revenge of the rip tide!

Last Saturday, I went to the beach with 2 friends. It was my first time visiting this beach, Playa Hermosa, it is just south of Jaco. We have been told time and time again about the dangerous rip tide, but we hadn't even taken the time to consider it before a friend went in for a swim. We were only about 10 minutes into our beach day... Elle and I were sitting in our beach chairs and Ruth was swimming. All of the sudden we heard a loud scream, "HELP!!!!" My stomach sank, Elle and I looked at each other and started running as fast as we could to the water. Elle looked to me and said, "Are you a stronger swimmer, I used to be a life guard" Quickly, I replied, "Yes, but maybe you should go." So I stayed about knee-deep and Elle started swimming in.... the waves were big and I was nervous. Elle got about chest deep and turned back to me and gave me a look that can only be described as hopeless and afraid. She told me to yell for help and that's when I knew we were in trouble, serious trouble. I started screaming, screaming as loud as I could, "HELP! HELP! Someone please help us!" I really can't remember, but all I know is I was scared, Elle was trying to work her way back in and I was trying to keep my eyes on Ruth, making sure she had her head above water... the waves were so big I'd lose her... at one point I couldn't see her head... one wave came... then another... still no Ruth. Finally her head popped up... thank goodness!!!! Sometime during all of that a surfer came running toward us and yelled at me to get back to the sand. He headed out into the ocean in full rescue mode. Another guy started swimming out too and helped Elle as she made it back to shore. It felt like forever... Elle and I standing on shore waiting... hoping, both thinking we were watching our friend die. A crowd had built up upon the shore... all hoping that Ruth would be okay. The surfer made his way out to her and luckily she had the energy to keep herself above water and she was okay. He helped her onto the board and swam about 50 yards to the left before bringing her in. There were about 10 other surfers in the water ready to help as needed. We were so lucky. Had we been on that beach alone there's no telling what the outcome may have been. It was by far the scariest experience in my life. We learned a valuable lesson that day... to always always always check the currents. Watch the water and be so cautious while we swim. We were lucky... but I don't ever want to experience that again.

hola

it's Friday... I am exhausted and relieved it is the weekend! I realized I have not written in awhile, so I thought I would take some time today. I looked at the date on the lower right hand corner of the computer and realized that 2 months ago today I was packing up the last of my little home in Denver, saying goodbye to friends and my sweet puppy. A part of me feels like I have been here so much longer than 2 months, but another part of me feels like it is flying by. The good thing is, it feels like home. I am comfortable, I have nice friends and colleagues, and I am finally in a routine. Between Spanish, spinning, yoga and now kickboxing, my Mon-Thurs stay busy! With my weekends, I have been fortunate to have already been to many beautiful beaches on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts and seen some beautiful landscape along the way! It really has been an easy adjustment so far...

I am settling in at work as well, it is always tough to start a new job and learn the way things are done. For awhile I was pretty down about things, because I don't really agree 100% with my team about best practices for teaching. With all of the work I have done in the past few years to become the teacher I am, it was difficult for me to let that all go and teach in a way I don't really believe in. So, I have been quiet at meetings and figured out how to incorporate the necessary curriculum while teaching the way I want. Luckily, the curriculum coordinator, Kasey, supports me in that decision. In the past week or two I have started speaking up a little more, asking a few more questions, sharing more ideas (and they are becoming more welcomed) during the team meetings. It turns out, having 7 years of teaching experience, I do know a little bit about teaching! So slowly I am teaching other people about things I love and believe in, such as Daily 5, teaching vocabulary and grammar within context, individualizing instruction to meet the needs of my students and people are slowly opening up to new ideas. With 100% of my students being English Language Learner's, I really get to put my new Master's degree to use! I have to remember that change is hard but as long as I continue with what I believe is right then I am doing the best job I can for my students...

thanks for reading!

puerto viejo!

This past weekend I took my first trip to the Caribbean in Costa Rica! It was beautiful! There was a group of nine and we left immediately after work on Friday to catch the 4 o'clock bus to the beach! It was along trip, but it was worth it! We stayed in little cabinas (Cabinas Selvin, I believe) in Punta Uva... they were rustic, but affordable and had kitchens. I wish you could have seen the size of the insects! I was too afraid of them to take pictures! They were HUGE! Here is a few pictures of the place though...

a bedroom- with a net for the HUGE bugs!

front porch with hammock!




The kitchen!


 We spent Saturday at the beach, it was beautiful! The water was clear and warm and the beer was cold and delicious! We had a delicious lunch (I had fish tacos with Caribbean rice and beans) and then we headed back to the place to shower up and prepare for a night on the town!

Some of the crew

Could this be any more relaxing?

Que lindo!

 We headed into town for dinner and ate at a place called Chile Rojo. I had FRESH Marlin with rice and veggies and it was only about 13bucks! I was pretty pleased with that! It was delicious and affordable! A few of us stayed out to enjoy the night life and I am glad I did. There were many bars with dancing and music and the culture of the Caribbean in Costa Rica is really neat! There was a bar that played all Spanish music and it was fun to watch people salsa dance, other bars played Rasta music and the dance floors were packed! While I have never been to Jamaica, it felt like it could be a similar feel. It was a wonderful night!



It's blurry, but it is the group sin Meghan at dinner! A bunch of lookers, eh? :)

Sunday was another beautiful day at the beach, a delicious meal at a place called Bread and Chocolate and a bus trip home! Needless to say, I was exhausted when I got home... but it was all worth it! Another great weekend in the books! It was pura vida!

end of august

well... I guess I am really settling into my routine in Costa Rica. I have been here 6 weeks but it feels like I have been living here so much longer! It must be because I am so busy with work each day and thoroughly enjoying my weekends. The people who I have become close friends with are great and it is starting to feel like I have known them forever! weird. :)

These past few weeks have been jam packed with fun, so I will fill you in on some of the adventure!

San Jose weekends: One of the best parts about staying in San Jose for the weekend is being able to go to the feria organica! It is the cutest little hippie farmer's market and I have found tons of great gems (thanks Elle!) It is nice to stock up of fresh fruits and veggies, but I also enjoy the pesto, sun-dried tomato pesto, chocolate banana bread and variety of goat cheese I have brought home. Haven't been disappointed in a purchase yet! The hard part is getting up and being out the door by 7:15 to get the good stuff. I am so not a morning person...


Elle doing some shopping

Sean doing some browsing

Last weekend my roommate, Elle, and I hosted the "Old gringo/new gringo" party and also celebrated our friend Meghan's birthday! It was a wonderful time and it was nice to get to know some of the other teachers who have been teaching here awhile. We had a great time and I am happy we were able to bring so many people together! The gringos gotta stick together!

Meghan, Elle y yo :)

Language Acquisition: My Spanish is coming along s l o w l y... but it is coming! Every Monday I take Spanish after school and while it is only an hour a week, it is still helpful. We have been working on regular verbs in the present tense... now I just need to memorize what they all mean since I know how to conjugate them! Soon enough.
I did my first yoga class in Spanish! I do yoga at school every Wednesday and every other week she does English/Spanish... I was a little nervous I would be lost, but I did better than I thought! Turns out knowing silla means chair, perro means dog, derecho means right and izquierda means left helped a lot! I enjoyed the class more than I thought!

That about sums up what I do on a weekly basis... work, Spanish class, work, yoga... work... get caught in the afternoon rain, oh and drink copious amounts of wine but nothing has changed there...

thanks for reading :) pura vida!