my own advice

last night i wrote a little note to one of my best friends.
it was funny how the note came out, like word vomit.
but not in a disgusting way.
in a lovely way.
sometimes i should just take my own advice.

be bold and courageous in all you do.
love the lord your God.
love men in all teh small ways.
learn to get by on little victories (okay, Matt Nathanson gave me that one!)
find energy in a little jig.
use your weakness' as if they were strengths.
give up things you are good at for your passions.
don't let cultures interfere with your ethics.
also, don't let ethics interfere with love.
see Him in all, even your worries.
serve until it makes you sick.
sing until your voicebox squeaks.
give it all you have.
love forever and always.
love in all ways.

Cal I for Ny A

I am not so happy about the fact that the last time I wrote on this blog - a million years ago - I was wondering what I'd be doing after graduation in May. And I still am. Awesome.

I've come to the conclusion that God is teaching me to chill out and be patient. And by the way - when God is teaching you to be patient, he makes you wait and extra long time. Way longer than I would have had to wait if I would have just learned to be good at being patient.

Also, I'm mad right now. BECAUSE, Wendy just went to see Wicked tonight. Without me! Ugh. This is exactly the fourth time I have missed an opp to see it. No fair, no fair, no fair.

But, tomorrow I will be in the wonderful world of California - away from this pit hole we call Oklahoma. Grand. Lovely. I'm so happy! It is going to be lovely. Beached whales for life!

Last night I went grocery shopping and I decided to buy natural peanut butter. I hear everywhere that it is more healthy for you. But everyone always tells me it's nasty. Well, you are all wrong. I LOVE IT! Mmm...it's just not as loaded with sugar. Which is fine by me. Less sugar is never a bad thing.

This past weekend I went to the circus. Gamma Banquet was goign to the circus! I know, right...a bunch of college kids hanging out at a circus. You'd be suprised to know how many have never been to a circus. And the last time I went I was probably 7. My favorite parts: the elephants! and also the acrobats that fly on the trapezes as well as the ones who crawl up and down the ropes.

This week is a little more low key...which is nice.

But that means I need to start researching. I need to figure out what in the world I am going to do once I graduate in may. Many options loom in my head. But I have no idea which one to choose.

And of course when I talk to people I get many different reactions for each one. Meaning this is grown up decision I have to make all on my own. Scary, huh?

Good thing I have God to pray to and come before.
Seriously, I don't know how people get through even the day to day without that.

Table for Two by Caedmon's Call

cause you knew how you'd save me
before i fell dead in the garden
you knew this day long before you made me me out of dirt
and you know the plans you have for me
and you can't plan the ends
when I plan the means
and so i suppose i just need some peace
just to get me to sleep

Pensamientos

Although there are many reasons to be annoyed with Starbucks, I am very happy there is a Starbucks basically on our campus. Because it means I can be somewhere off campus, drinking coffee, doing homework, and using internet for free. What better deal?

It is funny how much I hate homework, but when I get to write or read about things that I'm passionate about, it doesn't even feel like homework, and I'm usually inclined to skip fun events, just to keep going and digging. A passionate, never ending process of learning and creating is probably my most favorite thing it the world.

Every day I realize how much my last semester studying abroad influences who I am today, and influences why I strive to keep learning and digging. I can no longer lead a life of satisfaction and comfort and getting by. Now I want to understand, I want to make changes, I want to create, I want to be involved, because there is so much to experience in this world. The even cooler thing is that Heaven is going to be unexplainably so much better than this. I can't even imagine that - but it makes me pee my pants in excitement and laughter. God is fabulous. How can anyone deny that? If they do - they are completely denyign themselves.

Anyways, I'm working on this project right now , expanidng a paper I did on these Spanish ballads, and it's expanidng into this passion for exploring view points and social justice, and foreign affairs.

And I've never thought about grad school - but recently I discovered this master of arts program in social justice in foreign affairs - how cool is that?!

So I'm starting a list of options after school...I seriously have this file on my computer called "When I grow up..." and I've been writing down everything. Silly to serious...easy to impossible.

I love when God uses minds - and it's awesome that I finally feel like he's making me a bit creative.

Roy Rhodes called me brilliant the other day. ROY RHODES. I mean this is the guy that always has a great idea, and no one can compete with. He told me I should write a book. Maybe I will.

Anyways - I find that in struggle I flourish my best. Maybe that's why I decided I never want to live a life of comfort. People always say be careful what you pray for because God answers prayer. Well I'm thankful for that. And I'll gladly pray for suffering because it is when I am the most happy. Ironic huh?

