El Vólcan Poás

We went to the Poás Volcano National Park on Sunday. On top, where the crater is located, is a lake called "Laguna Caliente" and is one of the most acidic lakes in the world--depending on volcanic activity and rain it can reach a pH of about 0. The last time Poás erupted was in 2011, it caused serious damage in 2009, and it is considered to be an active volcano (glad I didn't look up these things beforehand). After a short hike you can reach an inactive crater, called "Las Botas." There is now a big lake in the crater of a volcano that hasn't erupted since around 7500 BC. The entire park is located in a cloud forest because it's so high up and was a wee bit chilly. I had to do a 20 minute presentation last week in class about Costa Rica's geography, people, and culture (ugh) so it was cool to get to see some of the stuff I learned in person :) The park was really amazing to see, especially the active volcano and walks through the forest. Finished my grammar class today, then we played games and had the best little cake thing I have ever had and I'm totes going to attempt to make it when I get home, look out kitchen!

Nos vemos :) Nicole

Los Niños

Last Wednesday we went to what we thought was an orphanage but might have been a day care center, but we never really found out because as soon as we got there there were about 40-50 kids that wanted our attention! There was also a room  full of toddlers and babies. Regardless of whatever the situation was in the center, those kids only had about 1 supervisor per 20 kids and definitely enjoyed having people there to play with them. Javier loved the experience and, since he is moving his family to San Jose to do the NAU program here, is considering starting an English class for the kids by forming a partnership with NAU students who are interested while they're living here. Pictures below :)

In other news I finished my difficult grammar class on Friday!!!! My final is on Monday and on Tuesday I will start Avanzada II which luckily I get to take over four weeks instead of two. Tomorrow we're going to a volcano!

I hope all is well at home, missing people much!
Con afecto,
Nicole

 Someone needs to reteach me how to hold a baby^^ haha

El Plato

Today I had to make some imporant decisions about money. We found out yesterday that the trips we're going to take are going to be a lot more expensive than we thought, though less expensive options are still being looked into. I've been putting myself on a really strict budget because I had a lot of unexpected expenses towards the end of the Spring semester, and I will have more when I get back. There was a certain amount in my savings account I didn't want to go under, but I have changed my mind. I'm here and I knew it would be expensive to come here, but I'm not going to burden myself with the preocupation of money (does that even make sense? I don't even know how to speak English anymore). I don't deserve the financial help I've received from my parents, nor my uncle who saw a couple posts ago when I mentioned I was running short on cash (THANK YOU MOM AND DAD AND UNCLE ROG!!!). But after budgeting everything out and doing some math, I've decided to not worry as much about the money I'm spending because it's only causing me stress while I'm here. I have always believed that  there is a lot more to experiencing and enjoying life than counting pennies, and now I need to practice that. Not saying I'm going to go crazy and spend my savings account! I'm just not going to be as stringent. The money is too pretty to not have in my wallet :)

Pura Vida: literally means Pura = pure and vida = life, but "Pure life" in Spanish would be "Vida pura" instead, so the real meaning is closer to "plenty of life", "full of life", "this is living!", "going great", "real living", or "cool!" It can be used both as a greeting and a farewell, to express satisfaction, to politely express indifference when describing something or even to say "thank you". The phrase has become widely known; this highly flexible statement has been used by many Costa Ricans, and expatriates, since 1956 (Wikipedia)

Puerto Viejo :)

So we left Friday and returned today from Puerto Viejo, which is a beach town on the opposite/Caribbean side of the country, very close to Panama. This trip included some of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen, my photos won't do nature her justice. We went snorkeling and went on a walk through a national park. There were 2 sharks in the areas we snorkled!!! One was a Nurse shark (yay!) and I didn't catch the type of the other one. There were also sooo many beautiful fish and coral and the water was so clear. In the national park we saw a lot of different animals, includng monkeys that came right over our heads to say hello. After we did all that we went and saw how the indigenous Costa Ricans used to make different products out of Cocoa, most importantly chocolate :) It was a great demonstration. We had really great food all weekend, including "Beans and Rice" which is different than frijoles y arroz because the Caribbean Costa Ricans cook what they call "beans and rice" with coconut milk, so it sweetens the meal. At night we practiced what little salsa and meringue dancing skills we have at the salsa bar next to our hotel, also so fun!! Personally, I think  most Americans don't dance enough!  It was an amazing weekend and I couldn't help but feel thankful the whole time :)

Pura vida!!!

