I got a job!

First, a quick update… I am living in Costa Rica; I am finished with my class and now I am looking forward to the rest of my life. Haha.

This past week has been a good week, my friends. In the beginning of this adventure, I came here to paradise with the intention of earning a certificate to teach English as a foreign language and then get a job. The earning of the certificate was no easy feat and completely occupied my days and nights for 4 weeks. As the end of the class came around I actually felt like I was accomplishing something. I received some compliments from some of my students and that alone made me feel like the last 4 weeks had been worth it. During the 4 weeks we took advantage of any small chance we could to skip down to the beach, especially at sunset. We met tons of people, some worth remembering and mentioning, and some not so much. Either way, one face that I kept running into was another ‘gringa’, Shatzi. Through small talk I found out she was running a small daycare here in Manuel Antonio. As we swapped daycare stories, I casually mentioned that I missed all my kids back at my daycare. Shatzi perked up at those words and asked me if I wanted a job. ! Claro! So in short, a few days later Shatzi found me down by the beach and asked if I could start Monday. And that is how I found myself with a job.

The first Monday I started my day with my usual cup of coffee and mental preparation necessary for the week. The last few Mondays had seriously been a bad case of the Mondays, so I was determined that this would be better. After a delicious peanut butter and banana sandwich I walked to the bus stop to hitch a ride down the mountain. In theory I could walk, but if you saw the roads and the way the people drive down here, you would agree that the bus is better. And for 210 colones (about the equivalent of 35 cents in the States) it is money well spent.

The daycare itself is in the loft of a horse barn. Yes, I said in a horse barn. The barn sits on a horse ranch owned by a really laid back couple from the States. The ranch houses 6 horses and sits in the woods about a ½ mile off the main road. It is amazing and tranquil and the perfect spot for a day at work.



The loft is positioned where the kids can still see the horses in the corral and beautiful landscapes on all sides. Shatzi started the school just over a year ago and by word of mouth, the number of students has tripled. The loft is decorated with pictures and posters and colors. It is a small space, but it is perfect for the kids. Through her own efforts and the help of others, Shatzi has a great library of books, a stocked pretend kitchen, tons of puzzles and toys galore. The school is only open from 9am-12pm, which gives the parents a nice break from the madness and the teachers a pretty amazing work day.



A typical day at the school involves the kids showing up anywhere from 8:30-9:30am. The kids have a choice of just about anything they might want. We have everything from books, to blocks, to paints and play-doh. Around 10am we round the kids up and clean up the toys so we can go feed the horses. This is such a good distraction for the kids and a great excuse to get out and about.



Sometimes we have carrots and apples for the horses and other times we feed them hay. Snowden tends to be the boss and hog devouring anything that she can, which can sometimes include two year old fingers that blend in with the carrots. Most days the kids laugh at this nibble, other times, when the nibble is a bit stronger, we have a tear or two. The other horses are Neena, Delilah, Templeton, Indie and one other whose name has slipped away somewhere. After we feed the horses, it is time to feed the kids. Each kid is asked to bring a snack of some sort, which we then divide up and share with the whole class. Most of them bring fresh fruits, crackers or the occasional peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Another special treat is when Antonio or one of the others brings in Pipa, coconut water, which is a local favorite. After snack we go back to free play in the loft. Sometimes we take a walk up to a small fenced in area and have a mini-picnic. The guys that work at the barn help us out and rake the area so we can run around and play endless rounds of Duck-Duck-Goose. By noon, it seems the kids just got there, but the parents start showing up. It is a neat group of families with so many different backgrounds and combinations. Shatzi and I straighten up as the kids are leaving so by the end one of the parents can give us a ride either back up the hill or down into Quepos if we need one. Not a bad way to spend 3-4 hours in the mornings.

I have enjoyed having something to dedicate some time to since school has ended. And I really was missing my kids at the daycare back home. The pay is not great, but you should never expect to make millions being a teacher. However, the load that kids take off of my soul is worth more than any amount of money to me. I truly believe I was meant to be around kids. I can’t believe myself how lucky I am to not only have a job here in Manuel Antonio, but to also have a job like this. Hooray a la pura vida.

**a quick update since this post was written a few weeks ago... Things are still going GREAT with my new job as a teacher in the daycare. The kids know me now and we have so many fun times at school! We are headed to a local Nature Reserve tomorrow where we will see all kinds of local animals from crocodiles to butterflies. Can't wait, and neither can the kids. We will be taking some serious pictures so stay tuned for another update!**

Apparently it has been four weeks…

So I graduated. Somehow we all made it through the last four weeks with only moderate bruising. The class was ultimately worth it and we all learned a lot.

