Just like Riding a Bicicleta

Last night I rode home side saddle in a skirt on the cross bar of my bike while Coco peddled.  A little scary but totally normal here.  Kids, babies, girl friends, boy friends, bikes here are for two people not one.  If you are small enough you ride on the rack, in the basket or the handle bars. 

Last week I rode my bike  with an umbrella open above me.  First time of many I'm sure.  Mountain biking with one hand on a rocky, bumpy, pot hole filled road in the rain at night with no light was interesting.  No helmets, no lights, and no signalling.  Pura Vida baby.  Which for some people doesn't mean "pure life" it means whatever, just live life and do what ever you want as if there are no consequences.

Last week I also stopped wearing my bra with certain tank tops.  I've lost enough weight that my boobs are small so the built in bra works just fine.  My clothes don't fit.  Thankfully most of my clothes are skirts and tank tops, pretty forgiving.

Today we finally got a new fridge.  Been without a working fridge since we've moved in to the house.  Yay cold beer!  and grocery store here I come.

Tonight was my first night co- teaching the adult night class.  As it turned out I had one beginner student so that worked out well.  We practiced basic questions and giving directions and following directions.  The student is 25 and works for the dentist in town.  She's also his girlfriend.  She has 4 cats and one dog.   The dentist has a vasectomy!  Yippee!  One smart man so far in all of Costa Rica! hahaha

Pura vida!

Who's life is this anyway?

This week I woke up feeling like I’ve been living someone else’s life.  It’s hard to put into words.  But I’m here in this foreign country living a life that really isn’t mine.  Eating food that isn’t “mine”, making friends, loving, hurting, and crying all about things that really have nothing to do with my real life at home.  My real life where I am unemployed and every month wonder if I’m going to make my house payment.  Every day wondering what I should be doing with myself.  Wondering what to do with my real life.  So instead of thinking about my real life I’m creating a temporary existence that might look like a real life but at times certainly doesn’t feel real.  

I’ve always been good at not thinking about things, ignoring issues, burying things deep and hoping they don’t resurface.  It’s not the healthiest way to be, and I’ve been working on changing it.  But for now I wonder is that what I’m doing here?  Hiding from my real life, from real decisions?  I honestly don’t know.  I came here to see if I could make a life with someone and that didn’t work out.  I stayed because I had nothing better to do.  I am planning on coming back mid May or June at the latest.  In time for Oregon summer, and we better have one.  I’m looking forward to camping with friends and seeing my family and kitties.  

I’ve been unemployed for about a year and a half now, and the time has flown by.  But I’m nowhere closer to knowing what to do with myself than I was a year ago.  I haven’t looked for jobs as aggressively as I could have but my guilt over this was mostly relieved because a good friend of mine has been without the success we’d like.  Everyday sending cover letters, resumes’, filling out applications etc etc.  She has a similar design background and has more experience in some areas than I do.  I have other skills and many more years of employment than she does.  But she hasn’t had any success in finding a job.  So my guilt is relieved.  At least temporarily.  

So what’s the point of this post?  I don’t know.  Just like most other things in my life right now, I just don’t know.  I’m trying to just live each day and enjoy it, the people I know, the food, and yes, maybe too much beer.  And maybe at times I’m still living the 20’s I didn’t get to live.  I’m living an adventure that many people will never have the chance to take.  And I’m thankful for all of it.  I can only make the best of it, do the best I can with what I have, help the people around me when I can and hope it’s all worth it in the end.  And, I guess, isn’t that what real life is about?

My Life in Photos

looking for the whale sharks, didn't find them

jenny petting baby cows

palm grove!

too much cervaza!

hitchhiking!  my first time! :)  made it there and back in one piece

backwash, matapolo

for nicole!

love love love the view

cosita!

white faced capuchine!  hello!

Just when you think...

things might be normal for a while.  Coco had his stitches removed yesterday and the doctor confirmed that he has lost his eye sight on the side of the stitches.  The dr. who originally stitched him up could have saved the sight but didn't fully examine him.  Coco didn't tell me that he couldn't see, only that things looked funny and I just assumed it was from the swelling and the stitches. The dr. told him eventually his eye will turn a funny color and possibly die?  but again, this is a clinic dr. in the middle of no where.  I feel very bad about this situation.  Coco doesn't have money to go to a big town with a real dr. and isn't taking this news very well. 

New Casa Y Stuff

front of house

this week has been different.  I started working at the school and have spent most of my time with 2-5 year olds.  They are so much better behaved than American kids.  not to mention how cute the brown kids are!  ;)  Today I started working in the office, reorganizing and moving things.  Next week is Holy Week so there is no school. and sadly no alcohol sales all over town.  but don't worry, I'm stocking up! 

I started a painting at Coco's that I need to finish and need to bring my painting stuff into town.  

The week after I will be working M, W& F in the office and T & Th at night in the English classes for adults.  that will be a bit better for me!

Here are pictures of the new house.  It's actually really nice compared to most things in town, which makes me pretty uncomfortable.  Like more of a target for theft etc.  But I need to find something and this just fell into place.  the entire house is $400 and am currently sharing with one other person.  In may there will be 3 of us and I will move to a less nice room, for less money.  

my room

kitchen

dining and living

front porch

the bike i've been using.  mt. biking is hard work!

Coco's Bathroom Remodel

As requested.

Good Bye Ruby Tuesday

tastes just like coke but 8% alcohol.  Not the best choice with breaky!

thank you rolling stones:

pretending our Cuba Libre is coffee, too early to serve booze

this photo makes it look better than it is!

She would never say where she came from
Yesterday don't matter if it's gone
While the sun is bright
Or in the darkest night
No one knows
She comes and goes

Goodbye, ruby tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still Im gonna miss you...

Don't question why she needs to be so free
Shell tell you it's the only way to be
She just can't be chained
To a life where nothings gained
And nothings lost
At such a cost

There's no time to lose, I heard her say
Catch your dreams before they slip away
Dying all the time
Lose your dreams
And you will lose your mind.
Aint life unkind?

Goodbye, ruby tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still Im gonna miss you...


I thought it was appropriate.  I have a house that I'm sharing with another teacher at the school.  It's nice. my room is really nice and it's $225 for my share.  that's actually on the high side but i thought it was worth it.  I can trade rooms and drop down if i want to.

Coco got hit by a car on his bike.  5 stitches and a lot of nastiness.  Sorry these photos are all over the place.  forgot my mouse! 

One of the kids from my class.  Went to the beach with him and his family this weekend with some other teachers from school.

Here's some photos from the weekend.