the first week...

day one- hit up the airport early to realize the dogs had to be in another place to ship out. after dog crates falling off carts and yelps from the cages i thought michael was going to break down. fortunately we just had to keep going and once the dogs were settled we were both able to take a deep breath. raced around checking in our own luggage, returned the rental car...meanwhile trying to keep our nerves settled. checked the 3 large heavy black bags and surf board (couldn’t believe we didn’t have to pay more!). tried to carry on the last small one and then realized liquids could not pass through....in a hurry had to pay $100 for the extra bag. had i listened to michael and brought less clothes i could have avoided this :0. however the table cloth, candles, and kitchen stuff have made the house a home...so it was worth it!

arrived in san jose at 9pm. both dogs were there just waiting for us--brady sleeping (imagine that!) coleman watching everyone and everything. an older costa rican man loaded our luggage onto the cart and walked us past a large line and through the checkpoint as if we were brad and angelina! with that michael and i had a plan. he ran to get the rental car 5 mins away and i went out w. the dog crates and luggage to wait. the older man (can’t remember his name-working on that!) stayed with me for a bit which i enjoyed the conversation. i was able to break down the dog crates, stack up the luggage, let brady do his thing and we were ready when michael pulled up. everything loaded just fine into the toyota rave, nice rental car and we were off.

had a tico trying to get us to stay at a hotel, but the vibe didn’t feel right and michael followed his instincts to do our own thing. amazing how much he remembered from one trip here, he was able to get us all around as we went looking for a dog friendly hotel...not easy! finally found an open spot where the dogs could be outside and the breakfast was ready for us in the morning.

day 2- loaded up in the car, the fearsome foursome in costa rica. got a bit turned around, yet once again michael pulled through and got us to the ferry. quite hot waiting, however luckily we learned of a ferry heading to a different spot but left right away. we jumped on it to avoid the heavy breathing of brady and the excitement of coleman. ended up being able to be by the car w/ the dogs, a nice breeze the whole way and other owners w/ dogs aboard...so no problems. in fact coleman had more of an issue as brady just slept to the sound of the big motor. drove right off the ferry to dirt roads through the rainforest. michael looked like a kid on a big wheel for the first time...loving it! passed through random small towns, making observations and letting reality slowly sink in. montezuma got closer and closer, the next thing i knew we were pulling into donatella’s house and having coffee w/ her and her mother. such nice ladies, they made us feel right at home. headed down to our house about 2K away. donatella got us situated and then left. all of the sudden we were here. i had no idea as to really where i was and just looked at michael “what are we doing?” concern was his first reaction, and then he realized i just needed to understand my surroundings and really where we were. unpacked a few bags, moved somethings around, and then went exploring in the rental. hit up the grocery- Mega Super- got our first round of groceries. spent about 15 minutes trying to find salt then realized it comes in a bag in chunks!? then took the bumpy hilly ride to Mal Pais/Santa Teresa (main surf spot) and had dinner at our friend Kevin’s bar which came as a complete surprise to him. he said “you guys are crazy!” “but that’s what it takes to live here” Retrieved the first big black bag i sent down w/ michael before (another large and heavy one) and headed home. on the drive we went from being excited about our isolated little spot to wondering if we’d rather be around more gringos (americans). taking in so much in one day we were filled w/ thoughts, concerns, worries, and excitements.

day three- woke early to birds and monkeys...around 6am. cooked up some eggs, toast and coffee and began to prepare for the first day of school. michael dropped me off at school and went for his first surf session on his new board-amazing! i met all the children and parents as well as Valentina (form italy) and Angie (from Columbia) whom work w/ me. Hence I’m the only one who speaks English. the day went well. the kids opened up to me and the gals i work w/ are nice. Michael picked me up from school at 12:30, had a cold beer and a fish taco waiting for me after my first day. i did feel overwhelmed. the girls are 19 and 20, but i felt 12 not being able to communicate completely. again the mind games started “can i do this?” we then ran into town and exchanged the fan we had bought yesterday ($45!!! probably should have brought the $15 one from walmart!? oh well) found where to get propane, looked for a mirror (not one in the house), and headed off for a drive since we had to return the rental car at 5pm.

once we realized 5pm was approaching we started to get nervous. what can we do w/ out a car? michael wanted to rent it for another day, however then we realized we have to let go sometime, and we’d rather rent when we had a full day to explore. headed up the hill for gas-the station was out. had to go to the next town, then decided to return the car the other closest village. settled up and hit the street to catch the bus back home.

once aboard the bus we road in silence yet feeling closer than ever. the bus dropped us off right in front of our house, and our nerves were eased quickly. began to cook dinner, lit the candles, opened up a bottle of vino, and realized just how lucky we are!!

