Survival 101

I am finally moved into my new place and was able to experience a wonderful long hot shower. My first week has gone by but I still haven't visited San Jose or gone out. Fortunately, the supposed Japanese girl that was my roommate for a week, isn't Japanese at all, but rather from Guanacaste, Costa Rica. She is going to take me out this weekend at last! Let's see what I have learned from my first week?
- Don't sleep without socks on, you will wake up with polka-dotted feet aka bug bites
- Munoz y Nane is the equivalent of target and the landmark of all landmarks
- When the little man turns green, cross the street immediately, if you don't forget it, a bus will accelerate and attempt to hit you
- Mai = bro, man, dude, etc. y para los colombianos parce/marica
- Carepice = penis face, when someone asks you to say something, ask them what it means first
- No one likes people from Nicaragua
- Costa Ricans use lots of slang, so I won't understand 99% of their jokes for a while
-  Pura Vida! and tuanis are one in the same
- Asians still roll deep in foreign countries
- Ketchup taste different everywhere you go, so I should probably start carrying my own...somehow?
- Police/Security guards' main function is to assist with directions
- Two for one special at the movie theater on Wednesdays

@ Oiko:  Another one of my tasks is to visit Oiko's counterparts and interview clients, as well as, update their score cards. Today my manager confirmed that I would be visiting Asoprasanramon on February 2nd or 3rd. Asoprosanramon is an NGO that provides financial and technical support to micro/small enterprises and farmers in the region of San Ramon. Founded in 1982, Asoprosanramon, was originally created by the citizens and communal leaders of that region, in order to promote social and economic development. Due to a stagnation of their two main crops, coffee and sugar, there was a need to support the decentralization of the agricultural industry in order to minimize dependency on traditional products. As a result, this particular organization was able to find its niche and target market. The average loan is of approximately 2,000,000 colones which is about 4, 000 US.The organization provides credit to projects in agriculture, livestock, small industries, workshops, services and commerce. I will be interviewing three women and two men. They have micro/small enterprises that work with a range of products from avocado and corn to clothing and flowers. I am really excited to meet them and be able to share their story. I will also get to take lots of pictures and travel a bit too!