We're Off To See The Lizard!: Costa Rica Pura Vida

Well, here I have been in Costa Rica for about 4 weeks. Hard to believe! Doesn´t feel like it. Things are going really well. For me, being a teacher has been a new experience. I have no problem being in front of a class and being motivated. But planning lessons and actually making sure the students learn has been a new experience for me. The students are fantastic though and I have really enjoyed all my classes. The following picture is of San Juaquin, the town I live in. It is a very small town, more like just a stop on the road. The picture is of the Soccer field.

Here is a picture of what I wake up to every day! Really amazing, I wake up and if I just walk a little out into the Finca, there is a view of the entire valley. I have learned to really appreciate my surroundings more since I have been here and since I have had so much time on my hands.

The family I live with does a mission every weekend to a small indigenous village where they worship and provide a lesson out of the bible. It is truly amazing to see because the family I live with is comfortable, but they don't necesarily have a lot. And they still take time to provide for people who have even less. I think this is a great lesson for those of us who have much, and don't do something to give back. The past two weekends I went with them to the village. The last time I even took a guitar and played while they sang. The following pictures are of our trek out to the reserve and the house that we stayed in to worship.

This weekend I went and stayed with a professor from the High School. He lives in Tuis and larger town on the main road, about an hour away in the bus. Yesterday we walked around Tuis and got to know the town. I met all types of relatives, Mom, Brother, Cousin, Neighbors. Everyone had a story to tell, so I was definately practing my Spanish. At one point in a house Jimmy (The professor) grabbed a guitar and gave it to me telling everyone that I could improvise songs really well. But in Spanish is another story! Regardless I ended up singing a little song about Love and Mothers. The next day we went to a Soccer game where my high school was playing. They got dominated, but it was great to watch. Here is a picture of me and some of my students, followed by a picture of the game.

Then...just as the last game was finishing up. Everyone including myself started saying... va llover! Which means, its going to rain! Well sure enough within a few minutes it was pouring. The funny part is that Jimmy and I had gone on a motorcycle, and I drove because I can't fit on the back. We regardless, I ended up driving back in the pouring rain, down mountain roads, etc. But what a blast, we had a good laugh about it all. Here is a picture of Jimmy and I soaking wet when we got back.