Posts
Very soon people will be checking in daily to see what I have to say, so I need to keep my posts up to a daily if not twice a week in order to appease the masses. So, here's a try at that.
Friday the 13th is observed by many to be a day of bad luck. Though there is no exact origin or reason for seeing Friday the 13th as being necessarily bad, millions of people have superstitions about doing anything on Friday the 13th for fear of bad things happening. There are examples of bad things happening on Fridays throughout history, such as Eve giving Adam the famous apple on a Friday, that the Last Supper occured on a Friday, as well as the Crucifixion and the Great Flood.
According to Wikipedia, an estimated $800 to $900 million dollars is lost in business because people will not fly or do regular business on this day.
I have my own superstitions about Friday the 13th. I always meet guys on Friday the 13th. It may have something to do with me LOVING Friday the 13th, so of course I'm totally happy and carefree on this day, but no matter. I look forward to Friday the 13th.
So, here's to positive thinking, superstitions and anything else you'd like to have. Wish me luck. I'm off to Mexico for Margs.
4.13.2007
4.11.2007
New Horizons
After being back in the real world for a little over a month, I realize things aren't as bad as they were before I left. My job is still unrewarding, sterile, and full of unneccessary drama; but it is not killing me like it was before. I have a new head on my shoulders and the ability to pick and choose what will and can make my life fall apart at any given moment.
I have a direction I want to travel and am working on the way to do that. I'm building my armor for negative comments, unbelievers, and jealous monsters alike, as well as my web for those inspirational moments, the deep lasting conversations, quietly positive motivators, and the people in the shadows who gain nothing, but sincerely await the moment you reach your goal if only to celebrate with you that moment in time.
I've gained a new belief in myself that was lost long ago. Watch out world!
Ok... on to new and very important topics.
Every morning on my way into work I have great thoughts that I could write about for many minutes. Everyday when I get to my desk they immediately erase themselves from memory and I am left to attempt to dredge these visions/thoughts from my mind. Sometimes it works; most times it does not.
After I've decided to move on from dwelling on the misery of no thoughts (this desk must take most of my creativity) I turn to my "Bad Girls Daily Desk Calendar 2007" so I can see what words of wisdom I have for the day. Most days the calendar warrants a chuckle from the "10 Best Uses for Pantyliners" or "Personal Dating Commandments" but my favorite one so far has been February 15, 2007.
I have a direction I want to travel and am working on the way to do that. I'm building my armor for negative comments, unbelievers, and jealous monsters alike, as well as my web for those inspirational moments, the deep lasting conversations, quietly positive motivators, and the people in the shadows who gain nothing, but sincerely await the moment you reach your goal if only to celebrate with you that moment in time.
I've gained a new belief in myself that was lost long ago. Watch out world!
Ok... on to new and very important topics.
Every morning on my way into work I have great thoughts that I could write about for many minutes. Everyday when I get to my desk they immediately erase themselves from memory and I am left to attempt to dredge these visions/thoughts from my mind. Sometimes it works; most times it does not.
After I've decided to move on from dwelling on the misery of no thoughts (this desk must take most of my creativity) I turn to my "Bad Girls Daily Desk Calendar 2007" so I can see what words of wisdom I have for the day. Most days the calendar warrants a chuckle from the "10 Best Uses for Pantyliners" or "Personal Dating Commandments" but my favorite one so far has been February 15, 2007.
Thursday, February 15
Bad Girl Party Pointer
Score a Free Drink Tonight!
Score a Free Drink Tonight!
Order your drink as usual, then act completely surprised and quite flustered when you open your wallet and find nothing but foreign currency. Then act really embarrassed and apologetic and loudly sputter something like, "Silly me! I've been so busy unpacking, I've forgotten to change my euros/yen/NYC subway tokens." Then gaze around the bar like a doe until some gallant soul offers to pay for your drink. Be prepared to chat him or her up with your exciting tales from abroad. If you're a skilled raconteur, you'll be drinking for free for the rest of the night.
Why I like this... I just got back from Costa Rica, and until about a week ago, still looked sun kissed. I might have actually been able to pull this off if I lived somewhere that people were actually friendly enough to just chat up the person next to them with no hidden agenda, but unfortunately, I reside in Seattle. If, if someone were paying attention to the girl at the bar during happy hour who forgot her wallet, I'm not sure they would be outgoing enough to help her out, and if they were, you have to be careful about making sure they aren't a serial killer since we breed them here. AND, since its so cold here, in order to show off my lovely tan I'd have to brave the cold wind and rain (forget about doing my hair) in order to go out to a bar where they still have the ac on, so a girl has to keep her coat on inside anyway.
Needless to say, I can't wait for summer. For an open air patio and a SLIGHT (please!! slight only.. not a steady blowing) wind. Where Seattleites congregate on Fridays at 3 in order to get a table outside, because if its a nice day, you better take advantage. Or, if you are even luckier, you have a friend with a boat, who wants to take it out for a spin. Summer here is magical. Seattle becomes a different place, all 560,000 people are outside engaged in one activity or another, soaking up that essential Vitamin D that escapes us about 5 months of the year. I welcome summer with open arms, flashy sunglasses, and great looking flip flops.
3.09.2007
3.02.2007
Pleasant Suprises, Goodbyes, Endings, and New Horizons
I can look out at the hostel, which looks like a dollhouse. Its a two level dwelling with 14 rooms that hold 6 people each. From the palapa kitchen you can look back into the hostel and see what looks like 4 different groups of people doing different things. Our group - Room 8 - hangs out on the top right corner, and until yesterday was the loudest part of the hostel. Below our corner is the pool table, the next corner on the bottom is where the tv is, so occasionally you´ll hear the tribal music coming from Thicker Than Water, and above that seems to be where the quiet area is.
Yesterday there was a mass exitus from Tranquilo Backpackers (the hostel´s name) around 4 am. Surf Camp happens every Wednesday night, and there is a 4:30 bus to San Jose. Fong, Tyler, Noah, Gary, Brendan, Marcos, and Tansy all stayed up after Surf Camp and left for San Jose, to depart to other areas of the world from there. The hostel was reeling from the debauchery of the evening and to make everything seem just a little more intense, the heat of the day could not really be escaped; Red Tide is at its peak, and everyone is a bit timid about going in.
This is the perfect way to end my time here in Costa Rica. I feel like I´ve had two seperate trips, one immersed in the Tico culture, the other spent with travelers from all over the world. My last week was an intense one, where I got robbed - yes, again - stuck in a place I didn´t think I wanted to be, made friends with people who in daily life away from travel would not cross paths, and started to really understand how to relax.
