It All Goes Down Mañana

Peanut butter pie is in my belly, the cleanse starts tomorrow, I just ran back from lunch in Santa Elena with Muni and her family, and I've got a four hour bus trip back to Heredia ahead of me. It's lights out for me.

Buenas noches :)

CPI in a Nutshell

CPI Chaperone 2012- No make-up + "Costa Rica Hair" = My summer look : )

This is long overdue, but I might as well try. : ) Once a summer I like to give an overview of what I do here in Costa Rica and why I continue to return verano after verano.

Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (or CPI for short) is a language immersion school that teaches Spanish to students of any age and ability who want to come to Costa Rica and learn. The school is based on full language and cultural immersion so we have small class size (max. 4 to a class) and homestays with Tico families. We have three campuses throughout the country--Heredia in the Central Valley near the capital of San Jose, Monteverde in the mountains (my favorite!) and Flamingo on the beach. We have individual students, families, high schools, universities, grandparents, priests, nuns, children, international and local students all attending our school. I first came here with the University of Dayton in 2008 to earn Spanish study abroad credit after being in Spain the summer before.

At CPI, I work in the Groups Office. Any high school, university, community college or other group that comes to CPI goes through the Groups division. Each summer I am assigned numerous groups to 'chaperone.' Essentially, while the group is here, I am in charge of their itinerary and making sure that things go smoothly--checking on homestays, classes, meals, lodging, activities, transportation, volunteerships, etc. I am like a 'fill-in-the-blanks' person for the group. If they want to know what to bring for the day, where we are eating, what to wear, where class is, how long the drive is, and so on, I'm the person they come to. As a student, I had no idea how much work Muni, the UD chaperone, put in to make things seem seamless. All I ever saw was a perfectly run program. Having been on the other side for 4 years now, I know there is ton of prep, phone calls, questions, confirming and extra errands being run to make everything look effortless. In the last couple of seasons I've also helped train the new chaperones and give guidance throughout the summer. I've been doing this for a while. : )


On the contrary to what most believe when I say that I work for a language immersion school, I do not teach in the summer. In a way, it's wonderful. I love teaching Spanish in the States, but this is a completely different venue for me. It's all business and customer service and seeing that the customer (the students) have the best possible experience while they are here. It's also immensely rewarding knowing that I am helping to plant the seed in this person as global and worldly individual. What they do with it when they leave is up to them, but I've helped to plant it!

Another aspect of my journey down here every year is getting to see the friends I have come to know and adore down here. I love returning each year and getting to spend with them no matter how chaotic la temporada alta (high season) is. Outside of seeing familiar faces, I get to encounter so many new ones as well! One of the greatest benefits to this job is all of the people you meet--some good, some not-so-good. You make connections, build relationships, network, and make friends with people from all over the world. It's amazing the kind of unique individuals I have met and continue to meet while I am here.

A few days ago while running I was reflecting back on the last four summers of working for CPI (I actually think it was an attempt to block out how bad my keister was hurting from the hill I was running, but I digress...). Each summer seems to have had a theme:

2009: Newbie; Muni, Meggie, and Gerry : ) My first summer working and where some of my greatest friendships and bonds were made; JAJA (some of the West Coast Chaperones and I had an awesome time together!)

2010: Heartache; Another story for another time, but my summer was scathed. In the most beautiful part of it, my family came to visit and see what I do!!

2011: Healing, growth, and love. A rediscory of self and why I love coming back here, speaking Spanish and being with good people.

2012: I'm getting old... Just kidding. : ) Great moments with great friends and that ridiculous cleanse that my boss talked me into. : )

I'm leaving Monteverde this afternoon and probably won't be back until next year. : ( Thus, in order to get to hang out with Muni more (and enjoy my last day before the cleanse), we are headed into town to get Peanut Butter Pie at Morphos. I.Can't.Wait. : )

Paz, amor and Peanut Butter Pie,

Jessica Lynn

I Should Know Better

Sometimes I agree to things that I know I shouldn't.

Last night would be the example. I agreed to do a one week 'detox' with my boss starting next week. I'm already hungry just looking at the program. Days 1 and 2 I am limited to liquids--water, coconut water and herbal tea. Yeehaw. By days 3-7 I am allowed to consume fruits and veggies and 1 cup of brown rice throughout the entire day. Oh Lord, I'm going to morir. I'll keep you posted as to when this all goes down. Until then, I'm eating extra... : )

Me, while I'm still healthy, happy, and not hungry. : )

On the morning run today, there were no attack-dog sightings, but I did get to watch two monkeys frolic around the tree tops where I was running. I watched them play until I realized that frolicking meant getting frisky at 5:30 in the morning, so I continued on my way...

