What an amazing weekend!! I had time to rest, and it was great. Friday night I went out with a few kids from my group: we went to a cool bar near downtown Sta. Elena and just kicked back. I got to dance salsa and I (sort of) know the bartender/owner from my visit last summer and got a good deal on drinks.
Sonia and Royner and I all walked home together. Sonia and I checked out brunch at Dulce Marzo yesterday, a local bakery. They have the best baked goods...I am trying to teach Sonia the difference between salsa and merengue, so we sat and listened to a lot of Latin jams yesterday too. Muni arrived in the evening, and it felt a little like college again with all three of us in tiny #8 at Casas del Torro, sharing keys and trying to plan outfits to go to dinner.
The UD group currently studying abroad also arrived last night, and we saw a few of the students out in Sta. Elena after dinner. Percio Castro, my favorite professor of all time has arrived with them and is my neighbor in Casas del Torro. For dinner we went to Morphos, a nice restaurant in downtown. It was nice, but expensive and I do not think I will go back of my own accord. Although I was flattered when they asked if I was from the zona...in other words if i was a local. (LOCALS GET DISCOUNTS! big difference in price) I am going to miss not having him for class anymore, ever. Its a real pleasure to get to see him again.
I think I should clarify a few things about Monteverde. It refers to a greater region: right now I am actually in Cerro Plano, like a suburb of Monteverde. From Cerro Plano you can walk downhill for about 15-20 minutes to Santa Elena, which is downtown. When I say "downtown" though I really mean that there is one main street lined with shops for souvenirs, canopy tours, a bus station,a bar and several restaurants. To walk through downtown takes maybe two minutes total, but it is still considered "downtown." Something is always happeneing and I LOVE being able to people watch: its an eclectic mix of locals and tourists, and people like me who could pass for being from the "zona," being able to walk confidently across the street and ask for a specific food item at the hotdog stand, or ordering a casado (marriage of rice and beans) instead of a hamburger. Oh and YES there is a hotdog stand in Sta. Elena, haha!
I think this is the start of a good week, with Muni, UD kids, and Dr. Castro all here. Pura Vida.
weekend!
Officially two full weeks here in Costa Rica...day 14.
Its afternoon at CPI Monteverde, and I am in the office picking a song for the slideshow of my group, Rollins College. This is their last day here at CPI; this weekend they go to the Arenal Volcano with a guide, and I am staying here. This weekend will be a much needed rest. While my group has been wonderful, their chaperone is a very active woman! Her curiosity and hyper-engaged personality has worn me down.
I know of a band playing in Bar Amigos, and I plan to sleep in tomorrow! Sonia, the other chaperone, is also free so we will both be doing laundry and relaxing.I rented a movie on iTunes to watch at some point.
This next week I will be here in Monteverde, helping prepare for incoming groups, including the University of Dayton group! I have some friends who are doing the program, and I am very much looking forward to seeing them this next week. Muni is also returning with this group, and it will be good to have her company again.
Earlier today my group went to volunteer at the Coffee Co-op of San Luis: we weeded a bed of baby coffee plants and helped prepare a trail for future coffee tours. There is still dirt under my fingernails...I am glad we had sun, since the last few days it has been pretty dismal and gray.
I have come to realize that I am not one of those people particularly affected by the weather: I am too distracted by the natural beauty here to be saddened by the elusive sun! Waking up and seeing the gulf in the morning, feeling the breeze on my bare arms and breathing in a cloud is absolute heaven! I much prefer this environment to the heat of the beach, and rain to the sand. Love the cloud forest! I will try to post more pictures...check my Facebook if you can, I just updated my photo album.
Pura Vida : )
Its afternoon at CPI Monteverde, and I am in the office picking a song for the slideshow of my group, Rollins College. This is their last day here at CPI; this weekend they go to the Arenal Volcano with a guide, and I am staying here. This weekend will be a much needed rest. While my group has been wonderful, their chaperone is a very active woman! Her curiosity and hyper-engaged personality has worn me down.
I know of a band playing in Bar Amigos, and I plan to sleep in tomorrow! Sonia, the other chaperone, is also free so we will both be doing laundry and relaxing.I rented a movie on iTunes to watch at some point.
