Coming to a close...BUT not quite over...

Soo...Grecia was great! I went back to San Jose for my 5 last days in Costa Rica. Got all packed up and flew to Panama City today. I'm leaving tomorrow to take another plane and a canoe (like 2 halfs of a tree put together style) to an island in the Caribbean to live with the Kuna tribe from Panama in a bamboo and thatched roof hut for a week! After that I return to Panama City for 2 days and then fly to Miami for 2 days on Dec 8th (my b-day)! I'll be at home sweet home in Minnesota on Dec 10! See you all soon!

Grecia.....the story continues...

It's been so long since I wrote. I have been so busy with classes, helping out at the school, playing with my sisters, talking and watching TV with my family...oh yeah...and studying! This past Saturday, I went to my host mom's aunt's house for the day. I needed to get a bunch of h/w done, but that can be hard to do in a relational culture. Everybody just kept talking to me and I couldn't really go anywhere by myself at all. They also somehow had me help them glue tassels onto 140 sashes while listening to Spanish Christmas music! Too funny! Sunday my family went to the beach (Doña Ana) with this other family for the day! It was so gorgeous! I spent most of the day either eating or playing in the waves with my sisters and host parents! The only problem is that I did not bring my sunscreen to Grecia bc I didn't think that I was going to leave the town. Therefore, my body got really dark and is fine, but my more sensitive face got scorched and is now pealing SOOO bad on my forhead. I have to bobbypin my hair a certain way to cover half of my forehead otherwise I look diseased! But, it was definitely worth it! Monday and Tuesday I had classes (which are extremely laid back) at the church. It was sooo good to see my American Chicas and talk and laugh in English!! Laura and Jessica (our program leaders) also came and visited us! It was so fun to sit and talk for a bit (in English again) with familiar faces! Wednesday through Friday I was at the school again! I helped out with preschool, kindergarten, 5th grade, and 2nd grade. With the preschoolers I read Cinicienta (Cinderella) to some of the girls and the teacher had me sing ''Old McDonald'' in English for them. Of all animals I picked a PIG, so there I was snorting in front of the class! Oh boy! I'm sure they think I'm a CRAZY GRINGA now!!! (if they didn't already) :) The kindergarten class absolutely loved and CLUNG to me! Anytime someone stopped by their room the kids would tell them about me and drag me over to the door as if to show me off. haha They are so precious! I'm gonna be helping out in their class every morning wed through fri of next week! My favorite thing was how during recess they were taking shots on the futbol field while one of their classmates was the goley. He had his goley gloves that he had brought and was wearing during this! He meant seriousness business! ;) Can't wait for more adventures at the school next week! My family is still incredible! I've had some good conversations with my host mom, watched all sorts of American movies in Spanish (Taken, Fireproof, What Women Want, just to name a few), I was a ''judge'' with Karol for the girls who were doing Olympic Events in the front yard, and I play with my sisters a lot. Never a dull moment, but I'm so thankful for the incredible place I'm in right now! My youngest sister Meli, will quite often just come into my room while I'm lying on my bed reading or writing and put her arm around my neck and lay her head on my shoulder and just stare at me. She is so freaking adorable! It will definitely be hard for me to leave my family here! They've already told me that they are going to miss me a ton (more than their previous student) because I actually talk with all of them and we've gotten close! Ahhhh....tears are gonna come on November 25, when I go back to San Jose! :( UNTIL then, I'm living every moment I have to the full!

Grecia!!

I am here in Grecia (a town about and hour and a half outside of San Jose)! My computer crashed last night, so my blog entry and pictures are unavailable at the moment :) However, heres the gist of it all. AMAZING family! I have two younger sisters who are the most adorable girls EVER!! Mariana is 8 yrs old and Melissa is 4 yrs old. Ive gotten to watch cartoons like Over the Hedge and Barnyard with my family. I watch the world series with my host dad bc he is a big baseball fan! I have had so many good conversations and laughs with my family! Classes are great! The food here is INCREDIBLE! Usually the students that go to Grecia for a month gain weight bc of eating so much food, but im determined to NOT let that happen! haha I just started working in a school today. Today i worked in the kitchen and talked with a bunch of teachers and some students. All the boys want to be my boyfriend! haha One even told me that he loves me already! so cute! Tomorrow ill be helping out in the 5th grade class! Time is starting to fly, so im cherishing EVERY MOMENT! God is continuing to present me with challenges every day (like my computer crashing...haha), but so many blessings as well! I am soooo thankful for all that He is providing for me and teaching me! Thank you all for your prayers! Keep them coming! ;) haha