Nicaragua

What a long time it's been since I've written! My apologies. Who knew keeping a blog up was so much work! This past weekend, I went to Granada Nicaragua for the weekend. I'm on a tourist visa while I'm in Costa Rica and that only allows for people to be in the country for 90 days, so I had to leave the country and then re-enter. In February I'll have to do it again, so I'm thinking I'll likely go to Panama. But, that's so long away! Here's how my weekend went. 

On Friday morning, my bus left at 6 am, meaning I had to be up at about 4:30 to get ready and to the station on time. An early wake up call, but I took a nice bus with AC and movies, whereas some other people took Chicken Buses which are basically schol buses that are about to fall apart at any moment and pack as many people on as possible. Probably not doing that for a 9 hour bus ride. So we drove for about 5 hours before getting to the CR/Nica border. It was a really long process -  we were at the border for about 3 1/2 hours standing in different lines and roasting in the 90 degree weather and there are people EVERYWHERE trying to sell you anything from food to pens to shoes. So finally we got back on the bus and drove about 2 more hours to Granada where we got off. 

I met a girl named Patti on the bus to Nica and she was staying at the same hostel as me so we kind of stuck together. We met another girl named Victoria at the hostel and she joined us too, and then a  named Hayden who was also at the hostel alone, we really just kind of became an amoeba attracting anyone traveling by themselves and formed a group. So Friday Patti and I just walked around the town but only had a couple hours before it got dark so we had a good dinner. The restaurant didn't have wine, so I walked to a liquor store nearby, bought a bottle of white wine, and brought it back to the restaurant. Gotta love the BYOB rules here!

 

Saturday Patti and I got up early and went kayaking on Lake Nicaragua at 7 am, lead by a guy named Ferdinand and his friend Chico. Ferdi was totally a hippy with long hair and hadn't showered for at least 2 weeks. It was super fun, and there are a ton of islands on Lake Nicaragua so we went around and in and out of those. We made a couple stops at an old war fort and stopped for coconut juice straight from the nut. Definitely a great morning! We were out there for about 4 hours. Saturday afternoon we explored the city and walked around, eating an amazing lunch at probably the best restaurant I've ever been to. Around sunset Patti, Victoria and I climbed up to the top of a bell tower (there were SO many churches in Granada) and got some sunset pics of the city. That night there was a festival for the Virgin Mary so we went to watch mass at one of the churches for a while before walking around and just people watching on the streets. I was completely shocked by how many people were at this church - I felt like I had just stepped into one of those Televangelist churches. But quite a sight to see! Not knowing exactly what was going on, we watched for a bit before deciding we'd rather eat dinner than wait around for the festival to start. We went and got dinner at a restaurant one of our new friends, Jeff, recommended. We spent our evening in the nice weather at an outside table of the restaurant, chatting and getting to know each other. We ended up going to this discoteca too, but were only there for like 1/2 hour before heading back to the hostel - we had an early morning on Sunday!

 

Sunday morning myself, Patti, Victoria and Hayden went hiking at a volcano, Volcan Mombacho. It was really fun but supes cloudy so we didn't get great views but I still had a really fun time hiking. Getting there was quite a process though; we rode a Chicken bus to the base of the volcano but the bus stopped part way through and changed the tire with all of us still on it. I was sweating profusely just sitting there and would have given anything for my Honda. But we finally got there and hiked for a couple hours before heading back down. Victoria, me and a friend we had met the night before, Maria, went to a huge market called Masaya Market about 45 minutes away via Chicken Bus again and spent the afternoon there. They have everything from food to clothes to souveniers and anything else you can imagine. There was a ton of raw meat there and the smell was legitiamtely like nothing I have ever smelled. I was gagging and extremely close to vomiting. I haven't eaten meat since then, and it may be a while until I do. It makes me sick just writing about it. Maria really wanted to get a hammock from some house that was known for having awesome hammocks but it took us SO long to find and I was pretty crabby by the end. So we took a cab back to Granada and met up with the others and went to dinner for the evening before heading back to the hostel and playing some games. Monday Victoria and I had a 6:30 am bus back to Costa so we were outta there pretty early and thankfully, borders was much shorter and easier. I was happy to be back home but now feel like I need a weekend after my weekend.

 

Today I had my first experience at a work site for Habitat for Humanity. We are building a house for someone that a lot of the Habitat employees know, so the whole office went for the groundbreaking ceremony and then a handful of us stayed after to start the process. I took a number of pictures for our office and will likely be going back to snap some more photos - hopefully to track the process. I am EXHAUSTED after a long day of sun and digging clay up - but happy to have a shorter work day! Sorry for the long post... I'll work on it, I swear! Much love to all of you during the holidays!

More Than Trucks

Well this was a pretty exciting week, and it certainly ended with a bang (or a shake)! Today, at about 3:30 in the afternoon, I was thinking about how close I finally was to the end of the work week, when the building started shaking. Now, our office is right by the highway where a lot of semi trucks drive by, so it's not all that uncommon for the building to shake a bit when the semis drive by. The second day I got to Costa Rica there was a little earthquake (I'm not sure it can even actually be called that) while I was in my bedroom, so I was already a little paranoid when the trucks drove by. But this was more than a little shake, so I looked over to my co-worker. Her face and reaction told me this was a big deal, and then I heard something fall off of a shelf or desk. I felt like I was in a movie, because being from Minnesota there aren't many natural disasters besides snow storm or the occasional tornado warning.  so everyone headed downstairs to get on the ground floor and outside. I had no clue what 'earthquake protocol' was, so I just followed suit. There was a big earthquake here last January, and they said that time there was a smaller one followed by the big earthquake that actually caused damage. After about 5 minutes we decided to go back inside, and resumed work. It was quite an experience, to say the least.

We are having a photo petition for Habitat for Humanity, where people post pictures of themselves holding signs saying "Hago del mundo un hogar" which means "I make the world a home." So we are going to be sending out a newsletter about it, and took sample pictures at a park near our office yesterday. The pictures turned out super funny and a lot of them are really cute! One of them is at the top of this post. The people in the picture are most of the people in our department, minus our boss, Steve, and my supervisor, Andres. So that was a great time, and I'm excited to see how the petition goes, and how many people send in pictures. I hope people get creative! I'll be sure to let everyone know more once we have all the details figured out, so that all of YOU can send in pictures! :)

I have developed an unsuspected love for something I pass every day on the way to and from work. Ants. When I am walking along a certain street, there are hundreds of ants crawling along a curb carrying huge pieces of leaves on their backs. I am completely amazed by them! And I know this sounds completely ridiculous, but I am. I am so fascinated by the fact that they can carry a leaf about 25x their size, and that they are all going in the same direction, with the same goal, and working so hard. I feel ridiculous being so interested in something so random, but I seriously look forward to seeing them working whenever I walk past! They aren't out when I walk past during lunch, so I'm working on investigating why that would be. Maybe I'll come back from Costa Rica as an ant expert! 

