Finishing up the trimester at work -- Getting ready to come home for Christmas!!

 Reminiscing about last Christmas. We had so much snow!
We were snowed in for a few days, if I remember right!
Unfortunately, my brother and sister-in-law didn't make it into this adorable family photo. By the time they did get home, I had thrown out my back for the first time in my life (glad it hasn't happened again since!) and was on the floor for the rest of the vacation.
Looking forward to seeing everyone and the snow again! :D
Happy Holidays everyone!
See you soon!

 This photo isn't mine, a friend from work, Jessy, took it. Every week the kids have Surf Club after school. Those who aren't surfing have fun in the sand. Such a beautiful photo, I had to share it!

 I got to see the baby turtles from the arrivada come out! There were 99 little babies that came from this nest! The little girl is a child from work, it was her birthday! What a great day! :D

 Dani and some friends came from San Jose and bought the biggest fish know to man! The guy fed 9 people for dinner, made several servings of ceviche and soup. (maybe tacos too, I don't know, it's one big fishy-fog)
It was kinda creepy, it stared at me, wherever I went. So, I left the room during the prep process.
BEST thing I've ever eaten though!

 This week I saw my first scorpion (thankfully, someone had nicely chopped off the stinger and it was dead)
I'm deciding to take it as a compliment. They could have left me a live one with a stinger! So, someone out there likes me, but shows it in an odd way!

 There's this lovely little restaurant called La Luna, that has the best view of the sunset! We went  out after work to enjoy the view. Had some great drinks and amazing desserts!

 Joey, got up, and lost his spot on the couch. That's what happens when you don't quack Joey.

 We went for a long, beautiful bike ride today! It couldn't have been any nicer! Blue skies, slight breeze to keep you cool. I love Costa Rica! They said that the Nicoya Peninsula is one of the happiest places on Earth. You can understand why, right!?

This is yet another shot of Ostional.
I love the beach! I can't get enough of seeing the ocean!

We're estimating it was about 23 km round trip (~14 miles), it was really nice, just  few hills; and I was glad to make it home!

Sorry, I've gotten bad at writing on here! I'll try to post more!

Thank you US Government

I got a warning email from the US Embassy office last night, warning me about flooding in the country of Costa Rica.
......
......
Um, I have noticed, thanks!
They also asked that I let everyone know how I am. Well, I'm blogging right now, so I think I've made it through! :)
Thankfully, my home is not near the river, so my house and I are safe. I was out with a coworker last night and she got a phone call around 9:30 that the school's playground was underwater. So, we headed over (as our classrooms are next in line to be underwater!) I never thought that the river would make it all of the way to the school! We have a boat on the playground for the kids to play on, and it was floating away! So Manuel and Inky waded in and tied the boat to a few things so that it will be there on Monday morning still.
I heard one of the super markets is underwater too. But, I see sunshine this morning! So, hopefully everything will dry up and the dry season can begin!

Hope everyone is safe where you are! Keep Costa Ricans in your thoughts this week, there are a lot of people not as fortunate as us, and have lost their homes, food, clothes, appliances, everything!
Love!
Sarah

Rainy Days

We've had a big week of rain here! The schools all over the country were shut down (aka. Rain Day!! No work today :D )
So, I get a three day weekend.....unfortunately, I can't go anywhere, bridges on all sides are down. The only place to go is the beach! (If only the sun would come out).
Today I made an early trip to the grocery store (got a jump in front of all of the people stocking up on food), made it to a yoga class, cleaned a bit and am now avoiding work! :)


Last weekend I got out of town and went to San Jose with my coworker, Aidi. It was so great to get out of Nosara. I went to a huge mall filled with people! It was heaven! (But also helped me appreciate Nosara). I was in awe. If I wanted to by something --- I could! It was a great feeling!
It was a productive shopping weekend, I got a lot of things for the classroom, a watch for myself and a very very beautiful bici -- I'm calling her Roxy. She's spunky and sporty! (Pictures to follow soon).

So, it's another rainy day in paradise! But I'm thankful to have the internet!

Tamales!!!!

