as fast as it began...

Summers have always been my favorite months of the year. First, it was because I got to go to girl scout camp and do swim team. When I got older, summer became a time to work and earn money, and head to the beach on the weekends with my friends. Every summer, I usually learn something new about myself... that I actually do like sushi, that I need to stop getting speeding tickets, things like that.  This summer, I learned more about myself than ever before. I grew in ways I didn't think possible.

Here are some things I learned during my summer in Costa Rica

1) Being a teacher is the only job for me, and I am lucky to have found a profession that brings me so much joy.

2) Communication is life and c

2 1/2) BUT communication barriers are surmountable, with hard work and a smile

3) Charades is a legitimate form of communication, and works effectively 99% of the time

4) No matter how old I get, calling my mom always makes me feel at home

5) Everything is possible through faith and prayer

6) Cockroaches, rats, and tarantulas aren't as scary when they are a part of everyday life

7) Kids are just kids, and they learn no matter how you teach them

8) TRANQUILO- rough Costa Rican translation "calm down crazy American", I learned that being "tranquilo" is the only way to live, and things always have a way of working themselves out

9) Being "picky" is a luxury and something that is quickly forgone when hunger sets in (ie rice and beans all day everyday- breakfast, lunch, and dinner)

10) McDonalds is the greatest cure for "I Miss America" syndrome, I am not sure if this is pathetic or not

My "volunteer" summer in Costa Rica did provide a service to the community in which I lived, but as I look back on my months spent in Picagres, I feel like that community gave me so much in return. By watching the people around me I saw the importance of family, of face-to-face communication, of trust, and of living simply and happily. And honestly, as I sit here typing this, I am struggling to think of the right words to truly describe my epic, tumultuous, roller coaster ride of a summer. The only thing I can say is that after this summer, I have a renewed love of teaching, a goal to keep practicing and expanding my espanol skills and the piece of advice to go out and experience the unfamiliar, because it will really change your perspective on what is important in life.

BUT, I CAN NOT DENY I AM HAPPY TO BE HOME

they learned so much! watch and see!

The students were so excited to hear about my  "universidad" so I taught them a Gator cheer- duh. After every class, before I dismissed them, we did this cheer. And then, like it says, they got up and went!

Some more precious videos that I have to share with you. The kindergartners really learned so much!

And, Josebel... told me this EVERYDAY! In and outside of school... 

... and I always responded "YES ENGLISH, NO SPANISH"

I'm going to miss these kids.

There have been many instances where the word "fiesta" was used in conversation here. Now, before I go into detail, let me remind you that 9 out of every 10 conversations I have had this summer, have ended with me understanding only about 1/2 to 1/3 of what was being communicated.... that is a lot of math and too many numbers for my taste. However, the odds that I 100% understand what someone is trying to tell me is slim, normally what happens is I nod or smile and say "si, si" and walk away like "omigosh what did I just agree too???!!" Then, sometimes hours, sometimes days, sometimes months, I realize exactly what that one conversation was about... too little, too late, oops :)

Anyways, back to the "fiestas." The very first night in Picagres, I was brought to a "fiesta", a birthday party for someone's dad? Uncle? Still not sure. Then a few weeks later, I was asked to another "fiesta", a quincenera for one of my student's sisters and legitimately a huge party. Then one time my host mom brought me to a "fiesta" that was actually a funeral for someone who recently died. One time a "fiesta" meant saying the rosary at the church for a few hours, one time it meant playing BINGO.... so I learned to take the English translation lightly. You might anticipate my hesitation when my host family told me about a three-day fiesta that occurred this past weekend. She told me it was two towns away, we had to walk, and there would be, and I translate "a mass and men serenading with guitars." It sounded fishy, but I tagged along. 

Now THIS fiesta was something I had NEVER experienced in Costa Rica. We arrived and I saw lights, and a disco ball, and a ferris wheel, a carousel, cotton candy, popcorn, a dance floor, carnival games, and yes a band of men playing all sorts of instruments! Now this was a fiesta! Taylor, if your reading this, or anyone else who has ever had the pleasure of eating at Las Margs in Gainesville, where the awkward marachi band plays at your table for a tip.... well it was like that.  And the "carousel" was actually a bunch of plastic Barbie trucks and such screwed to a circular platform that was made to go round and round by actula man power, aka the teen boy spun it in circles. Never mind the small details, I had a BLAST and cotton candy!

