El Puro Campo

There are some moments in life when you stop and look around and think, "How in the world did I get here? I can't believe this is my life." I had many of those moments this past weekend during the most incredible cultural experience of my life. Tricia's Tico family went to the "campo" (country) this weekend to visit the dad's family and they invited me to go along. I got the okay to have Friday off work and we headed off to Guanacaste to experience life on la granja (the farm).

We left Thursday after school so by the time we arrived in Nandayure (Nahn- dah- jur-ey) it was dark. Jose's parents greeted us happily and with a delicious dinner. Abuelita Veronica showed Tricia and I around and we were shocked to find an entire kitchen outside complete with a large cement oven (kind of like a brick oven) called a "fogon." We visited a little and then went to bed.Friday morning we were awakened by a rooster, a bus, and lots of people milling around. Apparently we had slept in by getting up at 6: 30 am. We got out of bed and lazily walked outside to find a lot of family members. We were given a lesson in how to make tortillas and empanadas by hand and then fry then over the fire. Mine were definitely never round enough or fat enough, but they tasted incredible when I finally sat down to eat! They accompanied our breakfast of gallo pinto, eggs straight from the hens, and milk straight from the cows. Talk about fresh!! Friday we ran some errands with the family and then visited a melon plant owned by one of their friends. We got a tour and had our fill of yellow melons (which get exported to Europe). Afterwards we were treated to a trip to Playa Samara on the Golfo de Nicoya. We soaked up some sun and cooled off in the gulf. It was wonderful! Then we went into town for Chinese food and made our way back to the farm. The evening was spent visiting various familiy members whose houses were on/near the farm property. It was funny to see the expressions on some of their faces- gringos don't frequent Nandayure. Some of the children just stared at us! We then went on a trip to a small fishing village called Puerto Thiel to arrange a fishing trip for Saturday. The day ended with some dinner and a lesson on Costa Rican dancing with Abuelita Veronica (who is 88 but still dances in the festivals!).
This brings us to Saturday....a day of adventure. I don't know why, but I always seem to find myself in the most ridiculous of situations and this day was no different. Once again we woke up early, had a wonderful breakfast (I ate a ton of delicious food this weekend!), and prepared for the day. We drove back to Puerto Thiel and meet up with the man who was to be our fishing captain. Puerto Thiel is a small, poor village which depends on fishing to survive. The people were eager to help us prepare the boat and the net (no fishing poles here). We set out in a small motorized fishing boat- Jose, Maria Carmen (Trish's Tico parents), our captain, Trish, and me- under a hot sun and a clear sky. It was beautiful riding down the river that led to the golf. There were pelicans and herons all around and we were surrounded by green trees. The dry mountains in the distance added to the view and we were given a tour of all the islands and wildlife. It was great!
We were just making our way out to the golf (a 45 minute boat ride) when suddenly our motor died. Our capitain started yelling about how it had just been fixed and this and that while Maria Carmen began searching for her cell phone. Trish and I started laughing and commenting on how we are bad luck. The cell phone was found and a phone call was made to send help. Luckily another boat came by and was able to tow us to the nearest island. Now these fishermen are in the sun constantly so they have various methods of sun protection. One is to use a variety of shirts, towels, and caps to cover as much skin as possible, sometimes only leaving their hands and eyes free. This is how our rescuers were dressed so it was a little terrifying to be towed to shore by a boatful of men who looked like Arabian thieves. But we made it safely and had nothing to do but wait. Stranded on a deserted island, Trish and I became a little dramatic. After all the Gilligan's Island references we could think of and convey in Spanish we set out to explore.We didn't venture too far off, but the island was beautiful. We climbed rocks, found walking sticks, and attempted to hunt for food (all we could find was cacti). Exhausted, we returned to the others under a shady tree, ate our picnic lunch, and relaxed. About an hour and a half later the other boat came to our rescue and we were saved! During the long boat ride back (we only had 1 motor to tow 2 boats and 8 people) we laughed, enjoyed the scenery, lamented our lack of fishing, and sunbathed. It was great!Saturday evening, unlike the day, was event free. We returned to la granja to eat dinner and visit with family. Trish and I taught some of the cousins how to play Phase 10. It is very difficult to explain things like wild cards, skips, and discarding in another language. However, I learned a lot and we had a lot of fun.

This morning (Sunday) we once again arose early and had a delicious breakfast. Abuelito Julian treated me to a horseback ride before we had to go. While loading up the car I dropped my bag and all my things started to fall out. At first I was annoyed at my clumsyness, but then I noticed that a scorpion had fallen out, too! That was quite the surprise. We said our goodbyes and headed off.We made a few stops along the way home, though. The first was at a restaurante and estate owned by a friend. He breeds scarlet macaws so there were so many there! They are such beautiful birds, and so huge! It was definitely a treat to see them.

Then we made a stop off at Puente de la Amistad (Bridge of Friendship). This is the largest bridge in all of Latin America!