I had an amazing experience tonight!
I got to go and help a local woman make tamales! You can't imagine how cool it was!
We literally went out into the jungle and cut down leaves from banana trees, then cleaned the leaves. Carolina already cooked the meat and the corn masa.
(Btw, I have never even eaten a tamale in my life...so I'm not quite sure why they let me help!)
Then we put them together, rolled it up, and steamed the tamale over a fire.
Super cool experience!

Also, the sheep at work today had lambs!!! She is the proud mommy of new little cuties, and as  you can imagine, we are having a hard time focusing on anything but these guys!

Ostional Arribada

Love it!

Hello Weekend!

Felicidades! Happy Friday everyone! We had a long week at school, filled with meetings anad whatnot. Monday, we will finally have kids in the classrooms! I'm ready to teach again! It's been an extraordinarily long break for me, since I finished last June in the States, and won't start until October 4th (aka, Bill's Birthday! Happy early Bday Dad!)

Today there was a butterfly that didn't want to leave the classroom, no matter how hard I tried, it just like my window, looking out to the playground! We are busy finishing up the prep. of the classroom, getting ready for the kids!

There is also a photo of my walk to school. It isn't far, but I can't really guess as to how far it is....maybe a 10 minute walk? Probably less, I didn't bring a watch with me, so I'm completely lost on time! But, it's pretty much a dirt road that goes through the jungle on the way to school.

I thought you might like to see a few photos for the place I will be working this year. It is super beautiful, but my pictures do it no justice!

We ended the day with a HH, turned into Supper (or Dinner for you non-Iowans) at Rancho Tico. Happy Weekend everyone! I'm hoping for a sunny day tomorrow so that we can go to the beach! :D

Adjusting to Living in Costa Rica

I'm starting to (finally) adjust to living in Costa Rica.
I can finally understand almost everyone. It took a while to not have to repeat what they said in my mind before I'm really sure what was said to me.

We did family interviews at work today (to help get to know everyone) and I did a few in solomente español!
Very proud of myself (obviously)!

The monkies have been getting closer to the house, there was a troop of about 12 the other day right by the pool! They don't get any closer than the trees at the property line though (thankfully and regretfully.....they could come over to my place for tea anytime).

There are some amazing bugs around here. There is a 6 inch grasshopper that we see everywhere.....I'm pretty sure it's not the same one....I think, I mean, he can probably jump pretty high.

We've had at lot of fun (when it is sunny....you need to run out when the rain stops, because it's going to start again soon!) at the pool. Here is my roommate and her boyfriend in the pool with one of the kids....

Here is a beautiful old church in Nicoya (a city closeby)

Livin' la vida.....

Ug, I'll have to get used to not being able to rely on the internet! My modem failed when the electrically blinked. And OF COURSE I didn't remember to bring a surge protector! International calling also isn't working on my phone, so I have no form of communication with the outside world at the moment.
Thank goodness my school is close to home, so I can just walk over and login! :D
I've been catching up on my reading, so sleeping a ton here! The sun starts coming up at 5a, but also starts setting around 5:30! So, I figure, why waste the sun! I've actually been waking up early! (Very proud of myself with that one).
I don't know if I wrote about the roads, but you won't BELIEVE the roads here! It takes 4-wheeling to a whole new extreme! HANG ON!
Friday, Vicky took me to Nicoya with her and I got to do some shopping for basics. On the way back we stopped at the best little soda (Tico for small, family owned restruant). It has the most amazing view I've ever seen in my life! When you come to visit......you know you are going to come and visit!........we have to stop there!
We went out to eat some pizza (was pretty decent) and listen to live music too.
Saturday we went to Playa Guillones and I watched Vicky surf, while I read and took in some sun. I love the Costa Rican sun! Even when I burned, by the time I woke up in the morning, it was a tan! No peeling or grossness! (It's magical here!)
After that we went to a protection center that rescues baby monkies. I got to hold and play with baby howlers for 2 whole hours!!!! Seriously, luckiest girl in the world! I'm going to make that a regular event!
Yesterday we went out hiking and walked to the end of Playa Guillones, across the rocks to some non-well-known tide pools and swam for a few hours. We met some locals that were hunting for mussels (I'm told when mixed with rice is delicious....I'm not so sure about that).
I did get WAY too much sun yesterday. Promise, kept applying sunscreen, but it did no good! The hike back, I just kept my towel over my shoulders.....it's still red today (guess the sun isn't magical afterall!)
Which leads to today......nothing big happening. Just catching up on emails....hoping to work out a bank account. No one will accept my cashiers check that I brought with me. I have to open up a bank account (which I can't do until I have bills stating that I live here......which I won't get for a few more weeks). And then, I have to wait 27 days until it clears......so...I have 10,000 colones in my pocket (about 20 dollars), that I'm holding on to, and hope I can make it streeeettttcccchhhhh.
:D

