Mi amigas!

When I first heard there were only going to be four of us total in the program this summer I have to admit I was a bit nervous. What if I don´t like someone...that´s like not liking half the group. Well let me just say I got very very lucky. There are two other girls Hannah (from Texas) and Lianne (from California) and one guy Mike (from Oklahoma). Lianne and Mike are 22 and Hannah and I are 21. We also are all blondes...we WOULD all have the one trait that stands out the most in Costa Rica. Anyways, we clicked right away. This saying is perfect...its not the things you do but the people that you do them with that make the experience. On our weekend trips when we are all together, I find myself laughing constantly. We have found the most interesting ways to entertain ourselves from pretending to be superman and flying down the beach to the ¨bobby¨game to talking to random people to making pointless videos to helping Lianne develop a country accent....we sure have had some fun. It´s crazy to think we just met 2 months ago. I sure am going to miss these people. Being put in these situations also helps you discover yourself. Sometimes you got to wonder who would I be if I didn´t have ......? Well go do something by yourself and find out!

Puerto Viejo

So this past weekend we traveled to Puerto Viejo with a group of students from Universidad Veritas. We left Friday afternoon on a nice air-conditioned bus (they even played movies for us) haha we were excited for the upgrade. We arrived late Friday night and went out an explored the nightlife. We hung out on the beach with lots of others and danced. The next morning we all got back on the bus and went to a nicer beach close by. We also had the opportunity to go out on a boat and go snorkeling. It wasn´t the best snorkeling, but it was still snorkeling! We also saw lots of monkeys in the trees right near the beach, it was pretty cool. On Sunday, after spending some time on the beach we packed up our things and headed back to San Jose.

life is good in CR

I sat listening to my ipod looking out the window for almost the entire 5 hour bus ride home today. I couldn't fall asleep, but I am glad. I spent the time thinking about this summer and the experience I have been so lucky to have. The people I have met, the places I have seen, and the culture I have witnessed. Sometimes I find myself complaining about the trash in the streets, the rain, and even the food, but I have learned to look beyond that. I stared out the window and saw waterfalls, mountains, and everything was so green. I saw cattle, kids playing soccer, men working in the fields, woman hanging laudry out to dry....and I was happy...thankful. Thankful for my life, for my family, for my friends, and for the opportunities I have had. Did you know that Costa Rica was ranked the happiest country in the world? My life here has been pretty carefree. I have had the chance to escape the everyday stressors of life back home. I am going to miss this place. I still have two weeks left in Costa Rica and I am going to continue to absorb as much of it as I can. To appreciate this beautiful country God has created. This summer I have learned a lot about myself and the things I can accomplish. God has a plan for me and I can't wait to find out what it is.

bocas del toro

so...I had last week off of work because the children are on vacation. I decided to travel to Bocas Del Toro (islands off of Panama) with a friend from work, Brianna. We left Monday morning and rode a bus for about six hours to the border. There we got our passports stamped and made our way across an old bridge to a place where we would then catch a taxi to our next stop where we had to take a boat to the island. We were in the van with about 10 other people and after driving maybe ten minutes we came to a stop. Traffic was backed up and when we asked what was going on they said there was a protest being held. We were stopped for about two hours, but then everything seemed to clear up and we went right on through. By this time it was dark outside and Brianna and I had to find a boat to take us to our hostel Bocas Bound. The first boat we got on the driver ended up taking us to the wrong island. We paid him, he dropped us off, and then we realized this was not right. We were asking around for Bocas Bound and another boat driver said "ooh ooh come with me. its not on this island" so we went. At this time I was kind of scared. Two young american girls on a tiny boat with a guy in the dark not knowing where we were just sounds like the perfect start to a horror movie. But, we got lucky and he brought us to our final destination Bocas Bound on Red Frog Beach. We hung out there for the week (planned on leaving Friday). We went to the beach everyday and pretty much just relaxed. So Thursday rolls around and we are hanging out in the lounge at the hostel with some people trying to decide if we should stay until Saturday or just head back tomorrow when we hear the news...the bananas workers are protesting and the border is blocked there is no way back across the border. So we were stuck. The protestors had tipped over buses and trees and were burning them in the roads. Some people that had left the island trying to get back in to Costa Rica ended up back in Bocas saying there was no way across. It was a mess. People on the island were having to change there flights for a later day and everyone was asking everyone "have you figured out a way across". Basically the only way off the island was to fly, but all the flights were booked by the time Brianna and I realized that was what we were going to have to do. Luckily, we met enough people that were willing to pay to get a flight across and Nature Air scheduled an extra flight out Sunday morning. So after quite the adventure we made it home safely!