I´ve been so lucky to have this experience, and whether it was the trip I´d imagined or not, turned out to be one of the best times of my life so far. I can only imagine what the second 30 years of my life has to teach me, and can´t wait for everything to happen.
I have two more days here in Mal Pais, where I plan on trying to stay as tan as I am, playing in the water, relaxing to the fullest extent, and trying not to think so much about what is coming. I am daydreaming about trips I´ll take, people I´ll visit, and experiences I´ll have.
Ciao, mk
Yesterday there was a mass exitus from Tranquilo Backpackers (the hostel´s name) around 4 am. Surf Camp happens every Wednesday night, and there is a 4:30 bus to San Jose. Fong, Tyler, Noah, Gary, Brendan, Marcos, and Tansy all stayed up after Surf Camp and left for San Jose, to depart to other areas of the world from there. The hostel was reeling from the debauchery of the evening and to make everything seem just a little more intense, the heat of the day could not really be escaped; Red Tide is at its peak, and everyone is a bit timid about going in.
This is the perfect way to end my time here in Costa Rica. I feel like I´ve had two seperate trips, one immersed in the Tico culture, the other spent with travelers from all over the world. My last week was an intense one, where I got robbed - yes, again - stuck in a place I didn´t think I wanted to be, made friends with people who in daily life away from travel would not cross paths, and started to really understand how to relax.
I´ve been so lucky to have this experience, and whether it was the trip I´d imagined or not, turned out to be one of the best times of my life so far. I can only imagine what the second 30 years of my life has to teach me, and can´t wait for everything to happen.
I have two more days here in Mal Pais, where I plan on trying to stay as tan as I am, playing in the water, relaxing to the fullest extent, and trying not to think so much about what is coming. I am daydreaming about trips I´ll take, people I´ll visit, and experiences I´ll have.
Ciao, mk
2.23.2007
About this blog
Just a little information about this blog. I´ve been getting emails that its not easy to find where to comment, so here´s how you do it:
Next to the title of each entry there is a date, a slash and usually a number (like 0 because no one comments). If you click this number, it takes you to a new page where you can leave a comment about the blog entry.
I think you make up a name, but I´m not sure of this part. Some people have posted as Anonymous (though I still know who they are) so I don´t think you necessarily have to put your info in.
I hope that helps you. Off to the beach for more sun. I am tan I am tan I am tan. Just remember that so that if I don´t see you the first week I´m back and my tan has faded away to the ghastly ghostly white of the PNW.... I was tan, I am tan, I will be tan again.
Pura Vida.
Next to the title of each entry there is a date, a slash and usually a number (like 0 because no one comments). If you click this number, it takes you to a new page where you can leave a comment about the blog entry.
I think you make up a name, but I´m not sure of this part. Some people have posted as Anonymous (though I still know who they are) so I don´t think you necessarily have to put your info in.
I hope that helps you. Off to the beach for more sun. I am tan I am tan I am tan. Just remember that so that if I don´t see you the first week I´m back and my tan has faded away to the ghastly ghostly white of the PNW.... I was tan, I am tan, I will be tan again.
Pura Vida.
2.22.2007
Mal Pais
Samara is a lovely place. Nice quiet beach with some waves to surf on and lovely little homes.
After staying in luxury the night before, it was hard to go back to sharing a bathroom with 6 other people, so I took a cabina instead. Which I did love, but the other residents of the cabinas weren't my favorite. One guy -Gunner- from Germany talked my head off about George W and how awful Americans are which is the most fun conversation ever. Why people do that is beyond me. Every country has had there moments there Hitler... sorry.
The other couple staying there barely spoke to me which is really strange since everyone else on this trip has been amazingly friendly. But Posada Matilori is a brand new cabina that has been open since September. The owners, a husband and wife, are some of the nicest people. They speak both English and Spanish which helps with my Spanglish sometimes. The cabinas themselves were colorful and nice and clean. The first night I was there there was a windstorm. I thought I was going to die, but then remembered that instead of being in a tin can like the last windstorm, I was in a concrete building... but I still didn't sleep well. The next day, I started to feel sick, and so just laid around all day, and then that night couldn't breathe due to the fact that my head was plugged up.
I got up to go to San Jose the next morning at 7 (after sleeping a total of 3 hours in two days) and as soon as I got on the bus (with the couple that didn't talk to me, who coincidentally were going to the Nicoya Peninsula... that much I got out of them) I fell asleep, and drooled on my shoulder. Lovely pic I know, but it needed to be said. Because I slept through my connection at Barrancas which means I had to go all the way into San Jose and take a bus from there to Mal Pais.
But, thank god I got to San Jose, because I got some sudafed like stuff, which helped about 20%, and there was even a bus to Mal Pais in an hour.
On this bus I met Jimmy. Who is the most adorable person ever. And probably one of the best surfers I've seen that isn't in a movie. But he should be. He's from Australia and has been my little buddy here in Mal Pais for going on two days now. Even though I'm sick as a dog and got even more sick the first day here since the only place any of us could get was a hammock to sleep in overnight. And it was cold. Needless to say, I've had to catch up on some sleep, and try to make myself get better and still hang out and drink beers. -- Hey, I'm still a social butterfly when I'm sick and there is a cute Aussie in front of me to flirt with!
I plan on going surfing when I can breathe again. Maybe tomorrow.
After staying in luxury the night before, it was hard to go back to sharing a bathroom with 6 other people, so I took a cabina instead. Which I did love, but the other residents of the cabinas weren't my favorite. One guy -Gunner- from Germany talked my head off about George W and how awful Americans are which is the most fun conversation ever. Why people do that is beyond me. Every country has had there moments there Hitler... sorry.
The other couple staying there barely spoke to me which is really strange since everyone else on this trip has been amazingly friendly. But Posada Matilori is a brand new cabina that has been open since September. The owners, a husband and wife, are some of the nicest people. They speak both English and Spanish which helps with my Spanglish sometimes. The cabinas themselves were colorful and nice and clean. The first night I was there there was a windstorm. I thought I was going to die, but then remembered that instead of being in a tin can like the last windstorm, I was in a concrete building... but I still didn't sleep well. The next day, I started to feel sick, and so just laid around all day, and then that night couldn't breathe due to the fact that my head was plugged up.
I got up to go to San Jose the next morning at 7 (after sleeping a total of 3 hours in two days) and as soon as I got on the bus (with the couple that didn't talk to me, who coincidentally were going to the Nicoya Peninsula... that much I got out of them) I fell asleep, and drooled on my shoulder. Lovely pic I know, but it needed to be said. Because I slept through my connection at Barrancas which means I had to go all the way into San Jose and take a bus from there to Mal Pais.