Mom, I'm just sorry that it mostly ends up being you who listens to me whine about it all. But that's why you're my mom - God knew I was gonna need that. And I love you more than you could ever know (although I'm sure you do know, because you love me unconditionally, and what more could I ask for)?

exams

someone PLEASE tell me why i need to know what anthrapamorphized is?
and why in the world I would care?
I mean I know what it is...but I don't care!
I mean...really....who cares about The Jataka and the little wise monkey?
NO THANKS!

New Facebook Status: Ashleigh HATES cancer.
It destroys everything.
And is completely not fair.
And don't tell me that life is not fair.
That won't help.

Black

New school year.
I'm not really sure if this is how I imagined it.
But it's good.
I've been finding that I'm a lot more aware of things.
Ny was telling me that the church she interned at this summer was really judgmental, and so one day she painted her nails black.
I guess she got a lot of nasty stares.
So my experient for tomorrow:
I've painted my nails black.
How many people will say something to me?
And how many of the responses will be negative?
We'll find out.
I don't really know why it's so weird anyways.
I mean it's just nail polish.
You paint your nails pink, I painted mine black.
Oh the human "intelect".

Amor

This last weekend I was so blessed to have my Mom and Papa visit. It was so so wonderful to see them, spend time with them, and share with them a little of what I'm doing here, what I'm learning, what I'm becoming. I will talk more about it later. But one thing that is on my heart is something that my tica mom said after my family left.

"Existen muchas lenguas, pero la lengua universal es amor."

Translation: Many languages exist, but the universal language is love.

After spending some time crying with her in happiness and also sadness for my mom and papa leaving, and for me to be leaving in a few weeks, I heard this song. It hit home. And I need to remember and represent God's love.

Let My Love Open the Door
by Audio Adrenaline

When people keep repeating
That you'll never fall in love
When everybody keeps retreating
But you can't seem to get enough

Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
To your heart

When everything feels all over
When everybody seems unkind
I'll give you a four leaf clover
Take all the worry out of your mind

Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
To your heart

I have the only key to your heart
I can stop you falling apart
Try today, you'll find this way
Come one and give me a chance to say
Let my love open the door
It's all I'm living for
Release yourself from misery
Only thing's gonna set you free
That's my love

Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
To your heart

When tragedy befalls you
Don't let them bring you down
Love can cure your problems
You're so lucky I'm around

Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
To your heart

Ugly Duckling

Today I feel like the ugly duckling. It's just that I guess gringos are not meant to be in the sun for too long. Only 1 1/2 days of sunshine and just the next day I am peeling all over my face in rediculous amounts. Parts of my face are brown, parts are pink, parts have attached skin, and all day it has been soaked with lotion and aloe. It is not attractive. But it's what I give in return for freedom and a beach.

This past weekend ws our spring break, so of course we all went to the beach. Another visit to the beautiful Manuel Antonio. I cannot describe in words, or show in pictures how beautiful this place is. It's one of those places where you see the beauty God can create. I collected probably 30 or 40 sea shells...a vast majority of which on the Oregon Coast you could not actually find, you'd have to buy at a store. And I just picked them up, straight out of the water. I absolultey love shells. I first love the act of collecting them. Taking a walk on the beach with your toes squidging in the sand, and then being cleansed by the rushing olas (waves). In my case, it was a peaceful solitary walk, in which I had lots of time to process, think, and pray. And then searching and searching for the shells, looking for the little sparkles to catch your eye, digging in the sand, waiting for the waves to bring in more, and finally finding a something, something extravagant and beautiful. And then washing away the sand from the shell as it reveals all its beauty. They are probably one of the best souveneirs...and their free!

Today we started our concentrations...YAY, new classes! I think they will be pretty good. 8 sessions only...grammar review and literature readings...there are 2 papers. And then the rest of the days we all have internships...mine is at a Center for Street Kids...and I get to work with Clint. So I am really excited about that. I love working with kids! I'm praying God will use me there. We have to keep a journal for this, so that will be a good thing to process. These things will last 3 weeks. And then the last week we are going to Panama. More on that later. Sad thing about concentrations - we have to split up! Sad. Sad. Science people left today and we won't see them for about 2 1/2 weeks. Then on Monday the Latin American Studies people leave, and we won't see them for the same length of time. Even the people in my concentration I will only see 2 days a week (except clint), because the other days we have our internships. I guess they are just slowly trying to rip us apart...as in less than 5 weeks time, we will be ripped apart forever. I am honestly not looking forward to that. We have all become family. Yes, there are annoyances, and tiffs...but there is love and support and learning. And I'm going to miss these guys. But let's not think about that now...

