Oiga Palomita!

So, I've really gotten into the swing of things here! I am absolutely loving my English class! My students are really learning and they keep telling me how fun the class is and that I should be a comedian! I've been so busy lately, doing all sorts of different things! At the beginning of November, we had this big meeting/retreat called AVC, which is the All Volunteer Conference. All the volunteers in Costa Rica and all the staff came. I got to meet a bunch more volunteers! It was great. And the best part of all of it was the last night...On the last night we had a talent show. Oh yeah, here it comes. Of course I participated! While others showed talents like talking with their mouth closed, signing to the rap song 'Jump Around', playing the guitar and singing a song they wrote for their wife, I was telling Grandma stories! I really do believe it's my calling to be a comedian. I felt so at home in front of 100+ people, saying things like " Numba won grandadur!" and enjoying their laughter. So when it came down the the finalists, oh yeah, I got 3rd place!!! This was definitely a highlight of my time here with my fellow volunteers! Then, I was off seeing a Costa Rican Rock band, which I totally have a crush on the guitar player. And now, I'm going to San Jose to celebrate Thanksgiving! I'm actually going to have a for real traditional dinner! Me, along with some other volunteers, are going to this American family's house and we'll have all the real stuff! Stuffing, turkey, pumpkin pie! It's going to be incredible! Meanwhile, I'm actually switching houses! My family that I've been living with for the last 6 months is moving!! So, I'm going to be living with my host mom's sister and her family! I'm excited about the move and change because it opens up more experiences! I've already moved about half of my stuff over there and I'll be moving the rest this coming weekend so that I'll be officially living there December 1st! Then, before you know it, I'll be in Panama!!! I'm going there for Christmas! I'll be traveling down there with some friends and it's gonna be great! Then, when I get back, soon after that, my sister is coming to visit in January! Yeah!!! I know it's early, but it's gonna be March before we know it and I'll be hitting the one year mark! Isn't that nuts!!??

There is a cool park in Zarcero! Check out the landscaping!

Pretty cool!

There's a pretty church there, too!

This is one of the very many cool paintings and murals around UCR

Another cool mural at UCR

This is me and my host sister from Vuelta de Jorco last month!!! Adorable!

This is my friend Brigitte, another volunteer! Look at the size of that bug!

p.s. It's really special when you leave me comments! hint hint! Is anyone reading this anymore?

I'm still alive!

Well, it has been awhile! Things are going really really well! I've gotten quite busy! I work up at the High School 3 days a week and now have my very own English class that I teach 2 nights a week to a class of 25! I was so nervous the day of the class, but then every thing went so smoothly! People were even saying that my class is fun! Yes! I think I've found my calling. I mean, we all know I like to be the center of attention, but now I'm putting it to good use! I've made some more friends from San Ramon and I'm becoming very close with the english teacher's at the high school! They've been inviting me to their houses for various things and I'm really feeling very included and connected! It's been raining a lot in my town recently. Here in Costa Rica, they have 2 seasons. The rainy season, and the not so rainy. We're in the rainy. And when it rains, it sounds like the heavens have opened up and all the rain for the entire world is coming down on my house alone. This is probably because the roof is tin, but still! I've also been able to play the piano up at the small college in San Ramon. It's about a 30-45 minute bus ride from my town, but it's worth it! I've already written 4 new songs! And I have one little groupie guy that comes to listen! I've been making friends with the guards, too! They all know me by name now! For the next few weekends, I'm booked out the wazooh! I'm going to Cano Negro this weekend for a festival. Then the following weekend, I'm going back to my training community, Vuelta de Jorco to visit my host family (whom I've missed very much!), and the next weekend is Halloween! I've been invited to a family's house to have a potluck dinner. This will be my first potluck Halloween! Hey, there's a first time for everything, right? Then before I know it, it's off to AVC. The all volunteer conference. All the volunteers from all the different groups in Costa Rica come together for 4 days at a retreat type place! That should be fun! I'll have to report back on all of this again soon!!!

I love this wall!

Random things I come across....I love it!