But, thank god I got to San Jose, because I got some sudafed like stuff, which helped about 20%, and there was even a bus to Mal Pais in an hour.
On this bus I met Jimmy. Who is the most adorable person ever. And probably one of the best surfers I've seen that isn't in a movie. But he should be. He's from Australia and has been my little buddy here in Mal Pais for going on two days now. Even though I'm sick as a dog and got even more sick the first day here since the only place any of us could get was a hammock to sleep in overnight. And it was cold. Needless to say, I've had to catch up on some sleep, and try to make myself get better and still hang out and drink beers. -- Hey, I'm still a social butterfly when I'm sick and there is a cute Aussie in front of me to flirt with!
I plan on going surfing when I can breathe again. Maybe tomorrow.
Guardian Angel
Mal Pais is beautiful. Its this small town (small enough that it doesn't have a bank) on the Nicoya Peninsula where people come to surf. Most everyone here surfs, and the hostel I'm staying at is full of surfer types talking about the waves they've taken or want to get or where the swell is good... I feel right at home.
But seriously, the beach is one long stretch of sandy heaven which disappears during high tide where the waves get nice and big. Right now they aren't so much big as just heavy, and I haven't been in yet.
The last couple of days have been interesting. I left Monteverde to go to Playa Hermosa up onthe Guanacaste coast which is up near Witches Rock and Ollie's Peak (named after Ollie North for his role during the Regan Contra affair). You can take a boat to either place for $250, and they are legendary surf spots. This part of Costa Rica is much dryer and reminds me a lot of Eastern Washington. Dirt, dirt, more dirt, and when you're done with all that dirt... here's some cliffs made out of dirt.
I was up at Playa Hermosa to visit with Roxane, one of the attorneys I work for. She and her family rented a villa at Playa del Cocoa and she invited me to stay with them for a night. I had to go over a night early in order to be there in time for them to arrive because there isn't a public bus that goes there, you just have to take a taxi from Liberia to the coast which would cost more than my room for the night. So, I took a bus from Monteverde to Playa Hermosa and stayed there for the evening at the Iguana Inn. My room was huge and I felt like a princess up in a tower... without a shower. The shower was broken.
Things seem to be much more expensive up on this side of the coast than anywhere else I've been. The rooms cost twice as much, the taxis are twice as much and the food is also more costly. I needed to get money. So, I hot foot it up to the ATM (ATH in spanish) which is broken. So I ask the guy where the nearest bank is and he says Playa del Cocoa. So, I ask him where the bus stop is, he tells me and then tells me there is no bus until 10:30am... and its now 7. So, I figure I could pay a taxi to get me to an atm machine get back to my room to pay for that and still make it back to Playa del Cocoa to wait for Roxane. I grab a cab and we are off to the bank.
Which is closed. Because its Saturday. And since the atm machines are all run on the same times as the bank... well I'm in a bit of a pickle. So, the cab driver takes me back to the Iguana inn, where I pay for my room and am left with 3000 colones... or $6. This is not enough to get a cab to Playa del Cocoa, but I could get on a bus, if there was one running. I waited for the bus for an hour, then just decided to walk. Uphill. In 95 degree weather. In flip flops because I didn't feel like unpacking my entire backpack on the side of the road to get to the shoes I'd JUST packed at the bottom.
Luckily, some people stopped and picked me up and took me to Playa del Cocoa, where I met Roy who owns Papagayo Soda, who told me if I needed some work, he had some bills and things he needed filed away. At least I could eat. And I did have a credit card so I could stay at one of those ridiculously expensive places if I needed to for the night.
So, I walked to find Roxane the 3km to her villa, where the security guard sent me to Villa Vista Mar instead of Villa Del Mar (because everyone uses basically the same name here) which was on the other side of where I was supposed to be, and once I'd walked all the way around and up the hill, I knocked on this woman's door where the sign for Villa Vista Mar was and asked her, then she told me where I needed to go. I was pretty much at the end of my rope when I got back to the security guard's station and he asked if I found her. NO! I didn't find her... you idiot. So, I decided to walk back into town and was just about to break down crying when a woman stopped and offered me a ride.
And I broke down in the front seat of her car. She took me to get ice cream and a coke and even went so far as to give me $20 so I could eat. I rode with her to the hardware store so she could get light bulbs. It was apparently the third time she had been to the hardware store that day. She and her husband had a misunderstanding about something earlier in the day, so because she was mad at him she decided to go out for a few minutes. And lucky for me she did, because not only did she get me ice cream, she drove me to the Liberia Airport, 20 minutes out of her way to see if the bank there would work. And it did. Voila. I have money. And... a ride to the villa which happens to be where she lives. Terry and her husband own another home (I think she told me they have 4) in Costa Rica that is bigger than any house I ever lived in. Sits right up above the ocean... its lovely. And there was a hot tico working on the security fence... so.. not bad.
Anyway, I got to the villa 5 minutes after Roxane and family arrived. The place was gorgeous! I have pics, and I'll try to put some on here if I can get them uploaded. Infinity pool, 5 bedrooms, and staff to cook for you and do your laundry. Roxane said she never travels like that, but I have a feeling she could get used to it. I know I could. Especially after the night/day I had before.
So, I stayed there for a night and was off to Samara the next day.
But seriously, the beach is one long stretch of sandy heaven which disappears during high tide where the waves get nice and big. Right now they aren't so much big as just heavy, and I haven't been in yet.
The last couple of days have been interesting. I left Monteverde to go to Playa Hermosa up onthe Guanacaste coast which is up near Witches Rock and Ollie's Peak (named after Ollie North for his role during the Regan Contra affair). You can take a boat to either place for $250, and they are legendary surf spots. This part of Costa Rica is much dryer and reminds me a lot of Eastern Washington. Dirt, dirt, more dirt, and when you're done with all that dirt... here's some cliffs made out of dirt.
I was up at Playa Hermosa to visit with Roxane, one of the attorneys I work for. She and her family rented a villa at Playa del Cocoa and she invited me to stay with them for a night. I had to go over a night early in order to be there in time for them to arrive because there isn't a public bus that goes there, you just have to take a taxi from Liberia to the coast which would cost more than my room for the night. So, I took a bus from Monteverde to Playa Hermosa and stayed there for the evening at the Iguana Inn. My room was huge and I felt like a princess up in a tower... without a shower. The shower was broken.
