Hello Hello! Sorry again for the delay on posting. Things are going really well here in beautiful Costa Rica. Sadly the turtles seem to be in hiding, but I´m trying to go on extra patrols so I have more of a chance to see turtles. I am bound and determined to see one before I come home. It´s pretty routine around here lately. I get a free 24 hours every 6 days or so, but there aren´t many places near by. We traveled to Quepos and Manuel Antonio again this past weekend. We enjoyed the beach front shops and the happy hour as they put it. They were trying to get us to buy things so much that they were offering a 2 for 1 deal. I found that even though I´m starting to settle into a routine I am loving the experience. I have met people from around the world including England, Germany, Spain, Mexico, Canada and even all over the US. It´s so nice because we´re getting close and that way I will have contacts in other countries if I wish to travel more in the future. Lately we´ve all had so much fun learning about specific country rituals and stupid things. This past week most of our new volunteers have been from other places besides the US which makes me happy because I am forced to practice my Spanish more. All in all things are going great! I miss everyone back home and wish you well!! Talk to you soon!

Oh and just a fun fact you know you´re in Costa Rica when you have to battle a crab before being able to shower. Haha

Surviving Costa Rica

Hey all! Sorry it´s been so long since I´ve posted, but internet is rare to come by here in Matapalo. Whenever I get the chance to use it I have to pay and it is very very slow. I miss you all and hope you´re enjoying the summer heat. The weather here is comparable, however this is considered their winter haha. So...so many things have happened since I last posted. I am now living in Matapalo full time. I have a regular routine of cleaning, helping plant trees around the area and turtle patrols. This week we just started some very intense work. We needed to reinforce our hatchery barriers and so the past two days we´ve been hauling huge branches and piles and piles of sand to add a more protective boundary. It´s pretty hard work, but it is very rewarding as well. I feel like we are actually doing something that is directly helpful to our project. I have been having so much fun lately. I was able to visit the National Park of Manuel Antonio. It is a very tourist area, but it´s gorgeous! I saw monkeys and crocodile iguanas and so much more. In Matapalo last week a couple volunteers and myself were able to go on a mangrove tour. It was pretty sketch at first. Our boat driver and coast guard literally had to saw branches and get out of the boat to get us around at times. A little odd, but once we made it through the awkward parts we had an amazing view of the mountains and where the river meets up with the ocean. We also so crocodiles! It was actually the second time I had seen some, the first was on a patrol night and I was a little closer than I would have liked to be haha, but I´m still alive so no worries! Oh man oh man I still feel like I have so much to say, but I am running out of time. Hope this gives a little insight to my Costa Rican lifestyle. I will for sure be telling many more stories once I am back. Hope to update soon! LOVE!

Turtle Patrols...

Hey guys! Long time no talk...it´s been pretty crazy here, but I LOVE it! I went on my first turtle patrol this past week and it was soooo amazing! We were extremely lucky because not even half way through our walk we saw turtle tracks!!!! Sadly the turtle had already left, but we were able to find the nest and count the eggs. As of right now the organization does not have permission to collect the eggs and keep them in our hatchery so we are only allowed to count the eggs, move them to a more recognizable location and put up markers for our system. It´s so interesting. I feel like I am learning a lot. I know as the days progress I will be able to do more which only makes me happier. This weekend we were able to take our free day. A group of volunteers and I traveled to Dominical which is about a half hour away by bus. It was sooo fun! We stayed at a really nice hotel, had hot showers and breakfast lol. We also got to go to a discoteca. haha it was really fun seeing all the spanish dancing and then the crazy jumping crowds. We also were able to visit a gorgeous waterfall in Dominical this morning. We got dropped off right above it and then were able to walk down into it. It was probably the best way to spend the morning. All in all, things are going well. I´m adjusting to my laid back lifestyle and enjoying the work I am doing. Hope to fill you in soon! Miss you all!

No fear!

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to travel to beautiful Monteverde, Costa Rica. It was quite a trip...haha I will have to explain more in person to any that are curious. I actually accomplished one of my goals for the trip already. I know it's early, but I told myself that I would go zip lining and I DID!!! It was seriously one of the most exciting things in the world! I won't lie I was freaking out right before, but it was totally worth it! The views were amazing and I felt like I was flying across the mountain! I got some gorgeous pictures and had a blast! As of right now I am staying in a hostel in San Jose. I am leaving bright and early in the morning for the coast. Playa Matapalo will be about a 5-6 hour bus ride. Can't say that I'm looking forward to it, but it should be ok...I don't really have too many exciting updates so far. I obviously left Atenas this afternoon and will be working with the turtles as early as tomorrow! YAY!!! I met a guy here at the hostel who volunteered last year so he had a lot of advice and helpful information to pass along. I'm starting to feel more relaxed and can't wait to actually start working! I'll do my best to keep you updated and I appreciate all the comments =) Miss you all!!! 

Atenas

Hola todos! It´s me again! It´s day 4 and I´m starting to feel like I belong more. I have had intense one-on-one spanish lessons every morning. It tends to drain me =) Atenas is a really beautiful and friendly town. Anytime you walk by someone on the street they say adios or at least smile. I am living here until Tuesday and then for like 2 days before I return to the states. Alicia y Victor are very very nice. I am treated so well. They don´t speak any english so I have to get by on my poor spanish lol, but they seem to understand me most of the time. Everyday I wake up and have breakfast waiting for me, a plate of fresh fruit and then something else (cereal or breads of some sort). After breakfast I walk two houses down to my spanish class. The "school" as it is called (Atesa) is gorgeous! There orange trees all throughout and they conduct their classes under these really nice patio type of things. It´s really fun to be studying and temporarily get distracted by a gecko or a butterfly. What can I say it´s gorgous here. Now althought the scenery is pretty and I´m making it sound amazing the weather isn´t always amazing. It typically rains every afternoon. So it is generally really hot and humid during the day. The evenings are to die for though. I always fall asleep with the bugs singing and a cool breeze coming through my window.

With the program that I am on they offer cooking and dancing lessons. Monday night I had my cooking class and we were shown how to make empenadas and cocconut cookies. It was fun to hang out with some other volunteers and meet another family. I can´t wait to try out my recipes in the states =) Tonight I have my dancing class so I will have a chance to shake my latina hips haha. It should be pretty fun. We have to travel to los angeles (a nearby town) I´ll be sure to fill you in at a later time.

I will be heading to Monteverde this upcoming weekend with some friends and I will finally be able to go on a zip line ahhh!! Crazy I know! We are planning on visiting La Fortuna as well which is home to one of Costa Rica´s famous volcanos. All in all, things are well. I will be leaving for Matapalo on Tuesday so my turtle adventures will begin shortly after. I´ll do my best to keep you all updated.

Much love!

Bienvenidos a Costa Rica!

Hey all! I made it!! I´m finally here! Crazy I know! I am slowly adjusting to the culture and the town and the spanish. I attended my first Spanish mass..it was quite interesting. The congregation rushes the priest at communion...ya i know! haha other than that not too much going on. I started my intense spanish lessons today and got a tour of the town. Nothing too exciting to say now, but I will update soon!! Love ya!

ps sorry this was so brief!

Oh and btw walking to town and seeing random chickens walking the sidewalks with you..interesante =)

Miss you al!