Made it back alive from Bocas Del Toro. When I have some time this week I will try to write a good entry and get some of the pictures up. I have a phone interview for a job in Gig Harbor on Wednesday, wish me luck! Home in two weeks. Bitter-sweet. I miss family and friends but I have met so many new people and had such a good time here! One more week of classes and then the family arrives to Potrero on Friday morning! ... read more

Tomorrow I head off to Panama for a quick 5 day trip. I'm very excited but sad to be leaving the beautiful weather that has finally arrived in Costa Rica. It is 80+ and clear all day now, what a life. I have been able to surf a bit more and work on my tan. I won't be recognizable when I get home, with my long hair and brown skin. Hope everyone is doing well wherever you are reading from! Look forward to some great pictures of Bocas Del Toro!... read more

Trapped in Potrero! The weather over the past few days has been horrendous to say the least. They are blaming it on the hurricane that hit Haiti, but I think there is more to it. We have had nonstop rain for over 4 days and many parts of the country are suffering tremendously. Luckily for me, Potrero is just boring, not under water. In Quepos, where I was two weeks ago, the roads are underwater and the hospital is inaccessible and running out of clean water. The small town of Parrita (where my teacher from Quepos lives) has suffered horrible flooding and most of the town has been underwater for two days now. I hope everything will be alright. Closer to San Jose, a small mountain pueblo was destroyed in a landslide. 40 are dead and ... read more

Pura Vida, the pure life. Pura vida is the national saying/phrase/expression whatever you want to call it, of Costa Rica. And I have experienced it more here in Quepos/Manuel Antonio than anywhere else I have been so far. In my mind it is kind of like a “hang loose braw” surfer call, or a “keep it real man.” Except it has way more meaning than that. People will just throw it into the middle of a sentence, or it will be a sentence in itself. Last night I used it as we left the restaurant, after saying thanks to the waiter. It is also a way of life, and while I felt it in Tamarindo, I didn’t feel it much in Monteverde or San José, but I feel it a lot here. The people are more ... read more

Not sure what to make of my new situation. I will be taking classes in the afternoon as it is better suited to my level of Spanish. They tired to stick me in a class where I would be learning the past for the 3rd time, I was quick to squash that. Quepos is much more touristy than I expected, but it is also full of locals so I think it will be all right. I really like my family so far so that is good. I have internet at the school so all is not lost. However I don' know how often I will want to lug my laptop to school and back, especially if I go to the beach before class:) since I have until 1 PM every day to get to school. Below ... read more