It is still unreal for me to think that it is already over. Somehow four weeks flew by before we even knew it. The first two weeks were agonizingly slow and then the last two up and vanished like a… well, you fill in the rest (should be easy if you have seen one of the greatest movies of all time). Everyone in the class made it (go team!) and our last day of class we received our certificates. Very graciously the school gave us a graduation party, todo gratis! A bunch of food and an open bar, que rico! Our classmates and teachers enjoyed the fruits of the open bar while Ana and I sipped on our Ginger Ale’s (wild and crazy kids we were that night). Working in a bar for a few years will add a twist to any night out drinking on the town. Either way, the entertainment provided by the antics of our students and teachers alike and the lack of a hangover the next day affirmed that Ginger Ale is sometimes the way to go. I left the party before some of the wildest adventures came around, which may be for the better. I would hate to ruin some reputations. Haha, LO SIEN AMIG’S! Ah dios mio... the abbreviations!

So many people and memories have come into my crazy life in the last few months. My life has been wonderfully different in so many ways and I am truly loving it. While at times it seems that the only thing you want is internet or a flat terrain, you have to chuckle aloud and say “La Pura Vida”. I have a faint memory of being able to sit in my lush palace back in the ‘burg and waste countless hours on the internet. Living here in Costa Rica makes me appreciate those times and why those ‘things’ aren’t always necessary. Easier for me accept I think than for some of those on the flip side (sorry friends and family) why it is so difficult to communicate. As I figure out the inner workings of this little piece of paradise, I am finding more effective ways to get in touch with those that need to hear from me.

So the real reason I am down here…

**A few pictures to come**

Okay, so maybe not the real reason, but a great one while I am at it. I originally wanted to live in a foreign country so that I could master my Spanish. The languages you learn in schools are practically useless in the real world until you have actually submersed your brain and body in to everyday speech. So I figured while trying to get acclimated, why not get certified to teach English as a Second Language and have a ticket to go teach anywhere in the world, Spanish speaking countries included!

Either way, I found TEFL, International and enrolled in their month long course. Joanie and I traveled down to Costa Rica about 2 weeks before classes started to do some sight seeing and allow me to get comfortable with the surroundings before she had to go home. If I had only known the different pace that I was about to be thrown into. Yikes.

As I mentioned before, it is a four week long class. It is actually broken up into 2 weeks of nothing but class (at times for 11 hours a day!) The second two weeks are devoted to teaching lessons and observing others. Both 2 weeks are demanding but I am finding that the second two weeks with only lessons and observing are easier as the schedule and work are up to you. I prefer to work on my own pace, so I have enjoyed the freedom in my schedule… if I could just perfect my time management. The concepts themselves are not very hard, but teaching the grammar has proven to be quite challenging. I distinctly remember my first “F” in school, and it just happened to be in Ms. Perdue’s 3rd grade English class. I am sad to admit that before being reminded of most of the grammar rules upon coming here, I was part of the large percentage of Americans (specific to the United States) that took for granted the rules, simply by saying “because it sounds right.” This class has at least helped me with clearing up a few of the grammatical mysteries as well as reinforce that some “just sound right”.

Classes are proving to be time consuming, but that comes as no shock. I do feel like I am learning something and getting a greater appreciation for so many more things. The people we have in our classes are mostly adults with the occasional teenager. Some of these adults have to learn English for a job and some just simply want to learn. Tourism is a large industry here and speaking English is a serious resume builder. It is so nice to see a country where people are enthusiastic and willing to learn a new language. However, this has been no easy feat, so I look forward to the end of this class and the start to something else.

Manuel Antonio National Park

So I just realized as I look over my blog that I never mentioned the National Park here in Manuel Antonio. Joanie and I ventured into the park for a day before she had to leave. It is a great area that is at the end of the beach. It cost $10 to enter, but it is so worth it on account of how many animals you see, the tranquility you feel and the practically abandoned beaches you encounter. On our walk to one of the many beaches, we saw crabs, deer, monkeys and more. Here are a few pictures of the adventure...

the signs directing us to the many beaches available in the park..


there are enormous bamboo forests that seriously are bigger than some of the trees here... I would estimate about 4 stories tall. NO JOKE.


