Thanksgiving

Tico Thanksgiving

Costa Rica Fact Check: What day is celebrated the 4th Thursday of November?
Answer: Well this year it was November 26th, very special as it followed November 27th.

In other words, Ticos don't celebrate Thanksgiving. This presented a problem for me, since I enjoy celebrating food, I mean Thanksgiving (really the same thing). So even though I would be celebrating Thanksgiving (and food) with a PCV friend on the day of Thanksgiving (see below), I wanted to introduce my English students to the joys of Thanksgiving - take that PC goal #2!

So after their first test, we had a Tico Thanksgiving! What can one expect to find at a Tico Thanksgiving? Glad you asked! I have the tantalizing menu here:

• Pumpkin Pie (this was my beautiful dish made possible by a can of pumpkin pie mix left by Ryan and one sent by Mom, Mom's pie crust recipe, and Pippa's oven) and since whipped cream isn't exactly easy to come by, for those who wanted, it was topped with condensed milk
• Chicken - deliciously seasoned (turkey's a little more difficult to come by)
• Gravy
• Mashed Potatoes
• Sweet Potatoes topped with melted multi-colored marshmallows (this was my fault for trying to explain that some people put marshmallows on yams)
• Absolutely delicious chocolate/coconut/caramel bars (which she calls slices) made by Pippa
  
• Fruit mold
• Some flan sort of thing
• Rompope (Eggnog, which is actually fashionable year-round here)

It was great time. I tried to explain where the holiday comes from, with mixed results. I think I left them with the impression that is a day that we worship food and has something to do with Native Americans and Pilgrims - I guess not too far from the truth (at least for me). But everyone enjoyed themselves and learned a little bit about the US. We even went around and said something we were thankful for. Quite a few said they were thankful for me as a teacher and for our English class. This was probably due to the previously mentioned first test they had just taken, and the fact that I would soon be grading it, but I take compliments, even bribe ones. ; )


Talamanca Thanksgiving

I was lucky enough to be adopted for a few days my my PCV friend, Katie's mom. So I met them in Tamarindo (or as some call it, Tamagringo) for a few relaxing days at a beautiful resort on the beach. It was a gorgeous place with nice bungalows, a pool, wifi, monkeys (the last two shown to the right, being enjoyed by Katie), a ridiculous breakfast (just ask the beautiful bird to the left, who stalks you til you get up for seconds...or thirds), and endless relaxation two steps from the beach. Tamarindo wasn't as overdeveloped and ugly as I was afraid of (although there is tons of construction going on, so who knows what it will look like in a matter of years), is quite charming, and has an amazing selection of food that is not rice and beans.

I arrived Thanksgiving afternoon, and after a tranquilo evening by the pool and beach, we sat down to a Thanksgiving dinner at the restaurant. Brianna and Jon (awesome PCV married couple) came up to enjoy it with us, since they are unfairly close to the beaches. We enjoyed turkey, gravy, green beans, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie (not as good as mine). It was amazing, and we stuffed ourselves til we felt ill - making those Pilgrims proud.

The next day we went to an amazing beach that is completely covered by shells. It is definitley one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been. Great day in white sand and pristine blue water.

Then that night included the best salsa dancing scene that I have experienced in Costa Rica. There was a live band, no cover, free drinks for ladies, gringos, ticos, great dancers, beginners, a gorgeous beach view, and reggae and hip hop on the band breaks. It's like it was made for me! Suffice it to say that Katie and I had a blast.

The next day, we explored the river that leads to the beach and saw endless mangroves, herons, land crabs, a lizard, cayman, and monkeys.

That afternoon, we swam to the island in front of the hotel (that spec...ok blob in the picture to the right). Though Katie's mom was convinced that we just might not make it back, we made it to swim another day. It was challenging, but pretty amazing.

It was such an amazing vacation. And though I am ashamed to say it was my first trip to the beaches closest to me up here in the north (about 3 hours away), it definitely will not be my last!