This next week I will be here in Monteverde, helping prepare for incoming groups, including the University of Dayton group! I have some friends who are doing the program, and I am very much looking forward to seeing them this next week. Muni is also returning with this group, and it will be good to have her company again.
Earlier today my group went to volunteer at the Coffee Co-op of San Luis: we weeded a bed of baby coffee plants and helped prepare a trail for future coffee tours. There is still dirt under my fingernails...I am glad we had sun, since the last few days it has been pretty dismal and gray.
I have come to realize that I am not one of those people particularly affected by the weather: I am too distracted by the natural beauty here to be saddened by the elusive sun! Waking up and seeing the gulf in the morning, feeling the breeze on my bare arms and breathing in a cloud is absolute heaven! I much prefer this environment to the heat of the beach, and rain to the sand. Love the cloud forest! I will try to post more pictures...check my Facebook if you can, I just updated my photo album.
Pura Vida : )
continuation
RAIN. Its been raining all day here. This is the Monteverde weather I am accustomed to. Earlier I was wearing Muni's rainboots, since mine are not available. Good thing too, since I was outdoors at the Trapiche tour, walking through puddles. The raincoat I bought is definitely coming in handy!
Tonight Muni comes from Heredia for just a few nights...
Tonight Muni comes from Heredia for just a few nights...
milksheds & american dreams
Yesterday I spent my first full day with my new group, Rollins College. And I felt like I was in college all over again...the chaperone is intent on wringing as much educational experience as possible out of this trip, and I get the feeling that the students are not able to invest in a cultural experience. I get along with all of them though, and they are a cool group.
I went for the first time to the Monteverde Cheese Factory. The company works a lot with local farms to transport and create quality milk and milk products like cheese and ice cream...word of the day was "milkshed" or the area from which they have farmers participating and providing them with milk on a regular basis.
Later at lunch the students had a lengthy disscussion about why the industry and connection with the cheese factory is so important for farming families, and how thier techniques could improve and make them more profit...and how this is a part of the "american dream." But we are not in America right now. What about the "tico dream?" I'm finding myself that its very hard to step outside your comfort zone and look beyond your cultural background...as Americans we are very ethnocentric sometimes.
More later!!!!!!!!!!!
I went for the first time to the Monteverde Cheese Factory. The company works a lot with local farms to transport and create quality milk and milk products like cheese and ice cream...word of the day was "milkshed" or the area from which they have farmers participating and providing them with milk on a regular basis.
Later at lunch the students had a lengthy disscussion about why the industry and connection with the cheese factory is so important for farming families, and how thier techniques could improve and make them more profit...and how this is a part of the "american dream." But we are not in America right now. What about the "tico dream?" I'm finding myself that its very hard to step outside your comfort zone and look beyond your cultural background...as Americans we are very ethnocentric sometimes.
More later!!!!!!!!!!!
"you say goodbye, and i say hello" -The Beatles
Its a Monday here at CPI Monteverde, and the clouds have decended, obscuring the forest and gulf from view. I greeted my new group, Rollins University, an hour and a half ago and sent them to their classes for the afternoon. They are all business students and will be doing unique activities that examine the business aspect of many industries here in Costa Rica; tomorrow for example we go to the cheese factory. I have never been, and I have no head for business, so it will be enlightening.
On Saturday I dropped my first group of at the Liberia Airport and it was bittersweet: Friday night they presented all of the chaperones and the chofer with cards, small gifts and hugs. It was really touching! The restaurant we went to had an open air feel and a cool terrace, and was one of the more upscale I have been to: very fitting for our "last supper."
After the drop-off Ronny and I drove to Monteverde...what a change from the beach! Its cool but humid here, and I while earlier in the day I was comfortable in my tank top, I felt chilled without any other jacket. Sadly the majority of my mountain-appropriate clothing is still at Mayi's in Heredia! My rainboots, heavy duty raincoat, and assorted sweatshirts. Right now I only have one sweatshirt, and just tennis shoes. Its not enough! Layering is required. I think on Wednesday night a nother chaperone is arriving from Heredia, and she will bring my bag for me. Yesterday I had a relaxing day off, and had a chance to do a little hiking and check out a new restaurant in Cerro Plano, the village I'm in. (Monteverde refers to the larger area: like how I live in Harrison Township but say I'm from Dayton)The food was decent, but the prices high.
