Happy New Year!

I supposed the holidays seem to force me into updating the blog.  Really... get facebook if you would like a more day by day account of my life down here in PuraVidaLand.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

HALLOWEEN IN JACO!

Movie star in Nicaragua

Check this out- it is the video that the hostel in Nicaragua made starring me and my friends!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcRLQSr1xvM

New Format- What do you think

At my friend Gina's 30th birthday party in Playa Coco

Me with my 4th grade class

In Nicaragua during the "paparazzi vacation"

Performing the Elvis Presley Medley dance that I choreographed with my 3rd and 4th graders on cultural day

                                                                  This isn't actually me surfing, but I was out there somewhere      during this sunset in Tamarindo

 With some Argentinians and a German I met in my hostel went I went surfing on my own for a weekend: the nice thing about travelling here is you always meet nice people, no matter where you go!  And they are often from all over the world!

Hola!

Ok, so again sorry for not writing more often and posting more photos. I am going to try and write more, but the photo posting process just takes way too long, and I cant seem to figure out how to align the captions with the photos. Perhaps there is a better blog page out there... anyhow, if you would like to see more photos, I post them on facebook a lot- if my parents can manage to use facebook, I'm pretty sure you can too! (sorry juanita y gordo, but its true...) I have been busy teaching, really having fun with it. I am choreographing an Elvis medley dance for cultural day for this friday with my 3rd and 4th graders... should be very fun!

Still trying to practice surfing as much as possible as well. Got to see some turtles laying eggs a awhile back, have gone snorkeling, lots of beaches, saw a whale jumping out of the water, talked to monkeys... yadadayada. I also go mountain biking a couple mornings a week with my friend and neighbor amy... its hard waking up at 4:30 to go, but definitely worth it, or "vale la pena" as we would say in Spanish. Now we are training for a trek near the Arenal Volcano that is in two weeks- we will be doing the recreational route, so it should be fun! And I will finally get to see Arenal!

My Spanish seems to be at a standstill-- I can understand a lot, converse a little, all my classes at the gym are in Spanish, but would still like to improve a lot... its difficult when I am speaking English all day long! But the kids do teach me a little bit, as their vocabulary words in English class often need to be translated because they are very difficult. Okay I am going to post some random photos from turtles to kids now, bear with me as the caption thing is difficult! Hope if you are reading this you are well, and planning a visit to come see me soon (mom, dad, earl, peggy, laura and devon are coming for Christmas- HOORAY!)

Pictures are from Children's Day at Teocali (this is actually a national holiday, when we play games all day in school... and dance to reggaeton of course) and mama turtles laying eggs at Playa Ostional... I went with my friends Gina (a Tica) and Sarah- it was quite a drive, but well worth it to be laying on the beach next to the turtles digging and laying eggs! They are going to be hatching soon, hopefully I will make it back for that!