Who knew? Chocolate ice cream and jello is delicious....together!

Costa Rican Independence Day!

Love the dancing!

Well, it has been awhile! Things are going really really well! I've gotten quite busy! I work up at the High School 3 days a week and now have my very own English class that I teach 2 nights a week to a class of 25! I was so nervous the day of the class, but then every thing went so smoothly! People were even saying that my class is fun! Yes! I think I've found my calling. I mean, we all know I like to be the center of attention, but now I'm putting it to good use! I've made some more friends from San Ramon and I'm becoming very close with the english teacher's at the high school! They've been inviting me to their houses for various things and I'm really feeling very included and connected! It's been raining a lot in my town recently. Here in Costa Rica, they have 2 seasons. The rainy season, and the not so rainy. We're in the rainy. And when it rains, it sounds like the heavens have opened up and all the rain for the entire world is coming down on my house alone. This is probably because the roof is tin, but still! I've also been able to play the piano up at the small college in San Ramon. It's about a 30-45 minute bus ride from my town, but it's worth it! I've already written 4 new songs! And I have one little groupie guy that comes to listen! I've been making friends with the guards, too! They all know me by name now! For the next few weekends, I'm booked out the wazooh! I'm going to Cano Negro this weekend for a festival. Then the following weekend, I'm going back to my training community, Vuelta de Jorco to visit my host family (whom I've missed very much!), and the next weekend is Halloween! I've been invited to a family's house to have a potluck dinner. This will be my first potluck Halloween! Hey, there's a first time for everything, right? Then before I know it, it's off to AVC. The all volunteer conference. All the volunteers from all the different groups in Costa Rica come together for 4 days at a retreat type place! That should be fun! I'll have to report back on all of this again soon!!!

Fungus of the arm...oh my.

So, where to begin? I've been doing a lot of random things lately. I spent a day at this girls grandparent's house and it was really nice. After everything I said, the grandmother would say "Que bueno" very enthusiastically. This went on for 7 hours. And it was a good time. Let's see, what else has happened? Oh yeah, I'm in the Peace Corps office right now. We have IST (in-service training) for the week. Only, it starts tomorrow! It's easy for me to lose track of which day is which and what date is what, so I'm here...a day early! I'm going to have to stay in a hotel because I don't want to travel all the way back home, just to turn around in the morning! There's a nice hotel up the street...I'm on my way there after I finish writing this! Whoops! In other news, I had a pretty successful turn out to my little meeting about my english course. I have around 30 people interested in being in my course and I was so proud of myself because for an hour straight I explained everything to the them...in spanish! I really feel like I'm making some progress in the language! But it's still easier for me to speak than to listen. But we already knew that! Oh, and the Costa Rican version of "So you think you can dance?" has started. That can be quite interesting to watch. It's live and ends whenever the dancers are done...This can be over 3 and a half hours! They have different programming here. So shows start at 1:17 in the afternoon or can end at 5:42. You can never be too sure when a show is starting or ending! But anyways! I think I'm going to head off for my 1 mile walk to the hotel! Tomorrow is the real first day of IST and I'll be here for 1 week and then it's back to my town to start my english course and to start helping all the english teachers in the high school! Next time I should be able to post some more pictures! Bye for now!

Hijo de Piña!

This is a farm with plants called Cane India.

Two cool butterflies!

This is the guy....Yecson!

This is my sister and our friend Steven!! (Steven has some German family down the line!)

