Two weeks back...

I have been back in Arizona for two weeks now... and it has been great! I have mostly just been relaxing and catching up with my friends and family that I hadn't seen in so long.  I made it back in time for Easter, so I was able to hang out with my cousins and everyone at Uncle Rob's house. We did the Easter Egg Hunt and everything!  Other than that, my days have been filled with lunch dates, and just chilling... oh, and a bit of job searching.  

I am really missing my Costa Rican family and friends, and have been emailing and skyping them super-frequently.  I got the cutest email ever the other day from Carita (my Costa Rican now-ex novio).  He told me that his sister took her son (Carita's 4 year old nephew) to play in the park that I did the fundraising for and helped build.  He said that when Jurgen (the nephew) got home, he was really excited and telling Carita all about it.  Well, Carita expalined to Jurgen that I left that jungle gym for them so that they wouldn't forget about me... super cute.  Anyway, Jurgen went the next day with his mom, and came home crying! Carita asked him what was wrong, and he replied that I needed to come back to Santa Rosa because there were other little kids playing on his playground, and I needed to tell them to stop!  How adorable.  I wrote back that Jurge

n needs to learn how to share =)  It just made me miss being there a little bit more...

Time to go home

I can't believe that I am going to be home in 4 days! This blog is going to be kind of long... there are a lot of things I want to put up, and I know I will never do it once i get home =)

Last quick trip to the beach.

Dustin's sister and a friend came down for a few days... so we went ot Playa Tiveves in Puntarenas (the fact that this was the only province I had not yet visited was a big reason that I decided to go). Dustin's host parents have a house out there, so it was super cheap, and super fun. The novio came with, and it was actually a really fun mix of gringos and ticos and bad Spanish and bad English =) We went swimming and made a camp fire, and just relaxed. It was really hot... which is good. I am training for coming back to AZ!

Costa Rica vs Mexico en el Azteca... tear

Interesting fact: Costa Ricans HATE Mexico, or at least when it come to soccer. I get a lot of crap for loving Mexico so much as a country, so when Costa Rica played against Mex last week, I kept my mouth shut =). I decked myslef out in the national colors (my whole life, I have never had to buy new clothes to be patriotic or have school spirit; Benson High School colors- red and blue. University of Arizona colors- red and blue. USA colors- red, white, blue. Costa Rica's flag- red white and blue)! We went to the local bar to watc hteh game on a screen they had set up... and emotions were high. Apparently, Costa Rica is the only team that has ever beat Mexico in their own stadium... 4 years ago. So now, they really wanted a repeat. However, that was not meant to be... and we lost. Here are some pictures... happy ones from before the gaem, sad ones form after.

Kindergarden

One of my coworkers at the school has a mom who teaches kindergarden in Cartago. They have English class once a week, and she asked me to come and do a lesson with the kids so they can be exposed to a native speaker. They were super cute! We learned all about the color GREEN... frogs, and grass, and trees. I had a good time.

Saying Goodbyes

A week ago, all I could think about was how excited I am to see everyone back home. I was sure that saying goodbye to the community wouldn't be too painful... because i have so much ot look forward to in AZ. I was wrong. This week has been a string of despedidas (going away parties), and it has been rough. Note: my first surprise party of my life was in June when my friends threw me a going away party in Tucson (which rocked, by the way). Since then, I have, like, quadrupled the number of surprise parties! Costa Ricans love surprise parties! I don't get it.

It started when my 6th graders threw me a surprise going away party last Wednesday. They were adorable! Of course, I suspected... but I just loved it. They made a cake and put up decorations and even had a piñata. I got pretty choked up when i was saying goodbye- I am so proud of them.

Then, my coworkers in the Habitat office got me ANOTHER cake, and also some really cool Costa Rican jewelry. That was also a nice opportunity to say goodbye to the friends I made in the office.

