Friday and the end of a long week. A couple long weeks! I feel like I have been on tour for a year.
Luckily starting next week I have some time off (starting Wednesday), and I am looking forward to waking up late and drinking coffee at home and making batidos with my blender, which I actually miss quite a bit.
Here in Heredia it is raining just a little bit, enough that you need an umbrella but not enough to call a taxi. When it rains like this you can use several different descriptive words: llovizno, pelo de gato, or chubasco. (I just learned chubasco, as you might have guessed from the title of my blog) And of course today my group has to walk home.
A little bit ago I went down to the local farmer's market, which is every Friday here in town, and bought starfruit, strawberries and mango to make batidos while I am home. I love having fresh fruit at home, and such high quality and cheap fresh fruit! E is more likely to stock cheese in the fridge, but I am all about fruit : )
Tomorrow this group goes to the airport and I go home for the weekend...cannot wait! TGIF!
Pura Vida
Friday, April 27, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
adrenaline and good news
Today has been nothing but "carreras" or rushing...
Yesterday I helped to receive my new group for next week, and then went back to attending my current group. We just had our final graduation eceremony and tomorrow I pick them up at 4:30am to make sure they get to the airport on time. Then at 7:30am I pick up the OTHER group to do a walking tour in Heredia and afterwards a hike in Braulio Carillo National Park. No rest for the weary...I am hitting the hay tonight for sure.
In other news, I have completed my application for residency and have to wait 90 working days for all my paperwork to be processed. On Thursday E accompanied me to help complete everything, and I am so relieved, let me tell you!! We got there early and had to wait in line for a good long while, but once in we were attended to fairly quickly. One step closer to being Tica!
Also, E was waiting to tell me in person that...we WILL be able to visit the USA this summer! I was so shocked and excited and well, slightly annoyed at the way he revealed the information, but on the whole I am super happy and starting to look for flights. Que bueno!
What a long and exhausting week this has been. Today I feel like I have been running on pure adrenaline...tonight I am going to sleep very, very well.
Pura Vida
Yesterday I helped to receive my new group for next week, and then went back to attending my current group. We just had our final graduation eceremony and tomorrow I pick them up at 4:30am to make sure they get to the airport on time. Then at 7:30am I pick up the OTHER group to do a walking tour in Heredia and afterwards a hike in Braulio Carillo National Park. No rest for the weary...I am hitting the hay tonight for sure.
In other news, I have completed my application for residency and have to wait 90 working days for all my paperwork to be processed. On Thursday E accompanied me to help complete everything, and I am so relieved, let me tell you!! We got there early and had to wait in line for a good long while, but once in we were attended to fairly quickly. One step closer to being Tica!
Also, E was waiting to tell me in person that...we WILL be able to visit the USA this summer! I was so shocked and excited and well, slightly annoyed at the way he revealed the information, but on the whole I am super happy and starting to look for flights. Que bueno!
What a long and exhausting week this has been. Today I feel like I have been running on pure adrenaline...tonight I am going to sleep very, very well.
Pura Vida
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
: (
Some dissapointing news.
E and I will not be able to travel to the USA this summer. We are looking at other options and hope to make a visit in the future, but for now things are on hold.
And things always happen for a reason. I have to keep looking at the bright side.
Pura Vida...
rainy day in Costa Rica.
E and I will not be able to travel to the USA this summer. We are looking at other options and hope to make a visit in the future, but for now things are on hold.
And things always happen for a reason. I have to keep looking at the bright side.
Pura Vida...
rainy day in Costa Rica.
Monday, April 16, 2012
from house to home
This past weekend I came down from the mountains, rode the bus a lot, and arrived back in the Central Valley...surrounded by mountains and people, with lots of traffic and the smell of suburbia. Monteverde is like home, and Heredia is like a house I know with my eyes closed.Today we went on a tour of The Butterfly Farm, and tomorrow the delicious Cafe Britt and a city tour of Heredia (yes, I am leading that one!).