On a happier note. In about 49 hours I will be hugging my mom and my papa. I am overwhelmed with joy. I absolutely cannot wait. I'm excited for them to get to meet my tico family. And we also get to do some fun Costa Rica things:
see an active volcano
swim in hot springs
hike through a rainforest
tour the canopy of a rainforest by aeriel tram
and of course hit up San Jose

Sometimes I hate writing these blogs, because I feel like I am only telling you what I am doing, and not what I am thinking, feeling, or how I'm growing. Those are a hard thing to write in words. But know that I can't wait to see you all this summer/this fall and talk about my life with you. I think of you often and miss you like crazy.

Blessings...

I know, I'm completely past due for an update...
I'm sorry...
But I'm telling you, time here is just flying.
I honestly don't know how it's going so fast.
As soon as we got back from Nicaragua it's been 2 weeks of working on group projects and papers, and research. fun. But tomorrow is the last day of this class. So I am way excited. It has been really good for me, eye opening, thinker, challenging. But I'm ready to dive into all that, rather than just sit and listen about it.
I have gotten to do some reading though, so that's been nice...
Actually, I read an entire book today. haha.
And yesterday I read the last half of a book.
I know, I know, I'm rediculous. I just love books.
Sex God by Rob Bell
and Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne.
You should check them out.
Funny thing is that they perfectly alligned with things I've been thinking about.
God is so good in that way, he is definitely a humorous God.


I finally took care of my class schedule for the fall, and almost have housing worked out. That was such a pain, being all the way across the country.

I have such amazing friends. Gamma sent Danna and I a package. And I know of 2 other packages coming from friends. It has been so sweet to get letters too! It is such an encouragement. Because although I am living my dream, not everything hear is easy. There are a lot of challenges, and hardship, and of course I miss all of you. But of course God is blessing me in so many ways.

One of them is a week from today - My papa and my mom are coming to visit!!! I am so ready for that! Pray that they have a safe trip here.

Honestly, I don't have much to say, and you probably are annoyed by that...wondering what my adventures here are...but I guess it is just so much that I wouldn't even know where to start. I am going to Manuel Antonio again this weekend...so maybe I'll have some more stories for you then. It's just that these last 2 weeks have been a lot of contemplating on my life, where it's going, what I can do with it, how i need to change it or strengthen it, what the bible says about all this, and how God is integrated into my very fiber. Maybe in the future I'll have some posts about that.

Love you all! Happy day!

Thinking and a day I put on my top 5

I´m spending my last night in Nicaragua, reconviened with my group after a week of living in the slums of a small Nicaraguan port town. I literally lived in a house that didn´t have full walls, and was probably 6 by 6, and was only one room. I´ll put up a picture soon...one picture is all you need to see my whole house. I haven´t finished processing yet...so I´ll let you know sometime...maybe.

But today was a beautiful day.
It might be only my top 5 list of favorite days ever.

1. Wake up, shower (after a week of only bathing in rivers), eat a beautiful breakfast with pancakes (first time since being in the US)
2. Process time with the group...with some great stories....and funny ones at that...(if you´re lucky I´ll tell you some soon)
3. Free time!!! Lunch, Hammock swinging, dangling legs in the pool, walking around the town, buying some gifts and eclectic jewelery
4. Carriage Ride
5. Boat Ride
6. Tour of islands!!!
7. Monkies...
8. And island where I ate four mangoes that just fell off a tree, and they were free. And it was my favorite moment ever.
9. Dinner...where I was served an actual whole fish(eyes and all). I ate the tale too...mmm....Dad, you would have been proud.
10. carriage ride back and some more shopping
11. swinging in a hammock under the stars and talking to God.
12. Telling all of you about this wonderful day.

More later....love you all.
And really really miss you, bye the way.

Just another typical day

Except not really.

First, It is official -
My brother is ENGAGED
I know.
Please view this:

He must stinking love her.
The date is set for October 11th, 2008.
That officially means I am in 3 weddings this year.
Once again craziest year of my life.
This is how it goes:
Costa Rica
Spain
21st Birthday
Summer Job/hang out with the fam
Wedding in Oklahoma
Wedding in Oregon
New baby cuz!
Start last year of school
Fly home for brothers wedding
etc etc etc
Definitely not a typical year - But a blessed one.

Today was interesting.
We went to the US embassy here in Costa Rica.
I am struggling with how to mix two things - being patriotic, yet criticizing the things that the US government does. Because if you aren't aware - the US government is not always giving the complete truth (ha). But going to the embassy today was frusterating becuase they sugarcoat everything. I mean it's rediculous. I see so many things here with my own eyes, and then we go to the embassy and they open up a Q&A session, but every question we asked is basically answered in a way that prods and pokes around the subject, but doesn't actually answer our questions. I read a couple of articles about US/Latin American Relation from the US point of view. Man, what a bunch of liars. But then you read articles about the same subject but from the Latin American point of view. Again, what a bunch of liars. So one of my profs (although it seems kind of weird to call him that) gave me this poem in leau of my struggle, and I wanted to share it with you...

"Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front" by Wendell Berry

Love the quick profit, the annual raise,
vacation with pay. Want more
of everything ready-made. Be afraid
to know your neighbors and to die.
And you will have a window in your head.
Not even your future will be a mystery
any more. Your mind will be punched in a card
and shut away in a little drawer.
When they want you to buy something
they will call you. When they want you
to die for profit they will let you know.

So, friends, every day do something
that won't compute. Love the Lord.
Love the world. Work for nothing.
Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.
Denounce the government and embrace
the flag. Hope to live in that free
republic for which it stands.
Give your approval to all you cannot
understand. Praise ignorance, for what man
has not encountered he has not destroyed.

Ask the questions that have no answers.
Invest in the millenium. Plant sequoias.
Say that your main crop is the forest
that you did not plant,
that you will not live to harvest.
Say that the leaves are harvested
when they have rotted into the mold.
Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.

Put your faith in the two inches of humus
that will build under the trees
every thousand years.
Listen to carrion - put your ear
close, and hear the faint chattering
of the songs that are to come.
Expect the end of the world. Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful
though you have considered all the facts.
So long as women do not go cheap
for power, please women more than men.
Ask yourself: Will this satisfy
a woman satisfied to bear a child?
Will this disturb the sleep
of a woman near to giving birth?

Go with your love to the fields.
Lie down in the shade. Rest your head
in her lap. Swear allegiance
to what is nighest your thoughts.
As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn't go. Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection.

i don't know

1. Where does time go? Because I really don't know.
2. Why did I get the house with the dryer, working stove, freezer, hot shower, and warm bed? I really really don't know.
3. Why in the world do they give us too much homework (that they don't think we'll ever really finish, but we do anyway?) I really really really don't know.
4. why do i crave chocolate all the stinking time? I really honestly don't know, considering I am getting my fill of real, live, fresh, sweet mangoes here. Mmmmm...
5. ya da ya da ya da.

But you know what....I am okay with not knowing.

So instead, here are some things I do know.
1. In the words of Jen, I am a perriferica snob. That's just all there is too it. (Long story short we have two options in getting from ILE...Take the 30 minute, 150 colones bus to San Jo, and then take the 1 hour, 195 colones bus home. -OR- take the 40 minute, 250 colones perriferica to Guadalupe, and the 20 minute, 195 colones bus home. Spend a 100 colones more (ie 20 cents) and get home 1/2 an hour earlier, and avoid the stinking San Jo traffic. heck yes. Plus...the people on the perri are a little nicer, a little softer, in comparison to the cat calling, triple tounge peirced, creepers who ride the bus to San Jo). So I will admit to my snobbines. And I am okay with that too.
2. I also know that not a day goes by that I don't see AT LEAST one car wreck (ususally its more like 5), LA drivers are REDICULOUS! I mean, it's really unbelievable. Sometimes I honestly feel like I am going to die. Kinda scary, and thrilling all the same.
3. I have sucumb to a few guilty pleasures while I've been here: the beach, coffee, not doing my hair.
4. I am lazy. To my ladies in the nude (ie my sophomore suite) - we can all agree that I was probably the cleanest one of you all that year. I mean lets be honest - i took a shower almost everyday, and you all....well at least you tried to brush you hair. But see the thing is, I've learned that sometimes there are just things that are more valuable than showers. For instance, sleeping, or finishing that paper before you are late to class, or sleeping, or just the fact that you can put your hair back up into the ponytail and not worry about it. So you should be proud of me. To my family - don't worry, I shower at least everyother day. BUT I make no promises for when I'm in Nicaragua. The main point being that I probably won't have access to a shower, much less plumbing for that matter.
5. I really love the fact that mi mama does my laundry for me. It's amazing
6. I judge people a lot. which i hate about myself
7. There once was this boy. Yesterday I DID NOT LIKE HIM (creeper, annyoing, rude, etc, etc, etc)...and then he spilled his guts and cried and loved my cookies. Today I appreciate him. Tomorrow, who knows tal vez I'll like him.
8. God makes me feel like an idiot, prooves me wrong - and then at the same time makes me crack up.
9. I hate cancer. (way way too many people are affected by it)
10. Life is not fair, but if it was, we would all be idiots anyways.


