Costarriquenismos

Here are our "TOP 5" lists for everything Costa Rican

Most Common Phrases:

1. Pura Vida (Pure Life)

2. ¡Que Rico! (Technically, How Rich. But they use it for EVERYTHING)

3. ....este..... (filler word)

4. ....bueno.... (OK/filler word)

5. ¡Tranquilo! (Relax)

Most Common Smells:

1. Pot/Weed/Marijuana/TheGanja 

2. Tico boy cologne 

3. Dog Poop (Manda doesn't agree with this one)

4. Roasting Coffee (I don't agree with this one)

5. Cilantro 

Top Ticoisms:

1. Add "-ita" to names to make things little (ie. Amandita)

2. Add "-isimo" to words to emphasize how awesome they are (ie. Ricisimo)

3. Ridiculously roll "R's"

4. Add a weird "rrjsh" noise to words that end in R

5. Add "-ota" to names to make things big (ie. Amandota)

Phrases spanish speakers say to hit on Gringas:

1. Nice body, nice baby!

2. ¡Sexo! (Translation: ¡Sex! ........I don't know either)

3. ¡Macha! (Translation: ?)

4. "Sschhs"- just an annoying noise (the Tico equivalent of whistling at girls)

5. "I loou you!"

6. I just got a phone call tonight with a stranger telling me "F*** you" over and over, then ended with "I want to make love with you." I said "No thanks" and hung up. Really... What was he expecting. I have never heard of someone making a prank call like that and the girl saying "OK."

xxxxXXX Cont'd

Really... I don't know if I really want to finish this story. I would have to make complete sentences with the words "underwear" and "boobs"...... I'm embarrassed already. 

Awkward to the MAXxxx

The couple that lived in our apartment before us left us all kinds of information that they thought we might find useful. One business card in particular was for a masseuse that happened to be very nearby and VERY cheap- less than $10 for an hour!!!!!! Amanda and I were like Heck Yeah! 

So early one Saturday morning, we decided that was going to be massage day. I called the lady and asked for 3 massage appointments- for me, Amanda, and our friend Brendan. She promptly stopped me to tell me that she did NOT give massages to "gentlemen." That should have been our first warning sign about this lady..........

Well sorry folks ('folks' meaning Heavy), but I have to stop here. I have to go to sleep so that I won't HATE life tomorrow at school. So.... creepy massages to be continued.

Buying the Rentals

Amanda and I watch a lot of movies here in CR. When we moved here, we thought we would be too busy studying (yeah right) to watch much of anything, so neither of us brought many movies. While I was at home for Christmas, I went into Hastings to buy a few magazines for the flight back to San José. We had heard some good reviews on a couple of Spanish flicks, so I wondered over to the Foreign Films section just to check out the prices. I found both movies for ONLY $1.99! I thought well heck, I'm gonna see if I can find any more bargains. After searching high and low, I found 12 movies all priced for ONLY $1.99. I sent Amanda a text telling her "JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!" I was so excited! I had even found some of the coveted classics (like Three Amigos)! I was thinking I stumbled on some 'out of this world, unpublicized, after-Christmas, super movie sale.'  So... I went to pay for my treasure, and the kid at the register asks me if I had my Hastings card with me. I know that I gave him a super weird look and asked him, "Do I need my card to buy these?" And he says, "You can't buy these. These are all rentals.".................

Apparently, after only a few months in a foreign country, it is possible to forget how movie RENTAL stores work.

Yes. I have a bad attitude.

Some days I would rather be hit by a bus than sit through Grammar Class. 

Participios and past tense verbs are making me CRAZY!!! 

And irregular verbs are the dumbest thing I have ever heard of.

"crap... I don't know..."

I just ordered pizza by telephone for  the first time. By the end, she hung up on me.

First, I asked if I could order in English and she told me that she could understand. But I decided to help her out and bust out my very limited Español. I told her my name, phone number, and address (which is another ridiculous subject in itself). Then she started rattling off something that i assumed was about a delivery charge. I just said "Ok". Then she hung up. No chao. No nothing... Give me a break, people!!

I don't know if our dinner will get to us tonight or not.

The Free Tour