It's Been a While.....

I know I haven't been keeping up with the blog as well this go around, but people are starting to wonder! Ha!

First of all, let's talk about the fun part - my adventures! A few weeks ago, Paco and I spent a long weekend exploring Bocas del Toro, Panama as a reward at the end of a busy high season. We played with macaroni-and-cheese-colored starfish the size of our heads, splurged on fushion tapas and fancy lychee and passionfruit drinks, relaxed on the beach, and enjoyed a Caribbean nightlife. We even saw a fire show, stumbled upon the endemic red poison dart frog, danced to a live band in the street, and made some local friends. First vacation together = GREAT SUCCESS.

More adventures found my mom and I last week on her first visit to the Osa. Our journey began with a treacherous journey via rental car through the city of San Jose to Cartago, where we would spend the night before venturing to the highest active volcano in Costa Rica - Volcan Irazu. Unfortunately, the crater lake was dry, but the clouds periodically pouring over the majestic crater's edge almost made up for it.

Next, we stepped into a leg of the adventure that neither one of us was quite prepared for. We drove up high into the mountains and then down into the steep valleys in Parque National Los Quetzales (Quetzal National Park). We were searching for a glimpse of the famous and reclusive Resplendent Quetzal, and we were thrilled that our little cabin eco-lodge (Savegre Lodge) was deep in the heart of the cloudforest. What a pleasant surprise, even if it did take an accidental detour down a washed out road (and a quasi heart attack for mom) to get there! The gardens and surroundings were indescribably beautiful, and yes, we DID see the quetzal! In fact, we saw TWO different pairs of males/females right on the hotel property!!!

After our cloudforest hikes, high quality coffee tasting, and quetzal spotting, we headed down to the Osa Peninsula so Mom could see the quirky town of Puerto Jimenez where I have been living for the past few months. It just so happens that Paco's brothers were also in town, so Paco and I challenged them to a friendly game of beach volleyball....Paco and I won 4 of 4 games but still walked away with forearms that would be sore for the next 3 days.

Friday, Paco and his brothers joined my mom and I on one of my boat tours! We saw dolphins, snorkeled, explored Finca Saladero's primary rainforest trails and organic gardens, and planeboared - all in one tour! What a wonderful day with wonderful family and wonderful weather!

Dinner that night was served by the boys, who are all amazing chefs. The next day, Mom and I headed to my area of peaceful escape in the beaches, jungles, and platform tent of Matapalo. Unfortunately, the heavy soaking rains brought a swarm of termite queen want-to-bes, so we ended up not staying in my tent platform at Kapu, but we still enjoyed a couple days of relaxation, beautiful beaches, surfing, and exploring in Matapalo. Mom thought she felt an earthquake, but it turns out it was just a troop of mischevious white-faced monkeys jumping on the branches (and almost shimmying down Mom's hammock chair's strap). We then fed the eager but wary monkeys some mamones fruit to satisfy the little rascals.

Lastly, mom's trip ended with dinner at the famous pizza place in town, and guess what else....and earthquake. A real one this time, not monkeys. It was a 6.8 that hit off the coast of Panama, but we were able to feel a rolling, swaying quake here!

Unfortunately, I only have two weeks left here in Costa Rica (for this leg of my life-long adventure, at least), but I plan on living it up until then! I have applied to several jobs in the States, abroad, and one here in Costa Rica (CDS, the school where I interned). Cross your fingers that something comes along.

And now to the other point of this blog. Many of you have caught wind of my newfound knowledge of bean recipes. Below, I have typed Paco's recipe for slow cooker beans, as well as my favorite dish that uses those delicious beans - Gallo Pinto! Sorry that I have not included amounts of each ingredient - it really depends on how you like it. With more practice comes a more customized taste!
Eat healthy, and ENJOY!

Black Beans

Ingredients:
Black beans (or red beans)
Water
Bay Leaf(s)
Salt (sea salt if you have it)
Pepper (fresh-ground is best of course!)
Cumin
*If you're feelin' fancy, you can add roast garlic or vegetables, or slow cook beans with a left over ham hock or pork bone.