Last night Jen spent the night, and we both slept in my twin sized bed. It was great and comfy, which is a good thing, since when my mom gets here she's gonna have to share my bed with me. We had a let it all out night. It was fabulous. We were absolutely gringos - it was rediculous. We went and bought ingredients to make cookies. We ate McDonalds for dinner (ewww, i don't even like mcdonalds...what the heck was I thinking). We bought popcorn, chips, and chocolate...and ate a lot of it, while watching step up. We slept in, then made cookies, and ditched our homework (If I didn't have a stupid test today, we really would have skipped class). But we just needed a day of junk, a day of whatever. And I think it helped.I had a break down yesterday. i'm pretty sure it was just everything piling, piling, piling. But I had a good cry and now I'm good.

I'm ready for a little beach this weekend before I have to start a ton of stinking homework for next week. I decided that I'm going to the beach. I should do homework, yes. But you know what? I AM IN COSTA RICA. enough said.

My heart hurts though. Some of you know - some not. But Ryan Holley's dad found out that he had cancer just weeks before we left for the christmas break, and has been battleing and it's quickley taken him, Ryan is on a study program in LA and has been flying back and forth btw there and home to see his dad. On Monday his dad died. It's just really not fair. Ryan is the most uplifting, encouraging, spiritual guy that I know, I admire him in so many ways. And nowing his pain hurts my heart. I also just discovered that one of the girls on our trip, her mom just passed away from cancer like 5 weeks before coming on the trip. It just frusterates me, and angers me, and I don't know what to do with it. The only way I can put it, is that it's not fair. But like I said, if life were fair we'd all be idiots anyways.

Anyways - on a happier note - I honestly, absoluetly love Costa Rica. No words to say that with enough passion. And God knew what he was doing when he stuck me with the host family I'm with. The other night my brother spilled his guts to me, shared his life story - wowzers. My mom is so understanding, and she just lifts me up. And God knew so much that I needed to be here THIS semester. The people in my group are mroe amazing that I could explain. And I'm already dreading the day I have to part with them. That is also not fair. But like I said, idiots.

So I don't know a lot of things, but what I do know is that God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good.

Limon among other things...

Okay - Limon Trip!
This last weekend we went to Limon, another province in Costa Rica that is on the Atlantic. So I got to visit the Atlantic Ocean for the first time in my life. It was crazy how different it is. I think it has more salt, which makes it really sticky. But it also has a stronger tide which sucks you in. So I didn't really like going very far in, considering I have a fear of deep water, in addition to the fact that you feel like you are going to drown. But besides the point - it was a BEAUTIFUL beach. We had our own little private area which was gorgeous, surrounded by trees (full of monkies and baby monkies). We also had a divine lunch: Empenadas with this amazing caribean flavored meat, a desert empenada with some kind of berry stuff, and fruit. Mountains of fruit. Little bananas, sweet, yummy cantelope, and pineapple. I think each of us seriously ate a whole pineapple by ourselves. I know I did. And not only that, there was another kind of pineapple (it was white) which made the regular pineapple taste like nothing special. It was amazing. I cannot even describe it to you - super flavorful, sweet and sour, juicy. Just simply amazing.
We also got to hear two speakers, which will help me out with the big paper I have to write because they both delt with marginalization. The first an older black lady, from Limon, who is a teacher and once one teacher of the year award which in Costa Rica means also a political position. So she has been passing laws to give more observation to what blacks did in the past. We also talked to a BriBri indiginous lady. I could spend a whole post talking about her culture (and maybe I will sometime). It was really interesting.
That same night we had a carribean style dinner with some of the local youth, and danced the night away to a live band. So much fun!
We also had to interview people about what they thought about poverty. Some interesting things: some people said that poverty was more prevelant in San Jose then in Limon (which is obviously not true, Limon is in fact the poorest province in Costa Rica), then some people said that poverty didn't exist at all, and some people wouldn't even talk about it, they refused to speak to us. I have to do a paper on poverty that is due in a few days. So I'll let you know what I figure out. It is a huge topic (like always) but has really been brought to life in me seeing it so much here, and then the process of defining things like poverty - which might be different in different countries.
This week has kind of been a blah week - the grades I've been getting have been really discouraging, and I've really been trying hard. But it seems like we're all getting bad grades. It is so frusterating. I think I will go talk to one of my professors tomorrow. I definitely care about my cultural immersion way more than abotu my grades, but grades must stay afloat for school. So it is discouraging.
But my family here is AMAZING! I cannot tell you how much I love them. I was definitely blessed with them. They fit my personality, and loosen me up, and help me be more confident. I came home today very distraught about my grades, and I talked about it with my mom, and she totally understood and encouraged me. And we did this whole exchange in Spanish (of course, like always with my family)and I understood it all, and it just made me feel better. And my brothers know how to make me laugh. My dad too. My dad just has to say something in his VERY limited Spanish and I'm giggling: "I ready to eat" or somethign totally not grammatically correct. It's great. My brothers just say "los chinos" while pulling the corners of their eyes out. Okay, so that should not be funny because it's completely politically incorrect. And I'm definitely not racism. But here is the thing: my brother honestly does not understand why I laugh when he does that, and he honestly doesn't understand why in the U.S. we consider it politically incorrect, and he honestly doesn't even know what the term politically incorrect means. My mom or dad either. I had to explain to them what it meant. Imagine me, sitting at dinner with my family, laughing because they are saying "chinos" and I have to try to explain why what they are doing is politically incorrect in the US and what that term means, all in Spanish of course. Also, one of our professors here has a phobia of chinese people. It is really interesting.
This weekend I am doing some great things: spending time with my family, going to a fitness/fun club with my family, going shoppign with my family, baking cookies for my family, going shopping with my friends, trying to find one of the church of christ's here to attend on sunday, and attempting not to do homework.
That's all for now...I hope you are understanding what I am saying. I kind of feel like I am talking to no one. And I kind of feel like I am not making sense, I do that sometimes, leave out the major details that make the story complete. But I guess I always have so much on my mind.
tomorrow is friday - priase the lord! he is good!

