Banana Azul

Puerto Viejo

The Team at Maximo Nivel

Natalie, Giovanna

Mision Consuelo

Mi Professoro

Teddy

Mision Consuelo

Juan and Nori at work

The Highs and Lows of San Jose..

It´s definitely been a rollercoaster of emotions this week...when at times we were reduced to tears and other times we were laughing so hard our stomachs hurt..

so here´s a snapshot of the lows and highs of the week..

Seeing an 80 year old patient with bed sores so deep you can see her muscle. She was in this state for 4 months, not being able to express her emotions and just taking paracetamol for pain...

Meeting a 60 year old lady who complained of her husband beating her for the past 4 years after his stroke....

To see a sufferer of Wilsons Disease involving his cerebral function and eye sight. Bound to the bed and just listening to the sounds around him.

but the definite highs were ...

enjoying mouth watering pineapple every morning for breakfast..
getting soaked in the tropical storm every afternoon..
laughing so hard at each other´s attempts at learning spanish..
charity work which included a visit to the hairdresser for Juan the pastor.. ?!!?
Hugs and kisses from patients when we leave...because for that one moment ..they may have forgotten all their troubles...
listening to latino music on the bus to work..
the swealtering sun on your back as you walk to work....

so heres to another week in amazing Costa Rica..

as the great philosophers say..
wherever you are now..is where you are meant to be....including paradise..heheheh

p.s off to Puerto Viejo...on the Carribean coast for a long weekend...
pps..staying at Banana Azul....

.....just a few more shots..

...can you see the mountains in the background??

Maximo Nivel

..Heidy at the school..

Snapshots of San Jose..

La Casa de la Familia Tico

...the house of the Cubillo family..

Some more shots...

Manuel Antonia

Manuel Antonio

LIfe in San Jose

I hope I have as much energy and zest for life as our house mate, Bill, when I reach 70. He is a New Zealander with an American accent, a very close resemblance to Robinson Crusoe, still travelling the world, having just completed the TEFL course and about to go sailing in Guatemala with friends.

I don´t know how he does it to have that enthusiasm for learning and life, enjoying every moment and hungry for more.

Don´t get me wrong, he has a healthy past of working as an engineer in the Oil industry and a few wives dotted around the globe...hehehe..by the way...he is the one that sings at 3 in the morning and...sleep talks..

Is it all making sense to you??...it is for me...heheheheh..

What an inspiration....

We have met people from all backgrounds...cultures..and ages..studying to teach english as a foreign language, a path to enjoy travel for free, experience different cultures and traditions..or volunteering..

It´s an amazing and enlightening experience...and I´m now hungry for more....heheheh..

We live in a district called Santa Marta which is next to San Pedro , where the school is located. However, we take a bus all the way to San Jose, which is about 15mins for work. It costs just 20 p for one journey!!

We volunteer in the morning...return to school to eat the packed lunch Marita has prepared for us...ahhh..so sweet...and start our Spanish classes at 2 till 4 pm.

By the way...I´m glad to say we have found Salsa classes...right here at the school on Fridays...Amy has stopped having palpitations..and can breathe again..hehehe..

In the evenings, we either meet students/teachers in San Pedro or just chill with the family. Ronald and Marita are so patient with our Spanish!!

Will keep you posted on any further marriage proposals....
hehehehe

Maximo Nivel

So I guess people are wondering where we have our Spanish classes...and how its all linked with the volunteer work..huh?

Maximo Nivel was started by Ken Jones, an American, who has several branches in Peru, the States and Costa Rica.

It´s actually a school where you can study TEFL ( teach English as a Foreign Language), Spanish and they also help place volunteers in various volunteer projects; orphanges, working with children, medical placements as well as wildlife conservation. They work with Global Crossroads ( Worldwide Volunteer organisation), hence the link.

It´s a fantastic school to be attached to as it becomes your family.They will help you with anything from orientation with work, buying bus tickets, a taxi service and booking hotels!!

Our family is Heidy ( 31) from Cuzco, Peru; Giovanna ( 31) from Lima, Peru ( also married to Ken Jones) and Giovanni ( from Costa Rica ). We have also met many American teachers who spend a year in Costa Rica teaching English after completing the TEFL course.

And what a better way to meet other students other than with a welcome barbeque/salsa/free alcohol night last Friday!!!