Things seem to be much more expensive up on this side of the coast than anywhere else I've been. The rooms cost twice as much, the taxis are twice as much and the food is also more costly. I needed to get money. So, I hot foot it up to the ATM (ATH in spanish) which is broken. So I ask the guy where the nearest bank is and he says Playa del Cocoa. So, I ask him where the bus stop is, he tells me and then tells me there is no bus until 10:30am... and its now 7. So, I figure I could pay a taxi to get me to an atm machine get back to my room to pay for that and still make it back to Playa del Cocoa to wait for Roxane. I grab a cab and we are off to the bank.
Which is closed. Because its Saturday. And since the atm machines are all run on the same times as the bank... well I'm in a bit of a pickle. So, the cab driver takes me back to the Iguana inn, where I pay for my room and am left with 3000 colones... or $6. This is not enough to get a cab to Playa del Cocoa, but I could get on a bus, if there was one running. I waited for the bus for an hour, then just decided to walk. Uphill. In 95 degree weather. In flip flops because I didn't feel like unpacking my entire backpack on the side of the road to get to the shoes I'd JUST packed at the bottom.
Luckily, some people stopped and picked me up and took me to Playa del Cocoa, where I met Roy who owns Papagayo Soda, who told me if I needed some work, he had some bills and things he needed filed away. At least I could eat. And I did have a credit card so I could stay at one of those ridiculously expensive places if I needed to for the night.
So, I walked to find Roxane the 3km to her villa, where the security guard sent me to Villa Vista Mar instead of Villa Del Mar (because everyone uses basically the same name here) which was on the other side of where I was supposed to be, and once I'd walked all the way around and up the hill, I knocked on this woman's door where the sign for Villa Vista Mar was and asked her, then she told me where I needed to go. I was pretty much at the end of my rope when I got back to the security guard's station and he asked if I found her. NO! I didn't find her... you idiot. So, I decided to walk back into town and was just about to break down crying when a woman stopped and offered me a ride.
And I broke down in the front seat of her car. She took me to get ice cream and a coke and even went so far as to give me $20 so I could eat. I rode with her to the hardware store so she could get light bulbs. It was apparently the third time she had been to the hardware store that day. She and her husband had a misunderstanding about something earlier in the day, so because she was mad at him she decided to go out for a few minutes. And lucky for me she did, because not only did she get me ice cream, she drove me to the Liberia Airport, 20 minutes out of her way to see if the bank there would work. And it did. Voila. I have money. And... a ride to the villa which happens to be where she lives. Terry and her husband own another home (I think she told me they have 4) in Costa Rica that is bigger than any house I ever lived in. Sits right up above the ocean... its lovely. And there was a hot tico working on the security fence... so.. not bad.
Anyway, I got to the villa 5 minutes after Roxane and family arrived. The place was gorgeous! I have pics, and I'll try to put some on here if I can get them uploaded. Infinity pool, 5 bedrooms, and staff to cook for you and do your laundry. Roxane said she never travels like that, but I have a feeling she could get used to it. I know I could. Especially after the night/day I had before.
So, I stayed there for a night and was off to Samara the next day.
2.13.2007
Waco Waco Jaco and Tarzan has nothin on me.
I said goodbye to all my friends on Sunday. It was a bit strange. I´d spent so much time with all of them that I already miss them. I feel like I need to write emails and tell them all about what I´m doing.
Lori and I board a bus to Jaco (which for the record everyone told each of us we would hate)... which we did. Jaco Blows. Its seriously full of tourists, full of people who cater to tourists, and all of those people are super rude. Everyone we encountered had attitude... and it was unnecessary because we were speaking perfect Spanish, waiting our turn, and being totally polite. Whatever. Anyway, we got off the bus, felt the vibe and tried to get out of town, but no luck. We ended up staying in town for one night.
Our cabinas were at the North end of town called Cabinas Clarita. We got one room with a private bathroom, and were just excited to go hang out at the beach for a bit. We went to the beach, watched the sunset then came back to the cabinas. As we´re getting ready to relax, we hear the guy in the next room (who sounded like he was in our room... just like there were no walls) start hacking up a lung. After awhile, he went to the bathroom and yes, we heard that as well. We were just hoping he didn´t snore.
We took a FREEZING cold shower (they said it was warm) and decided to walk to get something to eat (not at KFC or Quiznos both of which we passed on the way in) we got about a quarter of a mile down the road and decided we didn´t want to walk that far because it was a little sketchy, so we went to a soda and went back to the cabinas. Watched Extreme Home Makeover, then Desperate Housewives, and then we heard it. The snoring begins!
Needless to say we got up at 7 the next morning and headed to the bus to Punterenas. In Punterenas we walked around to find the post office and the bank with our packs and everything and then went to the internet before our next bus left to go to Monteverde. On the way back to the bus, I tripped in a crack on the sidewalk and almost went down, but when I tried to stand back up all the weight from my pack was up at my head and I went down. SInce I knew I was going down, I rolled off to my side and ended up on top of my backpack much like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. It was so funny I´m still laughing about it now. Lori and a tico man had to help me up. It was almost embarrassing but too funny not to laugh at.
Back to the bus, for the longest hottest trip ever. Up a dirt mountain road in a tour bus.
Lori and I are in Monteverde today, and we started out doing a tour of the cable bridges today. We saw a howler monkey in the tree. Now, the howler monkey is all black except for one part of his body. As we were watching him eat the leaves on the trees with some other people who had been watching him for awhile, Lori says....¨Awwww, look it looks like he´s wearing socks!¨to which everyone else on the bridge goes ¨uhhhh... those aren´t his feet.¨
It was pretty fun. Not a lot to see, but lots of walking. Next, we went on the zip line tour. I´ve been pensive about going on one of these because they are really expensive and they just look like a waste of money, but when we arrived yesterday (off a 9 hour bus trip from Waco Waco Jaco) we were bombarded right when we got off the bus by 6 different companies trying to get us to stay at their hotel-cabinas-hostel... and really wouldn´t leave until we´d made a decision about where to stay. Lori said at one point she looked over and there were papers flying all around my head and it was too much.