The trees here are super impressive for so many reasons. Some are enormous, and others are like this with one of the most effective defense mechanisms I have ever seen...


Another cool piece to the jungle were these roots and trees. They created an obstacle course and a cool photo...


And the monkeys... SO cute... and literally everywhere.






The beaches in the park are awesome and beautiful. A bit more peaceful and less populated. Far to the left you can almost see the beaches we usually populate.

A few pictures of friends...

Now is the time for a few pictures of the new friends Joanie and I made, and I have continued to chill with...

First, Joanie's true love, Judah. A wonderful tall, skinny, dready, rasta-man. Good vibes from this guy, in the beginning and has continued to be a great older brother figure for me. He has looked out for me since Joanie had to leave...


Then there is Carlos, Judah's best friend, another vendor at the beach. Good guy, one of the older ones, and he has a car! These boys are funny together and they have both taken to the role of taking care of their new little sister :)


Another great guy that has a table next to Judah is Hermes. He unfortunately, for me, has left and moved to another part of Costa Rica. He is one of the nicest guys down here, always with a smile and a genuine "como esta?". He and Judah used to juggle and would draw a large crowd when they would throw to each other. Such talent here... so great.


Unfortunately at this point I only have a picture of the back of Stephen, but he deserves a mention as well. You see Joanie getting a hair wrap from Judah and then the back of Stephen, working hard in the office. Not a bad view for the office, huh?


Another friend that is not a native, but Joanie and I met and instantly loved was Dorrie. Dorrie had been down in Manuel Antonio for some time and was a massage therapist! She and Joanie instantly started talking and by the end of it, they worked on each other. Not a bad swap. Either way, Dorrie is a rare chica in that she is rad... so she deserves a mention here too.

And so the journey must go on...

The next morning I woke up in San Jose. I had a noon o'clock bus to take me back to the beach, my new home. I was sad about leaving my sister, but I knew that the journey must go on and I was excited to go visit my new friends and begin this so called life. It was on Wednesday that I traveled back and just took it easy that day with a bit of the beach and then a quiet night up at Vista Serena. Thursday night was Reggae night and I figured a bit of Reggae never hurt anyone. Plus, my new friend Judah was the DJ and he is pretty rad, as are his friends, so I knew it would be a good night. I hung out there for a bit and then caught a ride back to my place. I had the entire weekend before school started, and you better believe I enjoyed it. Total relaxation is all that is allowed down here, so therapeutic. So many new experiences, sights and sounds were thrown at me over those next few days that allowed me to enjoy and love this country and specifically Manuel Antonio SO much more. I knew from the moment I arrived that this was my new home. Every day that follows only reaffirms that fact. Lovin' it...


I have had to laugh a good bit the longer I am here for many reasons. Number one is that I truly feel like I am in rehab. I knew that I was stressed when I was still in the States, both with my own pressures and pressures from both my jobs. Quitting my jobs was the first good decision; coming here was clearly the second. I had joked before leaving that with my lifestyle, sleep patterns and choices of jobs, I was going to be one of the younger people to have a nervous breakdown paired with a heart attack. Scary thoughts, but coming here really made me realize it was true. I needed a break from the outrageous pace I was keeping and the work that was consuming me. I am lucky to have had the chance to take off and I am also extremely lucky that I have people in my life that have allowed me to go gallivant around in a new country. It has been strange dealing with the fact that now my brain, body and soul are finding time to relax and repair and how I have (again like rehab) had to respectfully ask for a bit of space from life in general. Between the breathtaking views and my book, The Tao of Pooh, I have been able to come to some peace and actually feel like I am making positive changes in my brain, body and soul. I can only hope to continue on this path of healing and allow it to help me travel the world and maybe one day land back in the States...

Bon Voyage mi hermana...

This entry will be short since it was the saddest of them all. Joanie and I traveled back to San Jose Monday the 26th. We stayed in the same place as before and I consolidated all of my luggage into one enormous duffle bag and my computer backpack. Joanie was a great source of common sense on things I needed and didn't need. We somehow managed to put it all together although the idea of doing it again makes me sick to my stomach.