I'm lucky...I have 2 mom's!

I know I haven't updated in a while - I will work on it soon. But apparently I need to clarify some things. I have 2 moms at this moment in my life. My real mom - who lives in Tigard, Oregon - I've had her all my life. And my second mom - who lives in El Carmen de Guadalupe San Jose, Costa Rica, and I only met her about 3 weeks ago. But according to some outside sources, there has been a problem distinguising which I talk about when. So henceforth I name my Tigard, Oregon Mom, Mom...and My Tican Mom, mama. Clear? Okay...hasta mas tarde...si dios le quiere.

Manuel Antonio

According to my tica mom, Manuel Antonio is the most beautiful beach in Costa Rica, warm water, white sand, right next to the rainforest, monkies, shopping, restaurantes, lots of interesting people to. So this past weekend a group of us went to the beach! (Clint, Luke, Jen, Lisa, Rachel, Janet, and I). We paid about $7-$10 for some hotels (the first night was kinda sketchy...but oh well, when in Costa Rica, right? That's kind of become my new phrase). Let's see...bus tickets were $5 for the 3 1/2 hour bus ride. We got into Quepos (the town right outside of Manuel Antonio) at about 10, found a cheap hotel there, and hit the hay. Then we woke up at 6:30 and hit the beach! Manuel Antonio is actually a Nacional Park, and also the beach, and it is about 7 km (like 4 miles) from Quepos...so we rode this bus that up through the windy hills (mom you would have been sick!). But there are some awesome veiws! Then we hung out at the beach from 8 am to 5 pm. NO JOKE. Layed out, read some books, jumped in the water lots, played in the waves, climed some rocks, tried to surf (okay, I more just rode the surf board in, but give me a break...being under water is not my favorite thing), swallowed way too much salt water, and probably soaked up way too much sun. I think we all put on sunscreen 5 or 6 times... but ever single on of us got burned...mostly me and clint since we are such whities...But everyone has been saying I look tan, so that's nice. Clint also informed me this morning that I am more blond than before we left. I have a feeling I am going to be barbie blond when I return to the states. Haha, that'll be interesting. The town strip right above the beach is cool too - sometimes we would go take a walk to get off of the EXTREMEMLY hot sand. There is a lot of shopping there (just like vendors on the side of the road who sell cool stuff, like jewelery, dresses, purses, knick knacks, etc...), but it is really expensive becuase this is the beach where all the tourists go. We saw so many stinking gringos...There was actually a couple from washington. We also ate a lot of hamburgers...That's mostly what the restaurants had...besides gallo pinto...which we eat everday with our families....so we already needed a little break from that. (Gallo pinto is black beans and rice mixed together with different spices - it's actually good...we just eat it a lot! for every single meal). Let's see, after a full day at the beach, we watched the sunset!!! BEAUTIFUL...and then saw like 30 monkies! The little white faced ones. It was the coolest thing ever. We went looking for some, and saw one...and that was good enough...but then about 25 or more came out, and we got to feed them bananas from our hand. Luke was actually holding one in his hand for about 4 seconds. I cannot even describe how awesome it was. The next morning we went into Manuel Anotonio Parque Nacional - which is a rainforest with AWESOME sights...I also took a lot of pictures there. We hiked in the raiforest for about 4 hours. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO HOT AND HUMID IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. it was the feeling where you just want to strip of all your clothes because it is so hot - but you know that wouldn't even help. We looked pretty nasty that day. But it was worth it. We saw tons of hermit crabs, sand crabs, and these HUGE rat looking things (I don't remeber what they are called), but they were sick! But we didn't see any iguanas, which my dad said was strange. I want to see one so bad! Maybe soon! The bus ride home was almost 5 hours because of traffic...And the bus stop getting back into San Jose is really sketchy, and we had to walk 6 blocks at 10 pm to get to our next bus stop to get home. Good thing we had the boys with us - otherwise we would have been scared out of our minds. But I tell you, it was so nice to come "home". When I got back to my host families house, I honestly felt like I was at home, and it is so much safer and cleaner here in San Jose (especially in my Urbanizacion) than in Quepos...crazy. I have so much more to say....but that'll have to do for now. Soon I will tell you some things about the program I am in and the goals of this trip. I am definitely encountering some HUGE world issues that have already changed me in so many ways. My faith is being streched and is growing. Anyways, love and miss you all. I don't think I am going to use photobucket to post pics anymore, it is too much work. I will post them to facebook - and for those of you who don't have a facebook, I think I will be able to attach a link to the album on my blog...I'll try it soon.
Good news to leave you with - My mom and my papa are coming to visit me in Costa Rica in March!!!!!!!! I am super excited.
Ciao for now.

