Danny & Ashley

Here is the beautiful resort

It’s Monday less than two weeks until we are going back home. I can’t believe it has already been over 5 weeks. We have loved it here so much. This last weekend Danny and I treated ourselves to a two night stay at the Los Sueños Resort near Jaco. Absolutely gorgeous I was so excited to have a nice bed to sleep in and just lay out by the pools and beach. We took a bus to the resort, which is about a three-hour ride up and down the curvy mountainside. These bus drivers here just freak me out they go so fast around some of the bends you just have to pray that your gonna make it. The bus was pretty nasty that we took there, but all I kept saying to myself is the resort will be so nice and CLEAN. Well it hadn’t been more than an hour into our trip on the bus when all of a sudden you hear the dreadful sound of someone throwing up. A girl around 12 got sick on the bus just a seat behind us and threw up everywhere like 4 times. It was the Nasty thing I have ever smelled. So here we are with my head out the window of the bus trying to breathe fresh air and Danny trying to lean over me to do the same. So while we are all trying to not throw up ourselves or pass out from the smell everyone is trying to keep their feet up because as the bus goes forward so does the vomit ☹ Sooo gross. Obviously here bus drivers care more about a schedule cuz he didn’t seem to care one bit that there was throw up everywhere on the bus, we just kept pluggin along for another 2 hours. Danny and I just laugh at it now, we have come to learn that you just take things as they come, especially living here in Costa Rica for this long, you never know what you will encounter along the way.

Having dinner on the beach

We loved the resort and took full advantage of the amenities. On Saturday we treated ourselves to a couples massage in a cabana right on the beach. It was so perfect, just what we needed.  We had to come back home on Sunday, I just assume we stay there till we have to leave to go back home, but I didn’t win that one. Lol
Our friends Vince and Ashley will be here early on Wednesday, we are so excited. We have a lot of things planned for when they get here and can’t wait!!!

Kinda see the resemblance :)

This morning was so wonderful, it was the first day we didn’t have to set the alarm clock. And to no surprise I was awake before the alarm clock would have gone off if it had. Oh well I am quite the morning person, can’t say the same for Danny. I don’t think he truly is aware of whats going on for the first 30 minutes he wakes up. Me on the opposite hand am not a night person, it hits 9pm and I can be out like a log, especially if were watching a movie, Danny is usually up for a good 2 more hours after I go to bed each night.

This is the La Casita, where we had class everyday.

El foto of one of our classrooms

We woke up this morning with the intention to see our final grades posted and then head to the zoo. We both did very well in our classes both getting an A. Very happy about that. The zoo had to be postponed due to our daily rain routine. It started a little earlier today. Instead we decided to get on a bus to Tres Rios and go to the Terra mall. HUGE mall. They have a VIP movie theatre which is about the price of home, but you get to sit in reclining lazy boy sofas and get served food. We ordered the sushi… OH MY GOSH it was so good, felt like for a second I was home. We ended up seeing the new Transformers 2 movie. I don’t think its out in the states yet, but very good movie a must see!!

Picture of the lazy boys in the movie theatre. Sorry it was a bad shot, I was scared someone was going to take my camera away.

Hasta Luego

Happy Birthday Adam!! BIG 14..I hope your having fun in Missouri. We love you!!!

Yeah no more classes. Today we finished our last tests and now we are completely done. Tomorrow we can go back to the school and get our final grades. We have learned so much and now it feels like a relief to not have to wake up early everyday and sit through five hours of class. It’s kinda funny how things are in life, now that class is over I feel more of a desire to want to learn the language. It’s going to be really hard to keep up what we have learned moving home, but I know eventually we will get it down. It might take us going on a mission later in life, but will get it.

Here's a picture of my girlies Sarah and Kati in my class. We all helped each other so much to get through this month. Love you girls.

Danny and I went to church yesterday a few blocks down the road. It’s so amazing to me when we go to different churches around the country and now world to see that the church is the same wherever you go. The people are so kind and giving. The Lord’s hands are truly in this work and I am so happy and proud to be apart of it. I love this gospel! It blesses people’s lives everyday. People here are so humble, I think of how little they have compared to the things we have in the states,  it not only makes me appreciate the life I have,  but more importantly it gives me a desire to want to serve others and give of myself. Not only is the gospel the same wherever you go, the people are to.  People might all have their differences, but we are all here for the same purpose, to live, to love, and to learn.

