Yes it has been a while since my last update. Try 2 whole weeks! I have no idea how time got away.
Things are been really busy here in the last week. I am with a group of students and working in the office at the same time. Its been interesting finding the right balance between office and activities...this afternoon I had to go on a horseback tour with the group, so I wasn't able to be there for my other students. And I am not really a huge fan of horseback riding...my butt is so sore.
While this week has been more demanding, I understand that it is a necessary locura. CPI is not going to hire someone to do my office job for 2 weeks while I am with a group! Before long I will be back in the office. Meanwhile I am teetering between responsibilities, and running to and from to make sure everyone is ok. Thus, my legs are tired.
The last two weekends I have hung out in Puntarenas with some friends! It was carnival, the huge party in the Puerto that happens once a year...I went with Muni and Royner two weeks ago and Elliott let us stay at his house. Last weekend I went with 4 regular students and played guide, showing them around and making sure they got to and from safely. I know all the bus routes by heart...
On Sunday I was at the airport to pick up my group and this week I am here in Montverde...
I much prefer being busy like this to silly office projects : )
Pura Vida...and catch me if you can!
time after time
Today I had a very good question posed to me by none other than the big boss...the general manager of CPI Monteverde.
"Meggie, cuanto tiempo va estar con nosotros?"
"Uh..."
This is a question I have mulled over many times. But as of now, I have come to no definite decision.
Honestly, if I do not return to working with groups, I will leave. The job with groups is what drew me back here, and what I really enjoy. If I am told that I will be staying in the office during the temporada alta, or high season, then no thank you. I want to be doing what I love, or find something else.
If I end up with groups, then I will stay through August until the season ends. Then...I have plan A and plan B.
Plan A:
Find a good paying job in Costa Rica that will enable me to continue making payments on my loans and live here, and stay. Ideally something in hospitality, customer service, or tourism. This is what I would like to do.
Plan B:
Return to the USA, find a job (or two), repay loans as quickly as possible, and return to Costa Rica indefinitely. This plan is much more realistic in terms of paying loans and reaching financial freedom more quickly, but endangers my likelihood of returning.
So...to clarify, things could go a couple ways. And all I can do is wait and see, because things here tend to happen very last minute...Groups for example, will tell me in the next week if I have a group or not. And so far I haven't gotten any clues, and there is the unspoken understanding that I am not supposed to ask.
All the same though, I would like to know ahead of time! That is the planner in me, squirming at not knowing more details.
Its been a great challenge working in this job, having to be FLEXIBLE! and to be able to roll with it, watch things unfold. That is part of why I decided to work on being more tranquila...I have to take a step back, to breathe, and to realize that some things are beyond my control.
Pura Vida....pura vida.
"Meggie, cuanto tiempo va estar con nosotros?"
"Uh..."
This is a question I have mulled over many times. But as of now, I have come to no definite decision.
Honestly, if I do not return to working with groups, I will leave. The job with groups is what drew me back here, and what I really enjoy. If I am told that I will be staying in the office during the temporada alta, or high season, then no thank you. I want to be doing what I love, or find something else.
If I end up with groups, then I will stay through August until the season ends. Then...I have plan A and plan B.
Plan A:
Find a good paying job in Costa Rica that will enable me to continue making payments on my loans and live here, and stay. Ideally something in hospitality, customer service, or tourism. This is what I would like to do.
Plan B:
Return to the USA, find a job (or two), repay loans as quickly as possible, and return to Costa Rica indefinitely. This plan is much more realistic in terms of paying loans and reaching financial freedom more quickly, but endangers my likelihood of returning.
So...to clarify, things could go a couple ways. And all I can do is wait and see, because things here tend to happen very last minute...Groups for example, will tell me in the next week if I have a group or not. And so far I haven't gotten any clues, and there is the unspoken understanding that I am not supposed to ask.
All the same though, I would like to know ahead of time! That is the planner in me, squirming at not knowing more details.
Its been a great challenge working in this job, having to be FLEXIBLE! and to be able to roll with it, watch things unfold. That is part of why I decided to work on being more tranquila...I have to take a step back, to breathe, and to realize that some things are beyond my control.
Pura Vida....pura vida.
tamales and tired...
This has been a whirlwind of a week. And its funny saying that because its already Tuesday, and I am referencing last week.
