Cell Phone

Hear ye, hear ye! I have finally gotten my hands on a cell phone and for you information, I know for a fact that it receives international calls just as well as is makes them. Not that I really expect anyone except my parents to call, but it would also be a little sad if they were the only ones who do.

The number is (506) 350-3422. The parantheses are the country code and the rest is just my number.

In other news, this week has been rather frustrating in light of power outages and crappy coverage of events. I actually started this post about 2.5 hours ago, but thanks to a random power outage I am just now re-typing it. It is rather difficult to write articles if you have no means of typing them, that's for sure.

Also, earlier in the week I was set to go to cover a conference but for no particular reason it was delayed and then cancelled to the complete befudlement of everyone who was to attend. Inexplicably, the whole thing just did not happen. And yesterday, I had a hell of time travelling to visit a artisan museum that is to be opened next month. Ticos are incredibly nice and offer help willingly, but as was reaffirmed yesterday, they often do not have any clear idea of what they are talking about.

The great problem in Costa Rica is inefficiency. It is understood that things kinda just happen and everybody seems perfectly content waiting around until they do. Like for buses to arrive or people to show up in a location, for example. For the most part, being a laid back, roll with the punches type person, this has not bothered me but it is still frustrating at times. I definitely think part of the problem is that I am from the U.S. where everything is structured to be as convenient as possible. I am sure another part is that I still don't 'get' exactly how things operate, but for whatever reason this has created the friction.

I guess the only thing to do when you're stranded at some bus station in rural Costa Rica is think to yourself, "Pura Vida."