Right now I am not alone in Casas del Toro, the CPI apartments close to the school. Sonia, another chaperone, is also here with her group this week. Its nice having a room-mate: I get so bored otherwise.
I have been having trouble adjusting in some ways...my mind is not adjusting as quickly as I'd hoped to my new environment. That is to say, my speaking ability hasn't been what i want it to be. I keep tripping over words and grammar: my mind has not fully made the switch to Spanish from English. Its frustrating: when I am tired I zone out and concentration is required to understand what is said to me, or I have to have things repeated. More than ever I detest talking on the phone. I really want to take a class just for phone etiquette: having to call and talk for some reason ends up as a mental disconnect for me. This is something I hope to work on and improve, especially as this summer continues.
So such is life right now: saying goodbye to one group, and getting acquainted with another...
On Saturday I dropped my first group of at the Liberia Airport and it was bittersweet: Friday night they presented all of the chaperones and the chofer with cards, small gifts and hugs. It was really touching! The restaurant we went to had an open air feel and a cool terrace, and was one of the more upscale I have been to: very fitting for our "last supper."
After the drop-off Ronny and I drove to Monteverde...what a change from the beach! Its cool but humid here, and I while earlier in the day I was comfortable in my tank top, I felt chilled without any other jacket. Sadly the majority of my mountain-appropriate clothing is still at Mayi's in Heredia! My rainboots, heavy duty raincoat, and assorted sweatshirts. Right now I only have one sweatshirt, and just tennis shoes. Its not enough! Layering is required. I think on Wednesday night a nother chaperone is arriving from Heredia, and she will bring my bag for me. Yesterday I had a relaxing day off, and had a chance to do a little hiking and check out a new restaurant in Cerro Plano, the village I'm in. (Monteverde refers to the larger area: like how I live in Harrison Township but say I'm from Dayton)The food was decent, but the prices high.
Right now I am not alone in Casas del Toro, the CPI apartments close to the school. Sonia, another chaperone, is also here with her group this week. Its nice having a room-mate: I get so bored otherwise.
I have been having trouble adjusting in some ways...my mind is not adjusting as quickly as I'd hoped to my new environment. That is to say, my speaking ability hasn't been what i want it to be. I keep tripping over words and grammar: my mind has not fully made the switch to Spanish from English. Its frustrating: when I am tired I zone out and concentration is required to understand what is said to me, or I have to have things repeated. More than ever I detest talking on the phone. I really want to take a class just for phone etiquette: having to call and talk for some reason ends up as a mental disconnect for me. This is something I hope to work on and improve, especially as this summer continues.
So such is life right now: saying goodbye to one group, and getting acquainted with another...
wrapping up
Its been a full 7 days since I arrived here in Costa Rica. How time has flown by!
Its the last full day I have with my group of 21 kids from the International School of Indiana. Tomorrow they go to Liberia Airport and head home to Indianapolis( thinking of Ali D).
The last two days have been pretty interesting. We visited the typical town of Santa Cruz(National Folkloric City of Costa Rica)and Guaitil,where making pottery in traditional Chorrotega style is an important part of the community. The kids picked up a lot of cool souvenirs at Guaitil: no "made in China" stickers can be found there.
Yesterday we visited a primary school in Playa Brasilito, 10 minutes away. the kids interacted with Ticos their own age and played games and interviewed each other. Everyone was a little timid at first, but I think by the end that everyone made friends. Later on in the evening we had a minor crisis: some kids had things "missing" from their rooms. This resulted in a very uncomfortable and long exchange with the hotel staff: in the end it was a matter of the kids being unorganized and not taking responsibility for their things. All the same I felt AWFUL, having to act as a go between while we re-checked rooms. It was an experience I hope I never have to repeat. After dinner though we all ate gelato at the gelateria across from our restaurant, and a little bit of chocolate and amaretto calmed my nerves.
Today we are doing a canopy tour! After our lunch of pizza here at CPI...I hope everything goes well, and that the kids have fun. I think the chaperones are a little apprehensive, but canopy is always a lot of fun and safety is always a top priority.
CANOPY: ziplining in the canopy of the forest between platforms attached to trees. Harness, helmet, and safety gloves required!