Danny going to church

Well it’s rainy right now. What do ya know. Not a single day has gone by without it since we have been here. We usually now we have until about 2 to get anything done that we want to do without getting wet. It’s not to bad though, I actually like the rain. It stays about 75-80 and it smells so nice compared to the smoggy air of the city It beats having the 100 degree weather back home. We now have unil next Wednesday till our friends Ashley and Vince come down here to travel for a couple weeks. I can’t wait for them to get here. We have a lot of fun things planned and it will be so good to see familiar faces. Can’t wait to see you guys!

My new found love. They're called fresa en agua, totally amazing. All you do is put strawberries and water with ice into a blender with a little splenda and there you go... heaven. Danny and I both get one just about everyday.

Hola … Ya, tenemos uno mas dia de escuela. Yo estoy muy feliz. Costa Rica es muy bonita y las personas son muy simpaticas. Pasado el fin de semana, Danny, Sarah, su novio Jamal, y yo fuimos a Manuel Antonio. La playa es muy bonita. Vieron muchos animales: las iguanas, un sloth, saltmontes, pero no vieron los monos (monkeys). Usualmente hay muchos monos en las playas, pero no vi un mono.

Ok back to english….

It was a really nice drive there, luckily Jamal, Sarah’s boyfriend rented a car so we were able to go where we wanted a not have to take a bus. We got there around dark so we decided to check into our place and then meet back up with Sarah and Jamal for dinner later. They were staying in a really nice hotel up the road.  Well before we left for the weekend we booked a hostel which is a cheap place to stay which hikers usually stay in. We figured we would try and save some money. I have to admit, I consider myself a pretty tough girl when I have to be, but for all of you that know me, Well I just don’t do bugs, especially the big ones or the one’s that suck your blood.

So when we walked into our room there were hundreds of mosquitoes all up and down the walls, of course I start immediately crying. haha So I figured if I was going to have to do this then I would only be in that room when I had to sleep and I would have the covers completely over my entire body, even if it was a hundred degrees and I might as well die of heat exhaustion under them. So we went out to dinner that night to a cute little restaurant, very good probably my favorite meal since I have been here. Danny and I both ordered the Red Snapper. MUY RICO!!

Here's Sarah and Jamal at the pool in there super nice hotel.

When we got back to our dreaded hostel I figured I wasn’t going to get much sleep. I was planning on just laying there and making sure no bugs were going to bite me, I convinced Danny to sleep with the lamp on all night so I could look for the bugs. lol Poor Danny he was such a trooper. Well then it happened, as I was listening to Danny go on and on about how the bugs won’t hurt me and that the mosquitoes are all gone, nothing will get you. So right as he is finishing his whole speal, I see his eyes move and glance to the wall right behind me. I knew what that meant, I turned around and I saw the biggest Cockroach I have ever seen. I immediately jumped on the bed, jumped onto Danny and started screaming, I don’t know what was wrong with me haha. Well nothing  anyone else wouldn’t  have done. I can see Chrissy now, doing the same exact thing. lol So I told Danny to kill it, he won’t admit but I think he was scared to. So I decided to run outside the room and shut the door with Danny inside. I told him to stay in there and kill it before I come back in or he came out. So I here tons of smacks and things being moved around and then as I am waiting by the door the cockroach runs under the door and is now running around in our living room area. We never killed it, so I layered towels up under the door frame so it wouldn’t get in our room at night. I think Danny and I have learned our lesson to never have me stay at another hostel again.

Just a few of the bites from the night at the hostel...

Now that the night was over we had a wonderful Saturday. We went to the National Park and did some hiking, laid on the beach, and saw some pretty amazing looking animals. They are known for having many different kinds of species of animals here in Costa Rica, so it was pretty neat to be able to just walk around in the park and see them wild. That night we went over to the hotel our friends were staying out and had a really nice dinner. It’s so nice when we actually get food cooked for us, since we live by ourselves we have to make our own food each day. We tend not to stray off the path of rice and beans for dinner, not because we love having it every night, but Jose doesn’t have any cooking supplies. Oh well were still alive. I can’t tell you how excited I am to have food back in the states. SOOO excited.

These is a saltamontes also known as a really cool looking grasshopper

Here is the sloth that we saw crossing the road. The guide said that is was very uncommon to see. we all got a good look at it and plenty if pics with it taking five minutes to even cross the road.

Well we did it. just half a day on Monday to take our final exams and were out of school. It went by sooo fast. Danny and I were just laughing at how little we knew when we first got here and how overwhelming it was, and know to see how much we know and how far we have, it’s amazing. I am so glad that I stuck through it. This weekend were gonna keep it low key, not going out of the city. Were gonna take a bus tomorrow and go to the Terra Mall, it’s supposed to be really huge. They have a movie theatre there with lazy boy sofas and they serve you sushi during the movie. That’s how it should be done Danny and I both posted some more pictures on our facebook pages if you want to see some more pictures of the weekend.