Combine beans and plenty of water in the slow cooker (I'd fill it up almost...). Add all other ingredients to taste and let cook on low for 12 hours or overnight. Freeze in single serving containers or enjoy for the next few days. :)

Gallo Pinto

Ingredients:
Onion (diced)
Red Pepper (diced)
Garlic (diced)
Oil
Rice (already cooked, leftovers if you have it)
Beans (already cooked)
Salt
Pepper
Lizano Salsa (Tico sauce if you have it. If not, just make do without)
Cilantro (fresh!)
Water (maybe)




Serve with any combo of the follow:
Fried or scrambled eggs (these are a must for true Gallo Pinto)
Toast or tortillas
Avocado slices
Sour Cream
Hot Sauce
Fresh Fruit

Put a little oil in a pan. Sautee onion, pepper, and garlic as you normally would, on medium heat, until onions are translucent and peppers are flexible. Add a little more oil and rice. Continue to sautee, but on low, stirring often so rice doesn't stick to the bottom. After a couple minutes, add beans AND JUICE. The bean juice helps keep it from drying out. Cook on low for a few minutes, allowing rice and beans to mix nicely, but be careful that your pinto does not dry out. Add Lizano sauce if you have it, or a tiny bit of water if you have no bean juice/it's looking dry. While you are cooking on low, you can fry or scramble your eggs so that it's all ready at once! Garnish with fresh cilantro, and serve with eggs and sides of choice (as listed above). Pura Vida!

Beautifully Off Course

My "plan" couldn't have gone off course more than it has in the past months, since August really. I had this grand idea that I'd find a dream teaching job abroad right off the bat, continue my comfortable long-term relationship, and do the big girl thing. As of July 2013, I accepted a position to teach in this convoluted jungle town of Puerto Jimenez. Not exactly the dream job I had hoped for (but it was better than the alternative of unemployment), and a month later, that comfortable, long-term relationship shattered around me faster than a delicate vase on tile floor. I've also never been so utterly broke and less of an "adult" in my life. None of this was in my stream-lined, unalterable plan.

And then that "rock-solid" plan was altered. Blown totally into smithereens. My plan and therefore life as I (thought I) knew it was detonating into a mushroom cloud of chaos.

 And, honestly, it's the best thing that's happened to me in a long time. I am free of my own pressures, and I am happier than ever. Reading this article brought all of my previous conclusions on the topic together in an article written by a girl who has also (clearly) found the joy above the chaos. Each thing she says has been so true for me, and it is beautifully unexpected.

20 Beautifully Unexpected Things That Happen When Your Plan Goes Off Course

http://elitedaily.com/life/20-beautifully-unexpected-things-that-happen-when-your-plan-goes-off-course/

It is true that I have learned to deal with conflict (hopefully with grace), and I never knew that I was so resilient. YES my true friends have shown their faces and absolutely stood by me more than I could ask for (except that one, but we all know what happened to him...haha), and although I have none left, my savings DID come in handy when I was offered that second-round interview in California. I have met new people (one who even cooks for me and captivates me), and I mean come on, I'm a tour guide and tutor for a living and a surfer for fun - clearly I have found opportunities I never would have dreamed for myself!! I absolutely have a renewed sense of gratitude for those friends and family members who do support me on this wild journey, and for the experiences I am lucky enough to encounter. I have learned to be resourceful under pressure, and I definitely trust myself more in my decision making skills and B.S. filter! Going with the flow is much easier for me now too - after all, it is the Tico way!

Clearly, I have also learned that this plan is much better than the one I could have imagined (just as the author states in #20). I still have moments, not so seldom, of sheer amazement..."THIS is MY life?!?! It's so awesome...how in the world did I land in the middle of something this marvelous?!" Then I imagine how my life would be if I had stuck to that plan, and I now think that mushroom cloud of chaos was more of a springboard to awesomeness.

Granted, I have no job planned after this summer, but maybe this little hurdle is just another promising complication. :)

Also, here's a little clip of the falls at Dos Brazos that Paco and I unexpectedly discovered! :)

“I guess sometimes the greatest memories are made in the most unlikely of places, further proof that spontaneity is more rewarding than a meticulously planned life.” 
― J.A. Redmerski, The Edge of Always

The Difference Between a Job and Work

Have I said lately that I love my job? Yeah, I think I said it like, 2 days ago, but I don't care. Today, we had the best tour I've been on yet. And I say that mostly because of the weather nerd in me. We have had several great tours that included easy-going and excited guests, new species I hadn't seen before, new experiences (like plane-boarding), and of course, DOLPHINS (which never get old). But today........WE SAW A WATERSPOUT!!!! I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE ONE!!! For those of you who know me well....I LOVE WEATHER, and this was just the icing on the cake today.

