Fall Break

So last Wednesday was the last day of our regular core seminar. We ended with group presentations and I found out today that my group got an A. Also found out I got an 85 on my paper so I was pretty pleased. After class, Jessie, Caroline, Rachel, and I hopped on a bus and headed to La Fortuna, which is a city about 4 hours north that is home to the most active volcano (Volcán Arenal) in Costa Rica. We stayed at a hostel that had a swimming pool which we thoroughly enjoyed during the day when it was blazing hot. Crazy for November, normal for Costa Rica.

Thursday we just hung out at the pool and then it rained so we just played cards and ate peanut butter and banana sandwiches, our lunch for the whole weekend. Later that afternoon other students from our group arrived. We went to the hot springs that night which were so relaxing and fun.

Friday we hiked to a waterfall and played around in the cold water there. Absolutely gorgeous. That afternoon we took a cab to the Observatory lodge which is closest to the volcano. We saw it up close and personal and could even hear the rocks spewing out of the top and watch them tumbling down the mountain. We never saw lava because at night we weren't close enough.

Saturday I hiked about a 2 hour straight incline to Cerro Chato, a lake-filled volcanic crater where I could also see the volcano. Absolutely beautiful. That night we went to a nice restaurant. Sunday we checked out of the hostel and headed back home to San Jose. It was a very nice and relaxing break from our school work.

Today has begun a new schedule. Tuesdays and Thursdays I have language and literature classes and we also go to hear different speakers. We are specifically discussing different marginalized groups like the poor, women, etc. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I am going to be helping at an elementary school. Not sure of all the details, but I will be working with 1-3 graders who have learning disabilities. I think I'll be working with about 4 students in areas of reading and math. Kinda nervous but excited to get into the schools here, too.

So that's what's new in my life. I don't have much time to write or I would elaborate. I realized this weekend how much Costa Rica has changed me. For one, I cannot sleep past 8 am (which is very unusual for me) and I am ready to go to bed at 10 pm. Also, I noticed myself noticing things that previously would not have bothered me. For instance, we went to this one waterfall at a hotel and I noticed signs of deforrestation and it made me so mad. Before this experience, I knew nothing of the fact! Just some thoughts to tell...later!