Country Hoppin' and Jet Laggin'

I don't think I had ever felt so tired before in my entire life. 30 hours (straight!) of travel certainly takes its toll. I hoped to sleep on the overnight flight, but those chairs couldn't be more uncomfortable after 5 hours (and I still had 5 more hours to go until landing... NOOO!). 

Hour 1 of travel: See you later, Costa Rica! 

Hour 2 of travel: Central America, heading north to Houston. 

Hour 6 of travel: Hello and Good-bye, Houston! 

Hour 17: Hello and Good-bye, Buenos Aires! Thanks for the hectic bus ride with three suitcases! 

Hour 24: First views of the Argentine landscapes. 

Hour 26: Loved seeing how the sunlight broke through the clouds. 

Hour 27: Looks like the Badlands in South Dakota? 

Hour 30: Landing in Córdoba... ¡por fín!

I saw the sun set twice and rise once while travelling... yet it all felt like one really, really long day. I was so glad to see my friends, Steve and Becky Diem, at the airport, and even more glad to know they had a real bed for me to sleep in (instead of that uncomfortable chair United Airlines offered, haha). 

Before I went to bed Friday night at 10:30pm, Becky told me to sleep in as long as I wanted in the morning. I told her I have a difficult time sleeping in past 9 (very true!). Saturday morning, I somehow slept through the kids screaming, the washer rattling, the dog barking, the kids screaming again, etc. I didn't wake up until 11am! I can't even remember the last time I slept for more than 12 hours! Becky says I had jet lag... I think she's right! 

And now I'm on to other Argentine adventures... Even though this blog is ''Kate in Costa Rica,'' I think it's okay to post other travel adventures : ) ... stay tuned! 

Mejia Simpson Family

While teaching at Lighthouse, I met a family that I consider to be the coolest. family. ever. Hands down. Someday when I have a family, I hope to be half as cool as they are. 

Let me define ''cool'': Extremely generous and hospitable. Adopted 5 children. Foster family to many. Hope to foster many more children. 

Ever since meeting them and finding out about their mission to influence as many children as possible for Jesus, I have wondered how I can contribute as a teacher. Talking with the mom, Charlyn, was really good, and I hope to contribute time to the project in the future! 

A view of their property in the campo of Coronado. They hope to eventually build an orphanage and maybe even a school. 

L to R: Ruth, me, Daniela. 

While working at Lighthouse, I became connected with the Mejia Simpson family as Ruth was my student and Dani was my co-worker! I love these ladies!! 

Lighthouse Students

L to R: Ruth, Karina, me, Natasha, Tamara, Nhaia

I was able to spend some time eating ice cream and catching up with a few of my Lighthouse 5th graders (now almost 8th graders!). While they are growing up, some things have not changed: they love talking, giggling, and eating ice cream :). I never cease to be amazed about past students' memories -- they remember the funniest (and sometimes the strangest) things about our school year together. :) 

Tico Family Visits

 While living in Costa Rica, I had some really patient Spanish teachers, a.k.a. Costa Rican families. I arrived in 2008 without knowing any Spanish and I truly believe it was these very patient people in my life that made it possible for me to persevere through learning their language! 

The Cabezas Ramos family.

 L to R: Rebeca, Blanca, Judit, Manuel Enrique. 

While I lived with them in 2009, they included me in everything from Sunday family dinners to visiting earthquake epicenter sites. (Note: I forgot to take a picture while I was with them so I copied the photo from Rebeca's Facebook... ¡Gracias! )

The Marin Garcia family.

Pictured: Santiago (now 4 years old!) 

Marilyn (the grandma), Natalia (the daughter), and Santiago (the grandson) were also extremely generous with their time while I lived with them in 2010 and 2011. We spent afternoons at Parque La Sabana and toured me through the city to see Christmas lights. Now Santiago is 4 and talks a mile a minute!! It was fun to play with him again. 

Aydee

Trish and I hung out with our Peruvian friend, Aydee, for lunch. She was our main source of Christmas gifts during our first years in Costa Rica. While we did not buy any Christmas gifts this time, she is still definitely one of our favorite international friends in Costa Rica! 

Melissa

After being friends for several years, Melissa and I finally have a few pictures together! 

Melissa works with ReachGlobal in Costa Rica, and she came to CR during my third year. She was generous to let me stay with her overnight in her San Francisco apartment then, just like she was so generous during this last week to let me stay in her Tres Ríos apartment! 

(L to R: Kathia, me, Melissa, Lucy) 

Melissa introduced me to her Bible study girls. At the end of the study, they asked if they could take a picture wtih us. ¡Si claro! 

Vineyard Reunion in Costa Rica

So Cara and I met briefly in Costa Rica back in 2008. Then we were both back in the States by 2011. I was looking for a Spanish-speaking church, and while in the process, I ran into her again at La Viña! We are both part of La Viña and The Vineyard churches in Elgin, and it was great for her to join in on our Costa Rica beach trip!