In the mountains of Costa Rica

Hey guys!

I´m here safe in Costa Rica. I appreciate so much all the comments and emails. This experience so far has been very exciting and it is going really well. So far, everything has been well beyond my expectations. I was preparing for the worst, but everything has been good. I know that all the prayers being sent my way are helping so much. I can´t really explain it but I know that God is looking out for me. I can´t express how grateful I am for all your support, prayers, and friendship.

I know lots of you have sent me emails. Unfortunately, the internet here is very slow. Also, there is no internet in my current town. Right now I´m in the next town over where they have an internet café, but the internet is very slow—I´ve been here 45 minutes already and because it takes about 5 minutes for any given page to load, and many pages don´t even load. So, I will not be in this town with internet (Acosta) very often, and when I am, it would be nearly impossible to send out individual emails.

Because of this, I would love to keep in contact through regular (snail) mail. This seems the best option at this point. Some have asked for my address here—it is in my first post in June—so check there so we can start writing! I´m looking forward to keeping in contact through regular mail—how often do we get to do that anymore?

I was in the mountains sort of near San Jose from Wednesday through Sunday. We were in a hotel going through orientation. On Sunday, we all moved to different communities with our host families. I am in a town called Vuelta de Jorco. I think there´s anywhere between 500-1000 people there. I really like the town a lot.

I live in a house off of a dirt road with a lady in her 60s or 70s. Although it´s just me and her in the house, the two houses below us (we´re on the side of a mountain) are her kids and their kids. So her grandkids are over a lot and I really like them. Yesterday we played soccer and today, all us gringos are meeting up after we´re done with the internet to play a good old 4th of July soccer game. Happy 4th of July! It´s crazy to be spending my first holiday away from everyone. I can picture everyone in Ralston at the parade having fun. I wish I was there! I know you guys are having fun.

The days are pretty intense here. Yesterday I woke up at 5:30, took the bus for over an hour to a town for more training, and didn’t get back to Vuelta de Jorco until 7pm. But, it´s worth it. I am meeting a lot of people in my town and they are all so nice. The other volunteers are super nice too and we all have so much in common.

Wow the view from my bedroom window is amazing. I am near the top of the mountain and so I can see really far. Many times I am above the clouds and can see them hovering over the mountains in the distance. The mountains here aren´t like Colorado where there are rocks and snow. The mountains here are covered in lush green vegetation. These computers are ridiculous, but sometime I´ll try to put some pictures up, but who knows if I´ll be able to.

Let me be quite honest—this internet/computer is pissing me off! Letters will make me much happier, although I´ll try to update this blog from time to time also.

Anyways, I´ll be here until September 14. That day, we swear in to be official Peace Corps volunteers and then we move again to a smaller community for 2 years. For now, I´m in some intense training—but the training is awesome. They call it NFE-non formal education. For example, this morning for class (its just another day here—not a holiday!) one of my assignments was to walk around the town and ask about their families. We were learning vocab on how to describe people—faces, hair, jobs, etc. and then we got an hour to go talk to people about it so that was really cool. I´m so glad I don´t have to sit in a classroom all day. They do lots of fun activities like that for class and training, so it couldnt be a better blessing for me and how I learn best. They are really focusing on relationships here, both in class and in our communties--that is our focus! Ït´s such a blessing that Peace Corps does that.

I could go on all day. I have so much to tell and talk about and I can´t wait to hear from you guys. Again, the way to send me letters is on my first post. Also, my phone number until September 14 is 410-0390. They don’t have area codes here, but the country code is 506. My host mom doesn’t speak English but just say my name or something and wait to see if she goes and gets me…that is if anyone wants to try calling!