Tomorrow I am not sure yet what I'm going to do: after dropping the kids off I might have to catch a bus going to Monteverde, or I might be riding with Ronny to Heredia and going from there to Monteverde, which would be ideal...I left my rain gear and some more of my shoes in Heredia with Mayi, since I was going to the beach. A swim suit won't do me much good in the mountains, haha.
The next week is sure to bring adventures!
Hasta pronto: )
Its the last full day I have with my group of 21 kids from the International School of Indiana. Tomorrow they go to Liberia Airport and head home to Indianapolis( thinking of Ali D).
The last two days have been pretty interesting. We visited the typical town of Santa Cruz(National Folkloric City of Costa Rica)and Guaitil,where making pottery in traditional Chorrotega style is an important part of the community. The kids picked up a lot of cool souvenirs at Guaitil: no "made in China" stickers can be found there.
Yesterday we visited a primary school in Playa Brasilito, 10 minutes away. the kids interacted with Ticos their own age and played games and interviewed each other. Everyone was a little timid at first, but I think by the end that everyone made friends. Later on in the evening we had a minor crisis: some kids had things "missing" from their rooms. This resulted in a very uncomfortable and long exchange with the hotel staff: in the end it was a matter of the kids being unorganized and not taking responsibility for their things. All the same I felt AWFUL, having to act as a go between while we re-checked rooms. It was an experience I hope I never have to repeat. After dinner though we all ate gelato at the gelateria across from our restaurant, and a little bit of chocolate and amaretto calmed my nerves.
Today we are doing a canopy tour! After our lunch of pizza here at CPI...I hope everything goes well, and that the kids have fun. I think the chaperones are a little apprehensive, but canopy is always a lot of fun and safety is always a top priority.
CANOPY: ziplining in the canopy of the forest between platforms attached to trees. Harness, helmet, and safety gloves required!
Tomorrow I am not sure yet what I'm going to do: after dropping the kids off I might have to catch a bus going to Monteverde, or I might be riding with Ronny to Heredia and going from there to Monteverde, which would be ideal...I left my rain gear and some more of my shoes in Heredia with Mayi, since I was going to the beach. A swim suit won't do me much good in the mountains, haha.
The next week is sure to bring adventures!
Hasta pronto: )
about that last one....
The name of my last post I totally forgot to explain! Two of the chaperones of my group, who are native Spanish speakers, both thought I was Tica when they first arrived. Its a little intimidating that they both speak so well, and so fast. Sometimes I have troupble keeping up! But on the other hand its a huge relief that if I'm not available, they have other cahpeones that hablan espanol to fall back on in an emergency.
More later...
More later...
casi tica
CPI Flamingo: sunny, humid, friendly. Just how I remember it, haha.
Today my groupo has thier first day of classes, and I already spent the morning helping the chaperones to update the school blog and post pictures for parents to see. I have never considered myself to be much good with computers, but its clear that my age correlates with my ability to solve technological problems, with the posting blogs and finding ways to charge camera batteries. Who knew??
Hopefully in the next half hour we will get the chance to go walk along the beach: Playa Flamingo. This is a blue flag beach, marked for being one of the cleanest and most ecologically healthy. Awesome, huh? Later we have a cooking and a dance class, and the cahperones want to take the kids to Playa Conchal(the name says it all...instead of sand on this beach, there are conchas: shells!).
I slept really well last night: the river tour really sapped all my energy. We arrived late, after stopping at the airport to reclaim some lost luggage. This took longer than expected, since there were some things missing!! In the end the riverboat tour guide and people were kind enough to wait for us, and we must´ve seen a crocodile every 4 minutes, there were SO MANY!!!! we also saw baby crocs, which was a first for me and really cool! I was wiped out though...after dinner I came back and showered and that was my day!
Now to walk on the beach. Hopefully the day continues like this: beautiful.
Pura vida : )
Today my groupo has thier first day of classes, and I already spent the morning helping the chaperones to update the school blog and post pictures for parents to see. I have never considered myself to be much good with computers, but its clear that my age correlates with my ability to solve technological problems, with the posting blogs and finding ways to charge camera batteries. Who knew??
Hopefully in the next half hour we will get the chance to go walk along the beach: Playa Flamingo. This is a blue flag beach, marked for being one of the cleanest and most ecologically healthy. Awesome, huh? Later we have a cooking and a dance class, and the cahperones want to take the kids to Playa Conchal(the name says it all...instead of sand on this beach, there are conchas: shells!).
