Crying

This little boy

From 0 to 4 years of age

has my heart.

See?  Proof Baby Brother likes kids. 

 
Meet Mr. Cars.  This little man stole my heart 5 years ago when he would cry himself to sleep in my arms at church.  Mr. Cars wiggled his way into the Hubs' heart too.  Mr. Cars spent nights, days, and holidays with us and both of our families.  Baby Brother even let him play video games with him (and Baby Brother claims to not like kids).

Like I said, Mr. Cars and I met when he was just a baby.  We met at the same church that the Hubs and I met.  He was the first born to a very young mother.

Lighting McQueen and Mater (can't you tell?)

Lighting McQueen (after his nap) and Doc.  

Mr. Cars and I built a relationship that turned into calling me on the phone and running to me anytime he saw me.  From our relationship, I got to know his mom, great aunt, and other family and friends just a little better.  I had a car seat permanently in my car so I could go get him anytime it was needed and a space for his toys and books in our apartment.  We dressed up as the Cars characters for Halloween (hint: he LOVES cars).

I saw pictures of a beautiful friend's wedding and this one spurred this post to be dedicated to Mr. Cars because this is what he looks like now.
--->
I miss his beautiful smile and warm hugs.

My love for him and desire to be a positive influence is what I desire to do here in Costa Rica as well.  I want to make a difference here as well. I want it to be something that is life long.  I want my help to make a difference in someone's life.  Maybe share my believe in all can learn or maybe a desire to use creative, interactive lessons so students can have the education they need to go after their dreams.
Education is a door to one's dreams coming true.  The teachers have the key.  I will help teachers and students open the door to their dreams.  I will make an impact.  And I will tell Mr. Cars all about it when I see him after giving him a big bear hug, of course.

Succeeding in Talking

Day one of my conversation club was deemed a success.  This is my first project to create and direct solo.  My main objectives while in Costa Rica are to improve the English teachers' English and teaching methods.

To accomplish the first goal, I am giving a 40 hour English conversation club each semester.  I have a group for my primary school teachers and high school teachers.  Starting next year, there is talk of facilitating a beginner and advance club.
The first day did not go without bumps along the way but overall it was great.  The first day focused on getting to know the teachers (16 in each group).  We played a couple of games, laughed, and of course, talked.
The conversation club will cover topics ranging from favorite food and childhood memory to what makes someone a learner or teacher.  This is my baby.  How, I enjoyed rocking that thing solo (with the occasional help from the Hubs).

The participants spoke more than I have ever heard them in any workshop I have been at and I got to know them more personally.
I believe this is a sustainably project because of two reasons.  The teachers are gaining confidence in their English and as they do that they will speak more English in their classroom thus providing more opportunities for their students to hear and speak English.  And the other is even if my counterpart isn't able to do this after I leave, I can see some of the participants doing this on their own at their schools or elsewhere.
After all the frustration of preparing this course (I had to change and add things to fit the expectations of MEP), I feel like this will be a favorite project of mine.  I plan on doing this for two groups once every semester.  And the teachers earn a few extra colones a month for participating!

If you have any topic ideas, let me know.  I am always up to improving and hearing new ideas.

Calling this home

This past few days have been wonderful professionally and personally.  The Hubs and I spent Monday and Tuesday in the capitol because of meeting I had with my boss and few other PCVs.

The meeting itself was extremely insightful and encouraging.  It provided clarity for my work with Peace Corps as well as my work with my counterpart (To ensure sustainability, all PCVs work with a counterpart).  It got me excited to for the upcoming year and a boost to finish this year.  Great things are going to be happening for PCCR TEFL.

It is a big deal when I wear my bangs down now.  

After the meeting, the Hubs and I spent the rest of our time soaking in the capitol and enjoying the pieces of the States that it offers.  The Hubs surprised me with dinner at Chili's!  Now while we lived in the States, Chili's was not my top choice for date night but when I am living in a foreign country my opinion changes.  Chili's was PERFECT.  It offered me cheese dip and a chicken wrap.  Foods I have been craving for a long time.

I waited a long time for a butterfly to land on my finger.
I am patient now.  :)

The next day, the Hubs took me to the National Museum.  Where we enjoyed the butterfly garden, indigenous art, and a peek in Costa Rica's colonial past.

The Hubs has good taste.  

The beautiful mountains surrounding the capitol.  

