Some Kind of Wonderful

On Friday morning, we got up early and took a bus to the BEAUTIFUL country of Panama.  We got over the border no problemo, and took a taxi and then a water taxi to the grouping of islands known as Bocas del Toro.  I strongly recommend this as a vacation spot.  It is magical and cheap and like a magazine with its glorious beauty. Anyway, so we checked into a hostel, changed, took a water taxi to another one of the islands, and had a whole huge stretch of beach all to ourselves.  The water there is radiant with greens and blues, and the water is so clear, it almost brought tears of admiration to my eyes.  We walked around, ate, and wished we could stay for at least a few more days.

The next morning, we journeyed back to Costa Rica.  We got on a bus that took us to the border of Panama, and then drove across the border bridge to meet us on the CR side.  We got stamped out of Panama with no issues.  Amy and Brandon both got stamped back into CR.  Shawnté and I, however, did not.  We did not have proof of our exit of CR, and the border policía were NOT about to let two gringas back in their country.  So, we went to a local shop that ripped us off to use their internet to print out our itineraries of our return flight.  Finally, after $3, two minutes, and a stressed, sweaty me got it printed, we walk back over to customs.  Brandon warns us the bus is about to leave, so we need to HURRY.

So, us two gringas RUN back, finally get our approval to rejoin the millions of tourists in Costa Rica, and precede to realize that the bus could realistically leave us there at the border; taking our possessions and Brandon and Amy with it.  

So we sprint.  From customs, down this ridiculous bridge, past vendors who I’m sure were thinking “What are these American imbeciles doing!?”  As our speed picked up even more as we hustled down a hill, we breathlessly made it to our bus.  We then erupted into laughter as we realized that we almost became illegal visitors to our new home country, got left by a bus, and made a full-on Thelma and Louise escape from Panama.  (Minus the guns, bank robbing, and awesome hair) No big deal.

Bocas Del Toro, Panama

This is maybe an understatement of the true beauty that I got to see yesterday.  We traveled to Panama for the night, and spent a day on a beach by ourselves, snorkeled, and then ate over the water.  God’s beauty knows no bounds!

Me, in regards to being officially stamped out of Costa Rica and walking across the bridge to Panama.  We were in no man’s land!

Let me start this by saying it’s not going to be a very long or in depth update.  I wrote a huge long thing with all sorts of details, but it got deleted when I was in the jungle.  Here’s a short recap of my last week:

We got off the plane and through customs no problem.  We didn’t see much of San Jose as we hopped on a bus and headed to Cahuita, a small little beach/tourist town where my friends Chris and Jenn Savage live.  We stayed with them in their little jungle home, and I slept in the hammock on the porch.  I got to be serenaded at night by God’s creations - bull frogs, howler monkeys, crickets, and lots more critters that I’m not sure if I want to know about!  It was hot and humid and that is an understatement!  We swam in the ocean almost every day and the water was SO WARM AND WONDERFUL!!!  I love just standing out and jumping into the huge waves!  

We traveled to Limon one day with Chris and Jenn to the school where they are volunteering.  They are teaching English and Science to first, second, and sixth graders.  I got to work one on one with a little boy name Shiwei (She-y) and he was the bomb!  When we played Bingo he would say “I don’t habit” instead of I don’t have it, and he stole my heart.  I taught him how to explode after pound it and he thought it was so great!

I’ve been drinking the water (gasp!) and it’s been just fine!  Delicious actually!  I’ve also been trying out a ton of local fare, and been loving it! Some of my favorites include patacones - fried, smashed plantains, pati - a pastry with meat and cheese filling, and gallo pinto -traditional Tico (costa rican citizen) breakfast consisting of rice and beans (mine doesn’t have beans because I’m allergic) and then put in a tortilla with some Sour cream.  YUM!

On Wednesday, we ventured to another beach town called Puerto Viejo after visiting and swimming in some waterfalls.  After walking around, I smacked down a fresh coconut for us to enjoy!  How cool is that!?  I gathered my own tropical fruit!?  We went snorkeling and I saw all sorts of great things.  Chris pointed out all sorts of things.  I’ve decided snorkeling with a marine biologist is really the only way to go.  We saw squid, all sorts of fish and even a huge sting ray!

That’s just a bit of my first week.  More stories will come, but I thought an update would be nice!  I’m safely back in San Jose and moved into my host home!  It’s a huge blessing! I’ll post pics later!  

COSTA RICAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here’s the crew on our first flight!  Clockwise from front left is me, Shawnté (who was my roommate last year and will be again this year), Brandon, and Amy.  We’re currently in the Houston airport, in the President’s lounge, thanks to Brandon’s awesome connected mom!  I just took advantage of the shower facilities, so I am super clean, and don’t even have to wash my towels after I use them!  We’re having fun but are all super tired.  Shawnté and I talked the whole flight and are feeling the effects of that.  Brandon and Amy slept most of the way and are still super tired.  It’s going to be a long, interesting day.  

We’re about to pack a light snack for the remaining flight from our complementary breakfast, and fill up our water bottles!  COSTA RICA HERE WE COME (in 3 hours!!!!)

• The national slogan is ¡Pura Vida! or Pure life!
• The capital city is San Jose.  The population is 365,799 people.  I will be living here while attending Veritas University
• It is a presidential representative democratic system with multi-party involvement: aka, much like the USA.
• Costa Rica falls under the Central Time Zone
• It is 19575 square miles.  Compared to the USA’s 3,794,101 square miles, and about 4000 square miles smaller than West Virginia.
• The country’s population is just over 3 million people
• 50,000 colones (CR currency) equals about $100 US
• The locals are called Ticos
• Agriculture, medical tourism, and technology are three huge money makers for Costa Rica
• I will be there in less than 70 hours
• Roman Catholicism is the state religion
• The cuisine is influenced by indigenous, Spanish, and African foods.  It is simple and tasty and not to spicy.  And NO PEANUTS!

In 4 days, I will be in Costa Rica.  By this time on Friday, I will be hanging out on the coast in a small town called Puerto Viejo.  After a week spent adventuring around there, I will relocate to the capital city of San Jose.  There I will be studying at Veritas University and doing a social work internship with inner city kids.  I have speculation of my responsibilities, but I’ll get there before I say anything.  

I’m so excited for this journey!  With all of the emotions that are moving out of the country for three months, I’m starting to be overwhelmingly pumped! I’ll keep you all posted with stories and pictures!