wasting time on cheap talk and wine

I'm supposed to be writing my final right now, so obviously I will write instead.

Today was my last day of Human Rights. Next week those of us staying on will do Refugee Law. I will miss the group, the court, and Judge Antonio Cancado Trindade.

The judge and Efrain, who next week starts an internship at the Inter-American Court.


Because I can't get to my computer, I will have to settle for some of Efrain's pics. I realize the link didn't work, so I added it to the tool bar at the right.


The night before Ashley left, we went to a coffee plantation. I think Efrain ended up paying a taxi driver $80 to drive us up this mountain (well, volcano really) because we wanted an adventure. It was POURING rain like I maybe have never seen. The taxi was old and I was sure we wouldn't make it. Efrain was constantly wiping down the front window for the driver to see as the driver gripped the wheel and did his best to navigate and Ashley and I were deep in conversation (as per usual). Along the way, people shouted directions to us through our window. At one point, lighting touched down literally feet from the car. When we got there, the rain stopped just in time for us to get some beautiful pictures (mine are really good :) )


The rows of coffee plants and banana trees reminded me of the vineyards in Napa and made me homesick.
After the coffee plantation we met up with Robin and her boyfriend Gusto and went to a jazz club. Turns out jazz is pretty much the same wherever you go. Lord, I'm craving live music.




The weekend after Ashley left Efrain and I went to the Caribbean and met up with 10 others from our group. We went to Puerto Viejo. The beach right outside the town has black sand. There seems at first glance to be a lot of tourists, but I think most foreigners have actually moved there. Hotels and restaurants are run by many Germans and Austrians. The food was so good and fresh.

When we arrived, we checked into our little bungaloo and rented bikes. We rode a couple miles down a mud road full of pot holes (I never fell, but was covered in mud none the less) and found some white sand beaches, but the rip tide was so strong you couldnt swim. When the rest of the group came, we got a sweet little house and I made pina coladas for everyone. After some begging, they found me a place to dance- right on the beach. We danced in the waves by candlelight and then somehow ended up in a tiny local bar, where I, yet again, ended up being the entertainment for the night and sang karaoke.

The playa negra (black beach) on the caribbean side:
Me, Lisa, Vicky, and Kirby

Vicky and I.

The sand is carbon black and would shine in the foamy surf. There are animals everywhere, including wild horses. Incredible.

We had a final dinner in an Argentinian steak house with the whole class- on Santa Clara's dime (and our tuition $s). We got stuck outside (Efrain, Robin, Gusto, and me) which was fine by us. Out of sight from the teacher, we ordered up a storm. But, by the main course, I was already wrecked with fever.

I am really going to go work on my final now and try to nurse myself back to health.
Sleep well, wherever you are.