See the guy in the white shirt at the left edge of there photo above? That is Carlos, our 51 year old cargo driver, dish washer, joke cracker, and all-around spirited being. And he loves football(soccer). We were told early on that Ticos are especially aggressive for Central Americans but it did not stop us from playing on Monday. I bought a football in town and kept it a surprise for Carlos. Not only did it make us hungry but it felt like a genuine bonding experience between us American students and the Costa Ricans we are to spend the next three and a half months with. Jose our TA(red shirt) is really aggressive, but Christian was also a natural and we played hard! In Costa Rica football is a game that brings people together in a unique way, I am reminded of the film “The secret Life of Walter Mitty”. No matter where I go in Latin or South America, if I have a football, I will make a friend or two. I’ve been feeling isolated by the language barrier and the game was really helpful to cope. I look forward to being good friends with Carlos and playing more football later on this semester!