I slept really well last night: the river tour really sapped all my energy. We arrived late, after stopping at the airport to reclaim some lost luggage. This took longer than expected, since there were some things missing!! In the end the riverboat tour guide and people were kind enough to wait for us, and we must´ve seen a crocodile every 4 minutes, there were SO MANY!!!! we also saw baby crocs, which was a first for me and really cool! I was wiped out though...after dinner I came back and showered and that was my day!
Now to walk on the beach. Hopefully the day continues like this: beautiful.
Pura vida : )
all about the details.
One word to describe the last 24 hours: FLEXIBLE.
Friday the whole of Grupos descended on the Heredia offices, and began prep to pick up groups that afternoon and the next day. We have several chaperones, many of which are coming later on in the summer. I met Sonia and Dev, who are both new, and gave Muni, Arelys, and Jonle(my boss) hugs.
That afternoon, I left with a CPI transport to Monteverde, instead of taking the public bus. I rode with three women from the Admissions office of Heredia: they are visiting Monteverde and Flamingo. I spent the night in Casas del Toro, and met with my chofer at CPI the next morning: quick breakfast of gallo pinto, greetings to some of the personnel, and we were off!
With Ronny, the chofer, we stopped to was the minibus in Liberia, and then headed to the airport to await my group, International School of Indiana. They arrived right on time, and I spotted them right away: a group of 21 ten and eleven-year-olds all wearing bright orange shirts. They have three chaperones with them, who I am still getting to know. They all seem really nice! The kids are energetic but very well-behaved, at least from what I've observed. We arrived at the hotel, Cabinas Isolina, settled in and hit the pool. Dinner was at 7pm, and then we picked up waterbottles for everyone. Today we are going on a riverboat tour, at the Tempisque river.
Some things about the beach: its HOT!!! People always imagine the beach being nice and breezy, but boy is it humid.
Necessary items here include:
-waterbottle
-sunscreen (30 or higher SPF)
-sunglasses
-bugspray
check, check, check...um, no I don't have bugspray. Pretty sure thats ok though, for some reason the bugs never find me very appetizing.
Well, gotta make myself available for breakfast, and get some tp for my hotel room, there is none!! uh oh.
chao: )
Friday the whole of Grupos descended on the Heredia offices, and began prep to pick up groups that afternoon and the next day. We have several chaperones, many of which are coming later on in the summer. I met Sonia and Dev, who are both new, and gave Muni, Arelys, and Jonle(my boss) hugs.
That afternoon, I left with a CPI transport to Monteverde, instead of taking the public bus. I rode with three women from the Admissions office of Heredia: they are visiting Monteverde and Flamingo. I spent the night in Casas del Toro, and met with my chofer at CPI the next morning: quick breakfast of gallo pinto, greetings to some of the personnel, and we were off!
With Ronny, the chofer, we stopped to was the minibus in Liberia, and then headed to the airport to await my group, International School of Indiana. They arrived right on time, and I spotted them right away: a group of 21 ten and eleven-year-olds all wearing bright orange shirts. They have three chaperones with them, who I am still getting to know. They all seem really nice! The kids are energetic but very well-behaved, at least from what I've observed. We arrived at the hotel, Cabinas Isolina, settled in and hit the pool. Dinner was at 7pm, and then we picked up waterbottles for everyone. Today we are going on a riverboat tour, at the Tempisque river.
Some things about the beach: its HOT!!! People always imagine the beach being nice and breezy, but boy is it humid.
Necessary items here include:
-waterbottle
-sunscreen (30 or higher SPF)
-sunglasses
-bugspray
check, check, check...um, no I don't have bugspray. Pretty sure thats ok though, for some reason the bugs never find me very appetizing.
Well, gotta make myself available for breakfast, and get some tp for my hotel room, there is none!! uh oh.
chao: )
Welcome Back
Day one: make certificates for my group, organize treasure hunt, figure out names of my kids, flight info, figure out schedule, get Grupos shirt, wait for Muni.