On the 4 1/2 hour bus ride home I did a lot of thinking.  One was that I was glad to go home.  Home is now Santa Cruz, wow!  I was ready to go home.  Home is where a person invests their time and energy.  And that is Santa Cruz for me.
Being a PCV means uncertainty and instability of knowing your place and purpose in your community.  While that is still the case for me, I feel comfortable with the Host Fam, have a strong desire to work alongside my teachers, and love to laugh with the women in the office.
Second was that I was ready to hit the ground running with my goals.  I can't wait to start my women's exercise group with my co-workers, visit my teachers in the surround area, and begin my conversation club.  While there are inevitably frustrating moments (like today) I am enjoying my life here.

See?

I am better at taking the illusion photos.  

I am writing this as a reminder for myself.  Accepting this life was harder than I thought.  Coming to this realization was long time coming.  I am committed this part of my life.  This is my personal journal that I am willing to share.  This means while the Hubs and I will visit the States, we welcome anyone to come experience our life here is Costa Rica with us.  Whether that is by visiting us, Skyping us, snail mailing us, or Facebooking us do it.  We also want to hear from you.  We are working hard to stay connected to our forever friends.  If we are failing on our end, reach out to us.

Remembering our first visitors

Before the big shake, we had a big surprise.  The Hubs family visited and brought me my early birthday gift...my mom.  Those 5 days we a whirlwind and so much fun.



Day 1: We started off with a visit to our host family to present them with some gifts.  Of course including Thunder gear, Native Americans, toys, and a painting from my grandma to our Tico artist.









Day 2: We visited two beautiful beaches, Samara and Carrillo.  (Yes, the Samara where the 7.6 earthquake was).  We swam, boogie boarded, and talked the whole day.  Then enjoyed a delicious barbecue with our host family.  "De mi familia a su familia.  Ahora una familia."

Day 3: We drank all the coffee we wanted at a coffee plantation near Monte Verde and risked our lives on the ziplines above the beautiful cloud forest on Monte Verde.

Day 4: Was a day in the Hub's and mine town.  We visited the Hub's high school, walked in the heat, and ate at a favorite restaurant.   After lunch we ventured toward another local town to look at and purchase some gorgeous pottery.  Then we enjoyed a delicious dinner at my counterpart's home and had a short adventure of walking home in complete darkness because our power went out for the first time since living here.

Day 5: We ventured to see my first volcano!  However, Arenal cannot be climbed (too dangerous) just viewed as you drive around the whole lake and when you do hikes around the base to see wonderfully cool creatures.









Day 6: We said good bye to 3 of our 5 visitors because the other two got to stay for FREE in an ALL INCLUSIVE resort since their airline over booked the plane.  I was lucky enough to get to stay with them (sadly the Hubs had to work so he was unable to partake with us).

Day 7: I said good bye to sister in law #1 and my mom.

It was a glorious trip and I am forever thankful for my whole family (bio, in-law, and Tico).  I am one blessed woman.  I can't wait to see both families for Christmas and enjoy some cooler weather.  But for now, I will take in the rumbling adventures I have here.  Including more earthquakes (yep 5.6 today), running with the torch signifying independence for Central America, speaking Spanish, and rocking in my favorite chair.

Earth Shattering

7.6- Doesn't seem like a big number till it is the number representing the quake we felt this past Wednesday.  Here is our story...
The Hubs and I both had the day off so we enjoyed sleeping a little later and had just finished our gallo pinto for breakfast.  The Hubs and I were helping our host mom fold our clothes, when the house started shaking.  The four of us (host bro #1 + us) looked at each other then host bro #1 yelled "corre!"

Everything on the floor and the bed one foot closer to the door

We booked it out of the house and into the street where I saw tiles falling off of houses, our family's jeep bouncing up down, people screaming "Dios mios!" and running everywhere.  When the shaking finally stopped host bro #1 took off the 300 meters to check on his kids at the school with his dog K right on his heels.  Host bro #2, hands me host niece #5 and runs to go get host niece #4.  I didn't realize how the quake effected me till I was holding host niece #5 and my legs were shaking.

                               These pictures have something in common...can you find it?

The days following the earthquake were spent outside, nervous, camping out, rain, rocking, with bug bites, and talking.

Oh, and being watched over by La Lisa.