Tomorrow I'm going to Alajuelita to walk in the slums with my supervisor and a group of study abroad students who are here for environmental studies and social responsibility or something of the sort. We are going to the slums and Andres is going to talk to them about inadequate housing and social responsibility. I am looking to start building houses near Alajuelita with a group in the near future, so I think this will be a great way to get introduced to it. I will be sure to write about weekend adventures later! Peace, Love and Stable Ground.

No Snow Storms Here

I just realized I haven't posted in 2 weeks - time is sure flying! It's hard to believe that it's already November. Now I can feel a little less guilty for listening to Christmas music (November is the holiday season, right?)! I have packed up my suitcase from one housesitting house and moved on to another - I'm only housesitting for THIS co-worker until Wednesday, however. Then it's back to my host family's house. And back to routine! Whew.

My last couple weekends have been rather mellow but rejuvenating. Last weekend was great. I spent my Saturday grocery shopping, working out, and baking a dessert for a dinner party that I had later in the evening. That was certainly an adventure! I was making a favorite of mine called "Knock you Nakeds", something I had made many times with success in the States. I should have realized there were a number of factors that would affect the outcome of this dessert, but didn't until it was too late. I made the batter and attempted to make them, but they didn't seem to be cooking in the oven. Frustrated, I just kept putting them back in the oven. After about an hour of baking (the recipe's baking time was 18 minutes) I decided they weren't going to do much. So, with improvisation, I turned the "bars" into balls and covered them with powdered sugar. I must say, they tasted fabulous but their appearance was nothing to write home about! I was later told that the ingredients like flour and sugar are very different from those in the States,  and I also didn't account for a change in elevation. We are much higher here than Minnesota! Who would have thought.

Despite the minor setback with dessert, the dinner party was amazing. It was hosted by a woman from my church, Michele, and there were 8 of us in all. It was a great evening of conversation, amazing food and the dessert was even enjoyed by all! Yessss. Michele had a gorgeous house and it was fun to go out to Santa Ana (a barrio a little way down the highway). It was also very helpful as they all had to deal with the little changes of moving to Costa Rica and travel, so they had plenty of advice to offer me. A great evening! The rest of my weekend was very mellow, with church on Sunday evening. 

This past week was actually much more eventful than I'm used to. My usual weeknights consist of me going home from work, eating dinner, and relaxing. However, since I was going to be housesitting for a co-worker, Steph, for a few days, she had me and another work friend Diana over on Monday evening. We stopped to grab dinner at Picante Grill on the way home, where I got a burrito very reminiscent of Chipotle. Yum! So we headed to Steph's place to eat and so I could get the low-down on her house and cats. She was getting pretty sick, I felt so bad. I hope she didn't get the bug from me! So we left relatively early so she could get a good nights sleep before heading to the States. 

Tuesday after work I went to an amazing dinner of chile, cornbread and salad (can you say comfort food??) at Judith's house before going to a bible study at a church couple's house for the first time. Lisa and Matt, the host's of the bible study, are missionaries here in Costa Rica and work at a school started by Matt's parents. A very interesting story! It was a great time, complete with tea, brownies and great conversation. 

Wednesday evening, after work, I caught a bus to a mall called Cariari to meet a couple girls for drinks. I met them at church, and they're both from the States. Leslie, 26, has been here for a few years working for Kraft. So she is a great source for anything young gringa living! Marie, 25, came as well. I just met her about a week ago, and she got relocated to Costa Rica about a month ago from California. So we're learning a lot together! I think the three of us are going to get along great. And I even managed to sucker them into hiking Cerro Chirripo with me in February! Mission accomplished. So we met at Cariari and went to a restaurant nearby for a couple drinks and appetizers. It was a great time! And quite an interesting adventure home as Marie drove me back to my house. I wasn't completely certain of directions and she had no idea where she was going. But nonetheless, we made it! And I'm happy to have figured out the route to get to Cariari, as Marie lives very nearby. 

So that was my exciting week! Thursday was my last night housesitting for Kate so I spent the evening cleaning up and gathering my things, which seemed to have been strewn across the house in a short 2 1/2 weeks. It's easy to do when there's no one else living in the same space! I was getting rather nervous on Thursday when I started feeling pretty sick again. I was worried because I just couldn't shake this bug, something very abnormal for me. I was also getting some bad headaches, which I NEVER get. After some research online, I found that there was a good chance I had either parasites or amoebas. A number of women at the church retreat had gotten amoebas after the weekend away, so it was likely I had that. However, after waking up feeling fine on Friday morning, I didn't quite know what step to take next. I'm still feeling fine, so I didn't end up getting any medication. Not sure if this was the right or wrong decision, but I didn't want to take medication that isn't necessary. We'll see what happens!

This weekend was very similar to last weekends, in that my only plan was one event on Saturday evening. The theatre I've become somewhat involved in, Little Theatre Group, was putting on a play at their theatre downtown. The play, Bedtime Stories, was 3 1-act plays and great. There are really a number of great actors and actresses at this theatre. And another play, the Caretaker, is starting November 20th, so I am looking forward to seeing that! I really love seeing plays so this was perfect! Being that it was Halloween, we were encouraged to dress up for the night. Although I had few pieces to choose from for an outfit, I managed to put together an outfit as a Habitat for Humanity volunteer. Ok, I know this doesn't sound like I did a THING, because that's what I currently am, but I was a work site volunteer complete with hat, t-shirt, dirty face, hammer and bandana. Cheers for trying right? Again, I don't have my computer cord so I can't upload pictures. Sorry! :( After the play there was a party at the bar below the theatre. It was such a fun time! I had met a number of the people there at a meeting early in October, so I knew some of the people and had a great evening. Everyone that attended the party was expected to bring an appetizer, or boca as they're called here. I had some issues with Steph's gas oven, so I had to find an appetizer that could be made sans microwave, oven, and stovetop. With the advice of mom, I put together a cream cheese/jam/nuts and crackers combo and it was a hit! Whew. It was a great night but I am certainly getting tired much earlier these days. I could barely keep my eyes open on our drive home at 10:30! I'm blaming it on the 2 glasses of wine. 