The weather here is beautiful right now! We are in "verano bonito," where there has been little rain, lots of sun and breezes. I slept very well last night at Mayi's, where there is a couple also staying and studying at the school. Funny thing though, there is a rooster in the neighborhood who didn't get the memo that roosters are only supposed to crow at dawn. He was busy at 3am, haha!I loved my coffee this morning: the real stuff, not Folgers or Maxwell House or Starbucks, but REAL cafe con leche, fresh mango and pineapple. YUM! Gotta love the food here :)
"Pura Vida" is on everyone's lips...I think I had sort of forgotten how common a phrase it is here! But to effectively sum up this country, and its people: pura vida.
Later today Muni, who also works in Grupos, should be arriving. It will be good to see her again and to jump into preparations for our grupos, many of which arrive tomorrow! Hitting the ground running...and I am ready to rock and roll.
The weather here is beautiful right now! We are in "verano bonito," where there has been little rain, lots of sun and breezes. I slept very well last night at Mayi's, where there is a couple also staying and studying at the school. Funny thing though, there is a rooster in the neighborhood who didn't get the memo that roosters are only supposed to crow at dawn. He was busy at 3am, haha!I loved my coffee this morning: the real stuff, not Folgers or Maxwell House or Starbucks, but REAL cafe con leche, fresh mango and pineapple. YUM! Gotta love the food here :)
"Pura Vida" is on everyone's lips...I think I had sort of forgotten how common a phrase it is here! But to effectively sum up this country, and its people: pura vida.
Later today Muni, who also works in Grupos, should be arriving. It will be good to see her again and to jump into preparations for our grupos, many of which arrive tomorrow! Hitting the ground running...and I am ready to rock and roll.
A New Adventure
Hello! I am writing from Costa Rica, after a safe arrival and easy trip.
The most boring part was my 3 hour layover in Newark, where I read a book (thanks kallie!) and people-watched.
Its amazing being back here! Its hot and humid and it smells like gasoline and trees...Everything I remember. Hearing Spanish all around me, I find myself thinking and translating in my head. There is salsa on the radio, "sodas" all over, and moths flying indoors.
Tomorrow I go to CPI Heredia to prepare for my group. I will be in Flamingo Beach all next week with a group of 5th graders.
Right now I am tired, since I slept fitfully and little on the plane.
Bona nit!
The most boring part was my 3 hour layover in Newark, where I read a book (thanks kallie!) and people-watched.
Its amazing being back here! Its hot and humid and it smells like gasoline and trees...Everything I remember. Hearing Spanish all around me, I find myself thinking and translating in my head. There is salsa on the radio, "sodas" all over, and moths flying indoors.
Tomorrow I go to CPI Heredia to prepare for my group. I will be in Flamingo Beach all next week with a group of 5th graders.
Right now I am tired, since I slept fitfully and little on the plane.
Bona nit!
4
The days are whittling away. I am getting more and more anxious.
As of now my bags are half packed, but there are still to many things I need on hand to pack them up yet. The 12th will be a busy day for me!
I keep trying to remember things about Costa Rica: the taste of rice and beans, smells and colors. I keep thinking about last summer, and can't help but smile remembering the sunshine and the mountains. I have my raincoat and my sunscreen ready to go : )
Its a bittersweet goodbye though. My life has changed so much! But I am looking forward to throwing myself into being a chaperona again. SOON.
As of now my bags are half packed, but there are still to many things I need on hand to pack them up yet. The 12th will be a busy day for me!
I keep trying to remember things about Costa Rica: the taste of rice and beans, smells and colors. I keep thinking about last summer, and can't help but smile remembering the sunshine and the mountains. I have my raincoat and my sunscreen ready to go : )
Its a bittersweet goodbye though. My life has changed so much! But I am looking forward to throwing myself into being a chaperona again. SOON.
9
Nine. That is how many days are left before I return to Costa Rica for a whopping 15 MONTHS. These last few days I have been getting all kinds of questions: what are you doing, where are you going, how long are you staying, are you returning? Sometimes I feel a little out of breath after explaining.
My backpack and duffle will be stuffed when I go...these last few days I have been mentally cataloging what I will need and what I will leave here at my parent's house. Today Brandy asked me how I knew what to take, and the answer is simple. Once my shoes and underwear are packed, eveything else is cake : )
My backpack and duffle will be stuffed when I go...these last few days I have been mentally cataloging what I will need and what I will leave here at my parent's house. Today Brandy asked me how I knew what to take, and the answer is simple. Once my shoes and underwear are packed, eveything else is cake : )