Let the Countdown Begin...

Six weeks left of teaching at Lighthouse... Seven weeks left in Costa Rica...

At this point, it's very surreal. I am continuing to enjoy life and staying probably too busy. I am still in full gear teaching inequalities and coordinate planes, technology and taking notes, utopias and cautiousness. I am tutoring four days a week after school (good money :)). I am interviewing on average once a week with districts around Chicago with still no leads for a specific position. I am hanging out with friends and speaking Spanish like crazy on the weekends. I am calling my best friend Trish in Nepal to catch up on life (it's actually a bit expensive to call Nepal from here... so it's more like trading prayer requests than a full-out conversation :)).

So then comes the surreal part. I'll be changing cultures, climates, time zones, technology access, and friend groups in less than two months. I'll go from being a minority gringa on the side of the road to a majority white girl driving a decent car. I'll go from speaking Spanish in public to speaking English (When I'm in the States now, I often catch myself about to speak Spanish when in public!).

I have an occasional emotional day, but so far, I've been pretty even keel. Maybe I'm anticipating the changes more sub-consciously and it just hasn't sunk into my conscious thoughts yet?

So that's where I am in life. Counting down for surrealness.

Do Dogs Have a Conscience?

The sheets and pillowcases regularly blow off the clothesline into the yard...

...so then Camila decides to use it as her own bed.

I took these photos out the back window, and as soon as I opened the door to go outside for a better close-up, she jumped off the pillowcase as if she knew she wasn't supposed to be there. Does she have a conscience? I think so...

Mornings with Santiago

He says, ''Why are you pointing your camera at me?''

I say, ''Let's take a picture together.''

Natalia says, ''Let me try. Santiago, smile!!!''

Santiago says, ''You guys know I'm not a morning person.'' :)

Semana Santa Part 2

On the way home from the beach, we detoured to Parque Nacional Tenorio to see this beautiful Rio Celeste. The water is turquoise blue because of the combination of minerals in the water. Very cool.

Nothing like a guard with a gun to discourage littering.

Katie and Lisa taking photos with the other 50 people there.

On the hike.

Lisa and I.

Lisa, me, Katie.

The way back up the mountain was the hard part. We were on a very steep trail that was somewhat paved but mostly just rocks and mud. Think Stairmaster all the way up a mountain!

BLUE

On the way to the park, there were cows crossing the bridge. We had cows in front and behind the car as we also crossed the bridge, haha.

Bad translation? I think yes. The Spanish version of the same sign said something like, ''The park does not produce trash, so neither should you.'' LOL

On the way home, we saw these rays of sunshine peeking through the clouds. A great end to a great vacation :).



Semana Santa Part 1

As the entire population of San José leaves to city to enjoy the beach during Semana Santa, so I of course had to join in :).

Friends Lisa and Katie and I enjoyed four days at beautiful Playa Conchal. The sand is literally pieces of shell that you can dig through to find shell treasures! This was my third time at this beach as I had gone with Aunt Janna and Uncle Jason in 2008 and with Trish, Kim V., and Kim L. in 2009.

Day one: WHITIES. lol.  

Katie brought music. I brought beads to make jewelry. Lisa brought a good book.

Neighborhood kids brought the entertainment as they practiced their stilts on the beach!

We didn't risk getting our rental car stuck in the sand... but these people did and got stuck!!! 

The water was so crystal clear!! On Day 4, we felt like we were getting stung by jellyfish or something, but we found out later the current was bringing in sea lice... kind of disgusting.

All I need at the beach is my purse full of beads, snacks, and sunscreen. :)

Rockin' life under a mangrove tree.

Day 4: BURNT. We were so burnt that we were putting our towels on top of us to block the sun. Result: we were covered in sand and still burnt. Ouch.

As we left the beach after day 4, we joked that we were still hiding from the sun's rays (Katie demonstrates this better than I do :)) and we were joking that we are rednecks... literally, haha.

Skype Video Chat

If you have ever lived overseas (or maybe just far away from your family) in the last few years, you may have discovered the amazing FREE Skype communication technology. As long as the other person also has Skype downloaded on his/her computer, you can chat for hours and it won't cost a penny! :)

I just found a folder of photos I have taken of people while chatting via Skype video. Please forgive the poor quality of photos...

Wes. Brother. He was in London studying at Oxford. 9.19.2009.

Jaclyn. Friend from Judson. She was volunteering with EMI in Uganda. 10.20.2009.

Jenny. Roommate from Judson. She is a teacher in the Chicago area. 3.10.2010.

Yoji. Friend from Costa Rica. He is studying in St. Louis, Missouri. 6.3.2010.

Trish. Best friend that I lived with here in CR. She was visiting family for the summer in Ohio. 8.4.2010.

Tiffany. Roommate from Judson. She's a teacher in Bandung, Indonesia. 8.27.2010.

Rosie. Friend since high school. She lives and works in Dubuque, Iowa. 8.27.2010.

Erin. Friend from Virginia that I met in CR. She now lives in VA and works as a substitute teacher. 9.2.2010.

I Think I Fell in Love...

...with a two-year-old!!! Santiago is seriously the light of my life right now :).

playing at the park...

Cheese!!!

He almost mastered this ladder on his own... He actually started climbing the bars on the windows here at the house last week... Maybe he's practicing for the next time we're at that park?

Mama Natalia, Aunt Andrea, and Uncle Noda taking a break.

Santi hides behind doors and then jumps out and whispers, ''Boo!!'' Whispers, not yells :).

Then at night he plays before he goes to bed.

The moment I knew this kid was special was the moment he said, ''Kay-sh.'' (Kate :)) He hasn't stopped saying it since! He knocked on my door on this last Saturday morning and said, ''Kaysh!!'' Good thing it was 9am or I may not have responded as positively :). I opened the door to find him there with a big grin on his face! So precious!