Firsts

I've don't this job for 5 years now, skipping only one year (last year). In total, I've spent 6 summers in Costa Rica either as a student or working for CPI, yet every year brings new experiences. 

This year:

1. The first time I've only spent 4.5 weeks here. That may be a lot for some, but it's not enough for me. 

2. The first time I've been in a country that celebrates soccer as a segunda religión. What an incredible experience to be a part of such energy and love for their sports team. When La Sele arrived back in Costa Rica on Tuesday, the airport was packed with thousands of people and the streets were lined the whole way home for these national figures. It was incredible. 

3. The first time I've ever done zip lining at Hacienda Guachipelín. The zip line runs you through a gorge with a river flowing beneath you. It's one of the most breathtaking zip lines I've done based on sheer beauty. It also has a repelling and rock climbing section!

4. The first time I've seen my friend, Pim, in nearly three years! It was great to have him back with CPI. 

5. The first time I've asked my boss to pull me from a group. This one wasn't necessarily a positive first but nonetheless, still a first. I spent five days with the most challenging group of teenagers I have ever encountered--and I teach high school kids! I had finally reached my breaking point and called my boss to tell her I wanted to be taken off the group. By some miraculous turn of events, the kids (on their own) decided they were being incredibly disrespectful and needed to get it together. They even apologized to me. I spent the final five days being grateful that I stayed on. I wouldn't have changed those last days for anything! The first five days? I think I'll try and erase those from my memory. 

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Getting ready to board my plane soon. I'm not ready to go home just yet. This visit was much too short.

I went to dinner last night with my boss and her middle son at a place called, Octavo, on the eighth floor of the Sheraton overlooking the city. The sangria, seared red snapper and guava lava dessert were amazing. Not to mention the view!

I still have a few things left to blog about, so I'll try and accomplish that on the plane!

Boarding soon!

Pura vida,

Jessica Lynn

Learning Japanese

...is not as easy as you might think.

Because I'm going to Japan in a month to visit my brother, I figured I should learn some basic Japanese phrases before going. At this point, I have learned "Yes", "No", and "Please." I have zero frame of reference for this language, so when all else fails it comes out sounding like Spanish. Oh boy.

This will be the first time that I have traveled somewhere where I truly do not know the language. I'm excited, yet a little nervous, for it all! Kristen is coming too, so we'll figure it out together! I'm hoping "Big Tuna" (aka John) can help us out enough to get by.

Here's to climbing Mt. Fuji and eating the best sushi in the world!

Upcoming world travels: San Jose to Jacksonville, Augusta to Dayton, Cincinnati to Tokyo.

Pura vida (or maybe it's さようなら)
Jessica Lynn

Last Week in Fotos

A few pictures to sum up the last 10 days with my group!

1. Last group of the summer: West Coast 10 Day Service Group

 2. Sir, you are offending us all in that tanga.

3. Sign in Tamarindo.

4. Legitimate gelato. My villa was located 50 meters from it!

5. The most beautiful school in Potrero. The whole outside is a mosaic.

6. Service work in Haucas. Painting the inside and outside of the house for a family in need.

7. This is why I don't do my laundry at hotels. A $1.50 for socks?! No gracias. I'll use the sink.

8. Thanks to free beer tickets, I had myself an Imperial or two one night at the hotel.

9. I love the towel designs in the hotels.

10. Las Chorreras Waterfall in Rincon de la Vieja National park.

11. Yet another strange bug bite I've acquired down here.

12. Final ceremony with the West Coast Group.

13. The best breakfasts are made with gallo pinto, eggs, and plantains.

14. It's hard to read, but #10 states my exact role for these West Coast Groups who, by the way, bring their own chaperones for the group. I am just the one that actually does everything for the group. I think I want their job.

To West Coast Chaperones about CPI's role in their trip:
"CPI will serve as your host -- they have made all reservations with suppliers, service partners, bus companies, drivers, restaurants, hotels -- everything.  You and your staff just have to take care of the trip members and run programming when indicated and evening programs.  The trip planning and confirmation calls and directions and issues with reservations are all handled by CPI. A guide or chaperone from CPI will accompany you just about everywhere. You need to have a good dialogue and get along well."

Pura vida,

Jessica Lynn

Oh, Near Da Beach, Mon

I finally made it to the coast last Friday! Yay!

Friday, was spent in Tamarindo with surf lessons and hanging out with Diego, my boss's son. I went to the surf lessons with the group, but I got the "big kid" board--not the beginner board that everyone else gets. I'm always grateful for this. I got up every time and surfed quite a bit! The currents were really strong that day too!

Afterward, I met up with Diego and wandered around Tamarindo for a while. I was so grateful to get to spend time with him. Diego was 12 when I first started working at CPI and he came along to help out with my first group that I ever chaperoned. He's now nearly 18, fully grown, and a wonderful young man. I had had a pretty rough previous five days before getting to the beach, and the time spent with Diego was just what I needed. I can't believe how grown up he is! : )

Diego!

Tamarindo in the evening.

I also spent a little time at Playa Penca, a quiet, local beach with great sand and warm water. Life was good.

