I know it’s been a while since I’ve updated, but this past
week has been pretty rough….I’m missing home pretty bad (loved ones, sane
people, The Weather Channel, a dryer, chocolate), and my work-life has just
been turned upside down.
Before I get into that though, I want to thank each and
every person who has supported me throughout this journey. I am surprised by the
overflowing words of excitement and encouragement that continue to come in, and
it’s nice to know that there are people watching out for you, even from far
away. Whenever I am having a tough day or am lacking motivation, I read and
reread the notes, cards, emails, and messages that you send me that are filled
with “You can do it!” and “Enjoy the ride!” and “We believe in you!” And
because you believe in me, I can pick myself up and overcome whatever is
keeping me down. Seriously, those small words mean the world to me here. Thank
you.
Allllllrighty then. Let me tell you about the last week from
hell.
I’ll preface this starting two weeks ago when we had “winter”
break, which is really “It’s-the-middle-of-rainy-season-and-we-all-need-to-get-outta-here”
break. Have I mentioned that all the
people who can afford to shut down their business for the month escape and
leave the peninsula for all of October?? Yeah. That’s what people do to cope
with rainy season here – they avoid it. So this was our chance to have a week off
school to “avoid” rainy season (which actually hasn’t been that rainy this year…).
My plan was to catch a series of buses to Dominical, a tiny,
hippie-surf town on the Pacific coast just north of the Osa Peninsula. Of all
my travels in this country last time I came, I had remembered Dominical to be
my favorite. I had loved the hostel (and their famous fish tacos which no
longer exist ugh) and surfing at Dominicalito down the road had been perfect.
While there, I was going to look for a surfboard to buy. Then, I’d catch a bus
to Escazu to visit old friends and students at CDS and stay with my beloved,
sweet Oky again. I hadn’t been able to contact her since I left, but I always
missed her like she was family.
In order for me to recap my adventures of the week and not
write an entire novel, I will list the highlights (well, exciting points since
some were less than ideal) instead.
- Day 1 in Dominical was spent looking for a board. Unfortunately, no one had anything they wanted to sell that was in my price range and size requirements because it was low season. All signs pointed to Jaco at this point. Do you remember how much I just loooveeee Jaco?!?! Exactly, I despise it. But I would have to go if I wanted a board….
- Day 2, I made new friends. Michelle was another solo, female traveler like me staying at the hostel, looking to surf and chill. She was even my age, and although she was originally from Dubai (with parents from Zimbabwe), she was attempting to get a visa to work in NYC. I also made friends with Zoltan (or “Z”), a 27-yr old American expat with longgggg, blond, hippie hair, clear blue eyes, and a passion to start a hippie commune on the nearby jungle mountaintop that he recently purchased. Later, I would meet Rob, a surfer from New Zealand who owned a car and was roadtripping the entire Pacific Coast, starting in British Columbia, with his friends. He was here waiting on his friends to catch up from Nicaragua, and in the meantime, he was our adventure-seeking means of transportation.
- A seashell-hunting stroll on the beach with Michelle ended in a woman yelling Spanish curse words at me and trying to attack me. I had asked a man on the beach a question, and she must have been his suspicious girlfriend watching from afar. Thankfully, the man was able to hold her back while I escaped. I tell you the people here are suuupppeerrrr jealous!!! Once reunited with Michelle down the beach (she was doing her yoga while I continued my walk), we noticed a very inappropriately naked man sitting on the rock watching her……….GET ME OUTTA HERE.
- On the other hand, Michelle and I enjoyed 2 days of surfing in Dominicalito. We would walk there early in the morning (about 40 minute walk), surf, soak up the sun (I had successfully escaped the rainy season!), and then we’d hitchhike back. One day, we even met another solo female traveler at the hostel, and we single girls ruled the wave. I forgot the other girl’s name, but she was from Slovenia and currently living in the Canary Islands. I was enjoying meeting people from all over!
- After surfing on Day 3, Michelle, Zoltan, Rob,
and I hoped in the car, headed to check on Z’s car in the shop at Matapalo (no,
not the same one I’ve been visiting…). That turned into “Tourguide Z” taking us
on an adventure to Playa Matapalo where I found handfuls of tiny sand dollars,
a dip in a jungle river to cool off, lunch at a “truck stop,” and a tour of Z’s
mountaintop property. The drive up required 4-wheel driving skills that Rob had
thankfully acquired on his journeys, and once at the top, we enjoyed an
incredible view of the Pacific Coast (it was so clear you could even see my Osa
Peninsula!) and a hike through untouched, primary rainforest. WHAT A DAY!
