Hi all,
Things here are going ok. Hopefully they are going well with you. Just a short note this time.
Well I have been to Nicaragua and returned since the last big message. I won't bore you with too many details since most of you get the FOG updates anyway and one will come out soon from my trip. (if you don't get the updates and want to - just let me know)
One thing was that I returned to Costa Rica feeling more cynical than usual. Managua has gone through tremendous growth and change in the last three years and much of it is through the expansion of large U.S. multinationals. To me it seems that the quality of life of the rich has improved - but the poor continue to be poor. The situation on the streets and poor neighbourhoods doesn't seem to have changed at all.
When I got back to San Jose - life had been going great up till then - then suddenly a bunch of things seemed to go wrong - my grandfather collapsed and had a pacemaker put in - my visa had some weird charges on it that I couldn't possibly have made and the bank started taking my money automatically - and a couple of other things.
I'm happy to report that the above two situations have been resolved - more or less - so things seem to be coming together again. I'm almost caught up on "life" again so things are looking up...
I also went to the Festival of Lights here in San Jose. It was a parade of 15 or so floats and about 20 bands. The floats were all decorated with as many lights as possible. It was a beautiful sight - starting just after sunset (6pm) with fireworks and everything. The streets were so crowded with people - it was great to see.
I enjoyed myself but with a twinge of sadness. As I recently wrote to another friend the festival seems to have lost its traditional touch and seems to be more related to North American tradition than Costa Rican traditions. Santa Claus and Disney and Coca-cola figured prominently in the parade. Even the local high school bands had signs saying "Sponsored by Fuji-film".
Everyone keeps asking what I'll be doing for Xmas but it's still up in the air. At the office we are doing a sort of secret Santa and also one at home. That is the extent of my plans for now. Maybe I'll travel somewhere - maybe not. I'm not planning any time off as such - saving it for another trip to Nicaragua in February. One of these days I'll figure it out...
I guess that's about it for now. Take care of yourselves,
Rob