Soy Americana.

I am totally an American. Yesterday, we went to school like normal and after, we took a little field trip to the National Museum. It wasn't exactly my favorite place in the whole world, but we got to go to San Jose! The town was pretty neat and after we got to stop at a mall! I know it's weird to be so excited, but I got to eat some American food...aka McDonalds.  It's nuts how happy that cheeseburger, french fries, and coke made me!! Afterwards, we got to go into the shops and I bought a pretty wallet! It says Costa Rica on it (Yes, I am a tourist), and is woven out of bright material.  I absolutely love it! Then I went back home and did a lot of homework, watched tv with my parents, and went to bed.

Today has been pretty good. School was okay, nothing special.  And afterwards, I got dropped off at the Centre with Bethany and Annie. We are currently at a cafe using our computers, so I got to skype with my parents! It was lovely to see them for a bit and hear their voices!

I absolutely cannot wait for this weekend.  We are going to Monteverde! Apparently, it's pretty chilly there and rains a lot, but I am so excited to see something new again! I will be sure to tell you all about it and try to put pictures on here as much as possible.  Although I've only been here about a week and a half, I think I can totally make it through this nine weeks and look back on it fondly.  The weekend trips make the school part worth it! I miss you and will be writing on here as soon as I can! Love you all :)

My life is too goooooood!

I am not sure where to begin...

How about with last Thursday?! We had class on Thursday and afterwards I went to the Centre with some friends from class. It was great to get to explore the town with them and see what shops would be our favorites. Then I came home and had to get ready for our party. It was literally one of the best nights of my life.  I finally felt that my family could get to know the real me because everyone was there with their families.  We danced ALL NIGHT. Holy cow, the next day my calves hurt so badly!! We did not leave there until 11:30, which is by far the latest that I have gone to bed thus far. The next morning I woke up at 6:30 and was on the bus to San Carlos by 7:30.

On Friday, we got to San Carlos around 1:30.  The hotel was BEAUTIFUL!!! We could literally see the volcano from our windows.  There were even two nice rocking chairs on the patio to enjoy the view.  The hotel had a wonderful pool area and amazing hot springs (these were my favorite!!). It had such beautiful nature and really good meals!! On Friday, the whole group pretty much just stayed together and swam and enjoyed the hotel.  On Saturday, we had a class trip to a waterfall.  It was seriously the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.  We had to walk down more than 200 stairs (someone counted) to get there, and even the walk down was so pretty. Once we got down there, we were able to swim and climb on rocks to the other pool areas filled with natural water from the falls.  I cannot wait to show you all pictures from there.  After that, we hiked back up the stairs and went to the hotel.  We again swam and got to know one another.  On Sunday, I went to mass with Vera.  Let me tell you, the services here are waaaay different.  It was nearly 2 hours long and communion was a sight to see. Everyone flocks to the front who is getting communion instead of going by each row.  The church was beautiful!! Afterwards, I quickly ate my lunch so I could get to ziplining on time.  I am not sure what came over me to try this, but I am SO GLAD I did.  At the first platform, I was not sure I could make it, but it got better with each try.  I got to see some gorgeous views that I would not have if I did not jump to my death about 11 times... :) Then we went back to the hot springs and it was pouring, but somehow, seeing a volcano from a hot spring is totally worth staying in the rain for.  We tried Imperial (the beer of Costa Rica: sorry mom!) and it was soooo good! I was shocked. :) And on Monday, it was the first day with some GOOD sun, so all of us lounged around the pool to catch some rays before we left.

When I got home, my mom actually jumped with excitement when she saw me! She gave me a huge hug and immediately asked if I was hungry (surprise, surprise!).  Then I unpacked and did TONS of homework.  All in all, I can say that this was one of the best weekends of my life.  I got to really get to know the people on the trip and see AMAZING sites.

School is better already. I am understanding the teachers so much better and feel so much more comfortable talking.  If everything keeps going in this direction, I could really get used to this place.  Miss you all still so much! Love you! :)

I am ALIVE!

HOLAAA!!!

