Readjustment

I have now been home for about a week.  The adjustment has been hectic and strange.  I have never been away from my home for more than 10 days so returning after a long journey has been a new experience.  I feel I spent just enough time in Costa Rica to get adjusted to living there and then was ripped away to come back home.  I enjoy being home and being around the people I love, but I miss Costa Rica and the way of life there terribly.  I have made a plan to return.  Not only for a vacation to visit, but to move permanently.  I will eventually earn my special education teaching license and from there I plan to move to Costa Rica with a friend of mine who works with special needs children and open up a school there with the focus of Special Education.  I hope for this to happen in the next 2-3 years.  I made connections with people there who will of course be willing to help me obtain the information for start up.  Now I just have to pick the place, and get the ball rolling.  I'm excited for this new adventure and hope to bring all the information from here to the people of Costa Rica.  I've been working on my presentation for my inquiry project and have found it is a GIANT MONSTER of a topic.  Happiness can be looked at from all different angles!! I will post my presentation for all to see when I have it completed and after I have presented it!! PURA VIDA!!!

Seems like just yesterday...6/2/12

The goodbye with my family broke my heart.  I told my mama tica I was going to cry and she said, "Why?" and I told her that it was because I didn't want to go, and she tells me that I shouldn't cry because I will be back!  I love her and the family so much...I plan on keeping in touch and I will be back to see her.  We drove the 4 hours to downtown San Jose to see the town, do some shopping.  We went to the Theater and it was BEAUTIFUL!!! I am so glad we got a chance to see this sight.  Javier (our guide) is such an intelligent individual and knows so much about the sights we see.  He slowly took us through the theater and explained the small details and the back stories.  I could have sat in that theater all day!! We then went to a market and shopped and ate.  It was so fun to see the different things the people made and were selling.  I got to see a man painting on some wood pieces that will be sold later that day.  The paintings were small and intricate it amazed me!! I bought a few of my souvenirs there and cannot wait to give them to my family.  I'm dreading leaving in the morning...although the information, memories, and people will never leave my heart or mind.  I started out this trip extremely nervous, anxious and unsure and now leave it upbeat, more relaxed, and warm of heart.  I will see this trip off with a tip of my hat, and an Hasta Luego.  This was the most amazing experience of my life...UNFORGETTABLE! I thank UNC-Wilmington for giving me the opportunity.

Coming to a close 6/1/12

Between the classroom visits, the service project and the fun zip lining activity...I'm in complete awe of all that we have done this week.  We visited the Montessori school in Monteverdia, Central Educational Creativa.  I enjoyed the campus, our guide JP was adorable.  He actually was considered a student ambassador, and took a class in order to be able to be our guide around the school.  He did a great job giving us information on the school, how it was set up, when it was set up, the changes that have occurred etc.  I enjoyed the school, but I don't feel it would be a good fit for me as a teacher.  I enjoy students learning on their own, and I am all for teachers having more control over what they teach, but I am special education and I feel the students need more of a structured environment.  We also went and did a service project.  I LOVED THIS!! We spent time on a farm fertilizing plants, learning from Guillermo a lot about the plants and how they grow and what they are used for and also how to be sustainable.  We also planted some apple and mango trees.  I wish we could have done more of this, but time didn't permit it.  We also went zipling!! I LOVE zip lining.  I had done it before, and was so excited.  Seeing the view from up above is just a lovely experience.  I am not ready to leave this beautiful country, but I am definitely going to be back.  I have interviewed some people, and have been looking at prices for housing, and of course for groceries to see how this could contribute to the level of happiness in the homes.  I'm so ready to see where this inquiry project will take me, and I truly believe it will assist me in my ultimate decision to move to the country either permanently, or just for a few years. I leave my family in the morning, and I have already teared up.  My mama tica has invited me to come back and live with them for a year, and also to come spend Christmas with them.  She said I can stay as long as I want.  I checked into changing my flight to the following Sunday, but it was a little expensive for me.  Darn!! haha...

Going too fast! 5/30/12

This weekend was AMAZING. I'm upset that we only had one day at Arenal, but to visit a hot spring resort that has a BEAUTIFUL view of the volcano is something I will NEVER forget. There has been so many activities that this trip will be something I will never forget. I have been journaling every night in order to not forget anything. I have spent a great 2 weeks here and cannot believe we are down to the final stretch!! I'm not ready. I have not met one single angry person here...I can understand why, it's too beautiful a country, culture and people!! I have decided to try to research what the average cost of living is here, and what the annual salary is. I think this will be interesting for my inquiry project regarding happiness. I also want to look into what the average spent amount per household is. I think this will add to my happiness scale. It has been eye opening to see how the shops don't really have much STUFF in them, basic necessities. I have been watching the household items bought, and also what the household has inside. They really don't have much so I'm believing the happiness "calculator" has something to do with it!! I know that I will be very sad to leave, but you know you are enjoyed at the house because my mama tica has told me that I am welcome to back. When I told her I would definitely be coming back, she asked when and I said as soon as possible. She said I better come visit!! I really love this place and how welcoming they are. I am ready to see what the rest of the week has in store. I will be extremely sad to leave.