So many things...

Hello everyone! Sorry I havent posted in a while but I have been super busy, which means I have a lot to tell you about.

First off, my trip to Manuel Antonio - Manuel Antonio is where I will be living starting the first of February and it is GORGEOUS! My family is amazing too. My mom is super nice and has three beautiful children. I got into MA on Saturday after a three hour bus ride from San Jose. The bus ride was a disaster. The rode is really curvy and the drivers are crazy. Although I have never had a problem with motion sickness, I was puking. Once I got there, the bus ride was worth it. Michelle and I went to the beach, which is about a 25 minute walk from where I live. It was basically what you see in pictures. The national park comes right up to a massive beach. The water is clear and just the right temperature. As you are laying on the beach, you can hear the monkies chatting in the trees. If you dont want to lay on the sand, there are hammocks strung between trees. Michelle and I ended up falling asleep for 2 hours while laying on the beach! On our walk back (all uphill) to our houses, we had mangos and fruit falling from the trees on our heads. When we looked up, we saw that the monkies were actually throwing stuff down at us. We stopped (away from the line of fire) and watched the monkies for awhile. It was amazing.

Second, Obama´s inauguration - We got to watch it! After Spanish classes on Tuesday we all went to a restaurant in town and watched his speech. I thought his speech was awesome. As I was sitting listening and watching such a great moment, I couldnt help but be thankful for the country I live in and the group of people I was with at that moment. Although I love all of my friends dearly in the states, no one seems to think quite like I do in regards to politics. It is different with the other volunteers. They all seem to have the same mentality as I do. We were cheering and had some good conversations that day at lunch. I see Tuesday as a great moment in history that will be talked about and written about in history classes and books. I always think back to the stories my elders would tell me about ¨where they were when...¨ I am excited to be able to tell my children, nephews, nieces, etc. that I was in Costa Rica as a volunteer teacher when Obama became President.

Third, I think I am starting to adjust to Costa Rican lifestyle. I have not accidently thrown toilet paper into the toilet, only then having to fish it out with my hands, all week. I have also had two hot showers in a row. My mom made empanadas for breakfast today, and although they were fried, they were delicious. I have been working out too. Last night, the other volunteers and I had a soccer tournament. I am starting to really enjoy playing soccer. My friend, Danna, and I also worked out on the plaza (soccer field) the other day. There was a pile of broken up cinder blocks which we used as weights. We attracted quite the crowd, watching and pointing, but I was sore the next day. That´s all that matters I suppose.

Next - Each year, WorldTeach volunteers are required to do one extra service project a year. Usually, this project is done as a group. This year, the other volunteers and I will be traveling to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica for earthquake relief. We will be building houses!!! Trust me, I was super excited when I heard that this is what we would be doing. We are going Feb. 3 - 8 and will be pretty much the only gringos there. We will be working alongside Tico youth to repair and build homes that were ruined in the earthquake. I am reeeaaallllyyyy excited!

In conclusion - I love you all, I´m happy for the good ol US of A that we have a president that might actually do good shit for once, and GO DEVILS AND CARDS!

Paz y Amor

update

so just a quick update because i dont have a ton of time before i have to be at my mext meeting

the hike was AMAZING!!! our guides name was Nano (i was only refering to mickey) and he was insane. we started out at 8 in the morning at got back close to one. during that time, we hiked up to a waterfall where we had to scale slippery rocks while holding onto a cord. we then went to his house that he has built on this mountain and he entertained us with all sorts of crazy things. we hiked through coffee plantations, swung on vines and many times veared off the trail only to find a new one. he would be walking by a plant, pull off the leaves and give them to us to eat. it was definitely an experience.

i had my first semi warm shower yesterday which was really nice. the showers here are super confusing and no one really knows how to work them. i have to ask my host mom every day to help me so i am not showering in icicles.

this coming weekend we are all leaving orosi for the week to go visit our sites. it will be my first time going to manuel antonio and i am super excited and will let you know how it is.

i now need to go call my parents and my sister. hope all is well.

paz

En Orosi

Hola amigos! so, as i am sure many of you have heard, Costa rica had an earthquake a couple of days ago. it was our first day of training and made for one muy interesante afternoon. we were actually on the 5th floor of the clinica biblica, hospital, when it happened. it was definitely and odd sensation to have the entire building shake. leilani, my field director, said it was probably a good thing we were in the building we were because it was only built four years ago. this means it is built with current technological advances and such. it was definitely exciting though.

the food here is very different then that in the US. almost everything is fried and there is a TON of beans and rice. there is pinto gallo, which is beans, rice and a dulce chile sauce, for breakfast. then beans and rice with some type of fried something for lunch and then beans and rice with chiken for dinner. they also have this powder, kind of like tang but waaaay sweeter, that they add to their water every meal. my family thinks i am muy loco because i only drink water. in fact, they even tell all their friends that i dont drink anything but water and i get very strange looks. apparently water is not too popular here.

tomorrow morning los voluntarios y yo are going on this hike with a crazy man that lives in the forest (mickey) up to some amazing waterfall. i am super excited for it. it costs 1000 colones (2 bucks) and they said it would probably be best if we did not all pay him on the same day because he would just use all the money for alcohol. he gives hikes-tours as a career i think...

the people in the town of orosi are super nice. it is a town that is known for its language schools so they have gringos here all the time. most of the families living here have had at least one gringo live with them before. i am the fifth to live with mi familia.

so far, i have seen no crazy bugs, eaten anything crazy (lots of beans and rice) or done anything out of the ordinary. i am continuing to improve in my spanish (thank goodness) and we have not even started spanish classes yet. we start those next week.

hope everyone is doing well at home. the weather here is gorgeous! muchos amor!!!!