The past week or so

Last weekend the Costa Rican presidential election took place. There is a national holiday for this event and no alcohol is allowed to be purchased within 48 hours of voting. Because the results were so close, a recount is being conducted. The winner is either Oscar Arias, the popular "Bush of Costa Rica", as described by one friend (though Arias compares himself to Clinton, which would make sense since Clinton was largely responsible for NAFTA and Arias is eager to pass CAFTA), and Otton "something or other", the underdog, and a more populist critic of CAFTA.

My roomate Pablo took me to his home in Santa Ana, outside San Jose, for Saturday and Sunday. We rode horses with his friend Jonathan at a ranchero where the guys knew some people. Despite the dry law, we were given some cervezas due to our VIP status as friends of workers.

Pablo and I get along real well, which makes being here even better. I've been hanging out mainly with people from classes and Pablo + his friends. Found that the younger students are less mature, and it's more relaxed spending time with the older students.

The culture is similar, as people are people no matter where one goes. Still there are noticable differences, especially concerning machismo in Latin America. Many girls are unfamiliar with interactions with guys other than getting hit on (by US standards, although here it is typical and less distinguishable from other interaction). Some of the common things that guys do here would be cheesy if attempted in the states. On top of that, there are girls who get somewhat offended if they are not immediately given certain kinds of attention. I'm managing.

Tonight (as usual on Fridays) the university is sending a couple bus-loads of students to the local bar for dancing and socializing. I've been getting better at the salsa, but still get lots of laughs on the dance floor.