Manuel Antonio

I spent this last weekend in Manuel Antonio hiking around / laying on the beach. Despite it being completely touristy, the park is actually very beautiful and if you get there really early in the morning you can hike around for a few hours and not see that many people. There were actually a few times when it felt like we (my friend Carly and I) were the only people there...well aside from the Luke the hot med student we met from Indiana that hung out with us all day... sorry girls, I didn´t get any pictures of him, only sloths....haha .

It was pretty cloudy early in the morning, so these picture dídn´t really turn out as good as I would have liked....so again, you all should just come down and check it out for yourself!!

But the highlight of my trip was definitely seeing the different animals in the park....especially the sloths. I had the opportunity to witness a sloth deficating (they only do it twice a month at most). They climb all the way down from trees to do it, so I was able to get really close for a picture.

They close their eyes when they poop!!

Volcan Poas and Playa Jaco

So my first weekend here they took all of the USAC interntational students on a day trip. We went to the Cafe´ Britt, which is an organic coffee cooperative in Heredia. Afterwards we went to Volcan Poas and the National Park there to check out an active volcanic crater.

I also did some hiking around the park, although it was quite small.

On Sunday, a couple of friends (Hector from Peru/Idaho and Carly from Kansas) and I ventured off to a nearby (2.5 hr) beach called Playa Jaco...I wouldn´t reccommend it as a vacation spot because the beach is pretty dirty and the town is really ugly....but the waves were at least good.

I am headed to Manuel Antonio National Park this weekend...it is supposed to be one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica...maybe I will get a picture of a Sloth or a Monkey! or a tan.....haha (is that even possible?)

Where I live...

So I have yet to take any pictures of my host family yet, but I promise they are coming soon.I did however take pictures of my room and the University.

So this is my room...it is pretty nice actually aside from the noise (I live on a main street) and the Disney character comforter and Barbie sheets I really can´t complain. I have a bed, a dresser, a night stand, and a ton of closet space...and as a huge bonus, my tico mom does all my laundry!!

But you know what this room could really use.....

A oversized glittering poster of Pope John Paul II....



BUT WAIT....







It has one!!!















So in case you haven´t figured it out yet, I am studying at the Universidad Nacional in Heredia, Costa Rica. The university is actually pretty big (maybe even bigger than Tech) and has a lot to offer. My favorites are the soccer field and the free internet in the library. I took a few pictures of the part of campus where I spend the most time, but they really don´t do it justice on how pretty it is here....guess you all with just have to come visit and see it for yourselves :)








More to come later....

Abrazos,
Mary

My New Address

Hey Everyone!

So I created this website so that you all can see what I have been up to down here in Costa Rica. I will try to update it as much as possible, but I am usually pretty bad about these things, so I might take some reminding.

Anyway... to start my new address down here is:

For regular mail:

Mary Warren
c/o Carlos Salas
P.O. Box 541-3000
Heredia, Costa Rica

For Packages, Express Mail (Fedex, UPS):

Mary Warren
c/o Carlos Salas
Dpto. Bienestar Estudiantil
Universidad Nacional
Heredia, Costa Rica

Let me know if you are sending something down, so I that I can make sure I pick it up from the University Office. AND MAKE SURE TO SEND IT CERTIFIED OR IT PROBABLY WON`T GET HERE!!

I will write more about my family down here and the University and City later.

Cheers,
MB