Hellllo!!

Sorry that it has been so long since the last update, it has definitely been quite a hectic week!

I made it to the clinic on Monday which was quite the experience! The doctors did not speak any English, which was a bit of a problem. I managed to figure out what she was saying, and was able to describe what was going on with me. The doctor actually said that my Spanish was very good! I was prescribed quite a bit of medication, and Eloisa drove me to the other clinic in Home Creek to get it filled out. My stomach has been nice and fine now since I've started taking the antibiotics, so I am very grateful for that.

I have had only two Spanish lessons this week, which is a tad bit frusterating. I really really want to improve my language skills, so I am going to make sure that I get my lessons in next week. However, I can definitely feel my skills improving. Which is a bonus!

School is going pretty well, I was only there on Tuesday and Friday (today) for this week. The kids are cute, and it's getting easier to communicate with them. The ones we are working with need some serious help with their skills. Apparently 17 of the grade 3s that I'm working with are going to fail this year. I'm really trying to decrease that number!

Wednesday we had a day off, as it was a PD day of some sort. The weather wasn't stellar, so I went to Puerto Viejo with Joe and Jodi and did some shopping. It was really nice, and I picked up some fun stuff for people back at home! And had some stellar ice cream from a little place on the beach that a nice couple owns.

I've been hanging out at home in the evenings, watching DVDs, etc. It's been a nice way to unwind and relax.

I guess a side effect of the antibiotics was that I got a cold. I had a rough night Wednesday, was fairly sick during the night, and didn't get to bed until about 4:30. So I took the day off Thursday, and just slept and talked to family at home. It's really tough when I'm sick here, so far away from Mom, but I'm feeling a million times better. And obviously this is an adventure, so I will encounter some bumps along the road, but I know that in the end it will be a learning experience, and one that I will never forget. And it helped that I was able to talk to the girls, Mom, Paul, and Dad on the phone last night. And then when I came home I had mail!!! A lovely package from Aunt Cate with hand sanitizer wipes (yay!) and a lovely letter from a certain someone back at home. Never have I been so happy to have mail! So needless to say, my spirits were uplifted a million percent last night.

Today has been excellent as well. School was great with the kids, and since it's Friday we only go for a half a day. I had some spaghetti for lunch, and then spent the afternoon at the beach! Tonight I'm meeting up with the volunteers at Spanish school, and then we'll head to CoCos. Soberly, of course, since my antibiotics will not agree well with alcohol. Oh well!

For the rest of the weekend we'll probably just hang out at the beach. Sunday Holly and I might travel up to Manzanillo, which apparently is absolutely gorgeous and has a great beach. We've also planned a trip for next weekend.. Saturday we are travelling all day to Manuel Antonio, on the Pacific Coast and finding a place to crash for the night. On Sunday and Monday we are staying in a fancy resort to unwind and relax! Then Tuesday we are grabbing a bus up to El Castillo, and staying at a Bed & Breakfast for two nights. The B&B is situated on the mountain, and from the Jacuzzi we have an excellent view at night of the active volcano, complete with lava! We'll probably tour around and see a butterfly farm as well. Then back to Cahuita to enjoy the Easter weekend. Then just 4 short days at school and I'm on my way home! Not too bad, eh?

Anyway, bear with me if it takes a while before updates, there aren't enough hours in the day! But thank you everyone again for the messages and the emails, they are certainly encouraging! And I will get photos up as soon as I can, it just takes a little while to load on these computers. Take care, and hope everything is going well at home!

Love Love

Natalie xoxo