So it happened like this. Although it's "dry season", we've been having some odd weather around here lately. Last week got painfully, oppressively hot....The kind of hot that makes you feel sick and feverish even though you are only trying to exist. Moving away from the fan is like tearing a toddler away from his favorite toy: IMPOSSIBLE. In my experience, when it gets hot like that, it rains soon after....Sure enough, after 3-4 days of this heat, it decided to rain. And it's rained every afternoon for 2-3 days. Last night, it even ventured to storm, and it was fantastic. This morning, for the first time since I've been here, I woke up to a cloudy sky. Whew, maybe it'd be cooler. And it was. It also meant that more storms were rolling in. While I waited on the boat for our guests to arrive at the pier, I could see them coming from the north. Heavy rains, black clouds, but no lightening, so we were good to go.

After helping passengers aboard, I turned to assess our weather situation. The storm was moving fast. Flat-bottom towering cumulus, heavy and gray with rain, were rolling in. But what was that tail hanging down?! Normally, I'd think it was just the way the cloud was, but it was coming almost perpendicular out of those straight-lined clouds. A WATERSPOUT OVER THE GULF!!! I honestly couldn't control my excitement, being the aforementioned weather nerd that I am...I lunged for my camera as the guests giggled at my overwhelming excitement. Look, don't judge me, okay? It was cool, and even my guests agreed. We slowly trolled in awe as we watched the spout slowly dip down, closer and closer to the surface of the water. It took its time, and never really touched down all the way, but it still stirred up the water on the surface much like a tornado stirs up a dust cloud even if it doesn't touchdown. It grew wider before it eventually roped out and dissipated. What an awesome sight! I can now cross that one off my bucket list. :)

After our storm chase, we went on the hunt for dolphins...and unfortunately, found none. Would this be the tour that we didn't find any dolphins!? Tino (the captain) and I were nervous...After a while, we decided to take a snorkeling break. We cruised the coast until we found our favorite spot, and in the water we went. Last time I dove here, it was high tide, and you had to really dive down to see the fish and reef. Luckily, this time, it was low tide, and the water was so shallow in some point that I could barely float over the reef. AND, we were there earlier than usual (thanks to the absence of dolphins) so no boats had been there yet to stir it up. 

Tino went in first, and AS USUAL, finds all the good stuff....Today, it was a moray eel hiding under a rock. Some of the guests even squealed with excitement. Once it was my turn, I was determined to see something good. And I did! I saw.....

 
 

 
 






Clearly, I am having fun playing with my new GoPro...These pictures are snapshots from some of the footage I got. And wanna know my secret? I have fashioned a cheap accessory....Ok so I already have the floaty on my camera so that it wont sink. But the problem was, I was using the Chesty (a chest strap), but this allowed me to capture video handsfree, but from only one angle - above. Reefs are filled with crevices that the fish all swim away and hide in, but the Chesty did not allow me to chase them, so to say. So, a few tours ago, I came up with a solution. I grabbed an extra snorkel and used the only thing I had - a twisted up grocery bag - to "tie" my camera to the mouthpiece of the snorkel. Hey, make fun all you want, but it worked. This time though, I took some hemp cord, which of course worked even better. Now, I was able to stick my patent pending (haha NOT) "snorkel-cam" down INTO the reef instead of just cruising OVER it! Tino got a total kick out of my contraption, and my guests probably thought I was nuts, but the proof is in the pudding folks. These are among some of the coolest pictures I've ever captured! :)

After snorkeling, we decided to give the dolphin hunt another try. We cruised around for a while, and finally another boat radioed us with good news - they had found a pod way up in the gulf! Whoohoo! What a relief!

Once we found the pod, we watched them play and jump and come up for air. Pantropical spotted dolphins travel in pods of around 250-300, so when you find a pod, you are literally surrounded. Even though you can't see all 300 at one time, they come up in groups of around 40 at a time, and they're constantly trading in and out and you feel surrounded! It's so cool!

Soon, we offered our guests the chance to plane-board. Plane boarding is kind of hard to explain without seeing it, but basically we pull 2 people at a time behind the boat when we see a big pod of dolphins traveling. They hang on to a flat wooden board that has a front handle and a back handle in the middle line of the board. When you push down on the front handle of the board, it makes you dive. Then, you push down on the back handle, and you come back up.  Essentially, you are diving with dolphins.

Our guests' faces lit up like it was Christmas, and I am not exaggerating! They were so thrilled, and honestly, so was I. I had tried plane boarding only once before, but did not see any dolphins, so I was ready for another try. All the guests that wanted to went, and each one was clearly super pumped as they climbed back into the boat. They had all seen the dolphins swimming under and around them!!! So cool!