I made it on time and safe! I just cannot believe I am here... It has been the most surreal days of my life.  When we landed in Costa Rica, our families were waiting with our names on signs for us.  Then we took a bus to our homes.  Only my mom and brother came to pick me up.  When I got home, my dad was sitting on the couch.  So far, he is my favorite.  He is so nice and speaks slowly and always reminds me to tell him when I do not understand him.  He rides motorcycles for fun and has a bunch of birds and fish.  I feel like my mom has been frustrated with me...and I feel terrible.  I get up and breakfast is made for me.  Then I can NEVER finish what she gives me.  Then she makes my lunch and dinner. She always tells me I do not eat enough, but she gives me SO MUCH. I hope she likes me.  My brother is very nice.  He is always making sure everything is going well. My sister is kinda MIA. Shes never home, but the computer is in her room, so I have a feeling I will be her best friend.

Schoool is nuts. The teachers speak so quickly and we already have lots to do.  But, I can already tell that I am getting better. Yesterday we went to In Bio which is a museum about biodiversity.  It was really neat because they had tons of different wildlife. We saw lots of cool trees, bugs, birds, sloths, and my personal favorite, butterflies.  They had the coolest butterfly house.  Lots of them kept landing on me and everyone making me stop so they could take pictures.

This weekend we go to San Carlos. Vera said that we can go zipling and horseback riding. We are going to see Arenal Volcano too.  Afterwards, I am positive that I will have some cool pictures to put up.

I miss you all so much.  I cannot wait until I hear from you. Wish me luck! Love you!

Today's the day :)

Today's the day everyone...I'm off to Costa Rica in just a few short hours.  To be honest, I'm pretty torn up on how  to feel.  I'm nervous about the flight, about my spanish speaking abilities, and whether or not my host family will think I'm a total moron or not. I'm sad about leaving people I love for a while without being able to have contact with them whenever I want. But on the flip side, I'm so excited to set out on this adventure.  

So on this day, I hope that you pray that I forget about all the negative feelings that I have and simply realize that this trip will be a once in a lifetime opportunity and something that I have been wanting to do for a while.  I hope that I embrace every opportunity I have to try something new and realize that everything I have temporarily said goodbye to will still be here in 9 weeks.  And although 9 weeks seems like a long time now, it will fly by, and I probably won't want to leave Costa Rica in about 8. 

I love you guys very much.  Thanks for being there for me as I take this trip.  I can't wait to see you all in 9 weeks. Until then, I'll be sure to post as many pictures as I can, send emails and postcards, and call as much as I can; I hope you do the same.   

Goodbye Ameeeericaaaa, see ya in 9 weeks! :)

"Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for

 very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new

 doors and doing new things… and curiosity keeps 

leading us down new paths.” -Walt Disney

Schoooool's out for SUMMA!

Helllllooooo!!

It's a good day everyone; the sun is shining, and school is OVER. Another year is completed, and I could not be happier.  Now is when the real fun begins: the frantic packing and trying to decide what stays here and what will go home with me, the search for things that I still want for Costa Rica, the anticipation of leaving, and the hopeless search for more time to spend with my family and friends before I leave..

I realize that I am only hoping to find that time so I don't have to leave, which is funny since I am so excited to go. I am excited to fly on a plane to a far away place. I am excited to be DRENCHED in sweat instead of still shivering in my house in May.  I'm excited to be on an adventure that is all my own.  I also realize that this summer will be a summer that I will probably remember forever.  I know that when I come back, I will be a totally different person because I will have had the chance to truly experience something on my own.  You may be asking yourself, isn't that what college is for? And honestly, I thought the same thing.  But as I think of all the changes that I will be making this summer, I know that it will be a life altering experience.  I will not have a phone for constant and immediate contact at all times.  I will not have air conditioning (most likely).  I will have a new "family" to call my own.  I will see things that I have never seen before like volcanoes and the rain forest! There are so many things that I can't even fathom...which is what scares me the most.  Even though so many things are planned out, I have also have many more things that I can't understand until I have experienced this trip. I have no idea how my new siblings will like me. I have no idea how strict my new parents will be.  I don't know what to expect about going "out on the town".  I don't know how stressful school will be.  I have no idea if I will get along with the other 29 people going on the trip with me.  And yet, this is exactly why I am going.  I am SO EXCITED to experience something brand new. And so, here's to a great and memorable summer (for better or for worse).  It's going to be SO worth it. :)