So, I'm sorry for the long post. I need to learn to post more frequently and keep it short and sweet. Doubly sorry for a lack of pictures. I promise to get them up the minute I get back to Patricia's house and in contact with my cord! Much love, I am thinking of you all during the beginning of the snow season! The verdict is still out of I'll miss the snow or enjoy the lack of negative 40 degree weather. 

Cold and La Catalina

It's been a while since my last post; I apologize! I was quite under the weather last week and am just finally getting back to 100%. We had last Monday off work, so I went into work on Tuesday and Wednesday before having to succumb to the bug inside of me and make a home for myself on the couch. I camped out in the house all of Thursday and Friday, getting up only to transfer from couch to bathroom to bedroom. Finally, by Friday afternoon, I was starting to feel functional again which I was very excited about because I had signed up for a women's church retreat and was really looking forward to going.

Deciding I was strong enough to go to the retreat, I got picked up by Judith at about 4 pm on Friday and headed up into the mountains overlooking San Jose. We stayed at a cabin/hotel accommodation called La Catalina, an area of beautiful lookouts and serenity. There were about 25 women at this retreat, with the youngest being me and the oldest being in their 70s. Each of these women have SUCH amazing stories of faith, travels, and barriers. I could have spent a day talking to each woman! The retreat was full of singing, worship, testimonies, small group discussions, free time, eating and alone time. I was so relaxed leaving the retreat, feeling refreshed and reconnected to my faith. I also formed better relationships with many of the women at the retreat - something I'm very thankful to have! 

I've been told that my blog has too many words and not enough pictures (sorry Chase!) so I'll keep this one short. The pictures above are from the farmers market in Pavas that I took a couple weeks ago. I took some pictures at the retreat, but don't currently have my camera cord so they're stuck in my little Canon. Todo bien!

Dia Mundial del Habitat

Well it was a big week leading up to a big event on Saturday: World Habitat Day! This is not an event or day exclusively for Habitat for Humanity, but any organization dedicated to putting an end to unsuitable housing. We partnered largely with Un Techo Para Mi Pais, a Costa Rica-based organization working to reduce the poverty situation. It was a great event despite the rain that never seemed to end. 

I started my week off on Monday with a meeting for the Little Theatre Group, a theatre company that I'm going to be doing some publicity for during my time in Costa. It was great to meet some more people, have a glass of wine at the Shakespeare Bar, and learn about this theatre community. I'm excited to see the plays while I'm here and make more connections.

On Tuesday night I went to Kate's, who is a friend and co-worker, for dinner with a couple of my other co-workers. I am going to be housesitting and cat-sitting for her so we made sure that she had told me everything I need to know and whatnot. It's going to be nice because I'm within walking distance of the grocery store and a park now, so I won't have to take cabs. Another big plus is that there is 24 hour security! In a country of robberies and crime, that is a big comfort. The rest of the week went as usual, day in and day out with work, meetings, phone calls and beautiful mornings met by dreadfully rainy afternoons. A mellow Friday was spent staying in, happy to be falling asleep to the sound of a rainstorm outside my window at 10 pm.

Saturday morning, being as incapable of sleeping in as ever, I was up and ready to rock by about 7:30. After going for a run, showering and eating some breakfast, I decided to head to the Farmers Market in Pavas and take advantage of one of the few Saturday mornings that I am actually in the San Jose area when the market opens. After yet another frustrating cab thanks to the driver misunderstanding where I wanted to go, I finally made it to the market. This time I took the risk of bringing my camera, determined to capture some of the essence that the market releases. I was rewarded with some pictures that I am very pleased with. I bought some fruit, coconut juice straight from the nut (chop off the top, stick a straw in and drink up!) and a flower plant. I was very fond of my plant back home in MN and I had to leave it with my roommate Deutsch (if you're reading this, that plant BETTER not be dead!). This plant doesn't hold a candle to the other, but it will have to do. It can be my project to bring it back to life I suppose. So after the market I headed home - I had to meet my boss Steve at the Best Western near my house at about 1.

At about 1:05 I was on the road to Parque Morazan with Steve, my boss who is from the States but has been living in Costa Rica for about 10 years I believe. We had a a bamboo shelter on the roof and a backseat filled with cardboard - the makings of a shelter for the concert. They don't call us albañils for nothing! We got to the park, set up the stand, and were set to go. Until it started raining. Knowing very well that October is one of the rainiest months of the year, we hoped that God would side with an organization like Habitat for Humanity and give us a dry day to celebrate. Silly us. We had the stand up, with cardboard roofing and was leaking streamlines of water onto our heads and bags. Thankfully, for once, I had remembered my raincoat. A great moment in rainy weather is the moment you accept and decide you don't mind that you're going to hopelessly wet, so it's pointless to avoid the drops. We all seemed to have decided so in our minds early on. After all, there was work to be done. And we realized that we were truly living our mission - we were being forced, if only for a few hours, to find refuge under a less-than-ideal shack with a leaky roof and mud floors. If I wanted to complain about my current circumstances, a reminder to myself that millions of people in Latin America alone live like the this night and day, while simultaneously trying to care for their children and make a living. It was another moment that resonates in my mind as I think about why I'm here and what could have possibly motivated me to move from my friends, family and everything familiar in Minnesota. My mission was re-established and firmly planted in the grounds of Parque Morazan.

At about 5, the first band went on. There were 3 total, covering a variety of genres - funk, ska and salsa. Each brought their own flavor and style to the concert, complimenting each other perfectly. I drifted between the stand, the stage and cleaning duty - my official job for the concert, although I did little more than line garbage cans with plastic bags and put a roll of toilet paper in a port a potty. I can barely call what I got to do a job, taking pictures of the bands, the crew and the audience. I was happy to be running around with the camera, despite the fact that an umbrella had to be attached to my other hand to keep the camera dry and the shots raindrop-free. Boy was that audience a lively bunch! When the second band, Sonambulo, hit the stage, the electricity was buzzing throughout the crowd. What an incredible from the back of the stage - not only could I see the band, but behind that I could see a crowd soaked head to toe, dancing barefoot and carefree. It was a moment I will not likely forget soon, and to make sure that the memory would never fade, I took a video on my camera. I'll likely post it to Facebook. The band was truly amazing, so I hope you can all get the chance to either look them up or watch the video on my Facebook. 