Love you all. Pura Vida!

Hola  familia y los amigos!

I can’t believe how fast time flies. We just finished our third week of school already yesterday. One more full week next week and a final the following Monday and that’s it, I’ll be fluent.. haha Not quite ☺

This last weekend we went to San Carlos where we visited the Arenal Volcano. It was really neat, so beautiful. It was great being ale to escape from the noisy city and replace ourselves in the mountains. Arenal is one of the few active volcanoes in the world today. During the day on Saturday we checked into the Baldi Resort for the day. There they around 50 hot springs that you can get into, ranging from temperatures of 90 to 150 degrees. It was super relaxing and beautiful. The resort is placed right under the volcano where you can see the smoke constantly coming out from the volcano. At night you can drive up to this point where you can see the volcano at times spill out lave from the top. They say that it’s good luck to actually see the top of the volcano at night because there is so much fog usually, but we got extremely lucky. The man said that night the volcano was being more active that it had in a really long time. We got to see the entire volcano and see it erupt lava all down the side of the mountain. It was so beautiful.

Here we are in front of the Volcano Arenal. I am thinking those braids are making me look like a dude, that or its Danny's shorts I am wearing. Lo que sea!! :)

The weekend was wonderful. We got home around Sunday afternoon and had the rest of the day to relax. We had another busy week this week with tests and presentations. I got sick on Sunday night with a cold and then of course gave it to Danny the next day. We got pretty lucky because it turned out to be only a couple day thing.

I want you all to know that I have the best husband in the entire world. So on Wednesday we woke up to the alarm at 6 like we do everyday and Danny was really not feeling well. So I got all ready and Danny decided he isn’t going to go to school today and just stay home and rest, which was probably the best thing. Well I was bummed, not the fact that I couldn’t manage to get there on my own, but I was going to miss him being at school with me, he really does get me through the days at school. So he walked me to the door, he geared me up with money, a knife for protection, and an umbrella. As I looked at him through the door I couldn’t help but let out a few tears, I don’t know what was going on. I didn’t want to start crying so I left down the road to the bus stop. The bus was completely packed with people standing up everywhere, but I managed to find a spot in the back of the bus. So I got to my stop, got off, and preceded to walk down the street to class, it’s a good 10 minute walk or so. As I am walking, with my head down of course because the roads are so bad I would be one to fall on my face, as I get half way to class I look up  for a quick second and see Danny walking in front of me. My heart just swelled!!! I ran as fast as I could to him, like I hadn’t seem him in forever, even though we spent every breathing second with each other on this trip. I was so happy to see him. It turns out right when I left the house he jumped into some clothes, didn’t even brush his teeth and ran to catch the bus, which happens to be that we were on the same bus the whole time, it was just to crowded to see each other. He is the most unselfish person I know. I love him so much, and can’t wait to stand by him forever.

So it’s Friday today and we don’t have school so were heading to the airport with Sarah to pick up her boyfriend, that is flying down to see her for the weekend (so sweet) and then the four of us our going to go to Manuel Antonio to the beach for the weekend. We are so excited for the beach, more so getting a tan, were whiter than before we left here.  Haha Hope everyone is doing well. We miss you!!!

At the Baldi Resort

Here's the path at the resort that you walk down. You can turn off anytime and there are hot springs up and down the road you can turn into.

Here are some pictures of the casa that we have been staying at here in San Pedro…..

Here's our lovely bedroom... Doesn't that bed look so comfortable..

And our bathroom.. Can't complain at least there's running water..

The dinning room. Where we do our homework each night and the only place in the house that picks up the wireless signal.

The shower. And yes we have hot water!!! Thank goodness...

The kitchen... I think that Jose needs a little help with the decorating..

The living room... Believe it or not that's the sofa. I have yet to find it comfortable.

Last but not least (the oh so full of food) fridge lol.. You would be surprised what you can make out of nothing. There comes a point that I think we have hit, that you start creating your own recipes, throwing whatever you can into the pot.

Hola todos! Yeah we have a three day weekend!!  This week and next we don’t’ have class on Friday’s, you don’t know how happy that makes us. This week has been a lot of school and studying for Danny and I. We both had tests this week with a long written form and oral presentations. We have been trying really hard and have come to realize that this is no walk in the park. I am doing so much better since I have been here I feel this week I am completely settled in and am grasping the teaching in our classes so much better.  I have had such an amazing girl in my class, Sarah, that has made class and the experience so much more fun. Were two pees in a pod.