Early the next morning, we made our way to the Embassy to remind them that I wanted to stay and then onwards to the airport since Joanie couldn't. Booo. We stopped for something to eat since at the Embassy we were rushed to the front of the line and then received a website to go to. Simple enough. After a lovely meal at Denny's (the only thing within visible distance from the airport) we half-heartedly got on our way to the airport. We knew I wouldn't be able to accompany Joanie all the way to the gate, but to be forced to say goodbye right where you drop them off was both awful and good. My heart was heavy as lead and my eyes were welling with tears. All I managed to get off was a hug paired with "I love you and be safe." We were both a wreck. I watched Joanie for as long as I could and got in the cab and in between sobs told the man I needed to return to Costa Rica Backpackers. So silly when women cry... even funnier when people like Joanie and I cry since it is not something we do often, or well. Haha. After making it back to the hostel, I tried to be productive and do some writing but found that my exhaustion won me over and I took the first nap since I had arrived here in Costa Rica. I was beginning to feel so many emotions about the fact that I was in this wonderful place, but that my best friend and traveling buddy was now gone.

Some of my pictures...

So this post is going to be strictly photos... they are mostly self-explanatory and simply beautiful. So enjoy, ask me if you want to know specifics...

So I think we found heaven...

Ok, before we actually found heaven, we had one of the most outrageous adventures of travel so far. We had arranged for Interbus to come pick us up and transport us to Manuel Antonio. The price was more than we would pay for a public bus, but we just wanted to be here and it was still reasonable. They picked us up early (good thing we had prepared the night before) and began our adventure to Man-Antonio (Joanie kept slipping up and calling it this, but we later found it strangely appropriate considering the gay population living here). Joanie and I found ourselves in the far back seats and since the van was smaller than a bus, the driver felt the need to speed and swerve in an outrageous manner. Every one of us began to feel ill. Most of all Joanie sitting in the middle in the far back. After stopping for some fresh air, the driver realized that none of us were going to make it in a clean fashion if he kept up the pace and that paired with some sitting in traffic allowed the transportation to be much smoother from then on out. We felt the change in humidity and heat and knew shortly that we would be at the beach.

We saw signs and then began driving over one of the most dangerous bridges I believe I have ever been on and that put us in Quepos, the town right next to Manuel Antonio. The driver dropped us off at Vista Serena, the hostel I had read about in my Lonely Planet book, and what a pick. Immediately we are stunned by the views, and the heat. We are shown to our dorm room and begin taking in deep breaths as we realize we made it. With only a brief moment of panic, I realized that I left my camera in the van and the van was no longer here. With a lot of positive thinking and a quick phone call by my new friend Conrad, the van returned within 15 minutes and I had my camera back all intact. Oops... won't let that happen again.

Joanie and I stumbled up the street in search of some food since the granola bar, Pringles and water just weren't cutting it anymore. Right next to the hostel, we found a great little restaurant, La Lunamar. We should have split the meal, but we both had some of the best tasting Mahi-Mahi we had ever eaten. We then ventured further up the mountain to the store and began assimilating into la pura vida.


Manuel Antonio is a neat little beach town that is nestled right in the jungle. In the last 10 years the development here has been exponential, which seems intense since there really isn't a lot here either. Tourism is the number one source of income for this town which adds an interesting spin onto it. It has some of the most beautiful views, sunsets and beaches I have EVER seen in my life. Seriously, don't be mad at me when I give you a calendar of the views here for Christmas. You will realize shortly that you should give me back the calendar and come here instead.


Joanie and I were able to spend a couple of wonderful days here at the beach, meeting new people, finding new foods and laying around on the most beautiful beaches I mentioned before. The trip was too short for Joanie or I's liking, but I was lucky to have had her with me to assist me in getting acclimated to this strange new land. She left me in good hands, and unfortunately the day before she left we had to travel back to San Jose... *tear*

Volcano Arenal

Okay, so if you don't already know, Arenal is famous for the volcano that the town surrounds.

It is one of the only active volcano here in Costa Rica and while you can't always see lava, you can usually hear the rocks tumbling down the sides of the volcano. It was super cool to hear the sound, similar to thunder, but more impressive.

The clouds are present 90% of the time which limits visibility, however, Joanie and I were in the lucky 2% of people that actually got to see some lava flowing down the volcano. What a strange site to these two little country girls! It was a really cool experience.

We both loved our guide but hated our group for the tour that we did and would have maybe enjoyed a different type of experience, but it was just that, an experience.

We were happy to be moving on however to the final destination of Manuel Antonio the next day. Traveling in Costa Rica proved to be exhausting as a bus trip tends to take from 4-6 hours if you are lucky. We just needed some sand between our toes and the sun in our hair and life would be good...