he tarmac I was engulfed by a blanket of humidity! It was 80 degrees and at least 80% humidity. I checked in with a Ross representative, went through immigration and got the second stamp in my passport. Baggage claim is just behind the immigration officers. The sliding metal door was wheeled open and the bags brought over. Empty handed, I watched as all of the bags were claimed and the door was shut. Now with both of my bags missing, myself and a few of my peers waited outside in hopes that our luggage would arrive on the next plane. Two hours later I had claimed one bag and filed a missing luggage report. The last of us boarded the vans that shuttled us to campus and we began the hour drive along the coast and through the rainforest. The sounds of the rainforest at night are like nothing I had ever experienced before- the closest thing I can think of is the sound effects played at Disneyland. Once to campus, we got our bags, made our one phone call, and were taken to our apartments. I was pleasantly surprised by my little studio apartment despite the fact that it wasn't the building that was in the picture on the housing database.
Getting to campus early allowed for some time to unpack, settle in, and explore the area a little bit. One of the first necessary tasks was to buy electricity and figure out how to add the purchased units to my pay as you go meter. This turned out to be relatively easy although completely foreign. Then groceries which was straight-forward enough and choosing a laundry service. The locals here are extremely friendly and they all assure you that their service is the best of its kind.
Thankfully, I am not trying to figure all this out on my own. We are the largest incoming class in the history of Ross University and all 500 of us are in the same boat. I met Sarah on the plane from Huston to San Juan and we instantly bonded in a way that might only be possible if you just picked up and left everything you ever knew in life to go to a remote destination.
Other then that there have been a few minor things that have taken some getting used to like turning on electrical outlets as well as the hot water heater. Checking the availability of any and all menu items at any eating establishment. Remembering bug spray (lots of it!) so as not to end up with several hundred mosquito bites. Ensuring that the appliance you are plugging in is actually 220 volt because if it's not, and I am speaking from experience now, you blow the circuit and spend the rest of the night in the dark.
That's it for now, more to come soon :)
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