They sure know how to party and everyone was just so friendly. It must take a certain type of person to want such an experience. Everyone loves travelling and open to meeting new people.

We feel at home and loving every moment of our experience!!!

And just a word of advise...pick the Puerto Rican to dance Salsa with...stay away from the Americans...hehehe... no pueden bailar salsa..no tienen cardera latino...hehe ( they cannot dance salsa..they do not have latino hips)....

Hasta Leugo!!

Manuel Antonio ( Paradise)

...just been to Paradise and back..

very chilled...quite hippy..surfers paradise ..
and for the less active..a great place to just sit on the beach and take in all the amazing scenery.

Trust me... tropical rainforest..stunning white sandy beaches with the pacific ocean at its doorstep.

sorry...did I forget to mention it was paradise....hehehehe..

Just be careful during the journey though as its pretty windy! There were moments when you are actively looking for the toilet :(((

It took us about 3 hours from San Jose. As a result, we decided to make the most of the weekend and leave at 6am. All worth it though:))))

We stayed at Hotel Verde Mar, one of the few hotels in Manuel Antonio which is located right on the beach....ahhhhh.. great deal as it was low season but the tourist prices of the resort did not change ..alas!

Don´t worry will be posting some photos soon!

So it was... breakfast ..on the beach...chilling ..on the beach..followed by dinner ..on the beach... pretty unbelievable...but boy did we need it after the week with Mision Consuela.

Oh..before I leave you...have got to mention the short story about Amy being mistaken for a goddess from the skies by a local..hehehe...yes..have the photos to prove it.. and..oh..did I forget to mention he was around 80...lo siento ( sorry)..
no joven costa rican chico ( young costa rican boy)

Our spanish is improving...but I think he said..will you marry me...and I think Amy said....Si..Si..Si...( yes..yes ..yes ) hehehehe

So we , thats Amy and I, ( no Costa Rican Abuelo ( grandfather)), departed Manuel Antonio in a daze of relaxation...having just had a massage on the beach...well fed ...mojito´d out...ready for another week in San Jose....

El Fin de Semana

So its the end of the week...in San Jose...

Can't quite believe how quickly we've settled into Costa Rican life...we must be latinos at heart...hehehe...

The Spanish is now getting more difficult...and homework has started...ahhhhhhhh..

Not to worry...planning on revising on the beach..con vino( with wine )...it may actually produce better results...heheheheh..

Oh...and ..about the food....it lasted 4 days....and we gave in to a Pizza...or should I say... couldn't tear Amy away from the Pizza place...hehehe..

Off to Manuela Antonio...a beach resort on the Pacific Coast..Check out the website of hotel verde mar....muy muy bonito!!!

The barbeque with fellow volunteers is about to start. Free food and wine for all.
Oh...and a free salsa lesson...yeah...about time to..

At the moment, we are a bit fearful of the local salsa bars. However, Tatiana, our host family's daughter , is happy to come dancing with us next week. Yeah!!!!!!!!!
Getting restless feet!!!

Have a great weekend..
will keep you posted on the weekend events...lots of sunshine..chilling..vino...and photos!!!

Hasta luego!!

Mision Consuela...children of GOD

Day 2 at work and it never ceases to impress me. The work provided by Juan, the pastor, is priceless. He works for free, providing emotional and spiritual support to the poor who are dying.

Amy and I were able to some doctoring and pleased to actually do the consultation in broken Spanish...with alot of animation ..hehehe....

Its emotionally taxing to see the state of poverty ...but enlightening for the soul..

We visited an 18 yr old boy with a brain tumour who was left paraplegic at home with no bed... thanks to Mision Consuela...he has a comfortable place to stay..

We visited an elderly couple who only had old bread for food, living amongst sewage pipes and waste. Juan gave them some money for food.

They welcome us with smiles and are eternally grateful for the little advise or support that we give.

It restores our faith in humanity to see people like Juan working for the poor of San Jose.

Beans..beans...beans..

..response to En Min...
yup...beans for lunch...dinner... and lunch..then dinner..todos los dias ( everyday)

Amy and I are lapping it up and Amy may bring home some just incase she misses it..hehehe...