The concert wrapped up at about 8:30, with the salsa band finishing up. I was looking rather out of place during this band, clearly not a girl who had grown up in the culture of this type of dance. After cleaning up and getting the soggy cardboard out to the garbage, Steve and I loaded up into his car to get home and dry. I was drenched head to toe! But couldn't have been happier with my day. On the way home I experienced my first known sighting of prostitutes. Steve told me that there is a large prostitution problem in San Jose, something I hadn't known before. Probably because I've thankfully never found myself walking around downtown San Jose at night! It was quite the sight, seeing them standing there in lingerie on the street. I never go a day here without learning something I find shocking, odd or entertaining. After getting dropped off I immediately peeled off my soggy clothing and got into the comfiest clothing I have here - my long sleeved Breast Cancer 3-Day shirt (I was cold! Can you believe it?) and my trusty hospital pants. It was to bed without even a second thought! I would bet I was asleep before 10. Boy am I my father's daughter!

This morning after my usual a.m. routine I wanted to go check out this exhibit I had heard about, involving art, crafts, photography and music. It was at a place called the Centro National de Arte y Cultura (CENAC) in downtown San Jose. Being that I had looked up the entire name and the street intersections, I assumed that I would be fine in getting where I needed to go with the help of a taxi. I wonder when I'll learn that the taxi's need very specific directions to get anywhere. I took the bus downtown where I found a cab, only to be disappointed. He didn't know where this building was, nor did a number of other workers. In Costa Rica, I would be better off telling a cab driver that the building is 100 meters north of the old mango tree than telling them it's at the corner of 5th street and 10th Avenue. I got back on the bus frustrated but determined to get to this event, so I went home and researched more. After feeling certain I could get myself there after some map work, I hopped back on the bus downtown and found a cab. Thankfully I had enough information this time, and after some typical conversation about my nationality and reason for being in Costa Rica, I arrived at the CENAC. 

To my relief, the event was pretty entertaining! I has put too much effort into finding this location to have it be sub-par. The court area was filled with paintings, carvings, jewelry and photography done by elementary-aged kids. It was very cute. There was a stage area set up where a few musical groups performed, all very entertaining. I ended up not staying as long as I would have liked, due to a slightly creepy man who was following me with little effort to look as if he wasn't. Following closely behind me as I walked through the art and sitting 2 seats away from me during the music, I was nervous that he had seen my camera and wanted it or decided that since I was a gringa I would be an easy target for an attack. When he slid over and was now sitting directly next to me, I decided to call it quits and walked out. Thankfully, he stayed so I was able to leave and get a cab. My #1 possession here is my camera and I will do everything in my power to keep it safe. It's just tough to balance that out with my desire to photograph the city and events. 

After getting home from the CENAC, I spent a little time relaxing before church. At church we had a jewish dance group come in and teach us some moves. I love the atmosphere of the church, as we are a smaller congregation and therefore have the freedom to do activities not possible for others. Tomorrow is a national holiday here, so I don't have to work - always a nice way to ease into the week! And 4 days is always easier than 5. I hear there's snow coming down in Minnesota - hopefully there won't be enough to be making snowmen before Halloween. Better plan for those costumes to have winter coats underneath! I'll leave you with something my pastor finishes every service with and helps me remember to make the most of every day. 

Friends, life is not lost by dying.

Life is lost minute by minute,

hour by hour,

day by dragging day,

in a thousand small, uncaring ways.

Parque Nacional Baurilo Carrillo

Ahh, another Sunday evening and another wonderful weekend. I just got home from church a little while ago and was able to Skype with Maggie and Deutsch, and then Ron and Shannon. It's always a great way to end an evening! Church was really great tonight. A much needed couple of hours to relax and soak in the warmth and community feeling that the church has. After a day today that ended up being more stressful than relaxing, I was happy to sing and chat with the congregation. And what an odd coincidence that for the past 3 Sundays, when we are praying, a huge roll of thunder comes barreling through the break the silence. Someone must be listening! But let me rewind to my week and weekend.

I had the great chance to attend a recital last Wednesday. It was a recital of one of my co-workers sons, who will be graduating from the British School of Costa Rica with an international bacheloriate degree in music. I believe in Europe, or at least England, they graduate from college with a concentration rather than a general degree, but this was very different from the high school experience I knew. As part of his graduation standards he had to compose music and play that as well as traditional music in a concert. He played the guitar and was quite phenomenal for 18! He played it with more of a flamenco style so it felt very cultural as well. I was very impressed and had a great time. 

I realized while walking home on Friday what a routine I have fallen into during the past few weeks. Some parts even down to the slightest details. It goes a little something like this. If you don't want to read my schedule, I'm sorry. Skip to the next paragraph; I'm writing this blog. :) I get up every day at 6:10 am. By 6:25 I am out the door to go for a run, where I do 6 laps around our neighborhood. Without a doubt, a man in a house is always watching out the window and whistles as I run by. Although I have never responded and never intend to, he keeps his routine as well as I keep mine. I always run past a woman who is walking her child to work, a security guard and his friend who aren't doing their jobs, and a boy walking to school (I assume). After my run it's inside to get ready, watch part of the Today show (a part of my routine from MN that I was very happy to be able to keep!), and go eat breakfast. Every day, breakfast is rice and beans, tortilla, egg whites, fruit, and juice. No variety, but I look forward to it every day. Buen Dia, the Costa Rica version of the Today show, is always on in the kitchen as everyone comes and goes to head to work. I make my lunch, either last nights leftovers or a peanut butter tortilla with fruit, and I'm on my way. I walk to work and work from about 8:30-5. Lunch is spent outside in the front entrance area reading my book of the moment and eating lunch. After work I walk home, where I walk past a security guard who says hello and gives me candy, and walk under an apartment where someone is adamantly practicing his drums. Past the MegaSuper where the birds are so loud in the trees that you can't hear anyone else talking, and across the highway where you have to pick a small space to run through between cars if you don't want to stand there waiting for a half hour. No injuries to date. At home, I relax for a bit before 6 pm dinner. Dinner is some sort of meat, carbs and vegetables, tea to drink. Patricia, knowing my sweet tooth, always has suckers in a bowl to cure my craving after her delicious meals. I'm so spoiled here! The evening is spent reading, painting, watching tv, Skyping, and whatever else I need to get done. In bed at 9:30 or 10, and in the morning I'm back at it again. It's a schedule I'm pretty fond of, and I definitely notice the smaller details more than I ever have at home. I'm not sure if that detail of my daily schedule was so much for you all as readers as much as it was for me to look back on later and remember my days in CR when I'm back in MN enduring cold winters.

