I was looking at the blog of another person on Bootsnall.com and I noticed how he had an entry about his 5 most embarassing moments in Costa Rica. Well, I figured that I would write some before I forget. Some are just straight up embarassing, and others are just moments of uncomfortablity.

--in the grocery store, not having any idea what a kilo is, asking, getting my answer but still not trusting that I had a pound of meat. Taking forever to figure out that the scale said lbs but was in kilos. When I got home, I realized that I had plenty. Doh! We should really switch to the metric system!

--When Maribel and I were on the zip line through the trees, some of the guides and she were joking and I understood what they were saying and decided to join in. I said to him --qué bárbara!-- (crude or barbaric) and the other guide made some kind of remark that I did not understand. I said again --qué barbara!-- and Mari looked and at me and said that it is que barbaro because he is a man!! The other guide used what I said to call the other man girly. This was very embarassing, also because the guides were around my age. That is what you get when you try to speak like a local but really do not know what you are doing!

--The other day in Sarchí, I went to a soda (cafe) for lunch. I got my lunch, ate half, asked for the rest to go, and walked out. The owner yelled at me as I walked out --muchacha!-- I had forgotten to pay! I went back in and paid. She told some other folks that in the states we pay first but in Costa Rica, you always pay after.

--I got my hair braided with extensions (red!) and I asked the price before they did it, but she did not give me a price. She said that we would see how much time it took. Stupidly, I went ahead and did it with out a quote. I payed much more than I should have and every one in the family was telling each other that I paid 100 dolars for my new hair do, with shock and horror. The worst part was I was waiting for the bus and someone asked me where I got it done. I realized from them that not only did I pay way too much money, but that the women who did my hair did a bad job!! que verguenza! I learned my lesson. I fear now that everyone knows I was ripped off... but I do not think so!!