Volcán Arenal with Wes!

Wes got the full tourist experience while here visiting Costa Rica. We took an afternoon bus to Ciudad Quesada, then transferred buses to La Fortuna, where we spent two nights exploring waterfalls, volcanoes, and hot springs. All in Spanglish, of course.

We started off the day strong with a hike to the waterfall.

I held the waterfall in my hand!! Well... not really :).

Wes swimming under the life-sized waterfall.

At the hotsprings! We went during the afternoon so we saw the property in the daylight and then we went back at night to get the full experience. There were even waterslides that definitely didn't follow US safety standards!! (Don't worry, Mom, we both survived minor concussions, that's all!!)

And tile ''water beds'' if you wanted to take a nap in the hot water.

Jumping in the botanical gardens.

Hiking to another waterfall in the afternoon.

Wes and an active volcano!!
The sunset over Lake Arenal.

See the red dots?? That's proof that we saw lava!! :)

The best part about this day was that we paid a $40 tour price for the hot springs, a guided tour of the rainforest, volcano-watching, and an amazing buffet dinner. Now that's what I call a deal!

The Bag Lady of Costa Rica

Usually when people say ''Bag Lady,'' they are women who wear potato-sack-like clothes. The Bag Lady of Costa Rica does not wear baggy clothes... nope, she sells purses in the artesan´s market. I have been a regular costumer since August 2008, so regular that we talk for about an hour every time I go and she gives me discounts!! :) I don't actually call her Bag Lady... her name is really Heidi.

Usually latino people have serious faces in photos, but not Heidi!!

And here we are in her tiny purse store. Thanks, Wes, for taking the photo!

Miss Siscoe...

''Miss Siscoe, he's in my locker!!!!''

''Miss Siscoe, I was just running with my lollipop in my hand and I tripped and fell!'' (in response to why her eye was red and watering and puffy)

''Miss Siscoe, cuándo vamos a comer el snack?'' ''Let's practice our English.'' ''Oh yeah, when are we going to eat snack?''

''Miss Siscoe, do we have to practice division today?'' ''Yes, no option.''

''Miss Siscoe, he has great reading expression.''

''Miss Siscoe, you look pretty today.''

''Miss Siscoe, you are going to another school?'' ''Yes, and you should come with me!''

''Miss Siscoe, can we play 'A Sailor Went to Sea Sea Sea'?''

''Miss Siscoe, when are you going to get married?''

''Miss Siscoe, what am I supposed to do?'' ''I just explained it, and I do not repeat myself.''

''Miss Siscoe, can I have a hug?''

''Miss Siscoe, is my grade good?''

''Miss Siscoe, my dad says he wants to see my spelling grade.''



I think I will change my name for tomorrow and not tell anyone what it is!

They say everything is bigger in Texas, but it´s really Costa Rica...

The ocean is big.

The leaves are big.

Walking sticks are big.

Waterfalls are big.

And sisters are big... :)

The Latest News

1. WES IS COMING TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am just a little excited :). Photos and stories to come.

2. I got another teaching job!!! I was looking both here in Costa Rica and in the Chicago area, and I was offered a position as a 5th grade teacher at Lighthouse International School here in San José, so I have decided to stay another year to continue growing as a professional teacher (gaining lots of experience teaching English as a Foreign Language!) and growing as a Spanish speaker. On the sad side, I'm sorry to the many people who were hoping I would be back Stateside this next year. On the happy side, that means YOU have another year to visit me (yes, you!! :)).

3. Fourth grade is back in full swing this week. Long division, parts of speech, fluent reading, suffixes, prefixes, the atmosphere, and the Panama Canal are only a few topics we are currently studying. To come!! a science fair! art classes every Friday! more blog posts (http://miss-siscoes-fourth-graders.blogspot.com/)!! So stay posted :)

4, The Costa Rican President will be inaugarated this Friday, May 7th!

5. We're going to the beach again... tomorrow with Wes! More later...

Punta Leona

Trish and I just spent 3 days with her mom and 6 of her friends from Cincinnati, Ohio. It was a huge blessing for our spring break because we went to a beach resort on the Pacific Ocean and vegged by a pool and by the ocean. Fun conversation and sleep was about all I did. Butterfly on the beach!

When you first arrive at the beach, all you want to do is feel the water and sand on your toes!!!

Rocks and waves

Crocodile spotting!!! There's a bridge on the highway where you can stop and take photos.

The pool I sat by for at least 4 hours every day.

Bird-watching.

Salamander maybe?

flowers


and friends.

I Survived!!!

It all started the first day back to school after Christmas break. It was the logical time to make a New Year's Resolution as a class, and of course I, as a teacher, am thinking about better reading scores, writing a class book, or having a science fair... Guess what they decided on? A field trip.

Excellent, I thought. A field trip is a great idea. We brainstormed possibilities... everything from Chicago to China, from a volcano to an amusement park. We convened the brainstorm until the following week when all kids informed me that they wanted to go camping. Overnight. They had discussed this at lunch and recess and had made up their minds.

Alright, I thought, this will certainly be an adventure. And it was. We earned $120 from lemonade sales to pay for our food expenses, and a student's parents volunteered their mountain property as our campsite. Girls in the cabin, boys in tents. 11 kids. 6 adults. Great odds :).

I have to admit I was really nervous about being the adult responsible for the whole trip. I mean, I am only 24, and all the other adults helping were parents and grandparents... so I definitely qualified as the youngest chaperone. And my Spanish wasn't in top shape, so I had a few embarassing moments, of course, when all kids and parents were looking at me funny. Oh well, it's always a process.

So here's a look at our adventures. Hiking, water balloons, bonfire, campfire stories, etc. All the classic moments of camping (oh yeah, and the classic non-shower/smoky smell of camping too :) Sorry I couldn't pass on some smell through the Internet!)

Girls getting settled.

the inside of the cabin.

Mason, Jonathan, Gabriel proud of setting up their own tent.

the boys settling in their tent

Jacuzzi time!!! but with coooooooold water.

Mariana turning purple from the jacuzzi.

There was a trampoline behind the house. Kids were always jumping for the whole 24 hours... well, maybe not the whole 24.

Mr. Bastos helped drive for the trip... but he had to bring his work with him!

Camila was cold, so she wore her scarf and hat... such a great tica :)

Abuelita and Marcela preparing dinner by candlelight.

A flashlight-guided hike down the road in the dark!!

Hiking in the pine forest.
Board games and hyper kids in the tents.
and then Gabriel found us in his tent... Hi Gabriel!!

a mini-bonfire. We roasted marshmellows and told scary stories.

Sunrise... 5am!!!

Trampoline... 6:15am!!!

Jonathan has energy... I was lucky enough to capture a second of it.

Mariana not wanting to help with breakfast dishes...

Breakfast with Mariana, Melissa, Michelle.

Playing cards.... at 6am.

The boys returning from their morning hike to the river.

Mariana, Michelle, me in front of the cabin.

Chickens!

Hiking about 20 minutes to a nearby village.

Amanda jumping out of the swing at the tiny school in the village.

climbing on a fallen tree trunk.

Playing tag in an open field in a nearby village. Notice the clouds passing right through the field... we were in the cloud forest at more than 4000 feet above sea level.

Mason enjoying what he said was the forest from the Lord of the Rings movies.

water balloon team toss!!!

flower in the backyard...

Lucas' hand. He doesn't like his picture taken, so this was the best I got.