The last stop was at Puerto Caldera to visit Maria Carmen's parents. We ate arroz con pollo and visited a little. Then Trish and I went for an excursion to the beach. Maria Carmen told us how to get there and then warned us about the bridge- she said it was old and made of wood and some boards were wobbly. That was only half true. Actually the ridiculously long bridge was missing boards completely and had big holes in it. Not great for 2 people afraid of heights, but we survived! Of course at the end of the bridge we saw the sign that said "bridge in bad condition, pass with caution." It was worth it, though, for the experience and the laughs (which only happened after we were safe). We enjoyed the beach and the sun and then walked back to the house so we could finish the drive.

All in all, the trip was incredible. I had lots of adventures and learned many new things. And, best of all, I spoke Spanish for 3 days straight! Tricia and I even spoke Spanish with each other. It was encouraging to see how much I have improved and what I am capable of. What a great few days!!!

A Weekend Away

Hello, Friends! I haven't posted in awhile, I know...I am not great at it. But I do have news to report now. I explored a new part of Costa Rica this past weekend. Since we didn't have school on Friday us girls (Trish, Kate, Kim, and I) took off to the beach! After finally finding the bus station, missing the bus, and then an extra long drive we made it to Brasilito, a small beach town on the Altantic Ocean. We immediately checked into the hotel and ran out to the beach to enjoy the rest of the sunshine and then to watch the incredible sunset. We spent the rest of the evening going out to dinner, playing games while eating ice cream, and star gazing.


Saturday was a full day at the beach in the sun! We walked down the beach about 15 minutes to Playa Conchal, a beautiful beach where the "sand" is actually broken down seashells. We spent all day swimming in the freezing water, laying in the sun, and relaxing. It was amazing! We stayed until the sunset and then headed back to get ready for dinner. We passed the evening just like the one before.

Since we had to leave on Sunday we got an early start at the beach. We enjoyed the sun for a few hours and then headed back to get ready to leave. Unfortunately for us traffic coming into San Jose was terrible so we spent 7 1/2 long hours on the bus...no fun. It was worth it, though, to spend the weekend in the sun relaxing and reenergizing ourselves.

As for life here....time is flying by! I am now tutoring twice a week and volunteer translating once a week so I am busy, but I love it. This weekend I am heading up to a resort for a women's retreat with the language institute. That should be a great time, also!

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!

At the Cross

So this weekend I undertook the most strenuous thing I have ever done in my life...and it was well worth it! In the mountains just outside of San Jose are 3 crosses...3 separate statues/monuments in 3 different places known as the "Tres Cruces." There is a trail (kind of) that leads to all 3 of them that is know for having amazing views of the city and surrounding areas. So a group of about 15 of us decided to hike it on Sunday with the help of a few Tico friends. Round trip the hike is supposed to take quite a few hours so we left at 8 in the morning on a bus to downtown San Jose. From there we took another bus to a town a little ways up the mountain and then we began to climb...and climb...and climb. San Jose is about 4000 ft above sea level and by the time we got to the last cross we were at 7000 ft! (Needless to say, I was a little sore Monday morning!) The view was incredible- the sprawling city on one side and rolling green hills on the other. We stopped for a while at the last cross to take in the view and rest before hiking back down. It was incredible! Here are some pictures to enjoy:










An Hysterical Cultural Experience-

So I went to the doctor today (finally) after being sick off and on for over 2 months. He told me I have bad allergies (there is a lot of dust during the dry season) and a sinus infection. I was given a prescription to take to a pharmacy near my house...3 medications and a shot. He said the pharmacist would give me my shot. So I went there about an hour ago. The pharmacy consists of a room with a counter and a bunch of medicines on shelves behind it. I handed the prescription to the pharmacist and she began to search for them. Then she got the shot and went to prepare it. I wasn't quite sure what would happen...would she just lean over the counter and shoot my arm or have me sit in one of the chairs behind the counter? So I waited until she called me to come back where she was (in Spanish, of course). I walked back behind the counter and noticed that there was a little room. She waved me to come in, so I did. It was more like a closet with a doctor's bed and peeling paint. I sat on the bed, but she instructed me to lay down on my stomach. Confused, I followed the directions and found my self an inch away from a wall full of ants! (I should have been more disgusted, but I have gotten quite used to them by now.) The she told me to loosen my pants...suddenly I understood perfectly. I walked out of the room a few minutes later with a slightly sore bottom...and I laughed the whole way home! :)

Weekend Fun

Time is flying by down here! I can't believe that this weekend is going to bring in February...it's just all too fast. My body is so accustomed to telling time by seasons, but now that I am on a different weather pattern it all blends together!

Life is going well, though. My teaching schedule is busy, but I love working with students in small groups. We are able to do a lot of fun things that are difficult with a whole class. I start some private after school tutoring next week and hoping will be getting involved with Roblealto soon (an orphanage near my house).

