About 48 Hours Left

When I first arrived, I had to do a "48 Hours Paper" about my experience thusfar.  It's crazy to me that now I only have about 48 hours left in this country.  The time has FLOWN by.  It's going to be hard to say goodbye.  I've already made some hard goodbyes, especially yesterday when my best friend in Costa Rica Tiffany left.  But, the good news is I'll be seeing her soon back home again in INDIANA!  I still have so many things to look foreward to these next two days such as finishing up report cards and grades on my own (woo hoo! finally!), celebrating the last day with my classes, and most of all celebrating my sister Vale's quinceanera because her party is Friday.  But, I can't help but think about all of the things I am going to miss... 

 Here's a few:

My friends & family calling me Emi with a Spanish accent
Sleepovers with Vale and our late night FB time and talks
Maria Paula's sense of humor....and when she TRIES to scare me
Fio demanding besos (kisses) before we get out of the car in the morning at school
Nela and me swapping interesting words in English and Spanish
My beautiful house here...and the ranchero, kareoke, hammock, and pool
My students saying "TEACHER, TEACHER, TEACHER!"
"It's Time to Open Backpack"...and other Backpack songs with 2nd grade that are stuck in my head 24/7....
MANGOS AND PINEAPPPLE. BUT ESPECIALLY MANGOS- excuse me, MANGAS*
Going on adventures every weekend and being at the beach Friday-Sunday
My wonderful Tia who makes me delicious food, does all of my laundry, and even cleans my room.  Could you PLEASE move back home to the states with me?
My huge bed...actually Fio's huge bed (Yes, my 3 year old sister has a king size bed and at home I have a twin one)
Not having a cell phone...yes, this sounds crazy but it was actually rather nice at times

And many, many more.....

Santa Theresa

We had to take the ferry there...

Such a beautiful view from the boat!

The waves were so strong...so much for surfing for me.

Highlights:  DELICIOUS GELATO PLACE (We went there everyday).  Also, they had chocolate covered bananas! The night life was really fun...people here actually stay up later than 9 p.m.  We met people from all over the world who were surfing and traveling here.  Also, it is a city with great sea food for a great price!

BEWARE of the dusty, dusty sanded streets.  I would advise you take sunglasses!  Also, beware of the crabs!  One woke me up in my bed in the middle of the night in our hostel.....sorry I don't have a video of that as I'm sure it was very humorous to watch.....

Manual Antonio National Park

The beaches here in the park were beautiful; even comparable to those in Guanacaste!

These little guys were everywhere...there are so many different kinds and colors!

 The monkeys are my favorite!  We didn't have any come up to us, but we heard a Congo Monkey when we were on a trail, and we were terrified.  We thought it was a jaguar!  Obviously, at the time we didn't know "Congo Monkeys" existed or what sound they made, but now we know where they get their name from!

GUANACASTE

The most beautiful beaches in the country are in this province.  I cannot wait to return with my family!

Playa Coco- It's prettier than a postcard.

Playa Conchal

As we were driving to Playa Conchal, our car got stuck in the sand! Luckily, we were able to get out.

Mucha gente durate Semana Santa

Montezuma

Taking a break from Santa Theresa, we took a van about 25 minutes away to this lovely little city.  We hiked to a waterfall, jumped into it, and enjoyed a nice cool swim.  I wish we could have spent more time in this beautiful little place!

Yes, that is me! :)

Hannah Gabriel

The first day I got to Costa Rica my little sister told me we lived next to Hannah Gabriel ...I assumed it was one of her little friends... welll the following week later I learned there was going to be a huge boxing fight which was a pretty big deal!!  Turns out Hannah Gabriel won!! And she is extremely famous... so I feel very naive and silly for admitting this...but....turns out she visited our school and I got to meet her with my friends Tiffany and my friend Holly from Buffalo, NY!! So coool!! She is the first famous person I have ever met, and she was so nice. 
Here*s our awesome picture to prove it---

Our friend Holly had to leave this Friday!!  So great getting to know her and talk to her.  We miss you already, Holly!

Me Ayude Amor

We met this amazing woman named Carmen who has an organization that helps the poor in Alajuela, and tonight I just got home from helping. It is 1:00 a.m.. We left at 5:30 and went straight to the church until 8:00 to pray and worship. It was a Catholic church, but it didn't seem like it to me because everyone was dancing and singing; there weren't as many rituals as I've seen in the U.S., and it didn't feel as formal. At the church, I met a beautiful little girl who was one of the children she helps. We were instantly attached, and I spent the rest of the evening with her by my side. We left the church together (there was a huge group about 50 people) on a bus that went to four different cities to pass out food to the people and try to bring them joy by singing and dancing. We had to wear a red shirt of the organization to help us be safe and stay in our group. When we arrived in the middle of the first city, we got out to pray and started the music. We danced and sang as we passed out food. It was like a party in the street; not a really sad or scary thing that I was anticipating. However, then we went to another place. It was a very small building, and there were over a hundred children waiting for us there when we arrived at about 10 p.m. at night. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. As I walked in I saw a boy, and I was in shock because it was real life. He was wearing such ragged clothes, as I approached him a I smelt a horrible stench , and I could see he was starving in a way I had only seen on those depressing African t.v. commercials for Save the Children. But this was real life. After a minute of shock, Jesus both broke my heart for him and opened my heart to him. He was so excited to meet me and have me there. We played games with him and about eight other kids. I was also able to pray with them, sing songs, and serve them food. They were so excited to eat, and many of them hadn't eaten in days. We made another smaller stop in the city, and finally a last stop at about midnight. Cockroaches scrambled the streets, stray dogs dug through the trash, and I saw quite a few people sleeping on the streets under a cardboard or sheet. We walked around in our large group for safety passing out food and drinks....

Many people don't understand why others go to another country to help when their own country needs help. I want to get one thing straight, the thing about tonight is I really didn't help the people here all of that much-- they helped me. To see people have such open hearts toward a stranger and to see people be so joyful and love Jesus so much when they hardly have anything is amazing.  To see others give up their WHOLE evening and go help strangers after an exhausting day of work on a weekly basis.....to see others trust in God so much that they don't have doubts or fears... COSTA RICA IS HELPING ME WAY MORE THAN I AM HELPING COSTA RICA. I hope to be able to give back in some way, and I'm not exactly sure how I'm supposed to do that yet. The organization, their church, Carmen, and many others we have met here are making a hugeeee difference in the lives of these people and are so inspiring to me! I am so excited to get to know them more and work with them more.