Dieu Merci, C'est Vendredi!!!
Otherwise know as, Thank God, it's Friday!! It's been a long week, even if it feels like it's flown by. Last night we signed up for the volcano tour; Will was going to do something else, and they didn't have enough people, so he's coming with us. That's really nice, it drops the price from $200 for a single, to $153 for a triple. I think it's one queen bed (might be 2 twins pushed together), and a twin. We're all really excited for the trip, and to see an active volcano. Add one more new experience to the trip!Today was a good day at the office. The person I sat with is very good; she's been with the company for 2 months, and just graduated from university last December. She's in International Relations major! It was interesting to get her perspective on a number of issues; we talked about the Middle East, about work, about how things are in Costa Rica. I really felt like I helped her, which is a good feeling. It was also nice to realize that we seem to have been able to break down the reserve of the people we've sat with this week. They're much more willing to approach us, or call us over, to ask questions. That was the biggest thing the managers asked us to help with; none of the people on the floor are willing to go to their managers until issues get really bad. Michelle and I talked on the way home, and we came to the conclusion that the managers need to make more of an effort to make overtures to the floor folks. At this point, they don't really interact with those they supervise, and I think the front line people feel intimidated. Even the reps who are very shy laughed and joked with us today. Huge breakthrough!
One of the people who came out to Denver in February for training wanted to take us out tonight. I really wasn't sure I wanted to go; I'm tired! He and Michelle figured out when we'd meet, and where. It was set up for later in the evening, around 9 or so. So, we came home, took a few minutes for everyone to freshen up. Michelle really wanted to go shopping; Will wanted to check out a men's clothing store, fairly high-end, to see if it was cheaper here than in the U.S. So, we walked over, only to discover there's no difference in price. Already being out and about, we walked up to the T.G.I. Friday that probably 2 miles away. Had a lovely dinner, 'though it was a little surreal to see all the menu items listed in English, with entirely Spanish descriptions! The wait staff didn't speak English, but with pointing and miming, we figured it out.
We walked back to the hotel after dinner, and had what was the scariest, and funniest, experience of the trip so far. We were walked past a building that had security gates around it; looks like it might have a house on one half, and a store on the other. As we walked by the half that looks like it might be a house, someone on the other side, right up against the fence, said very loudly, "Booga-booga", or something like that, in a sing-song kind of voice. Scared us all! We jumped, walked very quickly away, and managed to laugh about it once we were well past. I felt a little safer, because Will was between the building and me! Not sure what the heck the person was trying to do, but they sure scared us!
Once we got back to the hotel, we freshened up again (it's warm, it's REALLY humid...), and waited for Esteban to call. He had a longer trip than we did, and he was taking the bus, so he called when he got close to our meeting point. We asked the hotel to call us a cab, and met at the meeting point arranged at work. Esteban hopped in the cab with us, and took us to a really cool Lebanese restaurant/bar. It was very authentic, down to the hooka pipes (no, we didn't even try one), and goat skins on the tree trunks they used as bar stools. Oh, and the waiters wore fezs. Not sure how they kepth them on, couldn't see any strings, and neither of them had enough hair for bobby pins! We decided it must be super glue. :)
We all chatted about all sorts of things, and enjoyed the music. When we all started drooping, Esteban got us a cab, and we came home. I'm taking the laptop with me, so hopefully I'll find wireless access so I can post tomorrow, and tell you about the hot springs!
posted by Serena @ 10:23 PM
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