I have found a church that is a perfect fit...finally! It is called Dimension Cristiana and I love it- the worship, the teaching, the people. Also, I have been getting to know some of the school families better now that I work with more grades- I have a lot of sibling sets. I was invited to my first birthday party for a student and loved it. When I walked in I was attacked by about 20 little children screaming "Miss Loosa!" and giving me hugs. They are so cute! :)

Weekends have been so relaxing and fun...morning walks in the sun, delicious breakfasts with Jeanette, afternoon excursions to various places in San Jose, game nights with families, and going to the movies. This past weekend I had a very cultural experience- Tricia, Kate, and I went with Tricia's Tica family to the big feria in Zapote. It is a huge fruit and veggie market filled with vendors, buyers, and lots of free fruit samples for Gringo girls. :) It was delicious. Afterwards we went to the nearby pool and soaked up the sun while surrounded by mountains and banana trees. Picture perfect.

La Playa! And a Prayer Request

After the first week of school, I took a little trip to the beach on Sunday to unwind. It was so wonderful to be back in the warm sun and ocean...I had missed it! Us girls woke up extra early on Sunday morning to make the 2 1/2 hour trek, but it was well worth it.

This week is my first week of teaching and so far it has gone well (it is only Monday). The 4 and 5 year olds seem so small, but they are so eager to learn. It will be an adventure!

Many of you have written with questions about the earthquake. For those who don't know, a very strong 6.2 earthquake hit the San Jose area on Thursday. Those of us in the city are fine (besides being shaken up and minor structural damage), however, the villages in the hills just outside of San Jose are in shambles. Hundreds of people lost their homes, multiple landslides buried houses and people, fractured highways trapped villages, and people are still missing. The death toll continues to rise as rescue crews work. If you would like more information you can read various articles at http://www.ticotimes.net/ (all in English). Please continue to pray for the people of Costa Rica as it will be weeks, even months, before the damage is repaired.

Mas Detalles....And a Rather Embarrassing Event

This week has been nonstop! School started today which meant a lot of meetings and prep work to ready the school for the children. It was so good to see my students again! I started the day in 1st grade so I would get to greet them (it has been over a month since I saw them last!). They reacted from disbelief to squeals and hugs. One little girl, Isabel, walked into the room oblivious to the fact that Peggy and I were standing right by the door. She looked around for a minute until her grandpa called her name and pointed to me. She turned around, yelled "Miss Loosa" and ran to give me a hug. If anyone one needs a self-esteem boost become an elementary school teacher. :)

As for my permanent job, however, I will be doing a variety of things. One part of it, which I am really excited about, is to work with the school's EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teacher, Carolina, to create and implement an EFL program in preschool. Currently all of preschool is in Spanish only and students are first exposed to English in kindergarten. This makes for a very difficult and slow moving year in kindergarten which affects progress in 1st and even 2nd grade. So the plan is for me to try out an EFL program for the 4 year old class and the 5 year old class to give them a base in English before beginning school. It is something the school has wanted for awhile, so here we go! I am excited about it, although I know it will be difficult at the beginning...many of the 4's and 5's know zero English. Also, all of the preschool staff is Tico. I was hoping for more culture and language experiences these next few months and the Lord granted my wish. Now I will see what I am getting myself into...

Along with working in preschool I will be tutoring a number of elementary students in English and reading. And then my afternoons will be a split between 1st grade and kindergarten for reading and phonics. They will be busy days!!! But, I am pretty sure I will love all of it.

As for my living conditions...Jeanette is wonderful. She makes excellent arroz con pollo, complements my Spanish all the time (she is very kind), and loves to hear about my friends and family in the states (although she keeps thinking that everyone lives in Washington?!). She even laughs when I am an idiot...she has an alarm system on the house that she taught me how to use the first day. Really simple- I just press a button when I leave and a different one when I come. Last night, however, I got pizza with some of the girls and they were going to meet Jeanette when they dropped me off at home (she had been looking forward to this). Forgetting that she had told me she would be at a friend's house for the evening I quickly unlocked the door, forgoting to deactivate the alarm. The second I stepped into the house loud alarms started blaring. Of course my Tica mom wasn't there so I was running around like an idiot pushing all the buttons I saw and opening and shutting the door in a panic. Then I remembered she had a cell phone and ran to get her number so I could call her. Just as I ran back out of my room to get the phone she ran into the door and punched in the code to stop it. Apparently her friend also happened to be our neighbor, gracias a Dios! Luckily she thought it was very comical. I, however, was panting and sweating, and nervously laughing and muttering in Spanish. She said that all of the girls who live here do it at least once, but then remember...I agree that I will NEVER forget that again!!!

Hopefully pictures will be coming soon!

I'm Back!

Hi Friends and Family!

Here is another quick update letting you know that I have made it back safely to Costa Rica! It feels good to be back, but a little surreal. I am currently unpacking my new room at Jeannette's house, a Costa Rican lady who I will be living with so I can practice my Spanish.

It is beautiful here...rainy season has left and when I landed it was 82 degrees and sunny! So perfect. Teacher orientation starts Monday and then the school year starts on Wednesday.

Keep me in your prayers!