To be noted: Up until today I was pretty sure I'd climbed every last hill in Monteverde on my morning runs. I stand corrected, and I am never running that route again. Worst. Climb. Ever.

Headed out to the Trapiche tour soon! It's a sugarcane processing tour and we get to make our own candy at the end!

Pura Vida,
Jessica Lynn

Costa Rican Curiosities

First of all, I love Monteverde. : ) I don't love that the same dog that attacked me a few weeks ago showed up on my running route today...

Secondly...When the street name where you live is called Calle Viquez (pronouned-- kai-yay veek-ez) and you pronounce it (kah-lay vick-ers) no one is going to be able to help you locate your home when you're lost...

It's been pretty busy for me around here, starting with a bus trip yesterday morning from Heredia to Monteverde to meet back up with my group and get them into their classes. They spent the weekend in Manuel Antonio and I spent the weekend receiving new groups to CPI (Georgia Southern and IRSC <--my groups from last year!).

Anyway, here are a few pictures from the last few days to give you an idea of where I've been and what I've been up to!

Some curiosities as of late...

 Monkey business...just chilling on the way to Monteverde yesterday.

Tico Mowing Method 

You've got to really want to make that phone call.

Looks dangerous.

Oh Costa Rica... : )

Chao pescado,
Jessica

Mom, I'm Alive

First and foremost: Mom, I'm alive.

It's been difficult writing this year. I blame it on Grad classes. I don't go out and my evenings are spent reading chapters upon chapters to keep up with the condensed summer courses I'm in. I've got four courses in total--2 down, 2 to go!

As of Wednesday since I last wrote, I've been to an investment company called CINDE, the U.S. Embassy, and to La Carpio to help build bunk beds for families that need them. Saturday was spent working, holding a meeting with chaperones from a group called Overland, and training our own CPI chaperones about the upcoming West Coast groups. I also read four chapters and completed two modules while 10 loud chaperones seeming had a party inside of the apartment. I sat outside and tried to be productive... : )

This year has been such a different year as a chaperone. I don't know if it's that I feel old (I'm definitely not the oldest), I'm uninterested in all of the 'extracurricular' activities that everyone seems to participate in or that I am type of person that gets mildly stress about school work and makes sure things are done 5 days before they have to be. As it stands, I'm very tranquila this year. I've never been loca, but I would go out in previous years and hang out with the chaperones. This year, I don't have much desire.

No me entiende mal. Don't misunderstand me. I love being here as always. : ) It's been my summer home for five years, but something is different. Outside of Muni, Meggie, Arelys, Jonle and her family, I am missing connections. Granted, I am probably not making them like I should be because I'm absorbed in school work, but my family is enjoying time at our new lake house in Lake Cumberland all summer, and I have a flight to Georgia in mid-July that I'm not-so-patiently waiting to be on. :)

But life is good, and I'm making the best of it while I'm here! I love speaking Spanish all the time. :)

Fun colored house in La Carpio where we delivered the bunkbed. :) 

As close of a picture as I could get of the Embassy--see the guard? I got "No, no Tico" to my picture taking.

Time to head in to CPI and help out with the groups coming in today. My group is out at Manuel Antonio this weekend, and I am meeting up with them in Monteverde tomorrow! Can't wait to be back there. : )

Off for the day!

Chaito,
Jessica Lynn

Tico Shuffle

Today I ran with a Tico.

Well, run is a relative term. I ran. He shuffled. I never broke a sweat.

This particular Tico is one of the chaperones staying at the chaperone apartment right now, and I actually tried to sneak out this morning without him hearing me. My fear? The Tico Shuffle.

I've witnessed the Tico Shuffle too many times on my morning runs, and prayed I would never have to participate. My fears came true today.

The Tico Shuffle, as I've termed it, consists of arms up high (think alligator arms), straight back, butt out and knees barely off the ground, shuffling a grueling 10 minute mile pace. I don't run fast, but Lord help me.

Convinced that he ran alot, we covered around 8k. When we finished he asked, "Don't you sweat?" And my excuse followed that I was dehydrated...

The following is my best representation of the stance involved for running. It's as awkward and uncomfortable as it looks.

Well anyway, I just got my assignments for the next four days it looks like it's going to be really busy! However, I get to go the embassy tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to that experience!

Today, I even painted my own ox cart wheel for the first time. The painters leading the class had to pick the best one at the end...it was actually mine. However, because they didn't want to choose the guide, they chose one of the students. No lying here...they actually told me this. : ) I'll take it for only having 30 minutes to complete mine...

Finally headed home for the night--pretty pooped on this end. Hasta luego amigos!