The view
Primary Rainforest Hike
Me and Z
Z's "Farmhouse"
- The next day, rain found us and the waves were
too choppy, so instead, we ventured to Playa Ventanas, named so aptly for its
window-like caves that lead to the ocean. At low tide, you can swim in the
waves that are rolling in through the caves!!! We were the ONLY ones on the
beach, so we enjoyed the tranquility of a beach fit for a deserted, tropical
island. Z even scavenged coconut, sugar cane, and bananas for us to enjoy.
Around sunset, we headed to the beach next door to explore the gigantic bat
cave that was also accessible during low tide. It was almost dark, but we could
hear the bats chirping, and we knew they’d fly out in search of dinner any
second – we didn’t stay long!
The "Ventanas"
Rob's first sugarcane
Bat cave - Day 4 and it was time to go, sadly. I was
enjoying my personalized adventure tour group!!! But, I was in search of a
board, so Jaco it was. I hate that
place, but thankfully third time was the charm. I was on guard all day, on a
mission to get in and out asap, but I found a board!!! And I NICE one at that!
I spent a little more than planned, but I know I can get that much back out of
it in the end. Even my local surfer friends in Matapalo (the real one)
commented on how nice of a board it is. HOORAY! I had escaped Jaco unscathed
and with a surfboard that was exactly what I was looking for.
- FINALLY I arrived in Escazu! The mountains were
beautiful, and it was just as I had left it (minus the addition of a wonderful
taco restaurant by Oky’s house and newly paved sidewalks). And Oky was also
just like I left her. She looked just the same, and was as warm, loving, and
welcoming as she always has been. My heart was bursting with joy seeing her
again. I missed my Tica mom! Her house was just as beautiful too, not to
mention I had missed her food more than I had thought. YUMMMMM. The intern she
had staying with her was even nice, so I was more than content to be back.
- School the next day (Day 5) was chaos, in the best way. I didn’t realize how small and sparsely supplied my classroom here was until I walked into a classroom of 16 third graders!!! I had forgotten what it was like to have a full classroom with same-aged kids! I was happy to see Mrs. Calderon and many of my other friends who were still there, and it was nice to find out that they remembered me too! I even saw some things I had made that Mrs. Calderon still used in her classroom! Ahhhh, I was in my happy place. Tomorrow was even UN Day at school, so there was a buzz of excitement as students practiced dances and parades and planned their outfits. Tomorrow would be fun
- And it was! The kids came in traditional dress
from the country that they’re originally from, and there was a Parade of
Nations that the whole school participated in. THEN, THERE WAS FOOD.
International plates from all over the world filled the outdoor hallways by the
classrooms, and I certainly enjoyed samplings from a huge variety of countries!
I saw several of my old students (who are now in 5th grade), and
they were soooo surprised I was there!! But they remembered me, and one of the
parents asked me to come back and teach a younger sister in 4th
grade next year….Hm…..we’ll see! J
- Day 7 brought a Saturday with Robert (the intern
living at Oky’s house) at the good ole Costa Rica Country Club, also just as I
had left it. I even remembered how to get there. I was in HEAVEN…Pretty people,
poolside service, sun, and endless hot water in the waterfall showers. The free
shampoo and conditioner was even organic, biodegradable, aromatherapy stuff
that supported the Corcovado rainforests conservation projects back on the Osa.
AND, I was able to blow dry and straighten my hair, which I hadn’t done in
about 3 months. OH MAN, I was a pampered princess for the day, and it was
AWESOME. The lunch that followed was equally as awesome - fish, mashed
potatoes, and vegetables all artfully cooked with NO “complete season” and
arranged perfectly on my plate, poolside. After the Country Club, Robert and I
ventured to the Multiplaza (the huge mall, remember?). We window shopped (and I
spent too much money on so-called “necessary supplies” that I couldn’t get on
the Osa) and then we went to a movie. OMG I have never been so happily
overwhelmed in my life. Like Robert said – too much excitement for me for one
day! Haha the movie, Elysium, was a thriller, so it really was quite a bit of excitement!
And I was happy.
- Sunday, I was very sad to leave Oky. She had spoiled me rotten – cooked my favorite foods for me (she remembered!!!), the maid did ALL of my laundry, and I was loved and taken care of. J I want to visit her again when I pass back through San Jose on my way home, and Robert is supposed to come down and hike Corcovado National Park with me at the end of November!
Back in Puerto Jimenez, I rested for what would be the most
insane school week yet. I was so relaxed, and poor me had no idea it was all
about to come crashing down to an unfriendly, halting stop. I was in for it,
and I didn’t even know it.