This Saturday I went to a national park to do some hiking. I got up around 7 on Saturday to get ready for it, and my roommate Lois had decided that she wanted to join me as well. Since I have done a lot of the traveling on my own, I enthusiastically welcomed her on the adventure. We got out at about 9 am, getting on the downtown bus where we'd have to get to another terminal to catch the bus to the park. The terminal was one of the more confusing ones that I have been to so far, and we had some complications with language barriers. Whenever I think my Spanish is getting me far, I have frustrating moments like these where I just can't seem to communicate what I'm trying. But eventually we figured we were getting on the right bus, and decided that even if we weren't going to the right place, it would still be an adventure. I've learned to take everything a little more lightly here - it would be far too stressful to be too Type A here. This whole country seems to be very Type B. The bus ride was only about an hour, and most people were going all the way to the Caribbean coast so we had to watch where we were going to ensure we got off at the right spot. Thankfully, a gracious woman had heard us talking to the bus driver to make sure we knew when to get off, so she had her son go up to the front of the bus when we were close and remind the driver to stop for us. It was such a great and unexpected gesture; we were both very grateful for her thoughtfulness! 

We got off at a point that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. I was wondering if this could REALLY be the destination. We found a man sitting in a makeshift admission shack and paid him about 5,000 colones (10 dollars) for admission to the park. There were only 3 trails, each around 2 kilometers, which is rather absurd considering the park is about 117,000 acres. But having read online that there have been casualties as a result of people veering off the trail, I decided to stick to the path. It was a very dense, humid forest that felt like the most real rainforest I've been in yet. We also only saw two others the whole time, which was very nice in comparison to other parks where hikers are swarming.

After hiking one of the longer trails, we asked the park ranger where the aerial tram that we wanted to take was located. He let us know that it was 3 km down the highway, and without having any other options, we started walking along the highway. We soon found ourselves walking only about 6 inches from the road along an uneven, weed-infested path of grass up to our calves. With each car that drove by we felt the wind of their speed and the heat of their tires. When the semi's drove by (often), that feeling was intensified by about 10. It was helpful that my back was to traffic passing us, as I didn't have as good of an idea just how close these vehicles may have been. Lois suggested that maybe we consider hitchhiking to get the 3 km. Hastily, I agreed - hitchhiking is still very common in Costa Rica so it didn't seem quite as dangerous. We probably didn't last 1 minute with our thumb out before a truck pulled over. The back of the truck looked like a pig coop, and as I stood there looking at it I was thinking we were going to be sitting back there if we accepted this ride. Thankfully, a cop car was right behind the truck and turned on it's siren to advise them to keep going. The cops offered us a ride and we took it graciously, thankful not to be in the back of the pig farming truck (Mom and dad were not too fond of this story). After a quick stop to get roadside strawberries, we arrived at the other part of the national reserve.

After buying our tickets to the tram, we were off. The tram wasn't as exciting as I had pictured. Still a new experience, but after 15 minutes of looking at tree tops it all starts to look the same. There is a plethora of information to be taught by the guide, but most of the scientific names he was rattling off went over my head. The pouring rain added quite a bit to the adventure though, and really reinforced that we were indeed in the rainforest. After the tram we went hiking with the guide, who once again had an abundance of knowledge for every tree, plant and animal we passed. After a snack, we were headed back to the highway to catch the bus as it headed back to San Jose. Again, as we weren't at a bus stop or anything remotely similar, we stood next to a sign hoping that each car that drove by giving us the peace sign or honking their horn didn't accidentally lose control on the corner they were turning. If they did, we were directly in their line of destruction. After about a half hour we got picked up along the road and headed soundly back to San Jose. 

That evening I had a meeting with some people from a theatre in San Jose called the Little Theatre Group. I met one of the publicity guru's at church, and he asked if I'd be interested in lending a helping hand and I said absolutely. Although I was scarred from theatre during a performance of "Aladdin" in about 4th grade, I still love the theatre and think I'll feel more comfortable working on the sidelines. So I met with a few others to talk publicity and meetings. I've just started working with them, so I'm sure I'll have more to talk about once I get more involved with the theatre. 

Today, as I said earlier, was a day that started out with great intentions and ended more stressfully. This morning I just did laundry and lounged around until about 1, when I left to find my way to Moravia, which is a barrio (or neighborhood) on the outside of San Jose. I was going there to have coffee with Greta, a friend I met downtown a few weeks back. I discovered on the journey that I pretty much live in a neighborhood on the exact opposite side of Moravia, in a neighborhood called Uruca. A half hour cab ride later and a great deal of re-explaining and rattling my brain for all the spanish words I've acquired, I got dropped off at the church that I was meeting Greta at. I got there a little before 2, and like clockwork the rain started coming down when I stepped out of the cab. Not just a drizzle; sheets and sheets. Of course, I had looked at the sky before I left and decided I didn't need my rain jacket. The sky can never be trusted here. I'm wondering when I'll learn that. So I stood in front of the church, looking helpless and very gringa I'm sure, happy to see Greta walking up with an umbrella. We sadly discovered that the coffee shop was closed (nothing is open on Sundays here) and so we decided to go back to her host families, where there was warm lasagna and juice waiting. That sounded amazing to a wet, cold, cabby me. I met Greta's three American roommates at her house, all of whom seem very nice and welcoming. It was a nice way to spend an afternoon! I was dreading the ride home though.

 Getting in a cab, I knew immediately that I would have problems explaining to the driver where I needed to go. After repeating my location a number of times and having the driver mis-understand, I had ended up in the wrong area a few too many times. Thankfully, we found someone who spoke english because I was very close to tears of frustration. The man was able to explain to the cab driver what my destination was, so I got to the bus stop and then rode the city bus the rest of the way back to my house. Unlocking my front door was a great relief after a stressful day of transportation. Soon after, I was picked up for church by Judith where I spent the evening relaxing and talking with people who are quickly becoming my friends and supporters. I'm really looking forward to get to know the others in my church and have another community to turn to. I have such a need for support and family in my life, so although I left all those I knew in Minnesota, I know that I can find a group here as well. I am just realizing that it doesn't come as easily or quickly as I had hoped. I was so spoiled in Australia in that I made my best friends at orientation within the first few days of arrival. We immediately bonded and within a couple weeks we were a tight knit family. On that note, a BIG congratulations to Pete and Caity, two of my friends from Australia, who got engaged last week! I am so excited for them and can't wait for the wedding :) Peace, love and sustainable housing to all.

Volcan Poas

Greetings on a stormy Sunday afternoon here in San Jose! I had a pretty mellow but satisfying weekend. After work on Friday I headed home to stay in for the evening, knowing I would have to get up early the next morning to catch a bus to go hiking at the Poas volcano. I spent the evening painting, watching Patricia make a cake, and cleaning my room. My life here is certainly different from a typical Friday night in St. Paul! It was great to be in bed by 10:30 though. 