On Saturday I made a quick trip to visit my extended family, which is part of why I rode the bus so much. Being there reminds me how much I like it, and I hope to go and visit again soon, maybe for the weekend. It is so laid back, and it is always great to spend time with my suegra (mother-in-law). I always learn new recipes.
Tomorrow E and I will find out for sure what our summer plans will be! Hoping for all the best.
Meanwhile mapping out awalking tour of downtown Heredia for tomorrow, working on various little projects, and relishing the feeling of being back in the big city...!
Pura Vida
ps. pictures later
On Saturday I made a quick trip to visit my extended family, which is part of why I rode the bus so much. Being there reminds me how much I like it, and I hope to go and visit again soon, maybe for the weekend. It is so laid back, and it is always great to spend time with my suegra (mother-in-law). I always learn new recipes.
Tomorrow E and I will find out for sure what our summer plans will be! Hoping for all the best.
Meanwhile mapping out awalking tour of downtown Heredia for tomorrow, working on various little projects, and relishing the feeling of being back in the big city...!
Pura Vida
ps. pictures later
Thursday, April 12, 2012
care package?
This past weekend I have to tell you that I felt homesick. After talking with my mom and brothers on Skype and recalling all the family activities we do, I felt like I should have been there...
So, this is a call out for a care package, if you should feel it in your heart to send me a lil reminder of home. (I feel bad always asking my mom! I figure I still know tons of people in the USA)
My only requests are....
Reeses cups
Cliff bars
a pair of SKULL CANDY earbuds (ink'd are the best, color doesn't matter! I know this is a little pricey but the earbuds here are all really cheap and the pair I finally bought do not fit and keep falling out, which is starting to drive me a little crazy)
a map of Ohio
If anything else comes to mind that you think I might enjoy, go for it!! Message me if you would like to send something, and I will email you my postal address. All ideas are welcome...!! Thanks in advance.
Pura Vida
So, this is a call out for a care package, if you should feel it in your heart to send me a lil reminder of home. (I feel bad always asking my mom! I figure I still know tons of people in the USA)
My only requests are....
Reeses cups
Cliff bars
a pair of SKULL CANDY earbuds (ink'd are the best, color doesn't matter! I know this is a little pricey but the earbuds here are all really cheap and the pair I finally bought do not fit and keep falling out, which is starting to drive me a little crazy)
a map of Ohio
If anything else comes to mind that you think I might enjoy, go for it!! Message me if you would like to send something, and I will email you my postal address. All ideas are welcome...!! Thanks in advance.
Pura Vida
tamal mudo
Picture of a "tamal mudo" and you can see that it only has beans and egg in it! Also note the shape..oblong.
Monday, April 9, 2012
new group, new week, new year...
Note about the "tamal mudo"... it is called "mute" because it does not contain meat! I will post a picture later.
On Saturday I arrived to Heredia after taking a very full bus. There was a light rain, and it seems that winter is coming a little earlier than usual with the wet weekend we just had. Before my group arrived at the airport I visited a friend in Llorente and then went to the school to double check the flight status and pick up a few items...then it was off to the airport with my chauffer, in in just 40 minutes of waiting my group had exited and we were on our way to dinner and then our hotel. Sunday we arrived to Monteverde and after testing, orientation and lunch, the students left to spend the evening with their new Familia Tica.
This group is from California, and are an average of 14 years old. They are full of energy but are very well behaved, thank goodness! I think that the attitude of the professor accompanying them might have something to do with it...she is quite the authoritarian figure! Right now I am still working out how to not step on her toes, as she likes to be the one to explain activities or plans to the group (which is typically my job!). But she means well and is very invested in the overall experience, which is a plus.
Luckily she knows all the students pretty well, so when I got a call about a homesick kid last night it was something she dealt with, not me!
Mondays are always pretty busy, and today is no exception. I have my hands full with orienting my group, in addition to other little details like making student IDs, confirming tomorrow's activities, and updating the school's online database.
Tonight some friends are meeting up at the sushi place in town for a little celebration...today is my birthday.