Next, I went to what I was told was going to be a "meeting of Santa Rosa's Development Association" at 7 pm on Saturday night. I had my doubts about the "meeting" and it turned out that it was another suprise thank you dinner, this time with the governing board of the Association (with whom I have been working on a few projects). It was really nice, and we laughed a lot.

On Sunday I went to Palm Sunday Mass. There was a procession of little kids dressed up like angles and disciples, and it was cute. It was a gorgeous sunny day, so like 10 of my friends and surrogate family members went to play frisbee in the soccer plaza (I have introduced a new sport... and they're not bad). My team won. Carita told me that we were going to go over to Rene's house that night to hang out (somethign we do pretty often.. watching TV and such). Well, we arrive at 6:30, and there is a bunch of food and a bunch of our friends, plus my host family. What do you know, another suprise party! However, this time I really didn't suspect anything. I looked like a total hobo... without makeup or anything. I was a little embarrassed, but touched. Well, we had a barbeque, and then Nelson brought out his guitar and everyone satrted singing songs about departures and friendship and missing people. Well, that was just too much... I hadn't cried up until this point, but I was a total llorona. It was sooo nice. In the States, we avoid crying whenever possible. Here, they organize events with crying as the main objective. I kind of like it, though. I actually felt a lot better after a good cry.

knew that I was going to miss this town and the people, I just don't think I realized to what extent. God totally ansered my prayers: my biggest fear about coming here was that I would be lonely- totally not a problem I ever encountered. I have made a whole new group of best friends, plus a love interest that is also going to sting with my departure. I have literally been excepted as a member of the family, and I am really going to miss them. I tell everyone that I am going ot come back and visit, I just don't know when.

To donate to the "Mikey needs to go back and visit her Costa Rican Family Fund", send checks to Benson, Arizona =).

I'll try and write another blog once I get back to Tucson, capping off the last few days here, plus my homecoming.

First Soccer Game..Last Childcare Center Meeting

Saprissa Vs. Cartago!

Last week I went tomy first, en vivo soccer game. Saprissa (the team that I support) was playing Cartago, which meant that it was close enough for us to go to! Several friends and I put on our purple and orange garb, and went out to support EL Monstro! We tied 1-1, but it was quite the experience. The fans of Saprissa are called the Ultra Morada, and they are crazy! The get all dressed up and scream and jump and yell... it's impressive. In any case, Ihad a good time and was glad I got to support my team.

Last Centro Infantil Meeting

Last night the ladies from the childcare center committe and I got together for our last meeting. Ligia and i presented the final designs for the building, plus all of the cost estimates that Daniel, the engineer who was helping us, worked out. They seemed pretty excited about how the plans turned out. I really hope that they keep up the fundraising efforts, and that a year from now I come back to see a completed day care center.

Systemizing the Habitat process

So, a representative from the Latin American Habitat office came to do a workshop with all 22 of our Las Rosas Habitat families. The idea is that they are going to evaluate what parts of the process worked well, and which ones didn't, so that they can apply the input to other housing projects farther down the road. It was a long, cold day. I arrived at 8:30 am to set up, but we didn't end up starting the activity until after 9:30 (due to family tardiness). Also, the event was held on the outdoor (though thankfully covered) patio of the elementary school, and it was raining and extremely cold! The consultant from the LAC (Latin America Office) asked me to supervise the kids so that the parents could fully engage in the process; we played a lot of games, and I managed to fall pretty hard on the slippery tile while we were playing tag. From what I heard from where the kids and I were playing, it sounded like the workshop accomplished its goal: the families were very open about expressing their likes and dislikes. However, it was also kind of upsetting for the families and the Habitat ppl who came. I mean, even impactful organizations have flaws... and the families have a right to complain about what they didn't like. I hope that their input is put to good use. We didn't end up leaving until about 3 pm, and I was exhausted. I went home, and was going to take a nap, but one of my friends Nelson showed up and invited me over to eat Chicharrones (fried pork?). I went, and they were totally worth it!

