(All my own)

(more to come soon) 

I’m going to miss Heredia so much. <3 <3 <3 <3

Goodness guys….I just don’t know if I’m ready. 

VOY A LLORAR!!!! 

So I realize I haven’t shared my experience in Monteverde. Aside from some weird stomach aches whose cause has yet to be discovered, it was AWESOME. We did the zipline Saturday morning, which included about 12 cables that started out small then got bigger. The last two were incredible! We basically soared right over the trees, which was breathtaking. The last thing was the Tarzan swing, which is pretty much a 130ft free fall, then you swing right back up, then back down again. Super terrifying but quite the rush! In the end very fun! I didn’t scream, but on the first free fall down I did whimper a little bit.;) Then when they stop you and they’re undoing your harness they tell you to stand up, but after a fall like that, your legs are glued together and shaking so much you don’t know what its like to stand up anymore.

Tuesday night my housemates and I went with our host mom to an artisan’s market in Heredia and I bought a LOT of gifts for people (and myself of course). We’re going to one in San Jose on Monday, so I didn’t buy everything haha. When we got back we watched a football (soccer) game between Panama and Canada with our host dad, before eating dinner with both our host parents, who are very kind and funny. And still seem to be very much in love. I can get most of what the dad says to the mom, but flirting/love is a universal language, so its not too difficult. ;) Reminds me a lot of my grandparents. :)

Last night was powerful. As I mentioned before, my host parents make a bunch of food a few times a month to take to the park to feed the homeless. Last night we went with them and it was the most invaluable and humbling experience. What hit me the most was the sight of a homeless mother and her two young children. It rains a lot during this time of the year in Costa Rica, and so obviously it makes rough times even rougher for those without homes because its always raining. They sleep on the streets under the roofs of the stores. It’s something that instantly put things in perspective for you. Especially as a visitor from a first world country in a developing country. It makes you think about your blessings and moves you to want to change things that are bad.

We also went to the store that our host dad owns, and snuck some ice cream with our host mom ;). Although we got scolded by our host dad for not washing our hands. Girls just wanna have fun, though. ;) We’re definitely going back for the vast selection of coffee they have! So much coffee!

Today some classmates had a presentation, an they gave it to a beginner’s English class. Afterwards we helped them with their homework, and it made me really want to join the Language Corps and teach ESL in Costa Rica or Spain. :)

Anyways, today we’re going to the Jade Museum, so more pictures and experiences to come! :)

Pura Vida, amigos!

Just had some delicious, wonderful homemade rice pudding! Yum! Perfect treat after a long day! 

My friend and I got a pedicure (I also got a manicure) today, and it was the longest pedicure I’ve ever gotten, but definitely the best and the cheapest! It was the equivalent of $9 for both a mani and a pedi. 

I had a presentation with two other classmates today, over the differences between food in the US, Spain, and Costa Rica. We had to present to a class of Costa Ricans who are learning English. They’re not quite as excited to speak in English as we are for Spanish. ;) 

Tomorrow we’re leaving for Monteverde. I’m doing the zipline and am super pumped after the exciting adventure of rappelling down waterfalls! 

This is what it is: http://www.ticotoursnadv.com/node/60

This is the hotel we’ll be staying at: http://www.ticotoursnadv.com/node/26

Super excited! 

Here are some random pictures as well:

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Spanish! 

The university where I’m currently studying. 

Heredia! 

And all I can say is AMAZING!!! Absolutely amazing!!! Saturday morning I went RAPPELLING down four waterfalls and one dry wall. I didn’t even feel scared, either, which is the amazing part. Normally I’m afraid of heights, but this was just like “Meh, whatever”. So much fun. SOOO much fun! Of course we also had a long hike back up that almost killed me. But lunch was included, so…pura vida. 

This morning we went to another waterfall to go swimming for a bit. SOO gorgeous. Gorgeous. The water was cold but felt so great! There are no words to describe how gorgeous it was. 

And I look and feel like a dried tomato. No joke. I am burnt like never before. This morning I could barely walk and almost fell over in the shower. 

I have aloe and some cream the ISA employees gave me, but owee. 

We got to Tamarindo Friday evening around 6, got unpacked, reveled in the sunset along the beach, and then got some dinner. I ordered half roasted chicken, thinking it would only be half roasted, but it was actually half of a chicken. Go figure. It was like eating at Cheesecake Factory but on the beach and much more humidity. 

The next day we woke up early for breakfast, and I hung around a bit with a friend. We played in the waves in the ocean which, as a landlocked Nebraska gal, was EXHILARATING. So much fun. And so much salt. There were lots of big waves, and for a bit we went out to before it rises into a wave and just kind of floated around in the smaller waves. 

I got some pretty necklaces and bracelets on the beach. :) Excited to try them out. At around 12:30 we headed out to board a catamaran we’d take to a private island and then go back just as the sun was setting. So much fun, lots of drinks (I didn’t drink as much as other people though), good food, and waaayyyyyy tooo much sun. 

So since I was so roasted, and a tiny bit dehydrated, I stayed at the hotel last night. 

Then this morning we had a Mangrove Tour along the beach and saw alligators, fish, birds, and howling monkeys that make the most interesting noise I’ve ever heard. So that was fun! 

All in all it was a great trip! 

Today we learned a Spanish word that sounds A LOT like a STD. Ganaderia. It means the study of livestock. Hmm. Interesante.

This weekend we are going to Tamarindo, which is more north. We’re staying in a 5 star hotel (que bueno!) and the tour I selected is sailing on a catamaran and snorkeling. I figure I should take the opportunity to relax when I can (everyone at home can breathe a sigh of relief-I am not working myself to exhaustion haha). I can do more adventurous things later, like ziplining in Monteverde. The weekend after this we’re going to Arenal, where there’s an active volcano. Exciting! 

Today we found out also that every Wednesday our host family makes a bunch of rice, fruit, agua dulce (a hot drink Costa Ricans like) for the homeless and takes it to the mission. It’s the winter season here, so it rains A LOT. Next week our papa is going to take us with him to help distribute food to the homeless. That’s going to be the experience I think I remember and value the most. As fun as beaches and zip lines are. This is a much more powerful experience. 

Buenas noches, chicos. 

So are sweetened plantains. 

I’m going to try this recipe when I get home: 

http://latinfood.about.com/od/appetizersandsnacks/r/piononos.htm

Yup, it’s at the very bottom, on that black scroll thing. I did have it as “Preguntame” but I changed it to “What’s up?” so it might be easier to spot. 

I do however need to find another word for Mayor (I’ve been using alcalde, which is what some people have told me, but I’ve been getting blank stares, but maybe its just a different government system) and how to describe what women’s studies entails. I told my professor that it studies the situation of the woman in society and her rights, but still. Blank stare. I’m also starting to spell words in spanish before english when I type this things out. 

I have to stop myself from writing in Spanish. That is not a bad thing, though. I am constantly thinking in Spanish. So already it is paying off! 

My teacher is very nice. As I figured she would be. As I imagined, the attitude here is very positive. OF course, there are always those bad apples, like in Omaha, but for the most part the attitude and optimism of the people here is definitely infectious. 

Tonight we went to a concert that our host sister was in at the nearest church, which was fun. There’s a holiday tomorrow celebrating Mary, but I can’t remember which one. As a Catholic I should know this…whoops. 

OH! Also! Someone mentioned they were having issues seeing my blog posts, and I think I know the problem. When you’re on my actual blog, look for this arrow:

This appears when you hover your mouse over those bars. I can always change the layout if people don’t understand it. Con mucho gusto. 

Buenas noches chicos!