On Saturday morning I got up around 6:15, thanks to my stress-inducing fear of being late. After getting ready and having to run to the ATM to get some cash out, I hopped on the bus that heads downtown, which is where the bus station I needed to get to was. I went there not totally sure where this said station was located, but with luck on my side I discovered it was just across the street from where I was dropped off. What a relief! I ended up arriving there at 7:30 for an 8:30 bus ride - so I had a lot of waiting around to do. I was happy when another American couple around my age showed up about a half hour later. A few things marking their nationality: shorts (rarely worn by tico's), an REI bag and water bottle, and bright blonde hair. All are rarities here. They sat next to me and soon we started talking, asking the typical questions to find out why you're here, where you've been, how long you're here for... we might as well have been talking about the weather! But I really love meeting other travelers and hearing their stories. They're also a great source of information and recommendations! These two were from Oregon but going to school in Montana, studying abroad here for a semester. Soon we were on the bus, beginning a 2 hour drive to the volcano. I really like time on the bus because it's such a nice time to really relax and listen to my iPod without fear of it getting stolen. And these seats were much more comfortable than those of other buses!

We made a 20-minute stop at a roadside "comida tipica" stand, a pattern that I'm starting to see among bus drivers. There are so many little shops and stands along the way to big tourist attractions, and I see why now as every bus driver I've had so far has stopped at one of these stands. It's nothing spectacular, but the drivers like to stop to get food and talk with the locals. An additional little piece of culture added into every trip. 

Around 11 we arrived at Poas, and I was ready to get going. I had been told to get to the volcanoes early to have the best visibility before the clouds come in, but there was little I could do to decide when I would get there. I rode the only bus going to Poas for the day. After about 20 minutes of hiking I arrived at the lookout point over the crater of the volcano and was surprised by what I saw. I'm not sure what I was expecting to see, but this wasn't it. I suppose I always imagine a volcano as being a tall cone-shaped mountain with a point at the top where the lava comes out, but in all reality when you're at the top looking down on it the "point" is much larger than expected. The volcano is currently active so there was a lava lake in the middle and smoke coming out of it, but there hasn't been any real activity in around 40 years. Luckily, it didn't choose Saturday to become active. I was a bit bummed because as I had been warned, it was pretty cloudy and foggy so I couldn't see all that clearly. After taking a number of photos I started on my way to a nearby lake, which was my favorite part of the day.

The trail to the lake was a really nice trail with trees and vines creating an arch overhead. Along with the chilly air in the high altitudes and fog swarming around, I felt as if I were in Alice in Wonderland and expected the Rabbit to jump out at any moment. On the hike I met a group of Canadian girls who are here for 10 weeks building a community center and teaching some english classes. They told me stories of their make-shift housing situation and I was very thankful for the nice house and family that I am staying with. I am certainly getting spoiled with food and care in my living situation! They asked where I was from and before I was even able to answer, one of the girls said "Minnesota." I asked her how she had known that and she told me that she knew right when I said 'Habitat for Humanity.' Just when I thought I was getting better! 

When we arrived at the lake the clouds and fog were even worse than they had been at the volcano. There was not a speck of lake to be seen through the dense clouds, so we took some pictures of where the lake would have been and I continued on my way back to the visitors center a little bummed. At the main area there was a coffee shop to boost my spirits. Although I don't drink coffee, the complete lack of coffee shops to hang out at in Costa Rica is surprising, especially considering the amount of coffee beans they produce here. After a coffee (did I really drink a cup of coffee??), a walk around the art gallery and watching a movie on the volcano that I hadn't been able to see, I noticed the sky was clearing. With an hour left before I had to get back on the bus, I decided to try my luck and a better viewing of the volcano. 

What a difference an hour can make! I got back to the outlook point to see spectacular views of the crater. I could see past the volcano to the town below, to the mountains behind, and clearly into the middle. It was great and I was very happy I had decided to try again. With luck being on my side currently, I decided to head to the lake with hopes that the clouds had cleared there. And they had! The lake was very pretty, but also a typical lake. We've got a few of those in Minnesota. Except this lake used to be a crater that had become inactive and become a lake, so that made it a bit more unique. After enjoying the clearness of the day and view, I hiked back to the main area where the bus would pick us up. Hiking in that high of elevation was VERY difficult. Although I consider myself a bit of a stairmaster at the gym back home, I was huffing and puffing as if I had just climbed the whole volcano from the bottom. Looks like I've got some more training to do before I consider climbing a mountain! 

I got back just in time to catch the bus and enjoyed the ride home. Seeing the countryside is always interesting because there is so much poverty and improper housing along the roads. It creates a lot of motivation for me at my job with Habitat for Humanity to see with my own eyes how inadequate the houses are that people live in. The people standing outside the houses are equally depressing, looking at the bus and those inside like they wish they could hop on and drive away from their houses, never to return. It makes this volunteer position all the more meaningful. 

After an amazing 11 hours of sleep last night, I have spent the day reading my book feeling the breeze of a Costa Rican afternoon come in the open windows. It's these moments that make me realize how lucky I am to be here and what a great experience this has been so far and how much more is to come. I spent the afternoon at Plaza Mayor, the mall near our house. I use the term "mall" loosely, but it's the closest we have. I needed some groceries and to get out for a bit. This evening I will be going to an international church which is led by my old pastor in St. Cloud, Stacey Steck. I really like going here because for 1 hour I am surrounded by other Americans and have a sense of familiarity and comfort. I knew Stacey and his wife fairly well in St. Cloud, so that is another wonderful support system I have here. It's a great way to wrap up my weekend and start my week ahead. How did this become such a long post? I'm sorry. I miss fall in Minnesota so much! Jump in a leaf pile for me. 

Finally, Beach Time!

After a long wait, I have finally be re-united with my love, the ocean. After my time in Australia I developed a serious need for the beach, and after 2 years I have finally come back. I spent my weekend in Manuel Antonio, which is one of the most gorgeous beaches in all of Costa Rica. It's on the southwest coast of Costa Rica, about 3 1/2 to 4 hours by bus. 

I left work Friday and went straight to the bus stop in downtown San Jose which would take me to Quepos, the small town next to Manuel Antonio. Now, bus rides aren't expected to be the most comfortable form of transportation, but in a foreign country where I don't have a car and only had to pay $5 for a ticket, it was without a doubt the best option. I didn't know what I was in for. The bus quickly became packed with kids, tourists, and locals. By packed I mean 10-15 people standing in the aisle at any given time. By some grace, I was able to get a window seat both to and from Manuel Antonio, so I definitely had one of the better seats. But then we hit the mountain roads. And there, a window seat was NOT so optimal. I had been warned multiple times by people, websites and articles not to look out your window when going through the mountains on a bus. They were not kidding. Those mountain roads are dangerous and unforgiving, and that bus driver was showing no mercy. Guard rails, open edges, we were speeding along just the same. And I had no control. But like a bad accident, I couldn't look away.