Pura vida,

Jessica Lynn

Self Defense

Mom, Kristen, and I all took a Women's Self-Defense class in Moraine this past spring. Without receiving any kickback from this promotion, I would highly recommend the program that we participated in. Denise and Mike, our instructors, were wonderful! Dad signed us up for the class to give us more tools than just pepper spray to fight back should we ever get into a bad situation. It was an incredible experience!

Anyway, while I was staying at my villa on the coast by myself, I had a man try and follow me to my room and get in. This was after I assertively told him that, "No, you do not follow me to my room." when, in broken English, he stated, "I go with you to room. I, how do you say, accompany you to room. You stay alone?"

I got a bad feeling from him when he first approached me in the courtyard and got away as soon as I could. When I reached my villa, I dead-bolted the door, closed all windows (which I hadn't known were open), and turned off the lights. I grabbed my cellphone to call 911, my mace/tear gas, and my utility knife. About 10 minutes after getting into my room, the man knocked on my door. When I didn't answer, he knocked much harder, and called out, "You open up door now?"

Obviously, I didn't. He soon lost interest and went away, but I remained vigilant for a couple of hours afterward. I heard the next morning that he tried to get into another chaperone's room as well that night.

I told someone that I grabbed my mace and knife as a safety measure, and they laughed and said, "I think the pepper spray would have been enough." What I learned from the self-defense class is that you look for anything that can be a weapon. You are fighting for your life.

Despite how scared I was, I began running through self-defense moves in my head in case I had to use them. The guy worked in reception at the hotel, so I felt like he could get a key to my room if he wanted. I was grateful that I had physical skills to rely on outside of my mace and knife.

I have a feeling I'll be back in the class in the fall just to sharpen my skills.

Inside layout of my villa.

Sort of pura vida that night,

Jessica Lynn

Earthquake!

I woke up delirious on Sunday morning (July  6) to my bed shaking. I was also feeling mareada from being dehydrated, but I definitely felt an earthquake. Later in the news, I saw that it registered a 4.9, and the epicenter was close to where I was staying!

I knew my bed had to be shaking for a reason...

Contrary to what everyone asked me, I did not evacuate my room. Why? Well, I have zero training in how to react to an earthquake. If it was a fire or tornado, I would know exactly what to do. Having not lived in an earthquake-prone area, my first reaction was think, "Huh. I wonder what that is?"

This now means that Dad, John and I have all experienced an earthquake while being out of the country this year. Is that a good stat to have?

The villa where I was staying when I felt the earthquake.

The fancy toilet in the villa that has little relevance to this post.

Pura vida,

Jessica Lynn

Cows and Construction

If you're an avid blog reader of mine, you'll have read the last blog post and the reference to sleeping next to the horses.

Most of the time, guides and choferes get to 1. Share a room and 2. Sleep in the 'humbly' furnished rooms that are a far cry from what everyone else is staying in. I'm not asking for sympathy. I get why they put us there. We are often non-paying guests.

However, Hacienda Guachipelin takes it to a whole new level. They put us right next to the horse corral. So no matter what time of day it is, you can always smell (like) a horse. In fact, as I sit here in the Central Valley hundreds of kilometers away from the place, I am pretty sure I just caught a lasting whiff of it coming out of my luggage.

Anyway, this morning I had to wake up at 2:45AM to see part of my group off to the airport. I got up, did my job, and went back to bed around 3:15AM. Promptly at 5:00AM, I hear this awful bellowing coming from a whole herd of cattle who apparently were less than pleased that they, too, were being woken up at that time of day. I guess the horse corral is also used for cattle. Super.

Shortly following the incessant mooing that was keeping me awake, the hotel decided to begin construction right next to Gabby's and my room. Who doesn't like the sound of a rotary saw and belt sander before the sun is up? I know I don't.

So that being said, I'm a little tired this evening. I have a feeling that my first evening off is going to be celebrated by an early bedtime. I already had my celebratory beer(s) last night. : )

Pura vida,

Jessica Lynn

Perks of Being a Chaperone

Perks:

1. The official chaperone seat in the front of the bus.
2. Free coffee in places

3. Free snacks in place

4. Beer tickets at Hacienda Guachipelin

Not a Perk:

1. Sleeping in the ‘servants’ quarters next to the horses.

(Which leads me to the next blog post...)

Pura vida,

Jessica Lynn

Official chaperone seat in the front of the bus.

What free beer tickets and a little extra coin get you.

Signs From God

There are funny “Signs from God” around the Flamingo area promoting a Beach Community Church service on Sundays. They are plain and simple and scattered throughout the area along the roadways. They’ve been around for quite a few years, but they seem to step up their game every time I’m here!

A few of my favorites from this trip:

1. Well, you wanted a sign.               -God

2. I want full custody of my children, not just weekend visits.          -God

3. The next time you want to take someone’s name in vain, use your own.                 -God

And…my personal favorite:

1. Honk if you love Jesus. Text if you want to meet him!     -God

Very funny, Costa Rica, very funny. : )

Pura vida,

Jessica Lynn

Volunteering

I don't have many pictures from the last few days of volunteer work. I decided to see with my eyes instead of my camera.

