Thanks For Reading!

Muchas gracias to everyone who followed my advertures in Costa Rica through my blog!

A quick note about my trip home...I got to the airport and realized I was missing my wallet when I tried to pay the exit tax. Thankfully, Eugenia found it under my bed. Evidently, it had gotten kicked there the night before in the midst of packing and repacking. I barely made my flight, and only because two wonderful young men helped me. The porter who was hauling my luggage talked to the folks at Continental and they agreed to check my bags with just my passport (normally, you have to show the payment receipt for the exit tax as well) and another porter loaned me the $26 to pay the tax. Needless to say, they both received a big tip! I called my friend Mario, the world's greatest cab driver, and he made sure my wallet got to the airport, but without the help of those two great young men, I would have missed my flight. After that initial trauma, the rest of the trip was uneventful. I made it to NOLA, as did my luggage, and my dad picked me up.

On Wednesday evening, I made ceviche for my parents and myself. It was okay but much better when you have límons. Limes and lemons didn't quite have the same flavor, but it turned out alright. On Friday night, I made arroz con pollo, patacones and platonos fritos for my mom's birthday dinner. The arroz con pollo had good flavor but stuck together a little too much and the plaintains I used for the patacones were a little too ripe...the patacones had a sweet flavor to them. Of course, I was the only one at the table who knew better, so everyone enjoyed the meal.

So, this ends my adventures in paradise. Thanks for being a part of it! Vaya con Dios!

Ciao,
Tracie

"Adios" To Me!

I've spent the last few days saying my good-byes to all my new friends in Costa Rica. On Friday morning, Eugenia hosted the ladies from the pool for a good-bye breakfast. Naturally, with this group of women, it was loud and fun!

On Saturday night, I threw myself an "adios" party and invited all the friends I'd made in town since I've been here. We dined on chicken wings, potato skins and other assorted appetizers. A good time was had by all!

The Almighty Plantain

There must be 100 ways to cooks plantains and I've tried at least half of them! On Friday, Imelda and I made "Empanadas de Platonos Maduros." The recipe is quite simple:

Cut the plaintains in pieces without peeling them. Boil until the skin is falling off and you can stick a fork through the plantain. Remove from water and take the peels off. While hot, mash the plaintains, adding flour to make a dough. Also, add 2 tablespoons of sugar, or more to taste. (Others have told me that they add an egg, butter and a little bit of milk as well. I'll try this at home.) Take small portions of the dough and press flat. Put the filling in the middle. We used cheese and refried beans. (I'll use mozarella at home.) Fold over and seal the edges. Fry on both sides in a little bit of oil in a skillet. YUM!

I forgot my camera on this day, but the school's director took pictures and will be sending them to me so check back!

Volcano Irazu

Last Sunday, I joined Claire and her children for a trip to the Irazu volcano. Costa Rica has five volcanoes that are considered active. Irazu is the highest of these. It was a long, winding drive up the mountain and because it is so high, it was also quite chilly and drizzly. So, I froze my butt off, however, it was worth it for the view of the crater.

Claire had packed a picnic lunch, which we ended up eating in the car because it was too cold to eat outside. Thankfully, there was a coffee shop about 100 yards from the crater and we were able to get some hot drinks after our walk!

EARTHQUAKE!

Well, I survived my first earthquake last night. Evidently, around midnight the earth was moving and shaking. It woke me up from a dead sleep but I didn’t know what it was. In my confused, mostly asleep state of mind, I thought someone was in my room, shaking the bed. Scared me half to death! Then I thought it must have been part of a dream because there weren’t any magical creatures wrecking havoc in my room. I didn’t find out it was an earthquake until I got to school this morning and heard the other teachers talking about it. I believe that I heard it was a 6.3 quake but I’m not positive about that. The epicenter was near the Costa Rica/Panama border on the Pacific side, which is pretty good distance from me. The others in my house slept through it, as did my friend Claire and her kids. Very weird!