day 4- woke again to the natural alarm, drank some coffee and left the house around 8am to begin the hike to Mundolindo. came to realize it was not a bad walk and really enjoy it as a part of the morning routine. not having the car was actually making everything seem more real and not so difficult. letting go of what you know is hard, but then feels so rewarding. day went well, meeting more parents and learning from their experiences. got a ride home from our “neighbor” and michael was there w/ all the windows open and reggae playing. made some yummy tuna salad wraps and began the hike down to montezuma and the beach (just 10min walk to town). hiked to cobuyo to the tidal pools and found a beautiful spot to just relax. sitting there w/ the most beautiful coast line, my husband, and no where to be....i’d say it felt like a honeymoon beyond my dreams. explored a bit more of the dirt road to cobuyo, then decided to head home and enjoy michael’s veggie soup for dinner. our little porch is so inviting and is right off the kitchen, so cooking and relaxing come easily. still figuring out the bug thing...wish i would have packed all the OFF sprays, and the extra citronella candles from the weddding but oh well.

day 5- friday at school! kids were crazy just like i remember...crying,hitting, and just ready for a break from each other. not a lot of structure in the school and wondering when i can grab the wheel or shall i just watch and learn. quite interesting, but also realize what a great business this could be.

got another ride home and surprised to see michael --he had hiked and hitched hiked to mal pais. after a 7 mile adventure of walking, surfing and finding rides w/ a board he was sun burnt and yet smiling! we refueled and took coleman down to the beach for a swim. the dog is as happy as a pig in mud. laid on the beach for a bit, hit up a cafe to use the internet however after paying $4 for lemonade and $2 for coffee w/ no refill we got ran off. quickly realized internet may be the thing we miss most!!

grabbed a bottle of red wine for our nightly routine and headed home.. we are realizing this may not be nightly since the cheapest bottle is $7...and it’s not a big one :)

cooked up another amazing meal and found ourselves asleep by 8:30pm. about 2 hours later we awoke to the biggest/loudest rain storm i have ever been through!! lightening, thunder and POURING down rain. after about an hour i realized our newly planted seeds were outside trying to make it through. michael to the rescue he ran and grabbed what was left of our small pots and soil to try and save our sprouting garden.

day 6- woke at 5:30am, excited to have the day off school. still drizzling so thought i’d write a weeks journal to share w/ everyone. it has been a whirl wind. like our ceremony- it takes a storm for the rainbow to appear. we had some unsettled feeling the first two days, but each moment we feel more alive and more inspired.

the bug bites are itching like crazy, and i think we’d make our million if we started a screen business down here!!!!!

the natural surroundings, clear air, dirt roads, and early mornings make everything alive. each morning brings about more unknown and more to learn. michael has gotten passed “being embarrassed” since he has no choice but to smile and try to understand or be understood.

both reading inspirational books and enjoying spending such close time together.

heading out to the saturday organic market shortly.

** notes to self****

*mountain bike would be amazing here- and perfect transportation. they are so expensive here and not worth a $!? tell friends to keep an eye out for one.

*another fan when we return-or a stock pile to sell or give away since they are triple the price here.

*more candles!!!!!!! bug spray?! thea’s idea of cortizon in bug spray- another million $ idea!! and i need it now!?

*recipes on making bread and more things from scratch

*don’t let anyone tell you what your 16 old dog can and can’t do....his spirit is too strong!

un adventuro en aprendiendo (not sure this is how you say it....still working on the spanish thing!?)

the planning, packing, dreaming, and traveling can never measure up to the minute of solitude and contentment that you finally reach. after many deep breaths and a thousand mind games which consume you for days you come to realize the simple pleasure of “being”. the pleasure becomes such a strong reality that you begin to wonder--- have i ever really felt this alive...this awake?

amazing that things and conveniences can make you feel so isolated when surrounded by an abundant amount of pure naturaleza. first your mind asks- where am i? how do i get? what is there to think? do? understand? what about?

as the bags are unpacked, the rental car is returned, the airline tickets are recycled, the passport is stored away, and the dogs are calm------ home is home.

the walk to school awakens a new spirit of breath. time to just walk and be, yet anxiety scared the mind just yesterday. the battle of what is known versus what is new each day have been stronger than anything.

as the children arrive i realize how a smile is truly the one language. the trust that is formed in merely a day shows that each of us have the ability to feel another human being, whether talking or not. quite a shame that as the years pass we cannot acknowledge that an ora is stronger than we may know.

yet that is the true beauty...a child can easily show you just how much you don’t know. so i learn as much as i teach. beyond language the personalities and inner spirits are so strong in each child. with so little going on around me i’m able to look deeper into the potential for each child and gain something personally from it.

afternoon comes just when “as a child” i’m ready for the next thing.

a bite to eat, then a hike down a hill and once again nothing that is known is going to happen. each corner excites a new idea. another turn then shows how so many live off nothing yet the land. i find it hard not to stare, feel concern, then envy, then i contemplate on how it is possible to set yourself in a new dimension.

sun retires early and enhances an evening with long preparations to a fine meal by candlelight. vino tinto is like a great yoga class, as the night turns into pure relaxation. the checklists are gone and the creative spirit is souring. the natural surroundings inspire you to see new visions of projects and potential.

and as beautiful a night, your culture still hits you as bugs swarm, rain holds out, and dirt surrounds you, and there is nothing you can do....

a lesson or a learned culture? vamos a ver....