However, here is the recap of the last week in volunteering:

1. La Carpio—City of Hope. La Carpio is a slum outside of the Costa Rica’s Capital, San Jose. CPI has work the Humanitarian Foundation there for years. It’s an incredible story of Nicaraguan Immigrants pull themselves up by their own hard work and faith despite the hardships and poverty they’ve had to endure. Our goal in La Carpio was to play with children at the Model Education center and paint houses. The idea behind painting the houses is that the brightness and cheerfulness in the colorful house instills hope and positivity in whoever sees it. It’s kind of a cool concept. However, on this day, I spent most of my time with Fatima (a Nicaraguan immigrant), the Model Education’s teacher. Her job is to develop the curriculum for poverty-stricken children from ages 2-6. If you think daycare is difficult in the U.S., you should see this undertaking. It’s incredible what Fatima does! I spent a good hour with her talking about how she is more than a teacher to a lot of these kids who come from broken families and no food. She showed me her entire curriculum and how she develops it. It was amazing just to talk to her about what she does.  I had this beautiful moment where I felt like I learned so much more that day than I ever could have if I didn’t know Spanish. I was so grateful for my ability from God to speak another language so that I could just talk and learn from someone else.

2. Kids Camp. Our group met up with 25 boys, ages 10-14, at a Sports Camp. These boys were on a soccer league that is in La Carpio and having been winning most of their games. This is a big deal considering how much pride it has instilled in the community, so as a reward, the kids got to go to a Sports Camp featuring soccer, basketball, and….the pool! Let me tell you, it is the hardest thing in the world to get these guys out of the pool! It’s a luxury rarely seen by these guys, so when we offered to go play bola (soccer) at one point, the most adorable kid name Esteven (pint-sized, big ears, tiny belly poking out, missing his two front teeth) looked at me and yelled, “Bola, no! Piscina, síííííí!” as he double fist-pumped his hands. (Soccer, no! Pool, yessss!). He was so excited to be near a pool. It was so cute that I nearly took him back to the pool myself. J On a side note, it was really cool that once the boys knew I spoke Spanish, they would regularly just ask questions or start conversations knowing that I understood them!

3. Flamingo. We painted a house for a family that wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it. I was so proud of the group and the effort they put into doing a quality job. Our site manager, Diego, was amazing as a well. Diego is actually my boss’s son who helped me out on my first group ever at CPI. Since then, he’s kind of been a little brother to me. Of course, given that he’s nearly 18 years old, I’ve never seen the girls in our group so motivated to work! I also haven’t seen the boys so motivated to work either. After Diego asked one of our guys to start painting a huge section of the house, the guy looked at our chaperone and said, “He’s just too good looking to say ‘no’ too.” Haha.

We also worked in a school where we painted and played with children, but the top volunteer moments were listed above. What started out as a struggle to get kids working at the beginning of the week ended as a really well-done project and the kids seeing their project through to the end. If nothing else, I wanted the kids to learn the importance of finishing what they started and not just walking out at 1:00PM because the schedule says we should.

Pura vida,

Jessica Lynn

Exhaustion

Exhausted. That's what I am.

And when that happens, I end up calling the surf shop asking for dance lessons, and I flash a truckload of workers while on the highway.

The surf shop is self explanatory and everyone got a good laugh on the phone. 

The flashing incident was actually pretty harmless because I had my swimsuit on and had pulled my t-shirt up to put on sunscreen. I just don't think the workers knew that based on the waves, winks and smiles I was getting. Whoops. Happy 4th of July, boys!

Pura vida,

Jessica Lynn

Rafting!

From my rafting trip with UD in 2008!

My life has been a blur since Sunday when I picked up my group.  I’ve barely had time to breathe!

Monday was spent rafting the Pacuare River. Did you know ‘Pacuare’ means ‘little toucan’? I didn’t.

I love the drive to rafting because we pass over a place where the “Rio Sucio” (Dirty River) and another river converge and run side by side.  It’s beautiful because the Rio Sucio is orange/brown in color from the volcano that runs from and the other river is crystal clear coming from the mountains.  It’s a gorgeous sight to witness the two rivers merging into one, and yet, maintaining their own identities. It’s one of my favorite views in all of Costa Rica.

Anyway, the rafting trip was a one day excursion that took us 18 miles down the river and fed us lunch half way. It was an awesome trip! We did the same section of the river that I did with UD as a student, so I remembered a lot of the rapids and views.  My raft had a great river guide as well, Roberto, who impressed us with this back flip off the raft. I think I impressed him too with mine. : ) Roberto also let me sit in back and be the guide for about a half mile of river…although I’m pretty sure he was actually the one still steering.

Toward the end of the trip, I got to witness a second favorite view in Costa Rica. As we were finishing our rafting through the canyon, the river narrows to about 50m wide. Your raft takes you between two lush, green covered canyon walls that are hundreds of feet above you and have small waterfalls lining the entire half mile stretch of river. The sight is breathtaking.

It’s been a couple of years since rafting here and I hope and pray I don’t have to wait another couple of years!

Pura Vida,

Jessica Lynn