But, when we decided on Cabinas El Pueblo, the girl we went with took us to her younger brother, who took us to the Cabinas where we met his other sister, who told us about the Soda their mom owns and she said its the best place in town. Turns out everything this family told us was right on. We even took the advice of the little brother and went on a different canopy tour than his sister said. The one we went on had a repelling part and a tarzan swing. Not sure we had the right picture in our minds when we signed up because everything was a lot higher up than we though.... The tarzan swing was much like bungee jumping, they even make you turn around and do it backwards. I have great video of Lori screaming. :) There is video of me doing the repel part and I´m screaming as well. Now, this might seem silly, but to those of you who climb, you don´t have the person at the bottom with the break... they do it with their bare hands and you are coming from the top of the climb route.... hilarious. Totally fun! If anyone is going to Monteverde soon... 100% Aventura is the company. Tomorrow we are doing an ATV tour. I can´t remember the exact quote right now, but the lonely planet says ¨Nothing says I love nature like an adventure fueled by sulphorous exhaust!¨
Lori and I board a bus to Jaco (which for the record everyone told each of us we would hate)... which we did. Jaco Blows. Its seriously full of tourists, full of people who cater to tourists, and all of those people are super rude. Everyone we encountered had attitude... and it was unnecessary because we were speaking perfect Spanish, waiting our turn, and being totally polite. Whatever. Anyway, we got off the bus, felt the vibe and tried to get out of town, but no luck. We ended up staying in town for one night.
Our cabinas were at the North end of town called Cabinas Clarita. We got one room with a private bathroom, and were just excited to go hang out at the beach for a bit. We went to the beach, watched the sunset then came back to the cabinas. As we´re getting ready to relax, we hear the guy in the next room (who sounded like he was in our room... just like there were no walls) start hacking up a lung. After awhile, he went to the bathroom and yes, we heard that as well. We were just hoping he didn´t snore.
We took a FREEZING cold shower (they said it was warm) and decided to walk to get something to eat (not at KFC or Quiznos both of which we passed on the way in) we got about a quarter of a mile down the road and decided we didn´t want to walk that far because it was a little sketchy, so we went to a soda and went back to the cabinas. Watched Extreme Home Makeover, then Desperate Housewives, and then we heard it. The snoring begins!
Needless to say we got up at 7 the next morning and headed to the bus to Punterenas. In Punterenas we walked around to find the post office and the bank with our packs and everything and then went to the internet before our next bus left to go to Monteverde. On the way back to the bus, I tripped in a crack on the sidewalk and almost went down, but when I tried to stand back up all the weight from my pack was up at my head and I went down. SInce I knew I was going down, I rolled off to my side and ended up on top of my backpack much like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. It was so funny I´m still laughing about it now. Lori and a tico man had to help me up. It was almost embarrassing but too funny not to laugh at.
Back to the bus, for the longest hottest trip ever. Up a dirt mountain road in a tour bus.
Lori and I are in Monteverde today, and we started out doing a tour of the cable bridges today. We saw a howler monkey in the tree. Now, the howler monkey is all black except for one part of his body. As we were watching him eat the leaves on the trees with some other people who had been watching him for awhile, Lori says....¨Awwww, look it looks like he´s wearing socks!¨to which everyone else on the bridge goes ¨uhhhh... those aren´t his feet.¨
It was pretty fun. Not a lot to see, but lots of walking. Next, we went on the zip line tour. I´ve been pensive about going on one of these because they are really expensive and they just look like a waste of money, but when we arrived yesterday (off a 9 hour bus trip from Waco Waco Jaco) we were bombarded right when we got off the bus by 6 different companies trying to get us to stay at their hotel-cabinas-hostel... and really wouldn´t leave until we´d made a decision about where to stay. Lori said at one point she looked over and there were papers flying all around my head and it was too much.
But, when we decided on Cabinas El Pueblo, the girl we went with took us to her younger brother, who took us to the Cabinas where we met his other sister, who told us about the Soda their mom owns and she said its the best place in town. Turns out everything this family told us was right on. We even took the advice of the little brother and went on a different canopy tour than his sister said. The one we went on had a repelling part and a tarzan swing. Not sure we had the right picture in our minds when we signed up because everything was a lot higher up than we though.... The tarzan swing was much like bungee jumping, they even make you turn around and do it backwards. I have great video of Lori screaming. :) There is video of me doing the repel part and I´m screaming as well. Now, this might seem silly, but to those of you who climb, you don´t have the person at the bottom with the break... they do it with their bare hands and you are coming from the top of the climb route.... hilarious. Totally fun! If anyone is going to Monteverde soon... 100% Aventura is the company. Tomorrow we are doing an ATV tour. I can´t remember the exact quote right now, but the lonely planet says ¨Nothing says I love nature like an adventure fueled by sulphorous exhaust!¨
2.09.2007
News from America and Schools Out for Summer
I was sitting at lunch at the Banco Bar yesterday eating my huge house salad for 2000 colones ($4), when this woman comes in announcing Anna Nicole Smith died. What.
So, today I handed in my portfolio ( I got a 93 on my grammar/phonology test) and I left promptly after to go get food, write a letter to a friend in Cali, and get the info for Kady, Michelle and Lori, all of whom arrive here today. WHOOOOOOPIE! Its my graduation party tonight! Lori gets to go to the dinner and meet all the cast of characters, all of whom I will finally get pictures of because Lori is the bearer of all gifts; backpack, camera, and a rumor of an mp3 player. SWEET!
I don't know where Lori and I will be travelling to after this, but don't fret if I don't write for a while. I have a journal, and I'd rather not miss out on the trip by searching for the internet. Not that i don't love you all.... I just really want to see everything.
I sort of feel like I've been at summer camp for the last month, as there has been all kinds of small ripples of drama - none of which I've been a part of thank GOD- but tonight is the last night we'll all be together. So, needless to say.... festivities will be great.
Thank to everyone who has been keeping in touch. I keep trying to get on instant messenger, but it doesn't always work, and then by the time it does, i've already been online for 1/2 an hour and I'm ready to leave.
Still haven't mastered surfing, in case you were wondering where the stories are about that. yeah yeah.... get in the water, I know! I will do it. I will I will I will. you all know how determined I am.
Off to the beach. :)
So, today I handed in my portfolio ( I got a 93 on my grammar/phonology test) and I left promptly after to go get food, write a letter to a friend in Cali, and get the info for Kady, Michelle and Lori, all of whom arrive here today. WHOOOOOOPIE! Its my graduation party tonight! Lori gets to go to the dinner and meet all the cast of characters, all of whom I will finally get pictures of because Lori is the bearer of all gifts; backpack, camera, and a rumor of an mp3 player. SWEET!
I don't know where Lori and I will be travelling to after this, but don't fret if I don't write for a while. I have a journal, and I'd rather not miss out on the trip by searching for the internet. Not that i don't love you all.... I just really want to see everything.
I sort of feel like I've been at summer camp for the last month, as there has been all kinds of small ripples of drama - none of which I've been a part of thank GOD- but tonight is the last night we'll all be together. So, needless to say.... festivities will be great.
Thank to everyone who has been keeping in touch. I keep trying to get on instant messenger, but it doesn't always work, and then by the time it does, i've already been online for 1/2 an hour and I'm ready to leave.
