Hi,
Feels like I haven't written for a while, so here is the latest scoop...
At Xmas time every year, there is the running of the toros (bulls) in Zapote, just outside of San Jose (suburb really). I heard about it and ever since reading a book about bull fighting, I had been interested to see what all the fuss is about.
So, on the Friday before Xmas, the festival opened in Zapote and Stephanie and I went that night. We took the bus, early in the evening and got there before the "action" started. We walked around the site surrounding the stadium and it was like a big amusement park. We counted no less than 4 bumper car rides. We ate pupusas (traditional Salvadorean food) and churrias (like straight donuts)and walked around.
It was amusing to note all the signs saying that kids under a certain height or age were not permitted on the rides, and then watch the 6 year olds climb on. One ride in particular spun around but had no strap in for the seats, so many teenagers got up and walked around, trying to keep from falling into the people sitting. There were hundreds of people watching and cheering them on. We were just waiting for someone to get hurt. This is not exactly a safety conscious culture. (Or are we overly cautious?)
At 8pm the bull run was to begin, so we got tickets in the cheap seats and went in about 7:30, thinking we might have to get there early for good seats. Turns out that was wrong - the stadium was empty. There were more people watching the teenagers at the other ride than in the stadium, it seemed.
It finally got started around 8:30, I think and with a bang, literally, as they had a pretty good fireworks show. It was traditional fireworks as we have at home, but also fireworks contraptions like stars, an airplane merry-go-round, etc. They were pretty interesting, in spite of all the smoke and danger we thought we were in for being so close...
Next, they had a parade of Tica Linda, basically Ms. Costa Rica and the runners-up and then a parade of some sexy girls advertising some guaro, a type of alcohol here.
Finally, they started the bull run, it was crazy. Anyone who is interested (and all are encouraged) can join in the fun in the ring. Basically, everyone gets in the ring, they let the bull loose and the bull chases them all around. It is sort of fun, watching all the people run and jump over the fence whenever the bull gets near. It is sort of like a wave of jumping people or magnetism, with the bull at the center repelling everyone away, but it is always at the center. These men (it was 100% men, as far as I could tell) are running on an adrenalin high or something - it is a crazy thing to do and one person inevitably got trampled. Not too badly, at least he could walk away, but he seemed hurt pretty bad.
So, was it worth it? Well, I am glad to know about it, but I can't imagine that I will want to go again...
Xmas here is traditionally celebrated here on the 24th, so I stayed home with my family for the evening. But, first, in the morning, I took a non-traditional trip to the hospital/clinic with one of my roommates, Seonaid, who was having stomach problems. It was fun, I could imagine I was with my group again for a minute, bringing one of them into the hospital. Anyway, it was nothing serious and she was off to the beach the next day as planned.
In the afternoon, Kit, my other Canadian roommate, and I went to Stephanie's to make shortbread cookies. Now that was fun! I think I like shortbread more than fudge. We made different coloured ones, red, orange, brown/purply, green, blue, etc.
In the evening, we brought Steph with home us to celebrate Xmas with the family. We heard they ate dinner at midnight so we were prepared to starve gracefully until then, but luckily they snack all night. That was good. We ended up eating "dinner" after we danced for a bit near 11:30ish. At midnight, we hugged each other and shook hands, etc., wishing each other a happy Xmas. Then we had a toast of wine. Of course, we were getting tired by this point. Then, the family brought out firecrackers, a favorite at this time of year. They lit them, and for a joke, they lit one a few feet from Seonaid, so we foreigners retreated to the kitchen. Shortly thereafter, the father came in with a huge blister on one hand from a burn from a firecracker.
Finally, we got to open the gifts around 1-ish. (Steph went home at this point) We played Secret Santa. I gave the father a photo book of Canada. Kit gave me a diary with a lock and a bike light. The bike light is super useful and I have already used it. Then I opened my gifts from home - jeans, shorts, t-shirts, an address book and a bike helmet. (Previously I got a camera and walkman from my gramma, but that was not wrapped, so I was already enjoying those) It was nice to have that connection to home, even indirectly.
Although I have completed school in Vancouver, I am not done my job with these guys yet. Part of my job here is to look for coop placements for the current students and find students to go to Vancouver. One of the current students, Jill, came down a couple of weeks ago (she's at the beach now I think). I set up a couple of interviews for her and hopefully we'll find something for her (and for another student that is interested in working in Costa Rica). It was nice to meet her and so I can attach more meaning to what I am doing for them.
I have been working lots - while most people are off to the beach and vacationing. I have been preparing for a site visit to Mark's group, preparing some new forms for them to use and doing a lot of FOG end-of-year stuff. (I spent my whole Xmas day working on FOG stuff pretty much).
It was nice to visit Mark's group, nice to see Mark and get out of the city for a bit of a break. It is fairly remote and really not too far from our first project in Guayabo. I got a ride in with another RJI person, Jennie, and the UNDP, but they both left that same day, Thursday, so I walked out by myself yesterday - about an 80 minute walk to the busstop. They are working on trails for an eco-tourism project, similar to our work in Quebrada Arroyo. They were pretty happy to see me, although maybe not at first, but I bribed them with Gramma's fudge and then it all went much smoother after that. :) Some of them even agreed to join FOG!
Anyway, I think that is enough for now. Hope you all have a good new year and are enjoying your lives.... Write soon.
Rob