just because.

anddd i just laughed out loud really hard at this. the last on is my favorite. incase you need a mid-week pick me up. enjoy.

mom and dad ate all the halloween candy.

first day of school! first day of school!

so. here i am, sitting on the kitchen floor after my first day at the school. why? because the floor is cool and the air is too hot, and because i kind of collapsed here. ive got country music playing in the headphones and im chillin in what i like to call my "sweat" outfit. mainly i dont see a point in sweating through lots of outfits, so i just come home and put on this stellar yellow tank ive got and some nike shorts. life is great. because, lets be honest, im in costa rica. pura vida.

monday, literally right after i blogged, i experienced something for the very first time. we (christy and karla and i) were watching greys anatomy on the computer. where? on the floor. weve been over this already. and all of the sudden.... i know, im great at buildin the suspense. so we were watching greys, and i was laying on my tummy, and i knew it wasnt growling in hunger, but man i was moving for a split second. thats right friends: earthquake! nicoya, the town im in, is near the nicaraguan border and there was a 5.9 earthquake there and we felt a tremor for a few seconds. we ran to the door frame. and ill shamefully admit the only reason i knew to go to the doorframe was form the hilary duff movie: a cinderella story. but hey: it was right. so that was something fun and exciting that happened monday.

tuesday there was supposed to be the civics national exam but it was cancelled for some reason. so after a relaxing morning at the pool, thats all i have to tell about tuesday. onto today: the first day of school (at least for me)! in general, the classes that i will teach will be different every day, sometimes longer classes, others very short, sometimes even multiple times a day. but my general classes are 7th, 9th and 10th graders (since the 11th graders are finished). today i remember why i loved middle schoolers so much. definitely my favorites of the day and the best students. teacher here is really different than my first 10 weeks of the semester in the united states. i pick up the book and simply start from where we left off, where as in the us, my teacher and i there made lessons plans, and thorough lesson plans at that, each and every day. but since the resources here are so slim, they use what they have. but whats fascinating is that the students can speak english, where as my kids were no where close to spanish at watauga.

so with only one day under my belt, i can say that teaching here, at least i believe, will be a lot more simple. you go, you teach, and thats about it. but if students are not understanding something, they get left in the dust pretty quick. i hope to be able to see those students not doing so well in english classes really succeed. i was grateful that i knew the spanish i did today. karla tried to only teach in english, which is the best way to teach a foreign language, but today i was perfectly able to explain grammar in spanish. yall, teaching grammar in another language is really hard, buttt it came really easy today. huge praise.

as for the school itself, ill add some pictures another time. to me, the costa rica schools are something ive seen before, so nothing caught me off guard. but if you have never seen them, theres not much to show. the grades stay within their own classes, they have very old wooden desk and maybe a whiteboard in the room. nothing else is really needed. no projectors or smart boards. so, i honestly love it, because technology sometimes takes so much away from the content the students are to learn.

learning the students' names will be my biggest challenge. it was hard to learn 100 kids names at watauga, but here will be twice as hard. the names just are not familiar names to me and when they all grease their hairs, i cant tell them apart. ohh the challenges. they rarely pay attention, so im learning more and more about the little word patience.

other than that, i love being here. i love working on my tan in november. and i love teaching at this school and being in this community. it brings such joy to my heart to be here. but as for now, i type way to much as it is, so ill just stop.

but real quick: shout out to grandma meier. there is something in the kitchen of my host mom's house that makes me feel like im at your house. its a smell that i cant describe, but oh boy it reminds me of good ole knox, pa!

love yall!

equipped.

yesterday i got sunburnt, today im sweating gallons of water, and you know, im 100% okay with that. costa rica is going to be quite the adventure. i am excited that i am here and very excited to share with you all what i am learning. for starters i suppose i should tell yall about my crazy little flight:

i sat right behind the pilots, and basically watched everything they did. dad would be so proud of me. took some pictures, but one of my favorites is that i saw the landing strip, and watched the whole process or landing the plane. how cool is that?! i feel like i could do it all by myself. okay, maybe not, but you get the gest

anywho, my first two days at the school are teacher workdays, because the 11th graders are taking national exams, so basically we are just relaxing, which is kind of nice since everyday in the us was packed. and i also found out that summer break begins after the last week of november, aka the kids are out of school, well there is no school. kind of a blessing, but i have no idea what those days will look like. im hoping to learn a lot over these next few weeks of how teaching here works, so it will be interesting. i dont know what to think about getting done early, but i know i shouldnt complain :)

with it being summer time, yo would think the sun would go down later and rise later. false. let me go ahead and say how false that is. sun is up around 5am, and goes down around 530pm. so i am quite the early riser and early to bed kid here. and by early i mean, i naturally wake up around 6 and go to bed around 8 or 830. grandma status, this i know. but let me explain how mornings/nights work: first of all, neighbor is a relative term. they really live through the thin wall, meaning you hear everything, even phones ringing. the animals are quite the prowlers making all sort of noises, not because they are loud, but because what the choose to jump on is VERY loud. the roosters are the morning alarms, and then the man selling tortillas rides his bike yelling "tortillas" starting around 5 and comes by at least 5 times. i think im early, but to costa ricans, im quite the late sleeper i suppose.