18 Days and Counting!

I'll be returning to the States in 18 days! Part of me is very sad at the thought of leaving. The other part is thinking, "let's get these 18 days over with, I'm ready to go home!" As I start planning for the steps in my life journey, I can definitely see working for a company that allows me to live here (don't tell my mom that though!). In the meantime, I've shipped a total of seven BIG boxes back to the States because I've bought so much stuff I can't fit it all in my suitcases! The folks at the post office laugh when they see me coming now.

They aren't the only ones who know me. I usually call for a taxi at least three times Monday - Friday. The dispatcher doesn't even let me finish giving the directions to the house before he tell me the taxi is on the way. Nine times out of ten, when the taxi arrives, it's someone who knows me, knows where I live, and with whom I have ongoing conversations. One in particular has already planned to take me to the airport and every time I see him he says "December 2 at 11 a.m." Of course, he says it in Spanish!

It has become my routine on Friday after school and before my Spanish classes to go to La Casona de Laly and have ceviche and patacones with guacomole. Occasionally, I'll meet my Spanish teacher there for a class. The last few times I've been, the waitresses have asked, "Coca Light (diet coke) and ceviche?"

So, I'll be leaving in 18 days and as I begin thinking about next steps, I am considering opening the "NOLA Language Institute" and offering Spanish classes for companies, first responders, hospitals, etc. I'd also offer English classes. My Spanish teacher is teaching me the method the school uses and which she has used to teach Spanish numerous times in the States. I can adapt the method for English as well. My long range vision is to have a branch in Escazu as well to teach English.

I know what I won't be doing when I return to New Orleans...Christmas shopping. I've managed to complete all my shopping while here (hence the seven boxes shipped home) and only have a couple of things left to purchase...online. I definitely am not sorry to miss that chaos on my return.

In my last two weeks, I am going to be very busy, but I'm planning to spend time with the friends I've made and make sure I visit my favorite places in the area a couple of times more. On the Saturday night before I leave, I'm planning a get-together for all the friends I've made here at a local restaurant. Definitely will post photos of that fiesta!

Two Weeks Later...

My aunt emailed me today and reminded me that it had been almost two weeks since I had posted anything on my blog. Unfortunately, I don't have anything exciting to talk about. I do have a couple of items that might be remotely interesting, but the last few weeks have been a routine of school, Spanish classes and lessons with Gaston.

Two Sundays ago, Eugenia, Alberto, Alejandro and I went to Sarchi, an artist community about an hour from where we live. The town is most famous for the furniture Costa Rican artists make. Here's a sample...this gorgeous rocker is hand carved and the pictures on the leather are also done by hand.






As we were driving around we came across this humongous oxen cart. The oxen cart is symbolic of Costa Rica and many people still use them today. They are usually colorfully decorated and hand painted with beautiful designs. On more than one occasion, I have actually passed oxen carts while driving in the outskirts of the bigger cities. If you look closely, you can see Ale standing under the cart in this town park.






This cart would need elephants to pull it!

Holy Cow!

When we were on the road to Imelda's house last weekend, we were briefly delayed by cows traveling on the same road. You really have to see it to believe it...this video was taken looking out the driver's side window.

Crocodile Rock

Very close to Imelda's house near Jaco is a bridge that crosses a river that is home to dozens of crocodiles. Every day, tourists line both sides of the bridge, taking pictures of the crocs sunning on the river banks below. Naturally, being a tourist, I did the same thing :D

Spectacular Sunset

On Saturday, after spending the day learning to cook, Imelda and I went to Playa Pinion for a looksie. All the beaches in this area are black sand beaches, but Pinion is a little different in that the beach is a steep drop down from the area off the main road. When the tide is out, you can walked down to the beach.





While there, we watched the sun set behind the mountains in the distance, across the water. I'm not sure when I've seen such a marvelous sight and I captured it on the digital camera at least 50 times!






To see the rest of the sunset photos, click here.