Finally it was my turn. I was so excited and hopeful that I'd see the dolphins like the rest of our guests had. With my first dive, I could not see any, but I could HEAR them!! I could tell that the shrill whistles and trills we coming from a few different directions, and they were ALL AROUND ME! Check out this sound clip:
http://neptune.atlantis-intl.com/dolphins/sounds/sf.mp3 (it's not mine...but it's very similar to what I heard)

A few dive later, I saw my first dolphin underwater! A few dive after that, one even began to swim along with me, about 10 feet below me! I was diving deep, but the water clarity was still decent, and I could see its spots and white belly and it twisted and zig-zagged under me! It continued this for a dive or two, and I was THRILLED! I climbed back onto the boat just as elated as my guests had.

What a COOL DAY! I told Paco on the way out the door earlier that morning that I had a feeling today's tour was going to be a good one, and I was SO, SOOO right. Have I said lately that I love my job?! ;) 

Have Faith

If you asked me 7 short months ago where I thought I'd be today, I would have NEVER even guessed this. Just think, 7 months ago, say, the end of June 2013, I was in the middle of coaching Sports Camp in Atlanta while tying up loose ends as I finished my final semester of grad school. I was also feverishly searching for any school that would give me a job as a brand new graduate, preferably one abroad.

Then, I found one, and they wanted me right then and there! I was completing my comprehensive graduate school exams, organizing graduation festivities, and now, all of a sudden, I was planning a HUGE move. And in this all, I STILL would have NEVER guessed I'd be where I am today.

Weeks later (and about 6 months ago), I moved to Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica - a town I'd barely had time to Google pictures of in the chaos of it all. A mere 3 days after graduation, I was plopped down in a classroom of kids that would help me grow exponentially as a teacher, and two weeks later, I'd dump my boyfriend of 7 years, which helped me grow exponentially as a person. I forged my own way here in Jimenez - made new friends, won over my students, learned to surf and speak Spanish, and found myself alone in the jungle. But come December, I swore I was done with this place.

Clearly I wasn't done. As I sat at home and had nothing to do but think, I realized I wasn't as done as I thought I was. I had to go back. So, without a job or a plan, I booked a flight back to that bothersome, trying, and special town. Again, I'd be minutes away from my beloved jungle surf break, and I'd get to see friends I'd missed so much. Yes, I'd missed my friends at home more than ever, but something here had a hold of me, and I wasn't ready to give it up yet.

Again, I frantically began the job search. What was I thinking moving down here without a plan or a job?!?! I WAS NUTS. But then...it all came together. Somehow, someway, life started to piece itself back together before my eyes.

So, now, for those of you who didn't know, I now have THREE part time jobs! Haha! I am a:
1. DOLPHIN TOUR GUIDE!!! Hahaaaaa!!!
2. Private homeschool tutor for two 4th graders
3. Webpage and social media manager for Changing Tide Tours (the company I lead tours for).

WHAT IS MY LIFE?!?! You're telling me that not only do I get to teach and manage a Facebook account (two things that come naturally to me haha), but I also get to lead people on boat tours and get paid for it?!?! Awww YEAH!!!

Clearly, I love my jobs. It feels sooooooo good to be teaching again, even if it's only two kids that I homeschool in the local coffee shop. I'm teaching them math and science, which also happen to be my favorite subjects. I get paid to design a webpage, manage posts and photos on a Facebook page, and monitor our TripAdvisor page. (I get to set my own hours and location for that part too!) When I lead tours, I get to work barefoot and hang out on a boat all day in the beautiful Gulfo Dulce. I get to essentially "teach" my guests about the local wildlife, flora, fauna, geography, etc - topics that are quite exciting for a Discovery Channel and NatGeo nerd like me! Even though my guests are mostly adults, I get to witness that moment of discovery and sense of adventure that they feel as I show them around one of only three tropical fjords that exist in the world (Google it). It's something different everyday...I get to see two species of dolphins, various types of reef fish, colorful birds (roseate spoonbills and macaws), and the occasional caiman/crocodile, eel, tyra, or stingray at "work"! Did I mention that I can snorkel with guests, and some days, I even get to go "plane boarding" and swim with the dolphins we find?!?! Oh yeah, my jobs ROCK. In fact, Monday's tour even resulted in a very rewarding post on our Facebook page - "Best tour EVER Jess and Tino (the captain)!" The best part - that was from guests who had been on our tour about 3 times before! It's always good to know that you're making a difference. :)

Also, somewhere in the midst of it all, I have begun applying for "real" jobs for the fall. I'm thinking I'll stay here until mid-May when tour season ends, then do Sports Camp this summer in Atlanta like I always do, and start my new adventure in August, around the new school year. Do you wanna know where I'm planning the next leg of this adventure?? Bali? Africa? ANTARCTICA?? Nope. For now, I'm checking out progressive schools in....dun dun dun....California. Haha. While I have no chance (nor desire) to work in a CA public school, these progressives schools sounds right up my alley. AND I actually have a spitting chance! Cross your fingers for good new soon!