Finally in Nosara!

Whew! It took over a week, but I finally arrived in Nosara.

Following the typical Tico (Costa Rican) style, things took a little longer than planned.

We drove from San Jose on Tuesday to Nosara. The drive was BEAUTIFUL!! I can't describe it, and pictures don't do it justice, but look to the right for a link to photos.

I read/heard about the final road to Nosara, but didn't believe it. Holy Crap! It was 40 minutes of the worst road known to man (Ok, there has to be worse out there). It's a dirt road, but there are pot holes the size of a hippopotamus. Most of you should be visiting me during the dry season, so hopefully it won't be so bad.

When you drive into Nosara, you have no idea that you are in a town. It's just the same dirt road, and every once in a while you see a turn off, but no homes or businesses are in sight. Everything is literally IN the jungle.

When we arrived at my home, my director's husband drove me to the house, and there weren't any keys around, so I couldn't move in! SO, we drove a half hour back out to their house, and I got to stay over night. WOW! What a view! They are way up the hillside and have an ocean view!

The next morning, I got to actually move in! Keys and all.

When we pulled up, one of the owners of the school called and was headed to Playa Guillones and asked if I wanted to join her. So, as soon as my bags were in the door, the swim suit was on, and out I went!

Everything is amazing, but interesting.

Upsides: Great water pressure and hot water!

Downside: It's warm, so I don't want to use the hot water...

Upside: Fresh fruits and veggies

Downside: I don't know what any of them are, or how to cook them

Upside, I get to compost, literally right over my back fence!

Downside: NONE, Love that!

Upside: There is a pool 15 feet from my front door

Downside: They don't use feet here, so I can't really give a proper measurement

San Jose

I got into San Jose last week Wednesday! Crazy! Can't believe I'm really here!

I had the best cabbie ever - he stopped on the way to the hostel and bought me my first Imperial (Costa Rican beer).

I stayed at Galileo Hostel. If you ever need a place to stay - you have to stay here! Great people, amazing guests...good times had by all!

I spent a day going around San Jose and seeing the sights - and getting my final paperwork done, so I can work here legally. I was so glad when I got all of that done! Now I can just sit back and enjoy my time here!

I got to go to Pacuare River and do some amazing white water rafting, I think I may be hooked on this one! We had amazing guides and did an 18 mile run down the river. I came back to the hostel and met two great girls from California, Katie and Kirby. It was Katie's birthday, so we threw her a toga party, which was excellent!

So, here I am, last day in San Jose. I leave tomorrow for Nosara! Can't wait to get into my new home and meet the people, and see the beach!

Really.....Nosara?

The most common question, when I tell people that I'm moving is....

Really? Nosara? No...Sara? Aren't you going to take that as a sign?

Answer: Nope!

Yes, I realize the name of the town is screaming for me to turn the other way. In a rational world, I might listen. BUT, I want to! (insert foot stomp)

In one week, I'll be getting on a jetplane, (don't worry mom, I do know when I'll be back again) for San Jose, Costa Rica! I hope to take a small vacation there, and then will be off to Nosara -- where I'll meet my coworkers, in person (instead of Skype) and my new work and home for the next year.

I am uber-excited!

Major task for the next week: Try to figure out how to get everything I want to bring with into two suitcases, a carry on, and a 'personal item'.
I'm taking volunteers for sitting on my suitcases to get them closed. Sorry Becky, I don't think you will fit in there after all.