I much prefer to be busy in the office...lately I have taken to printing things like student information sheets, questionnaires, and entrance exams to be ready for the busier weeks. Next week we have 11 new students...this will be my biggest Monday orientation yet. I hope I have more energy next week.
On Friday I went out with some friends and stayed out all the way up hearing my alarm ring to catch the morning bus to go to Heredia. How is that for crazy? I couldn't sleep much on the bus either, so I was pretty tired all afternoon. I went to San Joaquin and stayed with my Familia Tica there all afternoon, we made tamales!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tamales here are traditionally made with masa,have some veggies or meat inside, and then the whole blob is wrapped in banana leaves, tied, and cooked. Since this particular item requires a lot of work (washing the banana leaves, cutting them, making the masa, preparing the veggies and meat to go inside, putting the tamal together, wrapping, tying, and cooking) it is usually seen only at Christmas, served as a traditional dish at the table for the family (and how handy that the family is there to help make tamales!). we spent quite a while putting everything together, and now I know how to wrap and tie a tamal like a Tica : )
I also got to visit with Elliott in San Jose, we got dinner and walked around the mall San Pedro. We ate at a little place in the food court called "la burrita urbana," and the style was JUST LIKE CHIPOTLE!!It was great, the burrito even came wrapped in foil just like burritos from Chipotle. A little bit of Dayton...
On Sunday I watched the Superbowl downtown, it was funny being in a place filled with gringoes! Afterwards I met an old friend from the summer,Roy, a chofer who worked at CPI, and we joked around for a while and danced some merengue with his friends. It was soooooooo much fun! I have had a dancing bug the last few days, every time I hear salsa I close my eyes and imagine spinning around on the dance floor. Excited for dance class with the students this Thursday!
This weekend I am tentatively planning a trip to Puntarenas: the festivals in the Puerto will be on, and I want to go with Muni and Royner, and maybe stay at Elliott's house in Esparza. We will see how it all pans out, but it would be a fun experience to go to a typical festival, especially with Muni and Royner.
My goal this evening? Paint my toes, make lunch for tomorrow, and rest.
Verbo of the day: contemplar, or contemplate.
Pura Vida!
I much prefer to be busy in the office...lately I have taken to printing things like student information sheets, questionnaires, and entrance exams to be ready for the busier weeks. Next week we have 11 new students...this will be my biggest Monday orientation yet. I hope I have more energy next week.
On Friday I went out with some friends and stayed out all the way up hearing my alarm ring to catch the morning bus to go to Heredia. How is that for crazy? I couldn't sleep much on the bus either, so I was pretty tired all afternoon. I went to San Joaquin and stayed with my Familia Tica there all afternoon, we made tamales!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tamales here are traditionally made with masa,have some veggies or meat inside, and then the whole blob is wrapped in banana leaves, tied, and cooked. Since this particular item requires a lot of work (washing the banana leaves, cutting them, making the masa, preparing the veggies and meat to go inside, putting the tamal together, wrapping, tying, and cooking) it is usually seen only at Christmas, served as a traditional dish at the table for the family (and how handy that the family is there to help make tamales!). we spent quite a while putting everything together, and now I know how to wrap and tie a tamal like a Tica : )
I also got to visit with Elliott in San Jose, we got dinner and walked around the mall San Pedro. We ate at a little place in the food court called "la burrita urbana," and the style was JUST LIKE CHIPOTLE!!It was great, the burrito even came wrapped in foil just like burritos from Chipotle. A little bit of Dayton...
On Sunday I watched the Superbowl downtown, it was funny being in a place filled with gringoes! Afterwards I met an old friend from the summer,Roy, a chofer who worked at CPI, and we joked around for a while and danced some merengue with his friends. It was soooooooo much fun! I have had a dancing bug the last few days, every time I hear salsa I close my eyes and imagine spinning around on the dance floor. Excited for dance class with the students this Thursday!
This weekend I am tentatively planning a trip to Puntarenas: the festivals in the Puerto will be on, and I want to go with Muni and Royner, and maybe stay at Elliott's house in Esparza. We will see how it all pans out, but it would be a fun experience to go to a typical festival, especially with Muni and Royner.
My goal this evening? Paint my toes, make lunch for tomorrow, and rest.
Verbo of the day: contemplar, or contemplate.
Pura Vida!