it’s large warehouse. But no Blu-Tack. It’s amazing how much we’ve managed to decorate the apartment walls since it’s arrived.
The only other thing is a favourite from my childhood. Erin Irish Potato soup. Just a simple packet soup, but ideal for days with tropical rainstorms. They should use that in their advertising!
Guitar lessons
--------------
I got Jack a guitar for his birthday, and he’s now taking lessons. My boss’s brother, Colin from the US, is a very good player and is giving him lessons for just over €5 an hour. So he’s practising loads at the moment, shredding his fingers away in the process.
Drifting exchange rate
----------------------
Another aspect of Tico life is that the currency, the Colón (or Columbus), is constantly falling in value. When we arrived it was C467 to the dollar. It’s now C508, a fall of nearly 9%, and that happens year in year out. It doesn’t fluctuate. It just falls.
Because of this, the dollar acts as a surrogate currency. Most of our bills are in dollars, and they have a dollar conversion rate to give you this months total in colones for payment.
-----
Well, that’s it for another week. The rain continues. A couple of minutes ago we couldn’t hear each other speak for the din on the tin roof. There’s a respite for the moment. So until next week.
Pura Vida,
Éamon
Today’s headline in La Nación: Schools fail to check schoolbags daily (for weapons!)
Monday, May 08, 2006
Inauguration bank holiday
Folks,
It’s a bank holiday here today, although I’m actually working later on. I’m watching the inauguration of the new President, Óscar Arias, on TV.
New President
------------------
There are many leaders of Latin American countries here for the inauguration, in addition to Laura Bush and the President of Taiwan. The inauguration is held in the National Stadium. It’s a little like an amateur version of the Olympics opening ceremony. People are doing gym displays and some marching and dancing. It’s quite unlike what we’ve done in Dublin Castle for the two Marys.
They’ve now been hit by a torrential shower, so there are umbrellas everywhere. There’s also live coverage of the chef preparing the state dinner (in a marquee!).
CAFTA
----------
Since we arrived here, the major public issue has been the Central American Free Trade Agreement, known locally as TLC, Trato Libre de Comercio. It’s an agreement to lift trade barriers between the US and the Central American countries, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean.
Many people here are opposed to the agreement, feeling that it’s too favourable to the US. There have been many protest marches and you can see posters and stickers on people’s windows saying ‘No to annexation, no to TLC’. It’s been ratified in the other five countries. It’s likely to be ratified by the new President as he’s in favour of the agreement.
Selling in the streets
------------------------
One of the features of life here is the street sellers who are everywhere. As you go even to the supermarket, you have to run the gauntlet of people selling lottery tickets, mobile phone covers, jewellery, pirated CDs and DVDs, in addition to fruit vendors. When you take the bus into San José, someone often gets on and makes a long speech about their hardship, and then sells pens to passengers to make some money. The story is often about their health problems. One guy had been the victim of a car crash, and showed us all his x-rays.
Men looking for women
-----------------------------
I’ve just bought a copy of the local English language newspaper, The Tico Times. There are many personal ads in the newspaper, the majority older guys in the US looking for younger Tica girlfriends with a view to marriage. This is a typical example.
Marriage-minded 43 year old athletic surfer / fireman from San Diego, California seeking Tica / Nicaraguan / Panamanian will be in Beatle Bar, Jacó Beach Costa Rica June 16-24 ask for Brendan Mac. Hope to see you! Will buy your first Cacique! email me bmcinerney@san.rr.com.
-----
Well, that’s it for another week. The inauguration is over now, and there’s a Colombian telenovela (soap opera) in its place. The rain has stopped, and I’d better get ready for school.
Pura Vida,
Éamon
Today’s headline in La Nación: Óscar Arias takes over as President of Costa Rica
It’s a bank holiday here today, although I’m actually working later on. I’m watching the inauguration of the new President, Óscar Arias, on TV.
New President
------------------
There are many leaders of Latin American countries here for the inauguration, in addition to Laura Bush and the President of Taiwan. The inauguration is held in the National Stadium. It’s a little like an amateur version of the Olympics opening ceremony. People are doing gym displays and some marching and dancing. It’s quite unlike what we’ve done in Dublin Castle for the two Marys.
They’ve now been hit by a torrential shower, so there are umbrellas everywhere. There’s also live coverage of the chef preparing the state dinner (in a marquee!).
CAFTA
----------
Since we arrived here, the major public issue has been the Central American Free Trade Agreement, known locally as TLC, Trato Libre de Comercio. It’s an agreement to lift trade barriers between the US and the Central American countries, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean.
Many people here are opposed to the agreement, feeling that it’s too favourable to the US. There have been many protest marches and you can see posters and stickers on people’s windows saying ‘No to annexation, no to TLC’. It’s been ratified in the other five countries. It’s likely to be ratified by the new President as he’s in favour of the agreement.
Selling in the streets
------------------------
One of the features of life here is the street sellers who are everywhere. As you go even to the supermarket, you have to run the gauntlet of people selling lottery tickets, mobile phone covers, jewellery, pirated CDs and DVDs, in addition to fruit vendors. When you take the bus into San José, someone often gets on and makes a long speech about their hardship, and then sells pens to passengers to make some money. The story is often about their health problems. One guy had been the victim of a car crash, and showed us all his x-rays.
Men looking for women
-----------------------------
I’ve just bought a copy of the local English language newspaper, The Tico Times. There are many personal ads in the newspaper, the majority older guys in the US looking for younger Tica girlfriends with a view to marriage. This is a typical example.
Marriage-minded 43 year old athletic surfer / fireman from San Diego, California seeking Tica / Nicaraguan / Panamanian will be in Beatle Bar, Jacó Beach Costa Rica June 16-24 ask for Brendan Mac. Hope to see you! Will buy your first Cacique! email me bmcinerney@san.rr.com.