Escuela

I think that no matter where you are, homework stinks. I already have so much of it. Funny thing though, being here has already made me a lot more relaxed about things (or maybe I should use the word "slacker", haha). No not really. It's just that I already feel like I'm procrastinating, but la cosa es que ("the thing is" - haha, my mom always uses that phrase) that's how your homeworks just comes about. Here are my normal School days. Monday/Wednesday/Friday I only have Spanish clases at the Intitucion de Lenguaje Espanol (ILE). From 1:30 to 4:10. But don't forget that It takes me an hour to an hour and a half to get there and back by bus. So those days look like this: 7 am excersize with my mom, eat breakfast, get ready, ride bus to school/do homework (or vice versa) starting a little before 10 am, eat some lunch, class, cafecita in town sometimes, ride bus home. No cafecita I get home about 5:30, Si Cafecita it's closer to 7. Then dinner, which also means 2 hours of talking at the table with my family. Then homework, and by then I am exhausted. Last night I didn't even do that much homework cause I was so tired. Okay, on Tuesday/Thursday I have school at the Latin American Studies Program Center (LASP) which starts at 8 am. I walk there with my friend Janet (who lives close to me) starting at 7:25...it takes about half hour to get there. We could take a bus - but it's nice to walk, because it's a really awesome view. I'll try to take some more pictures. It's just kind of difficult, becuase it's not a good idea to be all touristy and have your camera out flashing everywhere. So that's school. Let's go on to more important things. I mean honestly, yes the school part is important. But that is not what I am here for. I am here for hte culture, for the language, to experience it all with the actual ticos, instead of learning by reading. I mean don't get me wrong, you know how I love my books...but there is just something abotu getting onto a bus, riding it for 2 hours, and being surrounded by spanish, and ticos, and familias, and crazy people, and weirdly dressed people. Hmmm...not to far off from Portland, no? haha. But I'm learning more and more that it's about the experience, getting out there, being stupid, asking the questions, walking up to people you don't know, going into a restaurant, using a foreign pay phone, trying to find the perriferica by yourself. Yeah, it freaks me out. But I think after this it won't any more. Some things I have come to love here: mi familia, guayaba jalea (guava jelly - apparently they have it in pinapple too - um I am in heaven every time I eat it...its rediculous), the juice my mom makes (they are more like smoothies if we are gonna be honest about it, I just don't want to make you jealous). (Grandma - I'm gonna bring you back some new recipes that I think would be fun to make for our family. Maybe when I get back we can have a "Costa Rican food night" and I can make a bunch of good food that mi mama is teaching me how to make! Last night she made what she called "tortillas quesos" cheese tortillas - I guess she just mixed the cheese in with the tortilla batter? But I told her that you make jelly - she thinks that is pretty cool!), the view (everywhere!), the bus (i know mom, I always complained about it in highschool - but it's kind of fun), my morning excercize with my mom, my room - it's growing on me, my brothers here (they are the sweetest! and craziest), politics (I know, I know...weird. But seriously, I'm really interested. I talked about Jorge Bush with mi papa last night - woah interesting!), sleeping (oh man you need it after these long days), the smell everywhere, being in a little pain all over my body (you know you've worked hard, and gone that extra mile), the beach (well I haven't actually been there yet - but am going this weekend - more on that later), not doing my homework, etc, etc, etc. Funny thing - I definitely know why God worked it out that I was rejected for this program last semester - the gringos in my group are amazing!!! I have some great new friends already.