Yup...the traditional food of Costa Rica...beans and rice with the side order of meat or vegetables. To be honest the food is really tasty and we are not starving to those who are worried...hehe..even Amy has resisted the good ole Pizza..hehehe

as for our Spanish..improving by the minute. Teddy, our Costa Rican Spanish teacher, is fantastic and full of fun..yeah..I guess our Spanish has to improve when the host family doesn't speak any English...

Don't worry.. we are getting fed...watered...and lots of care. The father, Ronald, waited with us till we got on a bus...ahhhh.... Do we look that lost??? Just kidding.
Then he decided to demonstrate how to enter the house when drunk...ehhehe..
amazing how useful animation is!!

There are some parts of San Jose which is dangerous ( muy peligroso ) but its like any other city. We tend to avoid certain areas and always take a taxi back...Don't worry!!

CHARITY WORK

So Amy and I survived our first day at work...as it was only for 3 hours...hehehe..

We were amazed how grateful the team and patients are when we advise or just visit...and believe me...it was basic medical advise!

The poverty was shocking. We visited an 89 yr old lady living alone in a garage without any amenities eg toilet. The odour and hygiene was left to be desired. She refused any help from the hospital or state but was eternally grateful for us being there...and it was only a change of dressing!!

It puts the patients in developed countries to shame with their constant demands!

We are about to have our second spanish lesson with Teddy. Thank God he has a great sense of humour and patience!! Not quite the days of reciting verbs in class.

Hasta Luego!

Day 2 San Jose

....and the next door neighbour who sings at 3 am...also sleep talks....
not to worry...just one more week and he heads to Guatemala City!!!!..
or...or...I'll have to buy some ear plugs!!


Note to Indra....Amy and I followed your Personal Training routine ..yup..
woke up at 7am..headed to the park....25 degrees..sunshine.. and surrounded by lush vegetation and mountains... ahh..paradise..

We have made a deal that we will not get home heavier than we arrived..hehehe..

The Project

Mision Consuela

Its a Christian charity organisation who looks after the terminally ill in the poverty stricken areas. The team involves a Priest, nurse and Psychologist.
The people have been discharged without any form of social support. Hence the team provide emotional support and more importantly we will be advising and helping with their ailments.

I'm sooo excited and its exactly the type of charity work I've always wanted to do.

So we work in the morning and have our Spanish lessons in the afternoon at the School.

There are about 20 volunteers including students learning to teach English. They are mainly from the States and a few from Europe. New Volunteers join every week and stay from 1 week to 3 months.

Our Spanish is improving by the minute especially when few speak English.

Will keep you posted...

COSTA RICA!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
yes...Amy and I did the official jumping up and down with the added screams
when we finally made it to San Jose, Costa Rica!!!!

What a pleasant surprise ....and yes...to all who didn't think we would have
electricity....San Jose is a mini American city...

And just a mental note to myself, lets not pass through the States again!!!
Why do we have to check out and check in again when in transit??
Yes, running around aimlessly looking for the right counter and then made a dash for the plane, only to find it was delayed !!!! Phew!!!

The family are lovely. And thank the lord we revised Spanish on the plane. You really need to know basic spanish to get around from Day 1. Thanks to all those holidays in south america and Spain { knew there was a reason for them !!)

Staying with Marita and Ronald with their 4 children, Tatiana {21} and studying physiotherapy, Diego {19} studying IT, Ronald {16} and Laura {14}.

Amy and I are in an annexe with our own rooms and shared bathroom. Basic but clean.
Unfortunatly we also have a neighbour { fellow volunteer} who sings at 3 am!!!! Will have to change that!!

The house is surrounded by mountains and lush vegetation. It actually reminds me of Malaysia! The scenery is stunning. The weather is a pleasant 21 degrees and the sun is always shining.

Can't quite believe I'm here.

We are just about to have an induction with the Global Crossroads team, meet other volunteers and I think there was a mention of a welcoming party.

p.s everyone loves salsa...I think we will be having alot of fun!!

the journey begins

Last minute packing done....
A few moments of stress ...
But all made better with my new toy..... The next must have
Accesory.... iPod touch..
Taking the pressure away of locating Internet cafes ...
And of course hours of entertainment in airport lounges !!

Will keep you all posted from San jose tomorrow !!!
Can't quite believe the adventure is about to begin!!!!

Hasta luego !