Nutcracker, talent show, goodbye party...

This past week was very fun, as we are all starting to realize that our time here is coming to a close so we are trying to cram in as much quality time together as possible. I can't believe that a week from today I will be boarding a plane and leaving the palm trees, dirty streets, and crowded buses behind and going home to cold and rain and carpet. Yesterday we went to the mall for some last minute christmas shopping, and while waiting at the bus stop we decided to buy a soda. BUT if you buy a soda in a glass bottle, which we all did, you have to empty it into a bag and drink it from a straw so the store can save the glass bottles and get money for them. Only in Costa Rica. At least now I can say I drank soda out of a "bolsita."
After the nutcracker we went back to the school for our goodbye party. And here Zach and I are with the guards that stand at every entrance and make sure we don't get robbed. Pretty secret service if you ask me...they have guns and earpieces and everything!
The nutcracker was beautiful! Granted the steps weren't perfect and there was no live orchestra, just a somewhat scratchy recording, but for $8 you can't really complain. And it put me into the christmas spirit for sure!
Outside the beautiful national theatre!
I went to the children's home on wednesday and I am going to miss those kids! Just one more week to go...Here I am with Raquel, a normally quiet girl who I finally got to smile after much dancing and singing and laughing.
We found out it was Dona Marta's birthday and so we snuck to the grocery store for some ice cream and cookies and candles and a birthday card (they didn't have cake. it was a pretty primitive little store) and surprised her and the kids. She was very grateful for the ice cream, and so was I. I am going to miss Dos Pinos (ice cream). So good!
Wednesday we had our talent show for all the international students. My class did a dance to a Juanes and Nelly Furtado song Fotografia, and it was a hit! We made a slideshow of pictures to play in the background, and people were pretty emotional about all the memories and great friendships we have made here. Good thing I still have one week!

Playa Tambor....and a little more...

I can hardly believe that two weeks from today I will be home and christmas will be over. I know I have said this in practically every entry, but this has been an incredible experience and I am so grateful for all the adventures, learning, and especially friendships I have made during the last nearly four months. This weekend should be busy as well. We have a talent show in school tomorrow and we are doing a dance to Juanes (my favorite latin pop star). Then tomorrow night we are going to see the Nutcracker at the national theatre! We went to Playa Tambor for the the weekend, well, Saturday night. Sunday morning we woke up at 5:00 to watch the sunrise, and it was beautiful. The beach was practically deserted except for our group and everything was so tranquilo, it was a nice little getaway.
Despite a weekend full of traveling and beach time, Sunday night we went out and worked on our dance moves, and my legs hurt the next day! Hopefully I can remember some of the steps for when I get home...I have so much respect for the locals who I think learned to dance before they learned to walk. I think I am jealous.
Since it is december and I heard there was snow up north, we decided to make a sand snowman. He didn't melt, but the waves soon took him away. We were still pretty proud of our creation.
Transportation this weekend was tricky. A taxi, a bus, a ferry, another bus, a short walk, then finally we arrived. This picture was taken on the bus, which was so hot and crowded and took nearly an hour to go about 20 km. I felt like I could have walked faster. Danny and Nesha may look calm, but they were dying in there just like me. We actually ended up missing the bus to go home so we had to hitch hike. After a promising pick up zoomed by, we lost hope. Then a taxi-van came and took all nine of us to the ferry boat in plenty of time, with air conditioning! It was like a blessing in disguise that we missed that hot bus.
The ferry ride was gorgeous, but oh so hot. And Danny and I didn't get much sleep the night before, so we were pretty much exhausted. But still beautiful and I had so much fun with Josie and Fiesha and all the girls. And I only got slightly sunburnt.
Friday our class went on a field trip to a museum where there is a typical costa rican farm and they have a bread making workshop. I was a little nervous when they told me I had to use my hands to mix everything. I didn't realize a spoon was that advanced of technology. After a few minutes of struggling, the lady in the apron took over (thank goodness for automatic mixers and bread machines. I think I was starting to get carpultunnel from the mixing). I was very excited for fresh baked bread, but they BURNT IT! I was so angry, but I ate it anyway. Things can't always turn out in a brick fire oven.
In the middle of the museum was this lovely paper mache creation. If anyone ever asks, I can say that I have been in the mouth of the devil. And I survived.
Janel's birthday was on Friday and since everyone had plans in the evening, she had a birthday breakfast! It was so fun, and I suppose it is never too early to eat cake.

Just a few more weeks!

This past weekend was a lot of fun and quite relaxing. Friday afternoon a group of us girls went downtown to the Avienda Central, bought some pizza, and did some serious christmas shopping. We were exhausted after this and so Friday night we just got together to watch a movie and have some girl time. Saturday morning Lupe and I got up early, like, 6:00, to go to Jaco for the day. With our towels, peanut butter sandwhiches, and cookies, we were ready for the day. We arrived at the bus stop a little early and so had time to scope out some local bakeries for some delicious sweet bread. Unfortunately in the process a pigeon pooped on me! You can see it on my my just cleaned white sweatshirt by my wrist. I went to the bakery and asked if I could use the bathroom and instead they made me jsut take off my sweatshirt and tried to wash it for me. They ended up getting my entire sweatshirt wet in the process, but at least the poo was gone!
When we arrived at Jaco, we went to the Best Western to use the restroom. Then I came up with the genius plan to just use their pool and lawn chairs as if we were guests. They really did think we were guests and gave us each a bracelet to use the chairs, bathrooms, and pool bar! It came quite in handy throughout the day, that's for sure. There are some advantages to being a gringa, you will never be mistaken for a local!
When some light showers came, Lupe and I didn't let that rain on our parade. We went to a covered garden area with a big screen tv playing a soccer game, some comfy couches, and some Cafe Britt coffe to enjoy. Having those bracelets really came in handy.
When the sun finally came out, we bought some incredible fruit smoothies and went out to the beach to enjoy the sunshine in our beach chairs. I am going to miss not being able to go to the beach for the day and only spending 6 dollars (bus ticket) to get there.
Such a beautiful sunset!
Sunday Lupe and I went to an arts and crafts fair for some more Christmas shopping and then to Heredia to see the sights. We got lunch and sat in this park for awhile and realized that was the pretty popular thing to do, just sit around in the park. There was another beautiful church and the weather was surprisingly hot after the recent cold front we have been experiencing (okay, like in the 60's, but after being used to the 80's you want to have a wool coat sometimes).
An old Spanish fort in the cultural plaza. It was actually quite small. After seeing pictures we expected a huge structure, but it was only a few stories high. Still interesting however.
After Heredia we returned to San Jose and visited the children's museum that actually was once a jail and looks like a castle. On the walk back to the bus we found this lovely house for sale. Just in case any of you are interested in some costa rican property in the heart of San Jose, I bet you coudl get a really good deal on this little beauty.

This last week has flown by as well. I went to visit the children at Dona Marta's a few times this past week, and the first time we went it was Kimberly's birthday. I asked Marta if she had any cake or ice cream, and when I found out she didn't, Sara and I took one of the boys with us to the neighborhood grocery to buy some. There wasn't any cake at the store, so we settled with ice cream and cookies (and still candles of course) and then I might have gone a little crazy buying her some birthday presents (one of the many reasons I am going home pretty much broke) and we sang to her and she got to open her present. I have no idea what she went home to, but I know it wasn't a party at Chucky Cheese. I have been so blessed by my time with these kids, who have so little material possessions but so much joy.