Well...the hospital was nice at least!

Ok, so I wasn't a patient, just a visitor, but I am not comforted to know that if I have to go to the hospital here, it is very nice. Aparantly the private hospital by our house, (the Tico's call it the Gringo hospital) is great, private rooms, flat screen TV's, a chance to practice my Spanish, who wouldn't want to visit!?!?
Anyway, yesterday friend of mine, a fellow teacher, got hit by a motorcycle. He was getting off the public bus he takes to school, stepped off the bus (onto the highway, yep bus stops on the highway, people walking on and off the on-ramps, crossing the highway) and got knocked over by a motorcycle that was trying to go around the bus. Well, as I found out later, the cycle didn't actually touch him, but it was the force of the man's helmet smashing into his chest that knocked him over and sent him flying. This was at like 7:45, so everyone at the school knew there was an accident, 1/2 of my class was late because of it, but it wasn't until school got out that they told us who it was. I guess he got lucky because he was right in front of the school, like 4 teachers stopped and called ambulances and stayed with him until they came.
I went to visit him last night at the hospital, and he was surprisingly looking really good. He had just woken up, and didn't remember anything from the whole day. As we were talking, it would remind him of things that happened, and he slowly started recalling everything. He just had some scratches, bruises, and a cracked clavicle. He's in good spirits, another teacher went and bought him a toy moto and plastered his pic on an action figure that is now siting by his bed (to remind him of his invincibility, as he puts it)! Apparently it's big business when you get hurt here. Our principal, General director, and HR lady all followed the ambulance to the hospital and his family was called within an hour, so they know what they're doing!
Well, that would have been enough excitement for one night, but no, it continues. So I went to bed amidst a big storm. It has been soooooooo wind for the last couple days and freezing cold. Anyway, the wind had been rattling windows and doors all night. Well, at about midnight, I am woken up by my bedroom door bursting open. Well, this really freaked me out, and I sat in my bed for a few minutes waiting to see who kicked the door in! Once I kinda convinced myself that it was the wind, I ran over, slammed it (it doesn't lock :() and jumped back into bed. (I guess we left a window open and the wind was SOOOOo strong) Well, now I am thinking every noise is someone in my house, and the wind constantly rattling my metal back door is not helping things. So I am sitting in my bed listening to the band of armed men that are at my door :) and all of a sudden my bed starts shaking and moving from side to side. Well I look over and my shelves are rattling and bouncing too!! Well this goes on for about 5 minutes, getting stronger at times, and then stops. Well, now I am WIDE awake, and not going to sleep any time soon. I had to pop in a movie and got through most of it before I fell asleep again.
So lets recap, friend hit by motorcycle, door bursting open and earthquake all in one night!! So things are nice and dull here in Costa Rica! I guess at the center of the Earthquake, on the Panamanian CR border, it was almost a 7 on the scale, but not near that strong here! It was funny to talk at school to see who slept through, who thought that had dreamed it, and who actually woke up! Kind of fun, kinds scary, but no damage done here, or anyone in the country!
So right now I am wishing I had a better jacket, more sweats and better insulated walls! It is sooo cold and windy, and hs been misting rain all day. I actually wore my scarf to school today, IN COSTA RICA! I would be making fun of myself for being a wimp if it really were not so frickin cold! Anyway, looking forward to seeing you all in about 3 weeks!! Love from down South!