Pura vida,
Jessica Lynn

Busy as an Abeja

Since I picked up my group on Saturday I have been nothing but in a hurry. We stayed in a beautiful hotel called La Condesa on Saturday and then Sunday was mass at a local church, walking tour of San Jose (including the National Theater and National Museum), meeting the host families and then home for the night.

Monday included a visit to AMCHAM (Amercian-Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce), a walking tour of San Joaquin and Spanish class. The group that I have is specifically international business students, so we spend a lot time touring businesses.  This is actually pretty neat because I'm learning a lot and most places I have never been before!


On Sunday night Muni was in Heredia and came by the apartment!! Meggie, Muni and I all snuggled up on the sofacama for 30 minutes and just talked before Muni had to go get her group. I miss us girls just hanging out together. : )

Speaking of chaperones, it's a full house at the apartment right now, but we're all having fun. It's pretty great to be working with a couple of students from my Georgia Southern group this year!!

That's pretty much all for now...Cafe Britt today!

Oh, Monday officially kicked off my sister and I's marathon training...woof.

Chao pescado,
Jessica Lynn

Sittin' in el trafico

I'm currently on my way back to the Central Valley and while I can't actually publish this until I get back, this 'blogger' app on my iPod is pretty great--allowing me to pass some time with sitting in traffic with 3 hours still left in my trip. Listening to The Avett Brothers with Spanish techno in the background...

While on the way down the mountain today I tried to get a picture of the road that we took.

Family: people still actually use the road that we used to get to MV. I thought for sure we were some of the last to venture along that thing... I stand corrected because today we went down it in a 30 passenger bus...

Anyway, tomorrow I get my first group and work really begins!

I could probably write for a while considering we're not moving, but I'm going to try and brush up on my bird names and facts. :)

**quick update: it's been over 2 hours...sitting in traffic takes on a whole new meaning when there is one road, one lane and no side streets or exit ramps. Whoa.

Hasta pronto,
Jessica Lynn

Short News, Long Pants

Today has been rather uneventful and slow. Other than a quick ice cream run during lunch, I've stayed pretty stationary and worked a lot. A couple of noteworthy items:

1. There are still bubbles in the fountain.
2. Grad school classes are done...for a week. Whoo!
3. I celebrated last night about grad school by going to bed early--what have I become?!
4. Headed to Muni's tonight to cook dinner with her--can't wait.
5. I am apparently noticeably uncomfortable around babies.
6. My lunch choices are also a topic of conversation here in Costa Rica, just like the states.
7. I think I brought my sister's pants to Costa Rica...they are much longer than I remember.

The following conversation ensued with my sister this afternoon in my quest to figure out what got into the length of my pants:

Pretty sure I already know the answer, but she'll put my mind at ease when she gets back from the lake.

Off to Muni's to make dinner!

Que le vaya bien,

Jessica Lynn

Mr. Bubbles and Dog Attacks

Correction from yesterday's blog: In regards to the picture of Calvin the Parrot back in Georgia: she is an African Grey Parrot.

^(Guess who gave me that little nugget?) : )

Secondly, I returned to the apartment last night to find this: Who's the wise guy that put Mr. Bubbles in the community fountain?!

Also last night my sister informed me that she got the job she wanted at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in their physical therapy department. I'm incredibly excited for her!! Even if it means no more free yagoot... : )

And then in other news...I finally had to use the pepper spray that my dad once bought me to keep me safe. It's a normal precaution for me to carry it when I run, mostly for dogs, but possibly humans too. Today, I had to take down Kujo.

The dog came after me when I was running early this morning and attacked me from behind, so I never saw it coming. The dog was probably 80-90 pounds, and I had noticed it two nights before because he seemed aggressive and had made me nervous. He kept lunging at me and pawing and scratching and biting despite my best efforts to fend him off.

Here's the kicker: It wasn't even a Monteverde Dog!!
(I have a theory on the stature of Monteverde dogs: short and stocky for aerodynamics due to living on a mountainside with all the wind.)

The horrified mama tica and her child watching from across the street just kept saying, "He's just playing! No es nada." The dog wasn't just playing and I all I could think was, "I ain't playin'!" And with that, one good shot of pepper spray to the muzzle backed him off and sent him whimpering away. Whew...dodged a bullet there.

Thankfully, the injuries sustained were simply some long scratches and nothing more. I was pretty fortunate that where I was bitten didn't indicate any puncture wounds.