I feel very blessed and very loved having received calls and messages from people all day!
Start of another year, full of mystery and possibility...
Pura Vida.
On Saturday I arrived to Heredia after taking a very full bus. There was a light rain, and it seems that winter is coming a little earlier than usual with the wet weekend we just had. Before my group arrived at the airport I visited a friend in Llorente and then went to the school to double check the flight status and pick up a few items...then it was off to the airport with my chauffer, in in just 40 minutes of waiting my group had exited and we were on our way to dinner and then our hotel. Sunday we arrived to Monteverde and after testing, orientation and lunch, the students left to spend the evening with their new Familia Tica.
This group is from California, and are an average of 14 years old. They are full of energy but are very well behaved, thank goodness! I think that the attitude of the professor accompanying them might have something to do with it...she is quite the authoritarian figure! Right now I am still working out how to not step on her toes, as she likes to be the one to explain activities or plans to the group (which is typically my job!). But she means well and is very invested in the overall experience, which is a plus.
Luckily she knows all the students pretty well, so when I got a call about a homesick kid last night it was something she dealt with, not me!
Mondays are always pretty busy, and today is no exception. I have my hands full with orienting my group, in addition to other little details like making student IDs, confirming tomorrow's activities, and updating the school's online database.
Tonight some friends are meeting up at the sushi place in town for a little celebration...today is my birthday.
I feel very blessed and very loved having received calls and messages from people all day!
Start of another year, full of mystery and possibility...
Pura Vida.
Friday, April 6, 2012
hope you aren't thirsty
An interesting note on the happeneings of Semana Santa here in Costa Rica.
Traffic has been insane.
Masses are all hours of the day and are ususally packed to standing room only, as E and I discovered yesterday.
Tamales are still a special food this time of year, but are found in the form of a "tamal mudo" which literally means a "mute tamal," and while I am not sure of the origins of the name I will do some investigating and let you know...along with posting a picture of the tamal mudo I have in the mini fridge back in Monteverde.
Also, all of the local bars are closed and the sale of alcohol is prohibited. This I find particularly strange, as in the USA I have never seen or heard a state mandated reason for closing bars on religious holidays...But here there is no place to drink liquor or beer, and all of the alcohol in the grocery stores is hidden behind black plastic and tape. This was something that escaped my notice last year, as I spent Holy Week with a friend in her home, which was pretty isolated. I find the practice to be both very respectful and very absurd. What are all the folks on vacation going to do around the campfire on the beach? Or the old friends who plan to get together over this week? Yes I am aware that going to the local watering hole is not the only option, but it seems that the proprieters are missing out on business.
Anyway, if you come to visit me this time next year and your stay falls on Holy Week, don't worry, I always have a bottle of wine handy.
Thank the Lord for His sacrifice today, and Pura Vida.
Traffic has been insane.
Masses are all hours of the day and are ususally packed to standing room only, as E and I discovered yesterday.
Tamales are still a special food this time of year, but are found in the form of a "tamal mudo" which literally means a "mute tamal," and while I am not sure of the origins of the name I will do some investigating and let you know...along with posting a picture of the tamal mudo I have in the mini fridge back in Monteverde.
Also, all of the local bars are closed and the sale of alcohol is prohibited. This I find particularly strange, as in the USA I have never seen or heard a state mandated reason for closing bars on religious holidays...But here there is no place to drink liquor or beer, and all of the alcohol in the grocery stores is hidden behind black plastic and tape. This was something that escaped my notice last year, as I spent Holy Week with a friend in her home, which was pretty isolated. I find the practice to be both very respectful and very absurd. What are all the folks on vacation going to do around the campfire on the beach? Or the old friends who plan to get together over this week? Yes I am aware that going to the local watering hole is not the only option, but it seems that the proprieters are missing out on business.
Anyway, if you come to visit me this time next year and your stay falls on Holy Week, don't worry, I always have a bottle of wine handy.
Thank the Lord for His sacrifice today, and Pura Vida.