-----
Well, that’s it for another week. The inauguration is over now, and there’s a Colombian telenovela (soap opera) in its place. The rain has stopped, and I’d better get ready for school.
Pura Vida,
Éamon
Today’s headline in La Nación: Óscar Arias takes over as President of Costa Rica
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Esterillos
Folks,
Like yourselves, we’ve just had a bank holiday weekend. We travelled to the small beach village of Esterillos Este, and had a really nice and relaxing time.
Terremoto
-------------
We had a small earthquake on Monday. It was at around 9.30 in the evening, and was during the showing on TV of a film called “10.5” about an earthquake in San Francisco. You almost felt you were there!
Bank holiday weekend
----------------------------
This was a bank holiday weekend. However, it wasn’t very busy, because most people had spent all their money during Semana Santa. We decided to head to the small village of Esterillos Este on the Pacific Coast. It was our first time go to a place on the coast that was off the beaten track. When the bus dropped us off on the main road we felt that we were in the middle of nowhere. We had about a 2km walk to the hotel. When we got there we discovered that bizarrely we had to cross an aircraft runway. Right in the middle of nowhere, and crossing the road. There was a stop sign warning you to look out for aircraft.
Esterillos Este
-----------------
Esterillos is a collection of beaches with little villages, called Esterillos Este, Centro and Oeste (or East, Central and West). We stayed in a small hotel for about €32 for a double room. That’s expensive for us! And beers were a whopping €1.60. It was very quiet and relaxed. Beautiful mornings and afternoons, with rainy evenings.
Sunburn
-----------
The hotel had boogie boards available for guests. They’re kind of like sawn-off surfboards that you lie on. We went out on them the first morning and we had brilliant craic. However, although it was overcast there was sun getting through. I usually go right up to my neck in the sea because of the strong sun. But with the boogie boards you were out of the water most of the time, with the result that we got terrible sunburn. The first sunburn I’ve got in over a year here.
I look like I’m wearing a red t-shirt. Because I’d put sunscreen on my arms and legs outside of t-shirt and shorts. We’re getting over it now, but it’s still a little sore.
Yesterday, we decided to wait until after the late afternoon’s rain before going out on the boards. We had great fun surfing in the lashings of rain. So much safer.
Bank holidays
------------------
This Monday was a bank holiday for Mayday. Next Monday, there is a bank holiday for the transfer of power for to the new President! But I think that the school will still be open, so we won’t have it off. But we should be paid double time. I think it would be popular at home to bring down the government if it meant a holiday each time.
Rainy Season
-----------------
The rainy season is definitely here. It rains most afternoons for a little while here in the Central Valley, and a little later on the Pacific Coast. However, the rest of the day is beautiful and sunny. And the temperature is hotter than in the dry season!
-----
So that’s it for another week. This is a short week. Only 3 days, because of the bank holiday, and because I’m not back on Saturday rotation yet. So until next week …
Pura Vida,
Éamon
Today’s headline in La Nación: PLN achieves comfortable triumph in legislative session
Like yourselves, we’ve just had a bank holiday weekend. We travelled to the small beach village of Esterillos Este, and had a really nice and relaxing time.
Terremoto
-------------
We had a small earthquake on Monday. It was at around 9.30 in the evening, and was during the showing on TV of a film called “10.5” about an earthquake in San Francisco. You almost felt you were there!
Bank holiday weekend
----------------------------
This was a bank holiday weekend. However, it wasn’t very busy, because most people had spent all their money during Semana Santa. We decided to head to the small village of Esterillos Este on the Pacific Coast. It was our first time go to a place on the coast that was off the beaten track. When the bus dropped us off on the main road we felt that we were in the middle of nowhere. We had about a 2km walk to the hotel. When we got there we discovered that bizarrely we had to cross an aircraft runway. Right in the middle of nowhere, and crossing the road. There was a stop sign warning you to look out for aircraft.
Esterillos Este
-----------------
Esterillos is a collection of beaches with little villages, called Esterillos Este, Centro and Oeste (or East, Central and West). We stayed in a small hotel for about €32 for a double room. That’s expensive for us! And beers were a whopping €1.60. It was very quiet and relaxed. Beautiful mornings and afternoons, with rainy evenings.
Sunburn
-----------
The hotel had boogie boards available for guests. They’re kind of like sawn-off surfboards that you lie on. We went out on them the first morning and we had brilliant craic. However, although it was overcast there was sun getting through. I usually go right up to my neck in the sea because of the strong sun. But with the boogie boards you were out of the water most of the time, with the result that we got terrible sunburn. The first sunburn I’ve got in over a year here.
I look like I’m wearing a red t-shirt. Because I’d put sunscreen on my arms and legs outside of t-shirt and shorts. We’re getting over it now, but it’s still a little sore.
Yesterday, we decided to wait until after the late afternoon’s rain before going out on the boards. We had great fun surfing in the lashings of rain. So much safer.
Bank holidays
------------------
This Monday was a bank holiday for Mayday. Next Monday, there is a bank holiday for the transfer of power for to the new President! But I think that the school will still be open, so we won’t have it off. But we should be paid double time. I think it would be popular at home to bring down the government if it meant a holiday each time.
Rainy Season
-----------------
The rainy season is definitely here. It rains most afternoons for a little while here in the Central Valley, and a little later on the Pacific Coast. However, the rest of the day is beautiful and sunny. And the temperature is hotter than in the dry season!
-----
So that’s it for another week. This is a short week. Only 3 days, because of the bank holiday, and because I’m not back on Saturday rotation yet. So until next week …
Pura Vida,
Éamon
Today’s headline in La Nación: PLN achieves comfortable triumph in legislative session
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