Overall, I am lovin' life. I feel like myself again, and I am certainly enjoying being busy. I am eating well as Paco and I continue our lighthearted culinary duel, and the fresh fruit here is unmatched (YUM!). Finally,in a sigh of relief, everything is sorting it self out, like everyone assured me it would. Taking a leap of faith is scary, but that's why it's called a leap of FAITH. There may not always be a plan or rules to follow or paths to stick to, but forge ahead, create your own path, and have faith in yourself and the life you live.

Yes, This IS Real Life......

So it's been exactly a week since I stepped off the cliff of life, and it has been anything but uneventful, in a good way. I am back to my usual self, and I feel healthy again physically and mentally. Seeing these places, people, and things again is so surreal! For the first two or three days, I felt like I was walking in a dream. I had been thinking about my life here for weeks since I left, and to actually be back when I never thought I would be is such an unusual (and welcome) feeling!

But first...Let's start back at the beginning of February. At this point, I am preparing to travel abroad by myself, with NO JOB, for an undecided amount of time, with about $200 in my bank account. It seems as if this would be the perfect time to panic. After all, I was on the verge of panic all the other times I've gone abroad...For those of you who have traveled, you know what I'm talking about. Those last few days before you leave are absolute chaos, and you feel like you'll never finish everything on your to-do list. For those of you who do not know what I'm talking about, it goes like this....For one, you have to pack, which is daunting all by itself. But it's much more than that, and the worst part is that somehow you don't feel the pressure until the last couple days, when it's too late. You want to make sure to see friends and family one last time before you leave, all in between a bajillion runs to a variety of stores for "supplies" you will need while you're gone. You start getting fraud calls from your bank because of that plane ticket you booked in another country, so you have to make sure to stop by the bank in person to tell them to expect charges abroad. Chances are, you have food that you need to hurry up and eat before you go, and loose ends that need to be tied up - make sure to do all your laundry before you pack, don't wear anything you want to pack with you, clean your room, change your sheets, park your car somewhere safe, among other things. And then comes time to pack. What job will you need to dress for? That could be anything from teacher to tourguide (literally! Haha we'll get to that...) Will you need rain gear this time or no? What can you leave behind that your mom can bring down with her later if you need it? Can you fit everything in your bags, much less do your bags meet weight standards for Delta? What if the second flight is full and can't take the weight of all your bags at once - do you have all of your essentials in the one bag you'd choose to check? Will that 10-pound tent be worth it's weight in the money it will save you on weekend trips? (The answer to that is yes.) Do you REALLY need nine pairs of shoes? (That's a no..) What can you pack that you can leave down there? After all, you're likely to buy some souvenirs, and you have already reached your weight limit, so a trade is in order. Lastly, do you have everything?? Did you forget something??? Can you even carry your own luggage?? OH THE ANXIETY!!!! All of this is nerve-racking on it's own, but then you remember that YOU HAVE NO JOB AND NO MONEY. Great.

The good news is, this is the first time I've moved abroad that I actually knew where I was going. I already knew what it was like to live in Jimenez. I knew the weather and the culture. I knew what I would and would not have access to. And most importantly, I knew PEOPLE. I had FRIENDS that would help me out and keep me from being lonely. People also translate into networking (aka JOBS!) so surely I would be able to find a job somewhere. At least this part of the anxiety was settled for once.

Early Tuesday morning, Mom drove me to the airport. Now that the chaos of my to-do list was over, I was unusually calm for the given circumstances. Excited even. Ready for the leap, if you will. The night before, I had hosted a chili dinner for a few of my closest friends, and it was a great success. Everyone showed up, my first attempt at venison chili rocked, and we had good, real friend time.

The plane ride was of course a drag, but at least no crying babies or snoring row-mates. Upon landing in San Jose, I caught a glimpse of those oh-so-familiar mountains, crisply outlined against a clear blue sky. I could just see how warm it was outside. My heart leaped with that kind of excitement you get when you're home. That same kind of excitement I get when I drive over the train tracks on North College as I pull into the greatest Village on the Plains. I was home in a way.