March is here

So, I come home exactly 1 month from today! Craziness! This is going to be a short but sweet blog, since i have a good bit to cover and not a ton of time.

Panama-Carnaval

Dustin (the other Habitat volunteer) and i went to Panama for our last 3 day trip out of the country. We made sure that we went while they were celebrating Carnaval, because it is supposed to be quite a party. Well, Panama lived up to its reputation, but I decided that at 23 I am just too old to be partying like a Panamanian- they don't sleep! And the big draw are these things called Culecos, which is pretty much a huge street party, but everyone has hoses and waterguns, and you spend the entire day soaking wet (nice for the heat though). Well, at first it was really fun, but by the end of the afternoon, there is a tond of wet trash, and who knows what other stuff floating in the streets, and you are in flipflops, and everyone was drunk )not me... which may have been why I didn't quite see the appeal). And they do this for 4 days straight. I went one day, then hung out with a family we know down in Penonome- they are super sweet. Consensus' Carnaval was interesting; not somethign i would want to do again.

More progress with my projects!

Obviously, with so little time left, I am rushing to get as much done as possible. We got the playground installed, and the first day that I opened it, a kid broke his arm! I guess that's just how kids are though, right? We also got the official constructión plans back for the childcare center, and I am in serious fundraising mode. Things are looking good. The elementary school is recycling! And they are excited about it!

Tope in Pacayas

Last weekend the friends and I went to Pacayas which I think will be my last Tope (horse parade) in CR =(. We had a good time though. However, I either got food poisoning or caught a virus, because I spent Sunday night puking. Here are some photos:

Other than these little things, I feel like a lot has been happening, but I can't think of what those things are at this moment. I will try and post a follow up blog soon.

Birthday Blog

So, I turned 23 last week! I feel kind of old, but whatever. It was cute, my adult students threw me a surprise birthday party in class! I was teaching like normal, when Marta came from her house to tell me that I had a phone call. Normally, I wouldn’t just leave my class in the middle, but I thought that since it was my birthday there was chance it was someone from the States, so I went to answer it. However, they had already hung up when I got there! I walked back to my house, but I was locked out! They let me in like 30 seconds later, and they had a cake and ice cream and cookies and everything; and they sang to me. It was really nice. Then, I went to Dixie’s house afterwards, and she had also made me a cake! My dinner that day was 100% sugar- I am surprised I didn’t go into some sort of shock =)

That same day, in the afternoon, Daniel (an engineer) came out to see our lot and help us design the official plans for the childcare center. It went super well. Daniel is really nice, adn very willing to help us. We should see some results this week! It's hard for me to explain how great I feel that we are taking some more concrete steps towards making this Childcare center a reality.

On the 13th, we finally installed the new playground in the park! It was supposed to take 2 full days, but Abdón and I helped out all day and got it done in less than 1 day. Habitat families provided the food for the workers, and everything came off without a hitch. Now, I just have to figure out a way to keep the high schoolers from playing on it and breaking it. Me threatening death and dismemberment has worked up until this point, but who knows how long I can keep that up. It looks really nice, made of wood with bright primary colors.

Speaking of Highschoolers- I am teaching 5 separate English classes from now until I leave! 5th grade, 6th grade, 9th grade, 10th grade, plus my faithful adults. Also, I met a couple from New Jersey who contacted me interested in helping out in Las Rosas. I feel really blessed, because they are going to teach English! Liz is a professional ESL teacher in Cartago, and is going to work with my adutls once a week, while Adam is going to help out in the colegio. I was really bummed that I was going to leave my students (especially the adults who have worked so hard) without any continuing English education. But now, with Adam and Liz, some of them will get to stay in class until about November!

Valentine's Day is pretty much the same here as in the States. ON the 14th, we had a party at my house to celebrate El Día del amor y amistad, plus my birthday and the birthday of two other girls in our group of friends. It was fun, with yet more cake. Ticos love their cake.