Coming into my final week in Picagres, I am a tornado of emotions. I have had my ups and downs in the small rural town in the middle of nowhere, Costa Rica. I have been counting down the days here in odd ways... one less cold shower, only 8 more cold showers to go, one less night anticipating the resident rat visit, only 7 more nights to go... stuff like that. Speaking of showers, a quick anecdote... the showers in Costa Rica are mostly electric. Which is super economical (ie "green") if you think about it. The water is heated by electric coils so basically the less water you use the hotter it is. This was a great tip for hostels, however, in good ole Picagres all that awesome shower information I just shared with you is useless. Why? Because there is no such thing as hot water here. My first shower, painful. I learned quickly after that. So, before I shower each day, I put on my running shoes and head to my favorite path. After running for about 2 miles, I am significantly sweaty and dirty enough to actually enjoy a cold shower. But I can not ignore the ever present rain that comes like clockwork each day... this rain usually ruins my running plans, so  I resort to jumping jacks, squats, situps, running in place... anything to get me hot enough to shower!!! I'll let that image sink in a little bit. After today, I only have 4 more days left with my students. I have fallen in love with them, they are so bright and patient with me. I have probably learned as much Spanish from them as they have learned English from me.  A few of the older students even friended me (and my boyfriend) on facebook. They giggle every time they say they "chatted' him!

There will definitely be parts of Costa Rica that will be easy to leave behind, cold showers, rats, no A/C.... but as I reflect on my time here there are a lot of things I will be missing. My host family, all the helpful people here, the GREEN! Rice and beans may take a while to warm up to again.

My students have proposed an idea for a water balloon fight at our goodbye fiesta on Thursday, I am sure may pictures are to come!

smarties :)

This past week was so busy and so much fun. My mom cleaned out our school supply closet in Jacksonville and mailed me some supplies to Costa Rica. So my students have been having fun with markers, crayons, paper... the works! I decided to try some new things with my students too. We worked on singing Happy Birthday in English, and I even taught them the Gator Chomp!! It is so cute, I will post videos soon! We are also working on members of the family and body parts to, they are learning so fast. I posted a countdown on the whiteboard in my classroom, only 8 more days left of English as of today! My students like to draw sad faces around it!

A funny story to share with you about one of my students- a group of girls was gathered around a photo I had at school, of my boyfriend and I at my sorority's formal. They love seeing pictures of 1) boys and 2) me actually wearing makeup and brushed hair. They started giggling and staying "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" in English. Then I heard Karla whisper to one of the older students who knows more English "Como se dice whisper whisper whisper en ingles?" which means "How do you say.... in English" and after some whispering back, Karla turns to the picture, points to me and says "Teacher... butterfly!!" I couldn't stifle my huge smile, so she knew she had said something incorrect, and then all the other students started laughing too.. she had meant to say "beautiful" but mixed up the words, it was adorable!

Today (Monday) is some sort of holiday here in Costa, not quite sure what it is but I do know that there is no school today. So with a three day weekend, myself and 2 other volunteers planned a trip to Limon, a city on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. We went to a small beach town called Cahuita, and stayed in a cabin on Playa Negra (black beach). It was great, we ate Caribbean food, danced to regaee and calypso music, and laid by the Caribbean ocean. It was a perfect vacation, made even better by the fact that most everyone on this coast speaks English!

I am starting to experience a bunch of different feelings towards my departure in just 2 short weeks. I am extremely excited to be home and reunited with all the people and things I have missed. But, on the other hand, I am definitely sad to leave such a beautiful place and my amazing, constantly excited students. I am going to do my best to soak it all in before I leave here on August 7th.

some things never change

Today I learned something about a mothers love... it is consistent across all languages and cultures. My host sister is currently working on her 7th grade science fair project, and by that I mean my host mom is freaking out by the looming deadline and doing all the work, while my host sister listens to her radio and dances. It brings me back to the days when I begged my Mom to "PLEASSSEEE help me with my backboard!!!" It was too hilarous not to post, as I am sure you can all picture doing exactly the same thing in the 7th grade... except this instance was insanely more complicated for me, because it was spanish science fair, and spainsh mother/daughter arguments... I kind of enjoyed sitting back and giggling.