Monday, April 2, 2012
semana santa
This week is a special one.
Yesterday night marked the start of "Semana Santa" or Holy Week here in Costa Rica. And being a Latin American country and 90% Catholic this means that there is a lot happening!
Many people have vacations, holidays, trips and family events planned for this week. I think it is safe to say that Easter here is an even bigger celebration than Christmas!
The bus schedules are limted, making travel a big deal and more stressful than usual. In places like Monteverde with limited bus service on a normal day, the week leading up to Easter you will see even more movement and travel than usual. Throughout the country you will see the buses full, with people sitting on arm rests and standing crowded together like sardines. On Good Friday there is no service anywhere, usually. And in the days following Easter you will again see lots of movement as people go home.
The beaches are packed, as many people take time off during this week and go on vacation with family and freinds. The beach is of course the number one destination...and you will find folks camping, hotels and hostels crowded, and restuarants busy with people visiting. More than just the normal tourists visiting, you see many Ticos out and about too.
Churches have all kinds of events. Opportunities to go to Confession are offered on a special schedule, there are special Rosaries and Masses, and of course the Easter Processions. The Crucifixtion is acted out in a living Stations of the Cross, with people from the community acting out individual characters...you see more men with beards! And on Easter Sunday there are various Masses.
Foods that you see only once a year are around...special desserts, meats, dishes that take lots of time and effort to prepare. My mother-in-law is making all kinds of treats! I hope that I will learn to make some, taste some. But no Easter eggs, no bunnies, no pastels or fake grass...no Cadbury Eggs! The chocolate I will miss, I admit. Cadbury Eggs are a family tradition, along with a "mona cake," a special Easter cake that my mom and I always make and decorate for Easter Sunday.
For now I am working until Wednesday. Thursday I already have my ticket to go home, and Friday I hope to spend time with E. Saturday and Sunday I will be working...Sunday night I hope to make it to Mass!! I know it will be a full service, no matter what time I go. After all, it will be Easter Sunday in Costa Rica.
Pura Vida
Yesterday night marked the start of "Semana Santa" or Holy Week here in Costa Rica. And being a Latin American country and 90% Catholic this means that there is a lot happening!
Many people have vacations, holidays, trips and family events planned for this week. I think it is safe to say that Easter here is an even bigger celebration than Christmas!
The bus schedules are limted, making travel a big deal and more stressful than usual. In places like Monteverde with limited bus service on a normal day, the week leading up to Easter you will see even more movement and travel than usual. Throughout the country you will see the buses full, with people sitting on arm rests and standing crowded together like sardines. On Good Friday there is no service anywhere, usually. And in the days following Easter you will again see lots of movement as people go home.
The beaches are packed, as many people take time off during this week and go on vacation with family and freinds. The beach is of course the number one destination...and you will find folks camping, hotels and hostels crowded, and restuarants busy with people visiting. More than just the normal tourists visiting, you see many Ticos out and about too.
Churches have all kinds of events. Opportunities to go to Confession are offered on a special schedule, there are special Rosaries and Masses, and of course the Easter Processions. The Crucifixtion is acted out in a living Stations of the Cross, with people from the community acting out individual characters...you see more men with beards! And on Easter Sunday there are various Masses.
Foods that you see only once a year are around...special desserts, meats, dishes that take lots of time and effort to prepare. My mother-in-law is making all kinds of treats! I hope that I will learn to make some, taste some. But no Easter eggs, no bunnies, no pastels or fake grass...no Cadbury Eggs! The chocolate I will miss, I admit. Cadbury Eggs are a family tradition, along with a "mona cake," a special Easter cake that my mom and I always make and decorate for Easter Sunday.
For now I am working until Wednesday. Thursday I already have my ticket to go home, and Friday I hope to spend time with E. Saturday and Sunday I will be working...Sunday night I hope to make it to Mass!! I know it will be a full service, no matter what time I go. After all, it will be Easter Sunday in Costa Rica.
Pura Vida
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