Solid ground...

This entry actually covers the events of January 24th.
My journey has begun but is far from being over. My flight from Cedar Rapids took off at 11:55 or so and I made it to Dallas in about 2 hours. While in the air I was able to say farewell, gradually to the snowy landscape of Iowa. It looked magnificent with a such a great contrast between the pure white of the farmland covered by snow and ice and the groves of trees that cluster around rivers, valleys, roads and farm houses. To all my Landscape Architecture friends... you could really see the Ecological Structures that we learned about in LA 302 (I know I am Landscape nerd).
Once in Dallas, I found that my flight was delayed so I decided to take the Skyway rail system around the airport. If you ever fly through Dallas-Ft. Worth airport, try it out. It is pretty much a large figure 8 track, but it gives you a great view of the entire airport facility as well as a distanced view of Downtown Dallas.
My flight to San Jose was much more interesting than the first though because I sat next to a family that lives in Costa Rica. They spoke a quite a bit of English so I was able to talk with them and practice my Spanish while doing so. They seemed very interested in why I would want to learn Spanish. This has never been asked of me but I was prepared because I have asked myself the same question.
I first began to learn Spanish in high school because it would help me to get into college and get a better job in the long run. This was my opinion for a long time until, during my sophomore year at Iowa State, the Landscape Architecture program gave me the chance to live in a small community outside of Monterrey, Mexico for a few days. This was an eye opening experience that allowed me to realize that I wanted to be able to relate to a person/people in their own language, especially if I were to be in a Spanish speaking country. The ability to speak in another person's native tongue means some much to them, and I wanted to be able to do that. It is personal, and it shows that I care to go at least halfway to understand their lives. As me about this some time if you are interested.
Ok so back to the trip. The landing it San Jose was a bit bumpy but we arrived safe none-the-less. Customs and entrance into the country went very smoothly, as well as getting bags. The airport had taxi's ready for everyone so I was able to grab one quick and get to the Hotel Balmoral by about 11:30pm. But I did not stay there because I had bus tickets leaving from San Jose at 3am in the morning. So I just stored most of my luggage at the hotel, since I will be returning there for orientation. Then I was off to the bus station again, in another Taxi, but this guy was a really Tico (Costa Rican) driver. He was flying through the empty streets at 1 in the morning, barely checking both ways before entering an intersection. THIS IS HOW I KNEW I WAS BACK IN COSTA RICA! Somewhat thrilling, somewhat terrifying, but hey... whatever gets me to my destination, right?
Then there was a bit of waiting around at the bus station filled with people from all over Central America. I met people from Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico. I don't think I met anyone from Belize. I will say that I was pretty anxious at this time as well, because I didn't know exactly what to do. Truthfully, I have never ridden the public buses across the United States, let alone, across national borders, so I had no idea what I would be in for. Prayer was all I could do to keep myself calm, and as I have learned recently, and many times over, prayer is powerful. More on that will be forthcoming.
Oh yeah, let me also just say, my toe-ed shoes have been quite a conversation started so far, or at least they catch people's attention. They are quite comfortable for long flights, and moseying about an airport, as well getting around San Jose. We'll see what else they are good for soon, I hope.
So there is pretty much my first day, although it is posted almost a week behind schedule. I am sorry there are no pictures. I do not want to bog down John Donaghy's internet. Instead I will do that when I arrive back in Costa Rica. But just so you know, I am safe in Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras (the journey there, of which I will post later). I hope everything is well for you all. May the snows of late winter only enhance your hopes for the spring thaw even more.
Peace and Blessings from south of the Border.