July 19: Day 5- First Year

¡Hola! Last night was the start of a long thunderstorm that lasted long into the morning. Many students were kept up at night by the incessant rain. At breakfast we discovered our plan for the day. We were greatly disappointed to find that our community projects and soccer game were postponed because of the sloshy wetness incurred by the relentless downpour (some were more disappointed than others.) Our plan for excavating our own ant colonies for our group experiments was impossible to implement. So instead, many of us used previously captured colonies in the lab. Our experiments are now well underway, because we worked throughout the morning. One of our experiments involved removing the abdomen of live (but frozen-ish) ants. As they began to unfreeze, the ants started to twitch and attempt to climb out of their containers. Let's say that it was disturbing and leave it at that.

After lunch, we continued with our experiments. Many groups started doing their write-ups, although not much could be accomplished due to the fact that our time-sensitive experiments had just started. Some of our break times, however, were not spent sciencing. In fact, we started intensely competitive card games. One of the most inclusive group games was Colored Pencils. Due to the fact that we are in Costa Rica, not all materials are widely available. The game might be more familiar to you as "Spoons." (If you aren't familiar with the game: quick, google it.) In several instances, players dove across the table to reach the last colored pencil. Injuries were narrowly avoided. (¡¡¡Let's make note that I, Bridget, managed to somehow win ONE round!!!)

After afternoon festivities (aka "sciencing"), we had a special event. We had a cooking lesson in traditional Costa Rican cooking. The group made its way to the home of Araceli, our host for the evening. In keeping with the style of the other blog posts, it was "a very unique experience." The doors of Araceli's kitchen were kept open, and unfortunately our cooking experience happened to coincide with the nuptial flight of the local termites. In layman's terms, we had a bunch of flying termites that decided to drop in. They literally dropped into our creations. Araseli was quite amused by Taylor's strong aversion to harmless bugs. The bugs quite liked his red shirt, and the only tactic he could think to use to defend himself was panicked flappy hands. Spastic movements. The works.

These bugs were so incredibly harmless that Profe Toni and Profe Amanda proved it to us by ingesting some bugs quite dramatically. This display was definitely reassuring, as some bugs had POSITIVELY ended up in our concoctions (despite our best towel-waving efforts.) You know, despite that, everything was incredibly delicious. We made cheese and rice & beans and a cooked-vegetable-medley and tortillas (on an indoor wood stove) and salad (with tomato roses.)

We were also served chicken and fruit juice and ice cream and hot chili peppers. Some of us sampled them. And some of us were QUITE dramatic. It must be repeated that it was delicious. Fantastically delicious.

 Anna French's parents should may or not be prepared for the smuggling home of Araceli's puffball of 2-month-old puppy. THAT was adorable. Like super adorable. Incredibly adorable. So unbelievably cute.

Be aware, as it's growing late, our writing skills are following the path of the sunlight (leaving us. quickly and totally.)

Annika and Bridget signing off. Completely and totally exhauseted. Seriosly.. We're sleep-typing. IT's like sleep-wa;lking, but cooler.