Monday I show up and I was sent straight to the principal’s
office. Oh no, what had I done?!?! Whew, turns out nothing….Today was Megan’s
first day gone on maternity leave, which we were prepared for, BUT Amanda’s dad
tragically died over break, so she moved home to be with her family and mourn
the unexpected loss. WHAT. I was suddenly the only “veteran” left, and I wasn’t
even that much of a veteran!!!! Holy cow. Who was gonna fill in?! At first,
they wanted to combine my little girls with Amanda's PreK/Kinder class and give
them to Dominique, Megan’s maternity sub. Then I’d move to 1st/2nd
grade and give them exams that I was not prepared for. Uh…..this was not a good
idea – too much change for too many students and teachers…the whole school
would be turned upside down!!! Instead, we decided I’d stay with my regular
classes, Dominique would take over Amanda’s instead of Megan’s class since
there were more students, and Marco, along with our brand new volunteer Alana
(she literally arrived THAT day), would handle the three students in Megan’s
class. THEN, I after this news, I walked
into my little girls classroom with 5 students!!! I had left with only 2 or 3 –
one was back from a broken leg, my two regulars were there, and I had not one
but TWO, entirely new students! Ohhhhhh man. What a handful. Turns out one new one understand ZERO English, and the other has been so isolated in the jungle that while he understands English, he is nonverbal. This day was interesting, to say the least...
The rest of the week consisted of us all getting on our
feet. Poor Alana walked into this mess, and thankfully I think she’ll be able to
handle it, but I was trying to help her adjust as best I could. Marco also
notified us around Wednesday that he was planning to move back home on
Saturday, so Alana would now have the class by herself. She was coming down
here expecting to volunteer and HELP, but instead was given her very own
classroom that was chaos in and of itself. In all this disarray, at home, Alana
decided to stay at a hostel, and Marco moved out on Thursday to a hostel, so I
was suddenly and abruptly left to myself in the house! Oh and the
printer/copier broke at school and was not going to be fixed until next week.
Cool. Exams were next week (which is now this week), and that was just another
kink in all this mess.
WOW what a week. Do you see now why I didn’t have a second
to update this blog??! I was staying until 5pm almost every night trying to get
things together for exams, organizing my life, etc. and I am proud to say I
even got all of our math games for the rest of the year made and laminated!! I
had picked up several ideas from Mrs. Calderon (again…haha), so I was antsy to
get those ideas settled and in action.
Last Friday, I escaped to the jungles of my beloved Matapalo
as usual. I surfed Backwash Saturday to try out my new board, and IT IS
PERFECT. I got totally rocked a few times, but I was also successful a few
times – this tells me that I can grow with this board and really improve but
not get frustrated. I can do it, but it’s a nice challenge. SO happy with my purchase,
especially because (like I said earlier), my local surfer friends even
commented on how nice of a board and brand it was. Sweet.
Back to PJ Saturday night though, since I had to made my
visa-renewing border run on Sunday. Many people had their doubts that I could
do it in one day – you are technically supposed to stay out of the country for
48-72 hours to be able to get another 90 days in Costa Rica, and they have
become more and more strict on your necessary paperwork to be able to enter
Panama. Plus, transportation had to line up perfectly, and in this country,
that’s sometimes a challenge.
Understatement. I missed the first lancha (water taxi) to
Golfito at 6am. Turns out, (of course) I knew a guy at the dock leading tours,
and he knew of a guy that could take me at 7:30. This meant that I missed my
7:45 bus in Golfito to the border at Paso Canoas, but luckily buses left every
hour. BUT the bus I wanted next left 10 minutes early as I finished breakfast
at a soda in Golfito. Shoot. At the bus stop waiting for the NEXT bus that
would come in an hour, a collectivo taxi pulled up, shouting “Paso Canoas!”
Whoa that’s where I needed to go!!! Plus, he only charged $8 for an hour ride.
Cool. That was super lucky. I was suddenly back on track, time-wise… Until I
got to the Panamanian border without a proper bank statement – they sent me to
an internet café to print one out, and when I returned, the line was at a
standstill. An hour and 15 minute standstill to be exact. Would I make it?! I
was planning to burn time in Panama so I didn’t look suspicious, but after
receiving my Panamanian entry stamp, I walked around the building to get water
and some chicken before standing the Panama exit line. Once stamped there, I
walked back to Costa Rica, and without a hitch, got stamped back into Costa
Rica after leaving only 3 hours earlier. BOOM. I would now be able to catch the
bus back to Golfito at 12:45 – the last one that would get me there in time for
the LAST lancha back to PJ. I was one lucky girl. I was on the bus, and I made
the last lancha no problem. BOOYEAH, I did it. Thank goodness.
Now, this week has been actually nice, so far. I know it’s
only Tuesday, but here’s to hoping for a smoother week that ends in a wonderful
weekend in the jungle. Alana should be along for the ride this time, and
hopefully the waves will not fail us. I’ve cleaned out my house too – I mean
CLEANED OUT. All things from volunteers are donated, laundry done, kitchen
cleaned and organized, and my house even smells like autumn. Maybe now, I can
make it my home so that I struggle less with homesickness and loneliness. For
now though, keep the kind words comin’ and I’ll keep chuggin’ along.