Thankfully customs was a breeze, and I found my domestic terminal easily. I set up camp in a corner, and settled in to check emails, texts, and listen to some music. About thirty minutes before takeoff, and familiar face shows up...Paco was there!!! He had been in San Jose to vote the past weekend, and he wanted to surprise me by booking the same flight down to Puerto Jimenez. WHAT?!?! I was so excited to see him again, not to mention that I am quite hard to surprise. Kudos to him! Unfortunately, the flight to PJ involved some unsettling turbulence, but we made it, safe and sound. I WAS BACK, and I felt like a giddy child.

Like I said, the first few days were dream-like. I unpacked in my new home (for those wondering, Paco is letting me stay with him at his apartment until further notice), and I got some errands taken care of on Wednesday and Thursday, and of course I ran into several people I knew. Before they could even ask me how I was, they'd comment on how white I was!! Haha thanks guys, nice to see you too. It's not like I'm a gringa that's come from the dead of winter or anything.

Soon, it was my favorite time of week. Can you guess? Yep, TIME TO GO TO MATAPALO!!! WHOOOHOOOO!!!!! I had zero cares that there wasn't supposed to be a swell. I was determined to go surfing, and I was excited to try out my new tent! Paco and I would camp on the beach to save money, and turns out, my ENO hammock is the best packing decision I've made so far. I threw it up between two trees right in front of the surf break at Matapalo, and between surf sessions, I spent the entirety of my weekend relaxing in my beach side hammock in the shade. I knew I had made the right decision to come back. :) The surf was good too, and I easily fell back into it. It was like riding a bicycle. Due to the awkward timing of tides, I even ventured out on the surf break right there at Cabo Matapalo which in my mind, is only reserved for pros. I made sure there were no locals in the water before I paddled out at high tide (when the sharp rocks are deepest..), and I actually surfed it!!! Waves were about head high, and it felt SOOOOO GOOODDDD to be back on my beloved board. All was right with the world.

As usual, Sunday brings me back to reality. After talking with Elmer (the school's director) last Wednesday, I was expected to be at school on Monday to begin subbing. In my mind, I was expected to sub for Materno and 3rd-6th grade, exactly how I had taught last year. Of course, Ticos never make it that easy, so in reality, I subbed for a combined class of Materno and Kinder/Pre-K for the morning section. I'm not the only one who thinks Elmer is nuts for grouping 3 year olds with 6 year olds. I had 12 of them, and clearly,  it didn't work out. I mean, I made it work, but my 3 oldest kids were bored out of their minds doing my planned lessons meant for the 3-4yr old group I thought I was gonna have. Elmer also decided to cancel afternoon classes for the week, which makes NO SENSE in my opinion, but like I said, Ticos never make things as easy as they could be...Ha....

Tuesday again brought 12 babies, but a different mix this time. The 3 older kids had been moved up to the older class, but I had a new girl that almost only spoke Czech (yes, you read that correctly) and two other newbs. All went mostly smoothly...Then today, the secretary, Lea, took over the Kinder/PreK, so I only had 7 true Materno kids. Another mostly smooth day, but at one point, I did find one of my little girls in the bathroom, wearing NO pants, and fishing in the toilet with both hands. WHAT IN THE WORLD!?!? Turns out, she was only trying to save a lizard (not poop) that was stuck in the toilet bowl. I never got an explanation for the pants though.....

Alllrighty the last order of business - BUSINESS. As in, my job search. So far, I have been subbing this week. I have been clear to Elmer that if he does not have a contract to me by the end of this week outlining my duties, pay, and length of stay, that I will not be able to help next week. I can't afford to "volunteer" at the school when it is possibly keeping me from working my other new job. YEP! NEW JOB! On Tuesday, I met with a lady from Destin, FL who just took over a boat tour company here. You are looking at the newest gringa tour guide on the Osa Peninsula! Haha! She wants to train me next week to lead boat tours that search for dolphins, explore botanical gardens or animal sanctuaries, and snorkel the reefs in the Gulf. It looks like I'll also be helping with the Facebook page, so I want you to do me a favor...Like our Facebook page "Changing Tide Tours" so that you can see the progress as I revamp the page!! I'm actually surprised at how excited I am to start! While it may be inconsistent, it pays way better than the school...And it looks like I may be able to be a private tutor on the side to supplement my income! YAY! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!! Keep fingers crossed that it all pulls through!