fellowships is one of those things i knew i was leaving behind the second i stepped on the airplane. what a blessing it has been to live in boone since i was a freshmen, and the relationships i have built are beyond incredible. but what i sweet thing it is to know that there is no distance in prayer. none whatsoever. so although i am physically separated from them, their prayers jump all sorts of boarders bringing me such encouragement. and encouragement on skype is just a small something i needed today.

one of the things i wanted out of my experience here was to be observant with completely new eyes to see where the needs are for the people, and how they can be met. there are so many physical needs here in this country, and a lot of those need can be met at the same time as sharing who jesus is, but we have to know the needs. so today, as i sat and observed the lifestyle of the school, i noticed those simple acts of kindness were completely missing. no real love was being shared. everyone was present and knew each other, but the love was just gone.

and i know im not going to be here very long, but i know that if ive been called, then im supposed to be here. and if im called, then i am equipped to share this love. i am equipped to be a light to this community. i am equipped to just live as christ did. just as the bible says. thanks sweet friend for reminding me of simple truths. love people, and love them well.

but as for this hot afternoon, i am going to sit in the breeze and read a book i found on the shelf in karla's room. im expanding my spanish reading skills, so yall go ahead and take a guess. chapter one is "el niño que vivió."

walking on down 4 privet drive in harry potter numero uno.

wish me luck. i dont know many magic words in spanish.

love yall!

second time around.

if only yall could see where i am sitting right now, waiting for my last flight. a little shack, where the doors are wide open to the world, called the sansa regional airport, right next to the sjo airport. i have arrived in costa rica and im waiting for my next flight. its sure to be an adventure seeing that i am one of two passengers on this plane. no idea what the plane looks like, but im slightly nervous. landing in san jose felt like i was just returning to a second home. i had the biggest smile on my face and in my mind i kept hearing, "welcome back." i saw a restaurant as i was landing that i ate at last time i was here. i knew i remembered being really close to the airport and there it was, right on the side of the runway. flying down was a breeze, which is always a blessing. my feet are crazy swollen. i sat next to these two youth pastors both taking different groups for mission trips in san jose. its always funny who i sit next to on airplanes. love it.

so, like my title says, im here...second time around. it was funny walking with one of the airport guys who took me to the smaller shack airport and talking about my last time here. i had a full spanish conversation the second i stepped off the plane, and what a blessing it was to hear him say my spanish actually sounded really good. im so excited to practice and really have full conversations with people.

so since im here, and have an abundance amount of time until my next flight, i might as well mention my goals for this trip. scott and i had dinner last night and its funny to me that he asked this question before i went to spain, so i knew it was coming for costa rica. so we made my goals list again and welp here it is:

1. spanish spanish spanish. necesito hablar más español.

2. try new foods, and eat more fruit that i really should

3. prepare fun lessons for my students and really encourage them in learning english

4. surfing lessons. it might sound crazy, but why not when im in one of the best places in the world to surf. yes ill be careful. no i wont swim in rip tides. mom: dont worry.

5. be observant. eyes opened. heart opened. and ready to receive.

6. make local friends. i want to be able to go to a fruit stand in the mornings and stand and have conversations with the vendors and get to know them

7. share jesus. always.

8. finish !gracias! and read the book radical. might as well add writing so much that i get to the second journal i brought

9. learn more about hinduism, and simply be a light to the hindu roommate i have.

10. skype or video message my watauga kids. miss those guys.

11. help in the conexión christmas projects (obvi going to be the best part of the trip)

12. give conrado THE biggest hug possible

13. walk in fullness of love and joy. each day.

this, my friends, its going to be one of my biggest adventures yet. i know i will be stretched, but i also know im going to be learning and growing in deeper ways. if youve talked to me about my future in the past year or so, you know its been put on my heart to teach abroad. i love that i was born and raised in the us, and i love all that it has to offer, but there is so much more in the world, so much that people need to hear and receive, and i want to share it. i think these next six weeks are going to be the biggest test trial i could imagine. i want to really soak in my time here to see if this is real, if this is what the lord has called me to. spanish ministry and latin america just have a special place in my heart and chances are, its one of the first few things you learn about me. soo it will be interesting.

but for now, this has been long enough. im just entertaining myself in the shack. ill let yall go.

besos.

what else is new?

something in me really want to start this blog post with the lyrics of christmas vacation..."its that time..." but i didnt. but the reality is that itssss that timee! yall know i cant stay in the country for too long. so im headed back to costa rica again! i will be teaching english for 5 weeks at a bilingual school in nicoya, cr. its closer to the pacific side of the country in the nicoya peninsula. just google it :). the last week i am there i will be back in san josé con mi familia de conexión that i was with in last summer. i will be helping with their christmas projects which are kind of similar to samaritan's purse's operation christmas child. i am beyond excited to be reunited with mis abuelitos conrado y mamá.

