I have been bitten by the travel bug. I wanted to use my passport that I have had for 5 years. Therefore many many many weeks ago I booked a trip to Costa Rica…of course after much research (I’m an emerald). I didn’t tell many people, in fact I can count on my hand how many people I told, including my parents. I wanted to go learn, survive and grow in a culture where I had to let go of my independence and relay on others
On Thursday Nov. 14th I began my journey. I drove to Beaumont, Texas (Parents are puppy sitting the Duker) and before I made it to my parents house, mom met me at Crossfit Beaumont’s AWESOME new space to get a WOD in. Mom did the class WOD and I did what Coach Winchester had programed. Then I made 1 attempt at the peg board and almost killed myself, LOL!
That night, Daddy grilled pork chops, mom cooked asparagus, ‘maters and sweet taters, and I arranged my suitcase/carry on/personal bags a zillion times packing WAY to much stuff for this trip…however I’m pretty sure I forgot something. My parents swore to me my bag was going to be over 50#, but encouraged me to pay the price and go (bag was 48.5#). I went to bed that night at 11:30pm setting my alarm for 3:15am…ouch. Because BMT airport isn’t that massive (go figure) I was catching a bus from BMT to Houston to board a flight.
I woke up the next morning dark and early. Said goodbye to mom, kissed The Duke and Daddy took me to the BMT airport. He stayed with me till the bus pulled away. I quickly fell asleep. Next thing I knew we were in Houston. My dad said I was going to arrive at GateC and I had to HAUL it to Gate E. I made it through security and arrived at Gate E17 (last gate in E) with 45mins to spare. Damn I’m good.
Passport was check and I boarded the flight. I would read, fall asleep, read, fall asleep…off an on during that 3hr and 42min flight to San Jose Costa Rica. I think I scared the lady sitting next to me when I informed her I was traveling alone…and I didn’t know spanish. However she did tell me she was going to go on the same canopy tour I have booked on Nov. 23! We landed and I made it through customs which was ALOT less epic than what I was expecting..ALOT LESS! I got my luggage, experienced currency exchange and grabbed a taxi. Did I mention it rains for 20mins here in the afternoon everyday. So it rained for a bit in the afternoon.
I tried to make conversation with the taxi driver. When you don’t speak spanish, you can’t make small talk…note to self…so I sat and observed. Lots of people have motorcycles and dirt bike looking things. Poverty WHOA! And there are walk ways on the side of the highways. I thought about renting a car for awhile, glad I didn’t do that.
I arrived at my hotel, grabbed a bit to eat out of the hotel did some checking in and then figured out how to get to Crossfit Escazu for a workout. After talking to 4 different men I finally got a ride to the box. I told the driver I was going to a gym. He took me to this very macho gym called something like “Train Big”. Totally reminded me of SMACK in San Marcos. I said this was NOT it. We finally figured it out and after stopping 2 people on the side of the road, we finally made it. Did I mention I didn’t speak spanish so I was of no help…except I could communicate “gym” with the bicep curl motion…lame.
I bought a tank and entered into the 5:30pm class. I went to read the board to see what I was going to be doing…well that wasn’t 100% in english so I quickly learned I was going to have to be eyes on 100%. Thank goodness one of the coaches spoke English and was very nice to explain it to me as well as pair me up with a girl who spoke English. It was different working out when you don’t speak the language and I can honestly say it is going to make me a better coach, especially if I have a drop in from a different country. I never felt out of place or like I stuck out. Thank goodness music has a beat because I didn’t understand ANY of the words LOL! After the WODs, of course I did pictures with the coach that helped me as well as my partner. I also discovered 2 of the coaches will be at the cert tomorrow!
I would say today was a GREAT day! The hardest part for me is going to be this darn currency. I’m working on it and I did some study tonight…their money is BEAUTIFUL print…I’m going to start trying to use the colon as much as possible, really get into the cultural.
Today’s Lifesaver:
The best thing I did for this trip is I wrote down every address, contact info and google map directions of where I was going. When you don’t speak spanish, pointing to something in written in spanish has saved me multiple times today.
PS not all post are going to be this long…promise!