update on work

So this is my last week of work until July 21st...the kids are on break from school and Fundavida is following their school schedule so we are on break as well! Looks like a great time to travel! Next week I am planning to go to Panama (this is where we will be staying www.bocabound.com ) with another girl that I work with, Brianna.
Work has been going well. I have enjoyed getting to know the children and watching their excitement when they actually understand something in English. I have been doing a little bit of tutoring with a few students that are behind in the English program and I think that has really been beneficial for them. It is hard though because sometimes I will set up times for them to come in and get help and then they dont show up. I do not know if they just forget or what. It is also a daily struggle since my Spanish is slacking. I wish I could just snap my fingers and I would understand it all haha. Two days ago, Monday, the founder of Fundavida took the volunteers out to lunch at Applebees. I had salmon and lets just say it was the best thing I have eaten since I have been here...I really needed that meal. He talked to us about of experiences so far and asked for any suggestions we had. Yesterday, after the class at viente cinco I went to Conce to help tutor and organize the kids notebooks. I met one little boy named Royer who is the son of Juri (the lady who cleans viente cinco and enjoys braiding my hair). Royer is 13 years old and was on the verge of becoming very involved in the drug scene. A former computer teacher at Fundavida took him aside and began mentoring him and now he is doing great! That is what Fundavida is all about.

Canopy Tour & more

This past weekend we headed to Puntarenas to go ziplining over waterfalls! We all met early Saturday morning and drove about 2.5 hours to Puntarenas. When we got there the guides gave us an overview of what we were going to be doing and then we headed down to hop on a horse. My horses name was Mariposa (butterfly in english). We rode the horses for about an hour up to the top of the mountain where the ziplining begin. It was a gorgeous ride up! We saw lots of cows some pretty big lizards and just a great view of Costa Rica. There were 25 ziplines altogether. We started at about 9 o clock on the horses and gone done around 2 oclock. When we were half way done the ziplines we took about a 45 minute break and got to swim in the waterfalls. We had to jump off a rock about 10 feet high and into the middle of this pool like area where one waterfall ended and before a new one started. It was pretty scary because the current was very strong in this area and it was about nine feet deep. After we were done with all the ziplines they served us a typical Costa Rican meal (chicken, rice, beans, and vegtables). Since we had the rest of Saturday free and Sunday free we decided to go back to Jaco (it was only an hour away from Puntarenas). Eric and Carol went back to San Jose and me, Lianne, and Hannah headed to Jaco. Eric had gotten us a hotel and lets just say it wasnt what we expected. No air conditioning, lots of ants, an electric shower, and located in a scary part of Jaco. We made the best of it though and survived! We met some guys from Florida later on that night and hung out with them for a while before we headed back to the hotel. The next day we spent on the beach. It was very nice and relaxing! We headed back to San Jose around 4 and this time I did not get sick on the bus whoo hoo!!

Job Position at Conce

One of FundaVida´s sites is in desperate need for a teacher. Thought I would go ahead and post this just incase anyone out there is interested....

Description of Position: Concepcion:

* A Christian Believer.

* Preferably a 1 year commitment to serve.

*Desire to teach young people English ( ages 10 to 14 years) from the community of Concepcion (San Jose area of Costa Rica), with the goal of them becoming bilingual, which will open the doors to employment opportunities; reaching these young people for Christ by covering verses from the Word, in English, during the classes.

There are many needs in this community and the children are at high risk - on many levels. We have 2 Intensive classes in English ( total at this time, of around 15 children) and are in the process of setting up a Satellite Program with 2 classes, for around 20 children ( this is a class geared to learning English on a less formal basis with the use of games, song, crossword puzzles etc. ) We hope to extend this program to the community of Linda Vista

The position would also ideally include the overseeing and coordinating of the short term volunteers who help out at Funda Vida, as well as overseeing the Satellite program at Linda Vista

Having a grasp of Spanish would be very beneficial, (but is not a requirement) and would help facilitate the forming of relationships with these children. Although the program is essentially focused on teaching English, the goals are much wider, as we seek to bring Hope to these children to rise above their circumstances and to know and experience the New Life in Christ.

The candidate does not have to be ESL trained, the program is structured from the ESL books "Side by Side" which is very user/teacher friendly.

* The candidate will serve under the organization Funda Vida, alongside other Believers who will provide an encouraging foundation from which to gain support while serving.

* Accommodation will be paid for - either food and accommodation with a Tico (local) family, or accommodation only, up to a maximum of $350 per month.

* The candidate must be willing to exit the country every 3 months for visa renewal purposes.

* The new semester will begin toward the end of July.