Oh but don't worry....there are some things I miss at home too!!!
Here are just a few:
my entire family (esp my sweet baby cuz' tay, pey, ri)
my roomies
my girls
talking about weddings with my girls
spring sing
gamma
and a lot more...

But don't worry - I haven't missed McDonalds yet. SICK!!!!! Some of the boys were talking about going there soon and getting a huge Big Mac...seriously?! That is so nasty! No thanks....But there is a TGIFridays here....might be a day I need a good hamburger. lol. Naw....my mom is such a good cook - how could I ever.

Loves, and hopes that you are all well - while I skidaddle to do my homework - blech!

Tico Time

let me introduce to you the concept of tico time.
for instance, let's say that we agree that we should meet at 12:30 tomorrow afternoon. Awesome, great, we both understand that we are both going to meet, no not right on the dot, but somewhere very close to there. But in reality it become's more like 1 or 1:30, or even later.
Us gringos have already succumb to the culture of tico time.
it's inevitable.
So let me tell you my challenge of the day:
A whole bunch of us gringos were going to meet at LASP at 2. Janet lives right accross the street from me. So I tell her that I will meet her at her house at about 1:45. But Clint calls me and his time has changed because his mom wanted to make him lunch. Okay, so I won't go meet Janet until two or a little after. Yeah, sure. Walk down the street, down her stairs, stand outside her house. 15 minute wait. No one. Go home, call her house, no one answers. Awesome. Okay, so I walk the 20 minute walk down to LASP, because I know Clint is gonna meet me there, and probably some others. I get there about 2:47. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. 3:50 rolls around, and no one has showed up. I sat on the sidewalk under a tree for an hour, by myself. I finally decide it's time to go home, so I venture across the street where I will catch the bus - I really don't wait to be alone for another 30 minutes (it definitely takes longer on the way back home from LASP....since its all uphill). And of course who comes skiddadling out. Clint, Luke, Janet, Lisa, Amy, David. Real cool guys. And guess what They said they left at 2:45. SERIOUSLY!!!! Oh my word. It was definitely one of those cry moments. Where I felt all nice and alone, without anyone else. So Clint gave me a huge hug and I sucked it up, realizing that this is definitely going to happen a lot. One, because everything here runs on tico time. Two, becuase we have really no means of communication. We don't have cell phones that work, so we are just kind of where we are at for the moment. Unavailable. How in the world did I ever do that before I got a cell phone. Let me tell you, it is frusterating. But its also really nice, it's definitely already making me more comfortable with my surroundings, how to get from place to place, basically how to be a big girl and deal with all stuff that comes my way. After we walked around some, Janet and I headed out to the center of Guadalupe, which is between our houses and San Jose, to do a little shopping. It was really nice just to talk to her and get to know her better. We were talking abotu the way we were feeling already. Some things we concluded:
-we are having a blast
-there are still moments of fear, and almost tears inbetween the fun and exhiliration, but only small tiny moments
-these moments are crucial to self confidence and learning
-we are not going to want to leave this place in April, it might actually kill us
And only after 4 days.
What a crazy semester this is going to be!

confusion de lenguas

so i am writing lots these past few days becuase i have the time.
i know once i start my actual classes I won't have as much time.
anyways....BAFA BAFA.
It was really fun and funny.
I've actually done something similar to it before.
But it's where you split in two groups, and you both represent seperate cutlures, and both cultures have rules. Then each side has observers that come over and watch your culture. The purpose is to discover what the cultural rules of the other culture are, but you can't ask questions, only observe. The overall purpose was to discuss culture and how you can move past culture shock and things of that value. It was a really awesome activity. There were a lot of cool things said, ideas put out, that I couldn't even begin to describe. I think that's going to happen a lot this semester.
Again, my family is awesome. Tonight I have been hanging out with my 16 year old brother, Erick. We've been talking about music, and listening to my ipod. He actually speaks English, so he listens to a lot of English music and watches movies in English. We're just relaxing in my room right now - pretty fun!
And my mom is the most amazing cook ever.
I already have turned into a coffee drinker - i know, crazy. Every afternoon I need my cafecita. All Ticos take a little break in the afternoon about an hour before dinner to have a little snack (like crackers with cheese, or cookies) and coffee (or juice). It's great. I could defintily get used to this.
It is the most beautiful country.
I need to get off this stupid computer now.
How in the world do I spend so much time on it at school. There is way too much else to do in the world.
another disclaimer: if my english grammer is bad, it's because i am trying to type in english while talking in Spanish. Fun stuff.