On the bright side: Pepper spray does work. : )

Pura vida mae,

Jessica Lynn

The Naming of Birds

The office today has kept me preoccupied, and I was given a rather frustrating task of reorganizing an itinerary for a group. Reorganizing wasn't frustrating, but whatever program this particular school used to create it was immensely frustrating. On top of that, it was cold in here today! My only saving grace... Café. : )

However, since the office is winding down a little, I've now concentrated my efforts on learning bird names. Notice I am currently at 100% accuracy. : )

Can you correctly identify the bird?

Why, you might ask, would I care to learn seemingly every bird species know to man? Is it because I'm in a part of the world with hundreds of different species of birds? Is it because I've decided to expand my ave knowledge and better myself?

Not exactly. It's because every time I am asked to identify a bird flying high above or perched in a tree or on a collision course for the car by my novio, I fail. Miserably. (Besides common birds, I can now sort of identify a Red Tail Hawk and Turkey Vulture.) So, in an effort to help me out and increase my confidence, he suggested the app: Birds!

Never saw this coming: I'm now addicted. Gracias, novio. : )

While I've gotten really good at naming the birds on screen, I've yet to put it all into practical application. I can assure you that I will be quizzed when I get to Georgia this summer. I'll keep you posted on the confidence level, because right now, I'm feeling pretty good!

Pájaros en la cabeza,

 

Jessica Lynn

Oh, and this is Calvin. He's some sort of parrot.

Spoonless Cereal

One of the many things I get to encounter down here is new experiences--each and every day. Or in this case, every morning since I've been in Monteverde. I haven't been able to locate a spoon for cereal in the morning since I've been here. The first day was really rough... I had already poured the milk before I realized I didn't have any utensils. I used a combination of slurping, scooping and every other bad food eating habit your parents tried to break you of as a child.  Since then, things have improved because I just eat the cereal dry.

However, things are really looking up for tomorrow as I have finally located the utensil drawer! I know this isn't my first rodeo (pronounced: roh-day-oh) and I have lived in this apartment before, but I definitely misplaced the utensil drawer. I won't try and rationalize how I couldn't find it because you'll never believe me, but it's not where you'd think (or like) it to be. I only stumbled upon it when I was diagnosing why the refridgerator was no longer running. Killed two birds with one stone didn't I?

Take a gander at the foto below and tell me where you think the drawer is. First person to guess correctly gets a free bag of coffee... : )

I am fully aware that I'm setting myself up for failure--only because looking at this picture it is now really obvious. Nuts.

Not a lot else going on (clearly). I actually have a lot more grad school work to do than I care to admit to, so it's probably time to get started for the night.


Looking forward to eating cereal like a decent human being tomorrow,

Jessica Lynn

Back to Work!

In the office today and back into my normal routine.

No running this morning (see picture below). Sometimes at 5 a.m. when it's pouring down rain and 20 mph winds, it's just better to call a duck a duck, make a phone call and go back to bed... So I did. :)

Weather is still pretty yucky at the moment, and I'm glad to be indoors today. There is plenty to do so I'm never bored. Student count is down this week at CPI Monteverde so it's rather quiet, but the 'locura' will begin soon enough. :)

Back to work for a bit...

In the words of my sister via autocorrect:

Pita visa,

Jessica Lynn

Settling In

Today has been immensely productive in regards to school work. Not too thrilled about the assigned project or how much time I've devoted to it, but too much of a perfectionist to give less than 100%. As my hermanita noted, "Ah yes, the Schulte family curse." :)

Between grad school assignments I did manage to get out and run and go to lunch with Muni and her family--see picture below! Of course, I went for ice cream afterward as well. :)

Rain just set in and I'm supposed to walk to Muni's for dinner...nuts. But it's Costa Rica and pura vida :)

I've also attached a picture of the jacuzzi from last night. Holy Toledo. Who wouldn't want to learn Spanish here?! :)

That about wraps up today--I start work tomorrow! Buenas noches amigos!

Chao,
Jessica Lynn

Liiiiive Action!

CPI Heredia

And...we're back! The Costa Rica blog is up and running again :)

If you're wondering where the title came from, do yourself a favor and tune in to, "Call of the Wildman," on Animal Planet and have some patience with it. You'll be glad you did.

I'm in Monteverde right now and getting my Spanish skills back on track. I just spent the afternoon with Muni and my boss Jonle. It was so great to be back and visit with them!! I finally got to meet Muni's baby too :)

My morning was spent running and talking to my former professor from UD-he brought another group this year! I've also worked on a grad school project all morning :( When Muni and Jonle came over we headed to Monteverde Whole Foods and then Muni and I walked to into Santa Elena to get more groceries.

Time to work some more and then go to Jacuzzi Night at CPI with Muni and Jonle and her family!

Mas información pronto!

Pura vida :)
Jessica Lynn