Still haven't mastered surfing, in case you were wondering where the stories are about that. yeah yeah.... get in the water, I know! I will do it. I will I will I will. you all know how determined I am.
Off to the beach. :)
2.06.2007
Last week in Quepos
I've just finished with breakfast at Cafe Milagro. It was the best breakfast I've had since I've been here, and my appetite seems to be coming back. I haven't made it to too many breakfasts here though, most of the restaurants stop serving breakfast around 10, and since I get up and going around 9 I tend to miss out. I did go once to a soda in the market. My friend Sean goes there every morning to get laughed at by the women who work there. We have no idea why they do it, but my theory is that one of them thinks he is cute. This would also support my theory as to why they completely ignore me for 10 minutes before serving me. But, who cares. I only really want coffee anyway.
This last week of teaching/observing was not too bad. I really don't mind teaching, its the preparing for teaching that gets to me. But, even that is fun sometimes. You should see my drawings... stick figures galore. I'm sure the students get tired of having to see horrible art every month.
The students of TEFL are people from the community of Quepos/Manuel Antonio. They get classes two weeks a month every month. This is because they are only taught by the students of TEFL, and two weeks out of the month long course, we are in class all day. Imagine being taught a foreign language two weeks on two weeks off. I think its strange, but it presents an opportunity to do some one on one lessons... if I chose to stay here.
I went to Dominical last weekend. :) :) :) I heart Dominical. My plan now is to start really trying to surf and get as good as possible because the waves down there are really big. At least overhead if not overhead and 1/2. My boyfriend lives there. When I go back, I might actually talk to him. :) Matthew McConnaughe look alike, but better looking. More ruggedly handsome than girly. He's blonde, which is very unlike me, but I liked his tattoos. There were only three and very nicely balanced. Foot, shoulder, and lower back.
But seriously. Dominical is so laid back, people are really friendly, and its not super touristy. When I go back I'm going to travel around a bit more to look at the rest of the area, the road up to Lagunas and the area up there. My friend Kristen's cousin lives up there and is a real estate agent for the area, with a car, so that would be a great contact.
The beach in Dominical is very different from the beach here. Manuel Antonio is more like a bay with some rocks out far enough so that they break the swell up enough that it isn 't beating on you in the water. Great for people who want to just body surf, or play on baby waves. Dominical though... brutal. Seriously large waves with a lot of power. The surfers make it look so easy, even getting out past the crash zone looked easy.
This post is sort of crappy, and I apologize for that. My brain is a little all over the place, trying to get my last three teaching practices out of the way, get ready for Lori and Kady to get here, figure out where to go after this w/ Lori, and what I want to do after she leaves. I've heard a rumor that Im getting music when Lori gets here as well as a camera. I have mixed feelings about it. I will love to be able to have pictures of where I'm going because no amount of me explaining will do any of this place justice. I'll adore being able to veg out on the beach to tunes I've picked... my own soundtrack for my journey. Speaking of which.... could I get some Journey on the MP3 player..?
In 3 days I'll have been with the same group of 30 people for a month. It's been so much fun getting to know everyone, finding new friends, hearing stories about other people's lives, and accumulating new sayings. I think 1/2 of the class is going to Dominical next weekend to hang out for another week. I may not go back until after, but that depends on what Lori and I end up doing. We may be going to Panama, which could be something more exciting and different. But, I'll definetly have withdrawals from my new buddies. Especially my roomie Tiff. She's a kick in the pants.
I'll definetly be ready to get out of class though. I need to even out my tan. Yes, I'm tan, though not as tan as some. I've really learned how to accept what I look like here. My hair has lightened quite a bit, and its pretty curly, my freckles are all out (along with the lines that form around my lips as some sort of natural lip liner) and my arms are once again, darker than my legs. But, hopefully over the next month I can get that fixed.
I think about you all everyday, and hope to get in touch with you at least once while I'm here. If I call it will come up as unavailable or annonymous, so if its around 6 your time... it might be me.
Hope everything is going well. I'd love to hear from you even if its just a short message. There are a lot of people I've met that remind me of some of you from home, so if you feel your ears burning...might be from me.
Hugs and kisses, and tons of sunshine!
MK
This last week of teaching/observing was not too bad. I really don't mind teaching, its the preparing for teaching that gets to me. But, even that is fun sometimes. You should see my drawings... stick figures galore. I'm sure the students get tired of having to see horrible art every month.
The students of TEFL are people from the community of Quepos/Manuel Antonio. They get classes two weeks a month every month. This is because they are only taught by the students of TEFL, and two weeks out of the month long course, we are in class all day. Imagine being taught a foreign language two weeks on two weeks off. I think its strange, but it presents an opportunity to do some one on one lessons... if I chose to stay here.
I went to Dominical last weekend. :) :) :) I heart Dominical. My plan now is to start really trying to surf and get as good as possible because the waves down there are really big. At least overhead if not overhead and 1/2. My boyfriend lives there. When I go back, I might actually talk to him. :) Matthew McConnaughe look alike, but better looking. More ruggedly handsome than girly. He's blonde, which is very unlike me, but I liked his tattoos. There were only three and very nicely balanced. Foot, shoulder, and lower back.
But seriously. Dominical is so laid back, people are really friendly, and its not super touristy. When I go back I'm going to travel around a bit more to look at the rest of the area, the road up to Lagunas and the area up there. My friend Kristen's cousin lives up there and is a real estate agent for the area, with a car, so that would be a great contact.
The beach in Dominical is very different from the beach here. Manuel Antonio is more like a bay with some rocks out far enough so that they break the swell up enough that it isn 't beating on you in the water. Great for people who want to just body surf, or play on baby waves. Dominical though... brutal. Seriously large waves with a lot of power. The surfers make it look so easy, even getting out past the crash zone looked easy.
This post is sort of crappy, and I apologize for that. My brain is a little all over the place, trying to get my last three teaching practices out of the way, get ready for Lori and Kady to get here, figure out where to go after this w/ Lori, and what I want to do after she leaves. I've heard a rumor that Im getting music when Lori gets here as well as a camera. I have mixed feelings about it. I will love to be able to have pictures of where I'm going because no amount of me explaining will do any of this place justice. I'll adore being able to veg out on the beach to tunes I've picked... my own soundtrack for my journey. Speaking of which.... could I get some Journey on the MP3 player..?
In 3 days I'll have been with the same group of 30 people for a month. It's been so much fun getting to know everyone, finding new friends, hearing stories about other people's lives, and accumulating new sayings. I think 1/2 of the class is going to Dominical next weekend to hang out for another week. I may not go back until after, but that depends on what Lori and I end up doing. We may be going to Panama, which could be something more exciting and different. But, I'll definetly have withdrawals from my new buddies. Especially my roomie Tiff. She's a kick in the pants.