Banana Crepes made by Chef Paco

So, overall....I'M HAPPY. It's nice to see friends and students again, and I realized that I weirdly missed the grocery stores here. Paco and I are having fun challenging each other in our own home version of Iron Chef - we've made everything from Olla de Carne (like a stew) to banana crepes, homemade bread and pretzels, fresh caught lobster bisque, Gallo Pinto (of course), fresh basil pesto, and Pasta Bolognese!! (Fresh Parmesan cheese that I imported has been like gold haha.) I'm a 10 minute walk from the beach, and I can see the awkward "Barguatafok" and the main street from my apartment. My surfboard awaits me each weekend, and while it's blazing hot, the sun is shining, the bougainvillea is blooming, macaws are squawking, and dust covers everything like Southern pine pollen. Somehow, this dump of a town has captured a piece of my heart.

Life's Like a Box of Chocolates

You NEVER know what you're gonna get. TRUST me on this one, I am even surprised. When I left Costa Rica this last time, I thought I was done working and living there. I thought I'd only go back for vacations. Turns out, the Osa got a hold of me like everyone warned me it would, and I'm afraid I'm not quite as over it as I thought I was. Never in my wildest dreams did I see this coming, but...drum roll please...I'M MOVING BACK!!! And this time, the adventure gets real. Yes, even more real than before because you know what, I don't even have a job...

Yes, folks, I have gone mentally insane. That's what a sick cocktail of heartbreak, intense culture and climate shock, unemployment, and being broke will do to a girl. But I promise there's a (semi-legit) thought pattern that has accompanied this process. Ready to hear it?

So, Christmas was great, and I spent some much-needed time with family and friends. And then, as the excitement and chaos is gone, and as I see my friends starting classes without me for the first time, I panic. I will admit that I have been lucky enough to escape the grip of depression for most of my life, but that's when it hit me. I felt so sad, unmotivated, useless, and out of place (even in my own home!) that I didn't want to get off the couch some days. Those of you who have experienced this, even for a short time, know how intense those feelings can be. I felt constantly sad....and that is NOT me. I knew that I needed to fix it. Through some research online and in talking with friends and family, I was able to find solace in my painting, yoga, music, and social time. And then, one day, as I'm contemplating what in the world I'm gonna do with my life, my students began messaging me online. And not just any students, but the two girls that I had really tried my best to motivate in school. They were messaging me...and yeah aside from the usual begging me to come back, they actually just wanted to say hey. That was all. Just to say hey and chat because they cared and they knew I cared. And there, the seed was planted.

That's when I began to think, "You know what, those kids made me happy. I was so passionate about my work there, and I had the freedom to teach in a way that was most beneficial to the kids, not any system or standardized test." I felt like I had actually made a difference, and maybe I could make an even bigger one if I went back. I knew that if I could get my job back, I could feel just as whole, happy, and healthy as I had when I left. Plus, if I could have more time and do some advanced planning, I could do something pretty AWESOME that the kids and I would just dive head first into. The more I thought about teaching at Corcovado School again, the more I realized my days becoming less sad. Yeah, it was mighty stressful living and teaching there some days, but my freedom to teach the kids in a meaningful way far outweighed the obstacles. Life in Puerto Jimenez was simple too, something I learned (key word: learned) to appreciate. Surfing made me happy, and while I have the best friends in the world here, something about meeting people authentically, face to face and not over the internet or on our cell phones or in bars, even when I was speaking a foreign language, was so enriching and real - I met a myriad of vagabonds, locals, expats, travelers, and businessmen alike that all had something to teach ME, the teacher.

So, I emailed Elmer, the director of the school to see if my position was still open....It was. Uh oh. "Why uh-oh?" you say? Wellllllll for one, I had already recommended an Auburn grad and her fiance to take my job when I left....Afterall, I didn't plan on coming back, and I wanted someone I trusted to teach my kids. So, I didn't wanna knock her out. However, I knew the school needed new teachers for ALL classes, so I thought we could work something out. My master plan was to keep my 2 same classes (Materno and 3rd-6th grade), Sara (the AU grad) could teach 1st-2nd grade, and her fiance could have Kinder/PreK...The Auburn family could just work together and teach the whole school! That'd be a great setup, I sure thought so.

Well, I guess Elmer or the Board or whoever apparently didn't think so. He took forever to respond (almost 3 weeks!) after telling me my position was open. And then, the emails he DID send me were both unclear and suggestive. He never said yes or no up front, but he was asking me to help find other teachers and sponsors....now why would he ask me to help him find other teachers if I wasn't accounted for? Especially if I was expressing serious interest in a teaching job...?? After I bombarded him with questions, he simply sent me another confusing email telling to "tranquilla"....DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN WHEN SCHOOL STARTS IN 4 WEEKS. Really? The next step in my life is teetering on you right now, and you're telling me to CALM DOWN??! You're joking me.