So, I have officially fallen in love with Costa Rica. Do you want to know why? I have a pretty good reason. Costa Rica sells eggnog. Oh yes they do! And not just during Christmas time! They sell it all year...everyday!!! Except, it's called Rompope here. I had no idea what this unusal thing was. It's sitting next to the yogurt at the supermarket. I thought it was a white yogurt, or plain yogurt. When I finally asked somebody and found out what it actually was, that is the moment I fell in love! And it's delicious! But enough about eggnog! I've got even bigger news! Nace un Estrella. That means "Born a Star". It's a show on tv here that is the equivalent to American Idol. This year's winner is a guy named Yecson, (pronounced Jackson). Long story short, by a stroke of fate, my sister here (Amalia) met him in San Ramon (a town close to mine). They immediately clicked and have been dating ever since. He showed up at the house and sang to us and it was incredible! His voice is great! And by Costa Rican standars, he's a big shot! Famous! I know famous people in Costa Rica! This is awesome. And the best part is I had him rolling! I was telling stories from America, mainly about my Korean grandma, and it was a hoot! I really wonder how I sound to them. How bad is my accent? Are they really laughing at my jokes, or at me?! Who knows, but it's funny all the same! Anyways! Things are going really well! Next month, I'll be starting my English courses for the community and also start helping the high school. I met all of the english teachers in the high school, so I'll be making a schedule with them and I'll start going to the school to help their classes everyday! I can't wait! Did I tell you guys about Dowglaus? It's a guy I know here, and his name is pronounced Douglas by the way! He and his family make all natuarl shampoo and it is awesome! It's made with honey and aloe vera and doesn't have any chemicals or anything! My hair has never been better! Anyone who wants to buy some for real all natural shampoo, let me know!! Anyways! Gotta skoot! I'll try to write again soon!

I carry a palo.

Hola all!

I don't have any photos for you this time, but I'm full of stories! I am absolutely loving loving loving my new town! I can easily see myself living here for the next 2 years and am greatly looking forward to a lot of rewarding work! I've become friends with some of the youth here and have been spending my time attending various events! Including, the 70th wedding anniversary for my my friends grandparents! It was insane. They were up and dancing and everything. They are both in their 90's and are in such great health!! And not to brag, but my spanish is really improving! I'm able to have conversations and understand what's going on! Don't get me wrong, I have a long way to go, but I can make people laugh! That's always my measurement of success! :) For the 4th of July I'm heading over to a different town to celebrate with some of my other fellow volunteers! I haven't seen any of them for over a month, so I'm really excited to see those familiar faces! Life in my house is awesome. My family is crazy in all the best ways! My dad is an ex-weightlifter...deadlifting! We seriously sing karaoke together in the house and it is hilarious! Especially when it's "Pump up the Jam"!!! My sister is a soprano singer and she any my mom are always singing some tune I don't understand, but I love it! And my little brother...he's amazing. He's 13 years old and has the ability to eat 2 pounds of rice and beans in one sitting! He's maybe 5 feet tall and weighs 80 lbs, at best! I've taken pictures for proof! I'm just really thankful because I am so comfortable and so happy where I am! I love the town and I love getting to know the people! It's a small town, so word spreads fast! I don't even have to introduce myself all the time, they know who I am! Right now, I'm just practicing my spanish and getting to know my area. Starting in September is when the real work begins and I should start helping out at the high school and the elementary school. I'll also be starting English classes, too! I can't wait! Anyways, I need to run! Hopefully next time I can post some more pictures! Hope everything going well in your neck of the woods!! I heard that Michael Jackson died...and Farrah Fawcett!!! :( It was big news over here! Anyways! I'll write again soon!

You should name him....Pulga.

This is how we roll....
If I am fat, it is not my fault.
My view from my horse.
What is that?

My new favorite flower!



My days in my training community are coming quickly to a close. Imagine riding on a roller coaster for the last 10 weeks, without stopping, and you are barely grasping what it's been like! I am so happy because I recently visited my new town and I am absolutely in love. I love my new host family, my new community, and everything surrounding it! My swearing in ceremony is this Friday and then after that, I'm headed west my son...well actualy northwest...but anyways! For those of you who know me best, you are well aware that I easily get carsick. I am seriously going to videotape my hours on the bus. It's like a runaway train on Blood Mountain (for my GA friends!). I wish there were a better way for me to capture my experience here because I feel like I am leaving so much off and still have so much to say! My Spanish has gotten a lot better and I feel a lot more comfortable getting around! I can't wait until I am more fluent and don't have to concentrate so hard just to speak and understand. I'm on my computer right now, so I'll upload a bunch of pictures! And I'm also very excited to get to my town because things will really slow down and I should be able to be in better contact with all of you....Especially you Lesli! I want to give a shout out to you and your new job! I have not forgotten you! :) I'll hopefully write again soon!