After finally getting to Manuel Antonio that night and checking into my hostel, Vista Serena, I arranged all my things and hit the sack pretty early, getting ready for an early morning. But as hostels usually go, I didn't get a good nights sleep between people slamming doors, coming, leaving and talking at all hours of the night. Rising around 6:30 Saturday morning, I went to the main area of the hostel to get directions before walking to a bus stop and catching the bus to the park. Against my better judgement I ended up taking a guided tour through the rainforest. This ended up being a very good decision. Along withe 3 Germans, a Swiss, 2 Israelis, a Costa Rican and 2 Japanese, we were a UN group of sorts being shown the wildlife and plants of the area. I wouldn't have noticed about 90% of the things that Ricardo, the guide, showed to me and as I watched a group of white-faced monkeys play in front of me I decided the 20 dollars was well worth it. I saw everything from monkeys to alligators to spiders and sloths, along with breathtaking beaches and forest. 

After the tour I hit the very un-populated beaches with 4 other girls and finally got that salt water in my hair. It was so fun to spend time with some Europeans, and when they spoke German it didn't even phase me because I'm becoming so used to hearing other languages that I don't necessarily understand. 

By mid-afternoon we decided to head back to the main area to get showered and I had to go to the bus station to get a bus ticket for the next day. Around 6 I re-convened with the 4 other girls for a wonderful dinner at a restaurant called El Avion. Not only was it called the Airplane, there was a legitimate airplane inside. It was a wonderful dinner with a great atmosphere and equally great company. By the end of dessert I was ready to get back to my hostel and get to sleep, so I said my goodbyes and headed back.

Sunday morning, after packing my backpack back up, I headed back on the bus for another day at the beach. This time I decided I would stay on the main (free) beach. It's much busier and bustling with people trying to sell you beach towels or necklaces, but for the most part still a relaxing day. There were a number of surfers there, and watching them is always good entertainment. I met a great surfer who had the tiniest kitten who couldn't have been more than 2 weeks, so I cuddled with her while watching beach soccer and surf. I met up with the 4 girls from the day before again, playing in the waves and getting some color. Turns out this Minnesota skin is not suited for Costa Rican sun, no matter how much sunscreen you apply. A little red, I had a really had a hard time leaving and atmosphere that I love so much. Thankfully it's always just a $5 bus ride away. Another drive home on a packed bus and a driver whipping around the edges of a mountain, I was finally home late last night. And I don't think the e-mail I sent the second I walked in the door was soon enough for poor mom, sitting by the Skype all night waiting for my call. I'm sorry, mom! Remember: no news is good news. 

Costa Rican Independence Day

Lucky me! This year, I got to celebrate independence not only in the United States but also in Costa Rica. Today, September 15, was the day Costa Rica became independent from Spain. Guatemala proclaimed independence from Spain for all of Central America on September 15, 1821. So there is a little history lesson for all of you! To celebrate, people walk to the town of Cartago, and there is a huge celebration with fireworks and parades from the night of the 14th, through the night, and into the 15th. It's a national holiday, so few people had to work today. Yahoo! 

I was a little hesitant to go downtown this morning because I didn't really know what was going on or where to go. So, with the advice of a co-worker at HFHI, I went to a park called La Sabana. I had never been, but I have heard it's a huge gorgeous park. I hopped on the city bus (which I am getting more comfortable with) and rode until I saw the park. That seems to be how my bus rides have been going in general - ride until something looks right. This park was gorgeous! A ton of huge trees and people playing just about every kind of sport you can think of. Soccer of course, basketball, tennis, inline skating, sand volleyball, not to mention horse rides, kites, bike riding, runners... the list just goes on. I was so happy the moment I stepped inside this park - I know this is somewhere I can go on the weekends to run or just read when I don't head out of town. It's not especially safe to go running around the neighborhoods, so this came as a great surprise! 

I was also happy because the atmosphere here was very family-friendly and safe so I was able to take my camera finally. I wish I could take it out more without worrying about theft! I had a lot of fun taking pictures of soccer games - there were about 10 going on at all times, since that is without a doubt the sport of this country. Everyone is VERY enthusiastic about it and take losses by their professional team VERY hard. After walking around for a few hours and the death of my camera battery I decided I was ready to find the bus home. Buses are a tricky thing here because I'm never really sure where to find the bus going to opposite direction I came from. I generally just wander around until I find a green bus that is going in the right direction. On the way to the bus I got a drink from McDonalds. For my McDonalds drink and a little Spanish conversation I was able to get directions to the closest bus stop from a homeless woman with 3 teeth. Never underestimate the power of Orange Fanta!

Standing at the bus stop, I was quickly reminded that I was a light haired woman when a homeless tico walked up to me and asked where I was from. Out of politeness I answered "Minnesota" and he proceeds to tell me that he graduated from the University of Minnesota. At first I assumed he was pulling that out of nowhere. After all, it wouldn't take much to assume there is a University of Minnesota there. However, when he asked if I had been to Mankato, I thought maybe he had actually gone there. He told me he got a Masters from there but his life went downhill when he started turning to the bottle. Because he seemed nice and polite, I gave him 200 colones (only about 34 cents), the cost to get a bus ride to another town. After another 1/2 hour of waiting, with no bus in sight, I gave in and took a cab ride home. Maybe next time I'll find that bus. 

200 Meters South of the Gas Station, 50 Meters North of the Round About

The title of this blog is how Ticos (Costa Ricans) give directions. To those of you who were wondering what my address is here, that may be about as specific of an address I have. If you're feeling experimental you can mail me a rock to this address and see if it gets to my house. Even businesses don't use addresses, simply something like "Calle 16, between Aviendo 2 and 3." That did not make my trip to downtown San Jose go so smoothly today. Mom and dad, you may want to be sitting down before you read on. 

Yesterday I found myself wondering what I was going to do this weekend, as there is very little to do in San Jose and I hadn't made plans to travel elsewhere. Upon the suggestion of one of my American roommates to go downtown, I hopped on the city bus because I needed to go there to get a bus ticket for next weekend anyways. Not really knowing where I was going or when to get off, I had put a lot of trust in her directions! The bus ride there was surprisingly easy and I ended up getting off where everyone else got off. Stepping off the bus, I felt fairly comfortable in my surroundings - a park, a few bigger stores and a lot of people around. 