And then I simply couldn't wait any longer. He kept delaying, delaying, and delaying, and school's start date was only getting closer. Not only did this mean that my time to make a huge move and plan lessons was ticking away, but airfare was getting more expensive with each breath. The "T-minus-3-weeks-until-school-starts" (aka T-minus-2-weeks-until-I-need-to-move) mark hit, and I just couldn't take it. I had to either take a chance now or gamble on it later. I knew that just the idea of moving down there had made life in the last month happier, and I would have the support of my students' parents if I could just get down there and get the job. PLUS, I had this CRAZY-AWESOME idea for a thematic unit I'd do with my kids. Our unit would be "Earth" or "Mother Nature" since it's obviously such a huge part of life in the Osa, and our thematic long-term project was going to be building a chicken coup and garden!!!! YES! I'd always wanted to do it for myself, but just think....with a long term project like that, we could learn all kinds of content knowledge, and it would call for character building as well. The kids could research the best designs for gardens/coops, we could learn about and write persuasive essays to argue which design they think is best. We would then learn about measurements and make floor plans. In our sustainability section, we could brainstorm how we could use recycled materials to build our coop (thanks for the inspiration from Rural Studio in Auburn's architecture department!). Then we could learn about the lifecycle of chickens (thanks to Bronwyn Bishop/Luker/Rampy, my third grade teacher who raised baby chickens with us!). And we could even learn about something so very important in a food desert such as Puerto Jimenez - nutrition, cooking (eggs!), and healthy eating. Not to mention I could incorporate all the learning styles, teamwork, responsibility, decision making, independent working, and tons of language development into these types of lessons. Of course, math and science would be in there too, but those would come along just with the project! I literally had a two-page chart of subjects, lessons, and activities we could do that would EASILY take 6+ months....

Clearly, I had a moment of inspiration, and it got me excited. After so much thinking and stressing and milling over this topic, I decided that life is too short to not take any chances. I had decided a long time ago that living outside of your comfort zone was much more rewarding, and like I said, I had felt so mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically healthy when I left there. At this point, I'd rather chance losing my money on a plane ticket than losing my sanity sitting around doing nothing in Auburn (even though I love Auburn).

So. I booked it. YEP. I took the gamble, and I booked a plane ticket. While I was taking a big risk, it was a calculated one, and I had to follow my gut on this one.

And then, I got excited.

And then, I got rejected. I think.

Within 24-48 hours of booking both tickets (international and domestic) to PJ, I got an email from Elmer. Again, it was quite confusing, but he mentioned something about a "list of new teachers", how the kids will "remember me well", and he closed with "good luck at your new job"......Uh....Well, sir, it kinda sounds like I DON'T HAVE A NEW JOB. What?!?! So it sounds like he's not giving me my job back (Sara, the AU teacher, seemed to confirm that for me), and CLEARLY I do not have another job, or I would not be asking for mine back. Ticos kill me sometimes!!!

I cried so hard my eyes were swollen shut, and I was on the verge of panic. Real panic. But I slept on it. And you know what? The next day was probably the greatest day I'd had (mentally) since I'd been home. Yes, it surprised me too. I thought that day would be a "I'm-never-ever-ever-EVER-getting-out-of-bed" days, but in some way, I had surrendered. I had a ticket down there that I couldn't do a darn thing about, and I was reminded of an important lesson I learned living in Puerto Jimenez - No matter how much you plan life, it's never gonna turn out how you planned, so quit stressing about it so much. That doesn't mean you quit your job, give up all your goals, and go with the flow of life (aka stagnate), but you really just can't sweat the small stuff. Yes, this is kind of a "big stuff" but I am just gonna step off this cliff and see if I can fly. I networked well while I was down there, and I'm hardworking, resourceful, and good with people...Surely, I can make it work. I've also got some good friends there who will help me out with a place to stay and spreading the word until I can get on my feet. I've already emailed a girl I met on the wave (and instantly got along with) about a job - turns out, she wants to interview me for a sea turtle research/conservation assistant. If I chose to do that, I would also be teaching the two boys who live in the area since there's no school. (Speaking of, I would be living farther out in the jungle than Matapalo and on the beach!) I'm not sure where I'll go with this, but it could be a good option until I can figure myself out.

Now do you understand why I say the REAL adventure starts now?! I have surrendered to the complete chaos, stress, bliss, and uncertainty (and everything in between) that awaits me. It's now or never, and I choose NOW!