Swine is fine!

I'm still alive! I'm nearing the end of my training and it's been a crazy last few weeks! I've been traveling all over the country and we just had a big site revealing on Friday! I know where I'm going to live now! Everyone is really excited and we are spread out all across Costa Rica! I'm going to be living about an hour or so away from San Jose! Before revealing, we had Tech Week, and I visited a town that was so hot, it was seriously 90 degrees in my room at night! So, I'm really excited because I am going to be living in a cooler community! It's in the mountains! Who would have thought? I move to Costa Rica and I'm living in the mountains! How awesome! And I'm only an hour or so from a beach, too! And I'll be working with youth, teaching english, and helping with computers! I'll try to blog again soon and add some more pictures! Bye for now!

They is some carb-a-holics up in here.....

I am loving this! I had an exam in Espanol ayer (yesterday) and I did really well!! I've been processing quickly in Spanish...which is no big surprise! I love to talk! In any language! I'm now able to have conversations with my family and I'm learning more and more about Costa Rica and all the amazing things here! I've had so many crazy things happen, I don't even know where to begin! I had an awesome birthday with fellow volunteers and mi familia aqui! We celebrated Easter....all week! It's huge here! It's like Christmas! Everything shuts down and the buses don't run and it was really quiet! Everyone was at home with their families and it was really nice. I had a 4 day break! I had a lot of quality time with my family and it really helped me with the language even more! Next time I'll have to post some more pictures I've taken, especially the ones with my little sister here! She is so adorable! I think I'll take her with me...Oh yeah! Random side note! I totally have gotten attacked...3 times....by 3 different dogs!!! I don't know what it is, but Caesar Milan aka The Dog Whisperer, needs to get up in here. All his techniques failed me...They roam the streets and then I went down this one street and 4 dogs (they were actually really small) followed me, one got scarred, barked, got the others all worked up, and then one bit my calf....It was actually pretty funny because I screamed like a baby...The dog probably weighs 8 pounds...but still! Later, that same day, I got bit by another dog! Long stories...I'm fine, but it's pretty crazy! And don't worry...I don't have rabis! (I hope! ;) I've officially gotten to the half-way point through training! 6 more weeks and it'll be time to get to my permanent site for the next 2 years! I feel like I've been here for 5 months! Time is very different here! So much has happened! You have no idea how much I am leaving out! I need to write a book...just on the last 6 weeks! Anyways! I hope you all are doing well! Sorry I can't post more often. I'm going a mile a minute here! Eating my gallo pinto, taking my bus through the montanas, and learning how to flush a toilet without the handle (oh yes, I have mastered it). It's all good! Hopefully I'll be able to write again soon! :)

Apparently Leah is too hard....Leo will do.

The tides of the sea of Espanol are still at work, but I've found a twig to keep me afloat. I just spent 4 days in another town, visitiing another Peace Corps Volunteer who has been living in Costa Rica for 1 year and 4 months! It definitely gave me a feel for what it might be like for me, once I get to my site (which I still don't know where that is yet!). I was just in Tierra Blanca, which is about 2 or so hours away from where I am right now. And I couldn't believe it....it was SOOO cold! Es muy muy frio, especialmente en la noche! We were at a really high altitude and we went up to the highest Volcano in Costa Rica! Volcan Irazu! I totally got altitude sickness, but it was worth it! We were above the clouds and then we were in the clouds! It was awesome! I had fun meeting more Costa Ricans in the town and they were so nice and friendly! One guy said that I should stay in TB for 8 days, and I would become fluent in Spanish. Random side note, yesterday we had our weekly meeting about CED....that makes no sense to you, but hang on. I'm in a room with about 20 other people, who are my great friends now, and my chair completely bends and breaks, with me on it, which cause me to fall to the ground in the middle fo the room. It was very loud and very funny and very very very unexpected! Just a day in the life!