KBD...KBD.

On Saturday, Habitat presented the keys to 23 homes to families who lost everything in the january 8th earthquake. Even though this is not really my area of expertise here with Habitat, I tagged along to the ceremony because 1- I wanted to see it. and B- Because the President of Costa Rica (Oscar Arrias Sanchez) was going to be there and I am super lame and wanted a picture with a president. Well, I attained both of my goals. It was really moving to see the families in their new houses. Another nonprofit (fndación Monge) was able to donate furniture and appliances and everything for all fo the families. The only down side- it was pouring rain! It was really awful, and the ceremony was outside under tents. Not a good combination. PLus, I was wearing flip flops, and my feet got so muddy, and then there I was with the Persidente de la República with muddy feet =) Anyway, here are some pictures. I was dying of laughter. Arias' "body guard" was actually like, "here, come closer", I was about 2 seconds away from giving him a kiss on the cheek. None of my friends here think it was that cool (in a smaller country I guess its not that exciting). But i'll probably never meet my own president (but that would be neat) so I am going to settle for my adopted one.

Volcan Irazu

I think that I forgot to write about this when I went, but remembered when I was going through my pictures. IN January I went with CArita and his nephew to see the Irazu Volcano (which we actually live on the slopes of). I just hadn't made it to the crater yet. It was really pretty, and actually sunny. I got super sunburned. Afterwards we went to the SANATORIO, which is an abandoned mental hospital. It was neat looking.

Las Fiestas de Palmares, Minesterio de Salud

So, I went with my friends on a trip on Sunday to the biggest fiestas of the year, in all of Costa Rica. They take place in Palmares, which is really only on the map because it ahs a big party once a year. It was fun. We got on a party bus at 8 am in Santa Rosa, and got back at 1 am that night. The day was full of a concert, drinking, dancing, food. It is pretty much like a huge carnival or something. I had a really great time.

Yesterday Ligia and I had a meeting with an official in the Ministry of Salud. She was super helpful. She took a look at the preliminary plans that we have drawn up for our childcare center, and gave us some really useful suggestions. I am pretty psyched about the fact that we are actualyl having real plans made, which means we can get a serious price estimate, which means I can do some serious fundraising in the last 2 months I have left. An engineer is coming to look at the lot next week, and we are also installign the playground. it should be a busy few days.

Earthquake and the aftermath

There was terremoto (big earthquake) here in Costa Rica on January 8th. It registered a 6.2 on the Richter scale. Luckily, it wasn’t in my province, so we didn’t get any of the devastating effects, but we definitely felt it. Being from Arizona, earthquakes a really new phenomenon for me. When this one happened I was sitting in Marta’s kitchen after lunch with Hilbert, but in Santa Rosa it didn’t feel THAT big. We later saw on the news that it has already claimed about 20 lives, and there are people still missing. We are still feeling afterschocks in the 4.0 range. It is on the news all day long, and it can get kind of depressing to watch. The people of the Poas volcano region are definitely in my thoughts and prayers; it is going to be a big task to recuperate in towns where nearly everything was destroyed.

New Years

New Year






On New Year's Eve, the three of us took a bus back to my village. There, Caty and Nancy got to meet all of my new friends and family, and see in person what I have been writing home about all these months. There was yet another huge family party, and yet more drinking, eating, dancing. All of the boys fell in love with Caty; it was super cute. She and nancy even took a few turns on the dance floor. Nancy and Caty both got along super well with all of my younger host relatives- probably because the kids weren't hing up on the language barrier at all. On New Year's Day, it was rainy. I guess that i couldn't expect the unusually gorgeous weather to hold out forever. When it finally did clear up a bit, us three girls, plus Carita and his nephew, walked up to the dairy where there are also some random animals. We picked some carrots out of a field (luckily owned by Carita's dad) and Caty was her usualy funny self. Nancy was excited to check out the agricultural side of Santa Rosa, and Marta was happy to show her around. I found out a lot of stuff that I didn't know before. On Friday, we went to Hereduia, adn stayed the night at Helen's house. We went out to a great dinner, and went to bed early. Caty and Nancy got in a cab at 4:30 am, and I saw them on their way. I can't even tell you guys how nice it was to have them here to visit over the holidays. And, it was realyl nice to be able to introduce two people that I lvoe so much from my normal life, to the new people that I have grown to love so much here in Costa Rica.