Nicole

Bananas:

 Our hotel:

 Heading to snorkel:

 

Un Mono:

 Iguana:

 Yucky bug pretty color:

 Beach we went to today:

 The inside of these flowers is used to make dye:

 Lizard:

 Pretty flowers:

 Sloth!:

Learning about Cocoa:

 Grilled fish with fried platanos:

 La Playa :)

Me voy

I have approximately 3 minutes to make this post. Breakfast is being served!

This week was really rough homework wise, I was up really late every night and up early in the morning; and I thought nursing school was hard! (just a joke, nursing school definitely beats Spanish school) I am already running low on the cash I brought and I have no idea how that happened. I think I am missing some that I had put it my luggage. I'm sure mom and dad lovvvvvve to hear that. Last night we went to Tropical Dance class, it was so much fun :) and today, because I crammed all that info in my cerebro the last 4 days, my teacher and I are going to El Museo de los Niños!! It's supposed to be really fun and I'm prettty much una niña myself so it should be perfecto.

Also today we are leaving for Puerto Viejo, the Caribbean beach, for the next 3 days. I am SOOOOOOOO excited!! This will be my first chance to relax and really have fun since the semester ended since everything for the last month has been so back to back to back. Expect muchas fotos when I get back:)

Cuidate! Con sinceridad,
Nicole

Que chuzo!

I have learned a few things in my first days here in Costa Rica:
1. I know more Spanish than I give myself credit for
2. There are a lot of insects here, big ones
3. I really do fit into Latin American culture, everything is typically 20-40mins behind schedule
4. Cars don't stop for pedestrians here, ever. In fact, I think they speed up.

Classes are going really well. I have grammar in the morning for the next two weeks. It is a four week class and I'm taking it in two which means mucho homework. In the afternoons on Tues and Thurs I have class with our director, Javier (also by myself). It is a class on Mexican film and comparisons of cultures (American, Mexican, and Costa Rican). It's a fantastic class so far! It's nice having a Spanish class that doesn't only focus on how to say things, but rather what you're actually saying.

Yesterday we went to downtown San Jose. Aqui estan algunas fotos.
Con afecto,
Nicole

The view when I woke up on the plane:

 Mi cuarto:

 My walk to school:

 In a park in downtown, San Jose:

 We went to El Museo de Jade:

El Primer Dia

I am here!! It is so beautiful and green :) and my host parents are extremely kind. They are young, in their 30s I'm assuming, and have no children except for the husband's daughter from a previous marriage. She is the same age as my sister and stopped by today. They do, however, have two dogs, a cat, a canary, a fish tank, and a turtle! :) I also have two housemates from Montana, but we all have our own rooms. I arrived to the San Juan International airport at 6am and was picked up by one of the instructors from the school. I unpacked, showered, and then had to go to orientation at the school from 9am-1pm. After that I slept til 5:30 haha.The walk to school from my house is only about 8 minutes, definititely different than Mexico!

It's a little difficult right now because as I take everything in, I compare it to my last trip, which was so amazing and taught me so much. I don't want either experience to seem better because they're both going to be significantly different and special. I am excited to get used to a different life here :)

Class is going to be five days/week 8am-12pm. I will be one-on-one with a professor for the first two weeks reviewing and learning extra grammar; I should finish that class in that time and then I'll move into a higher level for the remaining four weeks. I will also have an extra class a couple days/week with my director. We are plannng all our excursions tomorrow; keeping my fingers crossed for a trip to the Carribbean beach!! I can't find my camera cord :( and my computer doesn't always read my card. So no fotos yet. Espero que ustedes esten bien! I will write again, soon.

--Nicole

Aeropuerto

I LOVE that feeling of walking through the airport with your luggage and passport in hand! It means adventure is near :)

I'm in the Denver airport awaiting my flight to San Jose, Costa Rica. I will be there for 6 weeks to complete my minor in Spanish. I was lucky enough last year to work with the same director who is running this program. He has been more than kind extending [every single] due date and is allowing me to take a 3rd class while I'm there. It's going to be a lot of work, but it's also going to be an amazing experience and I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to study abroad again, even if it's going to completely dwindle my bank accounts. But on that note, I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. -Mark Twain

Por favor stay safe while I am away!
Con afecto,
Nicole

PS: My previous blog was about 50x cooler and had forecast and a clock and all sorts of stuff. I don't remember how to do html codes so if someone wants to help me, please let me know!