I'll definetly be ready to get out of class though. I need to even out my tan. Yes, I'm tan, though not as tan as some. I've really learned how to accept what I look like here. My hair has lightened quite a bit, and its pretty curly, my freckles are all out (along with the lines that form around my lips as some sort of natural lip liner) and my arms are once again, darker than my legs. But, hopefully over the next month I can get that fixed.
I think about you all everyday, and hope to get in touch with you at least once while I'm here. If I call it will come up as unavailable or annonymous, so if its around 6 your time... it might be me.
Hope everything is going well. I'd love to hear from you even if its just a short message. There are a lot of people I've met that remind me of some of you from home, so if you feel your ears burning...might be from me.
Hugs and kisses, and tons of sunshine!
MK
1.28.2007
Rain
It rained on Friday. And I'm talking RAIN... not any of that Seattle stuff.. this is the real deal. Downpour of the torrential version. You don't really get much warning either, you feel two or three drops, and then the heavens open and if you're caught in it... well... you're going to take a little shower.
And I got caught in it, but luckily I thought I was going to the beach for the day and was wearing my swimsuit. :) I was on the bus when it started to rain, and the window a few seats ahead of me didn't have both parts of the window, so the rain was just coming in.... it was hilarious. The tropics. It just made me smile.
Saturday was to be spent at the beach again, and the clouds were out, but I know (thanks to many sunburns) that you still get sun even when its cloudy. So, I got up, got my beach gear, put on my sunscreen and headed to the beach. There were threats of rain... I think I felt a drop or two, but it cleared up after a bit, and was just gorgeous as usual. Amanda (21, Uof Florida) and I retired after a couple of hours to go get some food. We stopped in at the Marlin where a band was setting up to play.
A lot of the bands we've seen here are ex pats playing cover songs (lots of Audioslave, Stones, Jim Croche, and other poppy rock music) which isn't bad, but I rather like the tico songs. I've really gotten used to them and start to feel sort of jipped if I get the Stones or Jim again. So, anyway this group starts up and its like Latin pop music. So, I tell Amanda that it sounds like Jon Secada (which immediately dates me and I feel like an ass, but whatever) and when she asks me who that is I said "Its like the male latin version of Celine Dion." So, we joke around about how thank god its not another lame-o cover band with 8 different audioslaves songs when all of a sudden.... the Titanic song starts to be played by the latino pop band. Irony at its finest ladies and gentlemen... irony.
Don't worry we sang along. The sangria was fabulous at this place. :)
Sending you sunshine.
MK
And I got caught in it, but luckily I thought I was going to the beach for the day and was wearing my swimsuit. :) I was on the bus when it started to rain, and the window a few seats ahead of me didn't have both parts of the window, so the rain was just coming in.... it was hilarious. The tropics. It just made me smile.
Saturday was to be spent at the beach again, and the clouds were out, but I know (thanks to many sunburns) that you still get sun even when its cloudy. So, I got up, got my beach gear, put on my sunscreen and headed to the beach. There were threats of rain... I think I felt a drop or two, but it cleared up after a bit, and was just gorgeous as usual. Amanda (21, Uof Florida) and I retired after a couple of hours to go get some food. We stopped in at the Marlin where a band was setting up to play.
A lot of the bands we've seen here are ex pats playing cover songs (lots of Audioslave, Stones, Jim Croche, and other poppy rock music) which isn't bad, but I rather like the tico songs. I've really gotten used to them and start to feel sort of jipped if I get the Stones or Jim again. So, anyway this group starts up and its like Latin pop music. So, I tell Amanda that it sounds like Jon Secada (which immediately dates me and I feel like an ass, but whatever) and when she asks me who that is I said "Its like the male latin version of Celine Dion." So, we joke around about how thank god its not another lame-o cover band with 8 different audioslaves songs when all of a sudden.... the Titanic song starts to be played by the latino pop band. Irony at its finest ladies and gentlemen... irony.
Don't worry we sang along. The sangria was fabulous at this place. :)
Sending you sunshine.
MK
1.26.2007
Birthday balloons and cheeseburgers
Tristan's birthday was yesterday, he turned 25, so everyone got together up at the cabinas to help him celebrate. The English made some concoction that I wasn't going near... vodka, rum, cicique, and pineapple, orange, and I think they ended up putting some white wine in it as well... but the 40's of Imperial... they weren't very nice to me this morning. But, the party was fun. There are about 12 people that live at the cabinas from TEFL, and each night there is a social gathering by the pool. Last nights included lots of 80's music, pink balloons, and a dora the explorer happy birthday banner.
After the beginning stages, the lot of us went to the Tico club to dance... but not before I tripped over a chair and split open my toe. Of course I would. So, minor surgery commenced thanks to Andrew's first aid kit, and we were off. This is when I found out that the English call band aids Plasters. whatever.
The Tico club was fun, and I was going home at a decent hour.... until I found out it was 2:30... so... we left right then, got helped in getting a pirated cab from my new friend Hunter (who was pretty cute but WAY too skinny). The cab driver was 19. I'm ten years older than he is, but because he was so nice and let us stop off for some food (the chicken on a stick that Tiff wanted wasn't at the club) and we bought him a cheeseburger.
Life here isn't too hard.
I start teaching for real on Monday. Its slightly intimidating.. but, I'll get through. I'm off to the beach to even out my tan. Cheers!
After the beginning stages, the lot of us went to the Tico club to dance... but not before I tripped over a chair and split open my toe. Of course I would. So, minor surgery commenced thanks to Andrew's first aid kit, and we were off. This is when I found out that the English call band aids Plasters. whatever.
The Tico club was fun, and I was going home at a decent hour.... until I found out it was 2:30... so... we left right then, got helped in getting a pirated cab from my new friend Hunter (who was pretty cute but WAY too skinny). The cab driver was 19. I'm ten years older than he is, but because he was so nice and let us stop off for some food (the chicken on a stick that Tiff wanted wasn't at the club) and we bought him a cheeseburger.
Life here isn't too hard.
I start teaching for real on Monday. Its slightly intimidating.. but, I'll get through. I'm off to the beach to even out my tan. Cheers!
1.24.2007
Technology is awesome... if you can read what it's asking you.
I apologize for not being able to delete the multiple entries, but I can't find a word on the screen that looks like it would say "delete this.." so, bear with me.... language barriers.
So, to continue the story.