Walking in the general direction of where I thought the bus station was, the atmosphere and dynamic changed quite and bit and I was suddenly a gringa (a non-derogatory term here for a white person) in the middle of Latin America. People surrounded me, selling everything from suckers to hairbands, underwear and earrings. Homeless people carpeted the sidewalks, some awake and begging, some sprawled across the cement sleeping. I was rather taken aback when a homeless man actually grabbed my arm and pulled me toward him, asking for money. It was then that I realized my Dona had given me warning to "tengas cuidado"...be careful. I was even more nervous because this morning I had wanted to bring my camera along with me to snap some shots. It was now clear that taking that out would only increase my odds of being robbed - a chance that was already heightened because of my light hair and skin as well as my gender. 

After a bit of wandering, I found the bus station which ended up being very close to the bus stop, thankfully. However, I couldn't find the ticket station. Luckily, this is a very popular backpacker area (as it is the main bus station in Costa Rica), so I sought out the first gringa I could find. Upon asking her where I could buy a ticket, she brought me over to where she had boughten one and helped me. The girl, Greta, had just missed her bus to Manuel Antonio (which is where I'm going next weekend), so she had a few hours to kill before the next one came. We decided to explore the city together. Her missing her bus ended up being a sort of blessing in disguise for both of us because now we could see San Jose without the danger of walking alone. 

We took off with no real direction or agenda as we didn't know the city well. Downtown ended up being less interesting and eventful than I had hoped, with the majority of stores being junk stores filled with clothing or useless nic-naks. We did manage to find a coffee shop (a MAJOR rarity around San Jose) and an art gallery which had beautiful but spendy paintings. We also went into the Teatro Nacional, the only building in San Jose with any architectural significance. This is the only spot I felt comfortable taking out my camera (photo above), which is unfortunate because I was really hoping to get some pictures of downtown culture.

Walking back to the bus station, Greta and I were using our best sense of direction to return us to where we had come from. Obviously failing us, we found ourselves walking down what could very well be the worst street in San Jose. Again, mom, you may want to scroll past these few sentences. As we walked through a neighborhood of drugs, homelessness and dangerous stares, we tried our best to look as if we knew exactly where we were going and what we were doing. Hopefully it worked. As I stepped over and around homeless men sleeping on the street I prayed that we would get out of this area sooner rather than later. Thankfully, once we came around the next corner, we could breathe a sigh of relief and give the slightest laugh at what we had just encountered. 

Finally dropping Greta off at the bus station, I decided I had gone through more than enough for the day so I walked back to where the bus had dropped me off and waited for the next one going in the direction of my home. Hoping I had used my Spanish correctly to ask the driver where he was going, I hopped on and sat into the corner seat, getting smashed against the window when a morbidly obese man squeezed into his seat and half of mine. As we drove down the road and I felt the sweat trickle down my calf I had a major revelation... I'm not in Australia anymore. This has certainly been a drastically different experience from my study abroad trip!

To end on a brighter note, I'm signing up for a volunteer program that brings it volunteers to different national parks for the weekend where I will be doing anything from picking up litter to preserving the habitat of sea turtles. This seems to be an opportunity to go away for a few weekends for little money and with guidance. I'm not sure if anyone will even be reading this long, long blog entry at this point, so Happy Saturday! 

Habitat para la Humanidad and Beyond

Greetings from this humid, humid country! It's amazing, after my walks to work in the morning at 8 am I find myself wishing for a fan to relieve myself from the humidity. But I really can't complain about the weather! We're supposed to be in one of the most wet seasons of the year but there has been an unusual low amount of rain. From what I hear, we should get a full dose of precipitation in October - good thing I brought a raincoat! 

Last Sunday I went to a little town about an hour north of San Jose called Sarchi. I hitched a ride with 2 American girls and a Canadian man, all of who are teaching English, as well as a tico (Costa Rican). Christian, the tico, had a car so we were able to squeeze in there. It was GREAT to get out of the city for the day and see more of Costa Rica, and obviously there is quite a difference in geography between here and Minnesota! We ate at an adorable restaurant that made me feel like I was in a tree house before walking around the city, admiring the mountains and artwork around the streets that almost seemed Scandinavian. 

Work is going very well! I started this past Monday, September 4th, and am loving it already. I work in an office of about 50 people, but there are only 6 in my department so even in a big office there is a sense of community. Again, I find my head swirling as they have conversations in fast, fluent Spanish but I am learning quickly! I don't have my own computer or e-mail address yet so the actual work being done is less productive than I would like but from what I hear the computer will be there tomorrow! Keeping my fingers crossed. 

On Wednesday we built a shack for a display at World Habitat Day, which is on October 5th. This day is put on by a number of organizations all over the world, not just Habitat for Humanity. The day is dedicated to reinforcing and bringing attention to the need for sustainable, economical housing around the world. As I become more informed on the mission, history and reason behind Habitat for Humanity I am learning the statistics of unsuitable and slum housing is staggering. On October 5th we will set our shack up at a park in downtown San Jose - I'm getting very excited for this event!

Tomorrow is Friday which means I have almost been here a week, which feels both long and short. I have encountered so many new situations that it seems like I've been here far longer than a week, but at the same time the days have just been flying! I'm so exhausted at the end of every day that I have lights out around 10. This will certainly be different than my study abroad experience in Australia! I hope you all have a great weekend, I will be around San Jose! Maybe I'll do the planning to get out to the beach the following weekend. Buenos noches!

Safe Arrivals

Greetings from Costa Rica! After a much needed nap this afternoon, I got a chance to snap a couple photos of the house that I'm living it. It seems to be a great situation, with a woman named Patricia, her husband, her son, and two other American girls who are here to teach English. I wasn't aware there would be any other Americans living here so that was a pleasant surprise. Almost as surprising as when I found out my host family spoke VERY little english - only single words or a few words put together. I will be picking up this Costa Rican spanish faster than I thought! This morning I got a taste of  typical Costa Rican breakfast (rice, beans, scrambled eggs, tortilla and pineapple) followed by a taste of the neighborhood on a walk with Patricia, where I saw my Habitat office. A trip to the Farmers Market with a couple fellow Americans immersed me in the San Jose culture, and in typical Costa Rican style, the weather didn't stay dry for long. We barely got back before the rain started coming down in sheets. Tomorrow I will be going to an international church where my old pastor from St. Cloud is currently working. Buenos tardes!