student teaching these past 10 weeks at watuaga have been such an adventure. my kids were hilarious and i know i will miss seeing them everyday. they were pumped to be able to add me on facebook. funny lives.

anywho. tonight i am leaving boone and saturday morning at the crack of dawn i am flying out. it will basically be summer there, so its been difficult to pack (seeing that i have had to scrap icey frost off my windows the past few days and have seen snow twice now). but i am very excited to get my tan back while everyone will be nice and pale when i get back in december. you see heres my plan: ill go to costa rica and get nice and tan. then in december/january when im applying for jobs, they will see that i was a spanish major, and notice that in the middle of winter im tan. so they will think im spanish, naturally, and hire me for anything and everything i apply for. not true. but its a well thought out plan, you know.

but for now, i have lots to get done, but ill post again before i leave. just thought id let friends know: im leaving again! but im sure you already knew that :)

besos.

el fin.

today is my last official day in madrid! i cannot believe how quickly this month has gone by. we had our finals yesterday and went and saw a flamenco dance as our last class adventure. yall, i want to learn how to do that. coolest thing to see. they stomp their feet so quick and the clicker things (i have no idea what else to call them) are really great. so glad i got to do that. our teach came out to dinner with everyone last night and thats always a good time.

today im doing some last minute shopping (really i need an extra small bag to take home with me...heavy presents. whoopsies). and spending the night out and about with amigos!

so since its my last day i figure i would do an update on the goals list, because who doesnt love lists?

1. make a new best friend: welp thats a definite check. i have loved everyone i met and my host mom has been incredible. love these besties.

2. go to a professional soccer game: fail. but the bull fight took the place here.

3. stick my toesies in the mediterranean sea: CHECKKK!!

4. learn spanish better: más o menos.

5. read these 2 books that 2 dear friends gave me: check. both were so great. thanks guys :)

6. meet a bulgarian (simply because its a fun word to say): fail. but i did meet the dutch, spanish (obvi) french and plenty of others.

7. try a a new food item at least 4 times a week: yes, yes i did. i may not have liked it all, but i ate way too much here.

8. learn to dress like those sassy spaniards: coming back with sas.

9. real talk pillow talk with roomie: me and rooms had real talk, but since she stayed out until 6 in the morning most nights, the pillow talk wasnt quite there.

10. take cool pictures: ive got a little over 2000 in an album, check.

11. blog about the adventures: obvi.

12. use the metro without fear: professional metro rider.

13. find a cross for the collection: check.

14. love people and love them well: they can be the judge of that.

but in all honesty, i have loved getting to know a completely different group of people, and learning so much about them. small talk turns into real talk, and simply loving people where they are at right now can change things in the future. i have no idea what part ive played in their lives, but im so excited that these friendships are coming home with me. its not over yet :)

tomorrow i hope to sleep most of the flight to try and get myself on american time pronto when i get back. going straight from the airport to a cookout with way too much family, so hopefully i can last until 5am spain time (aka 11pm)

ill send another link to pictures when i get the last of them up.

but for now, happy wednesday fam (yall know its always my fav day of the week).

besos y mucho amor.

león.

so this past weekend we had not only field trip friday, but field trip weekend. we took a 4 hour bus ride friday morning into the mountains and ohh how glorious that was. madrid has been in the 90s for the past week (97 today!) and with no air conditioning, its just freaking HOT!

anywho: field trip included a weekend stay in the providence of león. we visited monasteries, and a vineyard on friday! yall, the vineyard was so incredible fun. it was in a beautiful location, we got to try 3 different kinds and have bread and cheese. loved it.

saturday we went on a crazy hike from the town we were staying in. the camino de santiago (google it) runs through the town we were staying in so we hiked a bit of that. our professor said it was going to be super easy and not bad: lies. it was crazy. but so beautiful the entire way there. afterwards however: my knees hated me for 2 days straight, like couldnt walk normal because they were so achy. whoops.

but after the hike we went to las medulas which are these old gold mines from the romans that they flushed out with water. we got to go through one of the caves too. they make you wear a hilarious hair net under the hard hats and then give you a flashlight to go have fun.

after the caves we went to a lake then back to the hostels for pizza. the next morning we did the usual travel, see a cathedral, something old, then headed back for the longest trip into madrid. it just seemed to take forever to get home. 6 hours including the metro ride. just a tad bit longer than any of us wanted. but this weekend was incredible and beautiful and totally worth it!

what i loved is that we got to go on this trip as a class and it was so great to really get to know people that i didnt normally go on adventures with during the week. and although conversations were not "deep" nor crazy real talk, they were real, and opened doors, and it was just really rewarding to see the lord do these things. im pumped that most of these friendships are going to continue when i get back to boone which means its not over thursday when i fly back home. (yes, i fly back to the states on thursday, and yes i am VERY EXCITED!) He's faithful, thats for sure.

as for this happy monday, we went to class, take two of the reina sofia (modern art museum) then hit to pool since its the only cool place we could go. and now its time for cena!