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!