Ithink that the New Year+ my family's visit made eveyone in the village more cognizant of the fact that I am not going to be here forever; I only have 3 moths left. Everyone was getting all sappy on me, and saying how they don't want me to go. It is really nice to feel wanted, and I know what they mean. I really don't like thinking about the day when I have to leave all of this behind. That's exactly why I am encouraging my friends not to talk about it, yet. Three months is a long time, and I plan to take advantage of all of it.

More Christmas stuff

I have been super busy. My "Christmas vacation" ended up being busier than my normal time here, but it was super worth it. Here's the run down.

Christmas Eve

Christmas is a HUGE deal here in Costa Rica. They started decorating in, like, October, adn it has felt pretty festive ever since. It is even cold here on the mountain, so I didn't feel nearly as homesick for Christmas as I might have expected. On Christmas Eve, the entire family got together at Silvana's house (my "host niece", but she has a 14 year old). Beforehand, I went to Christmas Eve mass, and it was really pretty. We had a great time eating, drinking, dancing (you know the drill). The only big surprise was that when it turned midnight (so NOW, its officially Christmas) everyone started crying and hugging eachother and wishing everyone a Feliz Navidad. Apparently, they always cry on Christmas: out of happiness and gratitude, but also about the tought stuff from the year before. We then said a prayer. I never cry for Christmas! I try and be happy. However, it was nice to be included in the family's intimate traditions. Another difference: the kids don't wait until the morning to open their presents; EL niño (Jesus)brings the presents and they find them under their beds at midnight. I think my favorite part of the night was when Irina (age 4ish) got a broom and mop and dustpan from el niño, and was trying to help clean up when the party was over at like 1am.

Christmas Day

On the 25th, I vowed that I was only going to eat Tamales- all day. And, I succeeded. however, I am now all Tamaled out for a while. It was a nice, kicked back day.

Caty and Nancy come to visit me!

On December 26th, my sister Caty and our friend/surrogate mother figure came to visit me. I met them at the airport on Friday night, and we just had a week straight of fun. Each day could be a whole page of blog, but since I don't have the time, nor the typing capacity to write that much, I will include as much as I can.

On Saturday, we woke up super early and went white water river rafting on the Pacuare River. It was just beautiful. The weather was great, and we had a super fun boat crew. No one fell out (because we are such skilled oarsmen and women) and we got to see some disgustingly gorgeous nature.

From the river, we went straight to the really neat beach town of Puerto Viejo (on the Carribean Coast). It is very laid back, and this part of Costa Rica has a disntincly different culture from the other parts. We stayed in a pretty hotel outside of town, on a really gorgeous beach (with some really aweful riptides- Caty almost had to save a guy while we were sitting watching the waves). We had soem time to just chill out, lay on the beach, and walk around Puerto Viejo. We rented bicycles, and got to see much more, faster, this way.

We also went ziplining, which is pretty much the coolest way ever to see the rainforest canopy. You go pretty fast, pretty high up, and see weirdo bugs and cool trees. Oh, and there was a sloth at our hotel. No big deal.

On our last full day, we rode our Bike's to another small town, called Manzanillo. It was absolutely gorgeous! The bike ride was half of the fun. We swang on some branches tarzan style (Brent, if you are reading this- I finally found some swingable branches!), and just had a really neat time.