After I woke up and found out I'd been robbed... I cried. Naturally. Then went to the school and then the police station, then back to the place to collect our things. The detectives met us there and came up to look around to see if they could take fingerprints. Susan, one of our instructors, also came so that she could help with translation. See, I understand a lot, and can mime things back or use my limited vocab (which is growing by the day) but in a situation like this... I needed an interpreter.
Susan is discussing things with the manager/owner and Tiff and I are in our rooms trying to pack our things away. I start to get my clothes together, then realize... I have no backpack. So, not only did they take my electronics... they took my new backpack. So, that sent me over the edge and I couldn't stop crying.
Later, Tiff told me Susan and the manager/owner were discussing how 'safe' the place was. Susan was telling them anyone could get in there, that she didn't see how they thought no one could, and the woman was arguing saying she was the only one that could do it. As they were arguing, one of the detectives, got up on the railing, shimmied over to the part you could get in, and got in... point made. Nice job, Detective.
So, needless to say, I was a bit freaked. No worse for the wear, but definitely pissed that I have no camera to take pics with. This blog needs some pictures.
Tiff and I are now in the Cabinas with the rest of our classmates. It's a regular hang out every night. I think the cat finally got out of the bag that I'm 5 years older than I look, and it was pretty funny to see people's reactions, but everyone is super cool, and there are all kinds of age ranges.
I just got back from my first one-on-one lesson with Diana. We knew enough of each other's language to be able to ask "how do you say_____ in English/Spanish." I really like doing this. It has a great reward system, and Diana and I have fun together. Next week starts my classes that I'll be teaching, so I'm going to be busy this weekend making lesson plans and getting props and things together.
I would like to share this tidbit with you so that you know how amazing this new place is:
The sun is setting behind the trees that surround the cabinas. It's still really warm outside, around 75 degrees, and the old man who lives in the cabina below us is sitting by the pool listening to the radio play 'Daniel's Song' by Elton John. Sometimes you can hear him playing his violin during the day, which is really relaxing. Jose and Nubia's grandchildren are laughing about something and playing with their dad, who will manage the cabinas while Jose and Nubia go to San Jose next week.
Most of my classmates have gone to the beach straight after class to bob in the waves and watch the sun set, but I stayed behind so I could have some quiet time and get my lesson together for Diana tomorrow. It is slightly intimidating to think I'm going to be teaching someone English, but I guess that's what I'm learning for.
I sit quietly and watch from the upstairs portion of the cabinas, where my room is. Downstairs the old man starts humming along to the next song on the radio, an instrumental, and I realize it has been a week since I've had any music. I decide this is my lesson. I won't have the excuse of my Ipod, the safe barrier of my camera, or the comfort of merely observing. I'll have to take part, which is why I'm here, and I feel a sense of calm come over me. Now that I know why, I'll try my best to participate.
I kick my flip flops off, walk into my room and grab a beer from the fridge. Life's pretty good right now. It's a beautiful evening and we're going salsa dancing again, this time just across the street from the cabinas. It might be a late night, but class doesn't start until 9:30, so I'll have enough time to sleep in. I take a sip of my beer and smile, knowing I'm safe, I have my health, and I have nothing left for anyone to take... :)
Sorry if I didn't get the story out fast enough, and if I stressed anyone out about whether or not I'm safe. I'm safe now, and the worst is over... guess its better to get it out of the way, right?
So, to continue the story.
After I woke up and found out I'd been robbed... I cried. Naturally. Then went to the school and then the police station, then back to the place to collect our things. The detectives met us there and came up to look around to see if they could take fingerprints. Susan, one of our instructors, also came so that she could help with translation. See, I understand a lot, and can mime things back or use my limited vocab (which is growing by the day) but in a situation like this... I needed an interpreter.
Susan is discussing things with the manager/owner and Tiff and I are in our rooms trying to pack our things away. I start to get my clothes together, then realize... I have no backpack. So, not only did they take my electronics... they took my new backpack. So, that sent me over the edge and I couldn't stop crying.
Later, Tiff told me Susan and the manager/owner were discussing how 'safe' the place was. Susan was telling them anyone could get in there, that she didn't see how they thought no one could, and the woman was arguing saying she was the only one that could do it. As they were arguing, one of the detectives, got up on the railing, shimmied over to the part you could get in, and got in... point made. Nice job, Detective.
So, needless to say, I was a bit freaked. No worse for the wear, but definitely pissed that I have no camera to take pics with. This blog needs some pictures.
Tiff and I are now in the Cabinas with the rest of our classmates. It's a regular hang out every night. I think the cat finally got out of the bag that I'm 5 years older than I look, and it was pretty funny to see people's reactions, but everyone is super cool, and there are all kinds of age ranges.
I just got back from my first one-on-one lesson with Diana. We knew enough of each other's language to be able to ask "how do you say_____ in English/Spanish." I really like doing this. It has a great reward system, and Diana and I have fun together. Next week starts my classes that I'll be teaching, so I'm going to be busy this weekend making lesson plans and getting props and things together.
I would like to share this tidbit with you so that you know how amazing this new place is:
The sun is setting behind the trees that surround the cabinas. It's still really warm outside, around 75 degrees, and the old man who lives in the cabina below us is sitting by the pool listening to the radio play 'Daniel's Song' by Elton John. Sometimes you can hear him playing his violin during the day, which is really relaxing. Jose and Nubia's grandchildren are laughing about something and playing with their dad, who will manage the cabinas while Jose and Nubia go to San Jose next week.
Most of my classmates have gone to the beach straight after class to bob in the waves and watch the sun set, but I stayed behind so I could have some quiet time and get my lesson together for Diana tomorrow. It is slightly intimidating to think I'm going to be teaching someone English, but I guess that's what I'm learning for.
I sit quietly and watch from the upstairs portion of the cabinas, where my room is. Downstairs the old man starts humming along to the next song on the radio, an instrumental, and I realize it has been a week since I've had any music. I decide this is my lesson. I won't have the excuse of my Ipod, the safe barrier of my camera, or the comfort of merely observing. I'll have to take part, which is why I'm here, and I feel a sense of calm come over me. Now that I know why, I'll try my best to participate.
I kick my flip flops off, walk into my room and grab a beer from the fridge. Life's pretty good right now. It's a beautiful evening and we're going salsa dancing again, this time just across the street from the cabinas. It might be a late night, but class doesn't start until 9:30, so I'll have enough time to sleep in. I take a sip of my beer and smile, knowing I'm safe, I have my health, and I have nothing left for anyone to take... :)
Sorry if I didn't get the story out fast enough, and if I stressed anyone out about whether or not I'm safe. I'm safe now, and the worst is over... guess its better to get it out of the way, right?
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