Sarah and I leaving our favorite little cafe after class. Love this girl!!

Danny, Sarah, Jose, and I are leaving for San Carlos up in the mountains tomorrow afternoon. Were really excited to get away and relax. Jose has an uncle that lives in San Carlos and has graciously given us a place to stay there for the weekend, and has planned out all the fun things to do when were there. It’s so much easier when you know people.

So this last week Danny, Sarah, and I went to the San Jose flee market where we did some shopping and looking around. So this will make you laugh. Before Danny and I came here to Costa Rica we were going through some of his old pictures from Costa Rica when he came here. Well one of the pictures was of this grungy man that sat on the street and played the guitarra. I think that he is a little slow Danny said, he just strings that guitarra not really playing music, but Danny thought he was super cool so he took a picture with him.  Well what do you know, here were walking down the street and Danny points out the same man from the picture ☺ Here he is 5 years later in the same spot strumming the guitarra. So I just had to take a picture with him. When I first went up to him (I admit I was a little nervous) ☺  I bent down and said quieres tomar un foto conmigo?… He smiles and puts his arm around me. Wow that was scarry haha.  Those pictures will go down in history of our favorites.

Here he is the famous guitar man. You can't see it in this picture, but after this he proceeded to put his arm around me. I think Danny was getting jealous, How could he not :)

We also saw some missionaries, I think they were pretty shocked at first when Danny came up to them. He just jumped right in there and started talking to them telling  them that he wanted to go on splits with them and hang out with them. They sorta just stared at us at first, like is this really for real lol, you could tell they don’t get that a lot

We are excited to have the weekend with this week and test day behind us. Hope everyone is doing well, we would love to hear from you. More photos to come!

Love the traveling duo!!

So I can’t believe I have not talked about the food here at all with me being the pickiest eater in the world. Well maybe not picky just choosey. Lol The food here isn’t so bad… Lots and lots of rice and beans. We have eaten black beans out of a can and rice for three of the nights here. Who would have thought I don’t know if it tastes good because I am starving half the time or if it actually tastes good. Lo que sea (whatever) As long as I am eating Danny says haha.

Here is a typical rice and bean dish I have made for dinner countless times. Very good.

Pizza aqui es muy bien... y barato :)

There food here is a little off in taste from home. Even the same kinds of food we have at home taste different. I had Quizno’s here, I know I know I am in Costa Rica and I am eating Quizno’s, it will be the last time that’s for sure. It tasted soo gross, the meat was like soggy lunch package meat and it also took me forever to figure out what I was ordering. When I got up there to order I realized I didn’t have a clue what half of the condiments were that I needed to order in espanol. It was pretty funny, the girl was so annoyed with me, I thought that turkey was the word that started with “T“on the menu (well it really means to toast) so she kept asking me what meat and I kept saying that word lol.. FYI turkey is Pavo. I’ll never forget that word. I have found it easier to order from a menu with numbers. Ordering a number 2 is a lot easier than ordering a make your own plate kind of thing. I really do love visiting other countries and trying their food. Food is such a huge part of the culture of places and it’s amazing to see how much each country varies. So far I haven’t been disappointed. And of course I have found the helado (ice cream). We have a small little stand that stays open late about 100 meters from our house that we have come to love it almost every night haha.

OK so Danny and I got a laugh out of this… Jose is great but not the best with proper sanitation and cooking… He’s a young bachelor I guess I can’t expect to much. Were trying to train him. The first day we got here he had open meat (frozen in no bag) in the freezer and then he has open milk cartons in the frig. … Oh my you probably can see me freaking out lol… I have come to realize that it’s not only him, we went to the grocery store and they go to bag our groceries, I admit I am a little picky when I pack them at home, but I haven’t not cared since we have been here, until I saw the unbelieveable They put the raw chicken that was dripping everywhere solo in a bag with my apples and lettuce… getting it everywhere!! That was a freak out moment (to myself of course.)..

Last night Danny found this contraption connected to a wooden stick in the kitchen drawer. He asked Jose what he used it for and he said he uses it to mix a RAW egg into his orange juice in the morning..makes it more fluffy he says.. Oh my!!! He says that you can’t get sick from it, but I begged to differ. Now I am second guessing him telling me the water is ok to drink. We haven’t gotten sick yet. Fingers crossed!! Hope everyone is doing well, we miss you guys.

Jose's wooden stick egg mixer... We know what to send him for Christmas