Surprising

Last week was our IST (In-Service Training) which is given on our 3 month mark of living in our site.  That also means we have lived in country for 6 months!  I cannot believe that it has been 6 months.  It has been a true emotional roller coaster.

Back to IST, it is a full week of technical and core training (very similar to PST) but the best part is that our whole training group has to be there.  So we got to catch up with everyone (but one who had an interruption of service and left for the States last week) and just hang out together after classes.

Taco Tuesday!

It was wonderful to see people who have been come some of our dearest friends.  We have built strong relationships with some of the volunteers and with our common bond of serving in the Peace Corps we will forever have this connection.

The boys posing like girls and the girls posing like boys. 

IST was informational and allowed for me to talk with my boss and a PCV from another group, who is currently transitioning to a job like mine.  This 2 hour+ conversation helped us define what our specific goals are and define the specific activities to carry out the goals.  I do not work in a school like the others in my group do.  I was asked to work along side the English assessor with the goal of providing opportunities to train the teachers.  This assignment means I have a totally different PCV experience and it was nice to sit and talk with someone who had similar situations as me.  The conversation will hopefully lead to some new and exciting opportunities for us and I can't wait to see them play out.

IST was a wonderful moral booster as well as rejuvenated us.  I got excited to go back to work and put into place ideas that were imagined from the past week.

To end IST, the Hubs and I picked up his fam for their first visit to Costa Rica!

Upon greeting them, my mom-in-law said that they had accidentally left a gift back over there and they had sent one of my sisters in law to go get it.  I had hugged all that were present and went (with some encouragement) to go find my other sister in law.  I found her and put her in a bear hug while hearing my mom in law ask if I had found my present yet.  I look up and saw my present.....
MY MOM!

Running and jumping off the porch.

Our two families have been conspiring this for two months.  My in-laws invited my mom to come with them to visit for the week.  That is in the top 3 of my favorite surprises (even though, ironically, I am not a fan of surprises).
This is the third surprise that our families have pulled over me.  The first one was getting the Hubs to Texas where I was working after we had spent the summer apart (he in Africa).

Shocked 

The second surprise was when the Hubs proposed  to me at the annual Christmas party at the church I worked at.  It consisted of 200+ roses (that were given to me by my CHill family) and a popped question that forever changed my life.










I am so blessed to have such TWO loving families.  I am off to the beach with the family!
Have a great week!

Introducing

After 6 months of living in Costa Rica and 3 of them in our new home.  I am finally going to introduce our family and town to you.

First off, our familia Tica:

Meet our host parents, Papa M and Mama I.

Ending a day of fishing with a bonfire. 

Oh, yea, Papa M is an artist.  See?

One of our Tico brothers and his family lives with us.  These are Host Bro #1's kids.  

Oh yea, they are hardcore typical dancers. 

Meet La Lisa, the house's guard puppy.

We also have two other host brothers and their families that are our neighbors.

 Now here are two reasons for being here...

the Hubs spends his time here at the bilingual.

This is where I spend a good portion of my time.  The MEP regional office of Santa Cruz. 

But Santa Cruz has much more to offer.  It is home to about 20,000 people.  Has two Catholic churches, a methodist church, and few that we haven't figured out just yet.  5 major grocery stores, 2 bus stations, a lot of little tiendas, 4 electronic/furniture stores, a large variety of restaurants, a park, and two plazas.  And few fresh fruit stands/store where I can buy some tasty fruit, like these....

My favorite fruit, mamon chino.  Google how to eat them.

With Peace Corps we have had wonderful opportunities such as spending time with the president of Costa Rica.  

Since living in another country we have missed younger brother's college graduation, two of my best friends moving, two other best friends' first baby, the start of high school senior year for baby brother, my favorite Sonic drink, favorite food in general (gallo pinto can only be eaten at every meal for so long), and other things like driving and air conditioning.

However, it has brought new things, like meeting seeing the president, meeting people from the national MEP office, starting classes, learning a new language (I just declared today that I have a grasp, however small, on Spanish), building relationships, getting a haircut from me for the first time, and exploring another culture.  

The next six months will bring another haircut for the Hubs, visit from the Hub's family, a week long training in a nice hotel with the rest of our group for a week, the actual start of new projects, first major holiday miss for me, a visit to the States to celebrate my favorite holiday, a (hopeful) opportunity at facilitating workshops on a larger scale, and who else knows.  

Hope you have a great weekend!