When I arrived in San José at 6am it was nice and warm, I took the bus to the center, the taxi to the hostel (in Los Yoses) I booked in advance and went straight to the university because I missed Friday, when they organised everything.
So I got there, got lots of papers for the visa and for the immatriculation. Back at the hostel I fall asleep. Somewhere inbetween home and San José I ate something wrong..
San Pedro, the part where the „U“ University is located, is not very nice. Many American shops, malls and restaurants – nothing green. However, the campus inbetween is beautyful. Lots of palmtrees, bambus and nice places to sit.
Tuesday night I got invited to a birthday of one of the exchange students, so I first met all the other students from all over the world. America, Germany, Chile, Mexico, France, Spain, China, and met Aroa, my first friend in Costa Rica.
Well, I realized that my Spanish is aweful and I need to practice alot. Untill Thursday I was busy with writing E-mails for the visa, my clases and finding a room in San José.
Friday morning everything was done. I nearly have the Visum now, I will visit 4 clases (always Tuesday and Wednesday) and at the 23th of March I will move in a room in the Casa Mundo, a house with 12 other students.
I found the room via facebook – Casa Mundo is one of many privatly organised shared houses. A very good option for exchange students as all rooms are furnitured and everything important is organised (internet, energy,..)
Then I visited the center of San José with Aroa, a girl from Spain – the center is a lot more beautyful than San Pedro.
For the weekend I booked a hostel at Jacó, the closest beach to San José. Busses leave from the Terminal 7-10. It takes a while but it workes. So Friday, 3h later I arrived in Jacó. The hostel was amazing – with a pool and right next to the beach.
While sitting at the beach, taking the first swim and watching the sunset I finally felt like I arrived. The other day arrived Aroa and I went for the first surf – it is still a lot harder than it looks. Typically German I got awfully sunburnt and went out for the first party.
Jacó is completly in American hands, you can see and feel it everywhere, but its still a nice place to be.