Jolynn
Jolynn Schwing Joined: June 15th 2005
Logged in: March 12th 2009
Logged in: March 12th 2009
Travel Blog Posts
Enjoying a Pina Colada at Barracuda Restaurant on the Hill
I know, I know.....this time I've been mournfully remiss in my blogging duties. I don't want to say I have a "been there; done that" attitude about this trip but I've almost run out of things to write about. That, and spending a good deal of time online "Skpe-ing" with Wayne, not to mention studying my "nalgas"off, has led me to this day when I realize I owe you all at least one more dose of beautiful Costa Rica before I return home. I've had quite a few "adventuritas" here in Samara. No big ones this time (no ultralight flying over the ocean, zip-lining through the rain forest, or volcano-watching). I choses to stay close by in Samara, partly to save money and partly because I just love the beach so much. My mini-adventures included milder ... read more
En Route to the Airport
It was time to “make lemonade out of my lemons” so to speak. As most of you know, I was laid off in December from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Since I left Samara, Costa Rica back in 2006, I’ve been itching to go back so.. .here I am! Welcome to Jolynn’s Costa Rica Blog, Episode 3! On this, my third trip to Playa Samara, Costa Rica, I hold some bitter-sweet feelings. It’s the first time I’ve come, having someone special in my life back at home. But, after a few tears with Wayne at the airport and promises to email and call frequently, I broke myself away and headed south on Sunday. I decided to save some dinero (that’s always a good thing when one is unemployed!) and rent a car to get myself from the airport ... read more
Jimmy and I (the noodle) After My Massage
I had the most fabulous weekend, again opting not to travel (much) because Samara is so amazing. Saturday we had glorious weather so I attempted an adventure of swimming to the island off of Samara. With camera carefully triple-wrapped in ziplock bags, I took the 45 minute walk to the very end of the beach at low tide to the place where I'd have the shortest distance to swim. I must have gone too far though because I found myself sort of stranded among some rocks. I finally made myself back to the beach and started out again. However, some ugly clouds started forming on the horizon and I heard my mother's voice saying, "Jolynn, don't you have any sense?!?" With the theme song of Gilligan's Island humming in my head, I decided NOT to start ... read more
Coral's Class (Kindergarten)
Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore! Or at least, we're not in Round Rock Independent School District in Austin, Texas anymore! This week, I had the opportunity to visit the elementary school here in Playa Samara as well as interview the principal. It was something I've wanted to do since last summer so when my Spanish teacher gave us the homework assignment to interview someone in town, write a paper on it, and then do an oral presentation of what we learned, I jumped at the chance to visit la escuela AND have it "count" for my homework! Instead of sharing with you my very butchered Spanish version of what I observed and concluded, I thought I'd relay what I learned in a slightly different manner. Thus, I have compiled the following synopsis of my experience: ... read more
Soccer is Serious Business!
I have for you, ladies and gentlemen, today's Top 10 List! I'm happy to report that I have not ventured outside of Playa Samara this week at all and am therefore not able to share with you the cross-country adventures I delivered last summer. Despite not traveling, a week in Samara can bring a person much insight as well as a most TRANQUILA attitude on life. . .and therefore, I share with you now. . . THE TOP 10 LESSONS I'VE LEARNED IN COSTA RICA THIS WEEK: 10. TICOS ARE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR FUTBOL (aka soccer to you and me). So much so that Friday's classes in public schools were canceled so that all could observe Costa Rica play Germany in the first game of the World Cup! My school rearranged their exam schedule to ... read more
Leaving for Costa Rica!
Hola amigos! I'm back in Costa Rica, Playa Samara to be exact, for another round of adventures! First, a little disclaimer/apology: For all of you emailing me from home. .. THANK YOU. .. I love you for it! Please keep them coming! But, the internet service here is slow, slow, slow so I'm spending a lot of time/money trying to answer everyone individually. Hence, this blog! Please forgive me if I can't answer you each time you write :-) My story begins with my opting to book a charter flight (it's my dad's penny-pinching genes I guess) with a delightful little company called "Worry Free Vacations". I have to say that this is a misnomer if I've ever heard one! The worries began at DFW as I watched the mechanics working on my plane for an ... read more
Beautiful Playa Samara
Hi all! By now, since I'm writing from Austin, many of you have seen me and been subjected to all 300 of my photos. However, I feel compelled to document the rest of my trip so that I have it for my own sake. . .so bear with me friends! My last day in Playa Samara (sniff, sniff) was probably the most gorgeous day of all, wouldn't you know. The color of the water was the most beautiful shade of torquoise--almost thought I was in Hawaii. I snuck in a few extra hours on the beach because I did what I rarely do. . .I put fun before work! You see, by the third week of escuela and one too many reflexive verbs, my brain had hit its saturation point. I began my day with good ... read more
Rinconcita Lodge
This weekend I headed out to explore Rincon de la Vieja, a national park northeast of Liberia. The school arranged the trip for me and I found myself companioned with Bonnie and Marty, an older couple from Buffalo, NY. Bonnie had just completed Spanish 1, Marty Spanish 2. I, being the ever-so-fluent graduate of Spanish 4 would be the designated dialoguer. Off we went on Friday afternoon in a taxi the size of a go-cart. When Marty reached to adjust the AC (we are near the equator!), the driver, knowing no English, simply laughed at him. Our 2-hour treck to Liberia would be a sweltering one! We were delivered to a snazzy Burger King in Liberia (even by US standards!) where a driver from the lodge picked us up. It would be another hot drive up ... read more
My humble abode
Well the folks at Intercultura Language School could NEVER give me an exam that equaled to the true test I had this week in Samara. For those of you wondering why I haven't blogged or emailed much in over a week. . .here's my story: Last Saturday night I began to feel a sore throat that I knew was a tell-tale sign of worse things to come. I had prepared myself well for all kinds of intestinal issues that I'd heard were so common in Latin America. Of course no where in my ziplock of medicines could I find anything for any ailments snot-related. I decided it best that I befriend the little man at the farmacia. Boy was that an experience! Now I can proudly say I'm coming along quite nicely with the language acquisition ... read more
Monkey Mama
Today, after surfing, I had nothing but time on my hands. I decided to jump in one of the school's hammocks and read my book. . .pura vida, no? As I was reading to the sound of waves and palm branches, I caught a glimpse of our friendly neighbors, los monos. It was a cute little family. The dad, ever the macho, is the family's protector and stayed on a main branch while his wife and babies, some of which were on her back, took time to go out onto further branches to eat fruit. I started snapping photos right and left. Then I made the mistake of getting right under one of those monkeys. She either really didn't like me or felt very comfortable with me right there because that was the exact moment she ... read more
