Zac Efron en espanol

When I first mentioned my semester in Costa Rica, most people (admittedly, me too) equated that with 3rd world. But actually, CR has so many of the modern conveniences of the States that I often forget I´m in Central America. Example: my host family has the Disney Channel. This means I´ve had the indispensible opportunity to re-watch High School Musical II. Of course, the dialogue has been dubbed over in Spanish, but the songs are in full-blown English with subtitles. Apparently, Zac Efron´s boyish charm crosses the language barrier, because for two hours my host sisters were glued to the screen, with occasional comments like "Ay, que guapo!" (translation: OMG, he´s so hot)

Example #2: This morning, I sat to eat breakfast in my host family´s cute little breakfast nook. My host dad was already there, chomping away -- and engrossed in the ending of Home Alone 2, subtitled in Spanish. I was about to give some context in case he didn´t know what it was, but he informed me that he´d already seen the first Home Alone -- and the second one twice.

Costa Ricans like their TV, their soap operas and game shows. But I´ve been so surprised to see how competent they are in American pop culture, too. I would make a comment about how I´m sorry our entertainment industry has barrelled over their local entertainment, but I don´t think my host sister would hear it over the Fall Out Boy song she´s blaring on her iPod ...