Don't worry, I am not going crazy or anything...the title is Swedish for "milk chocolate" (at least, according to IKEA).
The last few days have been great! I went with mom to Cincy the other day to visit a family friend, and it was great bonding experience! On the way back we stopped at IKEA, and boy, I hope that there is one on Costa Rica so when I get married (again) that we can outfit our house with everything IKEA. Hope Elliott doesn't mind.
Today I went to the gym, and as I am writing this I am eating chocolate and pretty much null-and-voiding my 500 burned calories. I think I might start a food diary, which will help me lose the 10lbs I gained while I was away. I can come back a new person! Still feeling a little embarrassed to go to the pool...no doubt my suit will be tight, and that is humiliating for me. The plan is to lose a few pounds first, then get back in the water. Not to mention I need a new razor!
This afternoon spent visiting with folks at Catering, and they are thrilled to have me back! It feels good to be back too, so many familiar faces and a place that I know like the back of my hand. Hoping the paperwork for re-hire goes through quick! I want to start making some money, while I can.
Tomorrow morning my Mom and I are road-tripping up to Toledo to pick up my lil bro, for a family weekend. It will be the first time seeing all my brothers and my Uncle, seeing all my family together for the first time. I am looking forward to it, especially since I have some small gifts for my bros. We will be a doing a brunch, and I cannot wait to get my hands dirty in the kitchen...I love making breakfast food!!!!!!
In cleaning out my closet looking for kitchen items to give to my brother, to help him outfit his new and very bare apartment, I stumbled upon all kinds of treasures.
Family heirlooms, like crystal dessert dishes from my grandma, and a nightgown set made by my great-grandma by hand, assorted books, even my diary from my first summer working in Costa Rica. There are so many things I want to take back with me, but will have to let go. They are too many, too heavy. It is really a challenge to myself, to NOT be a packrat like my parents and to be less material. The things have no value, just the memories. Memories are what you really have to treasure.
This will be a tough lesson, I think.
Missing my esposo tons. There are so many things I want to share with him, so many people and places I want to introduce him too! Looking forward to being able to hold his hand walking down the street again.
Pura Vida
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
good old Dayton
So far so good in my first 24 hours. I think I almost have the tp thing down! (after having a nervous moment in the airport when I realized there was no trashcan...and then realizing that I could just toss it in the bowl. liberating.)
Today I unpacked my bag and subsequently my dresser. How do I have so many clothes, and so much that I don't use?????????? I started two bags, one for donations and one of things my younger cousin might possibly use. My large collection of socks will have to find another home, as they don't all fit in my drawer.
During the morning I was at home with Mom, and did a lot of organizing. We shared a lot about Spain, and her recent trip there, and I shared many anecdotes of Costa Rica. It feels like the day just went so fast!
We went to pick up Dad at his new office this afternoon, as he dropped the car off to get fixed.
The highways are so different...everything is four lane, there are signs EVERYWHERE, all the cars are so new! And there were no buses in sight. Gas here is at $3.25 a gallon. So expensive. Mom asked what the prices are like down there, and I couldn't tell her because I have no clue...I ride the bus all the time. It is a real pain here that I can't just hop on a local bus and ride away, because the bus stop is a) far from my house b) doesn't pass frequently and c) connections are mainly in downtown. Imagine going all the way downtown just to try and get to the mall! I miss the simplicity of not driving.
Mom and I have been speaking a lot of Spanglish. I find that most of the time my immediate thought responses come out in Spanish...which means most of the people around me wouldn't understand my thought commentary.
Saw my good friends Johnny and Sam today! Four years ago Johnny and I were in the first group to go to CPI from my university, and we have been close buddies ever since. He and his longtime girlfriend Sam just got engaged! Congrats! It was great to catch up with them for a bit.
Ok, going to the dinner table. It is strange not having to cook for two anymore. I miss my esposo.
Pura Vida
Today I unpacked my bag and subsequently my dresser. How do I have so many clothes, and so much that I don't use?????????? I started two bags, one for donations and one of things my younger cousin might possibly use. My large collection of socks will have to find another home, as they don't all fit in my drawer.
During the morning I was at home with Mom, and did a lot of organizing. We shared a lot about Spain, and her recent trip there, and I shared many anecdotes of Costa Rica. It feels like the day just went so fast!
We went to pick up Dad at his new office this afternoon, as he dropped the car off to get fixed.
The highways are so different...everything is four lane, there are signs EVERYWHERE, all the cars are so new! And there were no buses in sight. Gas here is at $3.25 a gallon. So expensive. Mom asked what the prices are like down there, and I couldn't tell her because I have no clue...I ride the bus all the time. It is a real pain here that I can't just hop on a local bus and ride away, because the bus stop is a) far from my house b) doesn't pass frequently and c) connections are mainly in downtown. Imagine going all the way downtown just to try and get to the mall! I miss the simplicity of not driving.
Mom and I have been speaking a lot of Spanglish. I find that most of the time my immediate thought responses come out in Spanish...which means most of the people around me wouldn't understand my thought commentary.
Saw my good friends Johnny and Sam today! Four years ago Johnny and I were in the first group to go to CPI from my university, and we have been close buddies ever since. He and his longtime girlfriend Sam just got engaged! Congrats! It was great to catch up with them for a bit.
Ok, going to the dinner table. It is strange not having to cook for two anymore. I miss my esposo.
Pura Vida
Monday, September 26, 2011
SJO>ATL>CVG
My final hours in Costa Rica were certainly memorable. Read below.
Sitting in the airport at 5:30am, I look around and marvel at all the people here...staff that make this place function, other passengers (including a pink-and-purple haired girl I saw at the ferry a few days ago! who is also on my flight it seems) and ponder the increased security measures. Maybe someone tried to sneak an iguana through recently? The only sketchy things I have are safely ziplocked in a little plastic bag, my little bottle or perfume, some purell and two lotions.
Yesterday night getting to Heredia from Esparza was pretty epic. It began to rain around 5pm, at which time Elliott and I had a cup of coffee. We debated calling a taxi but decided not to...walked all the way to downtown (about 20 mins from his neighborhood) and stopped so he could print something and then at the supermarket so i could exchange a few dollars for colones, to pay bus fare. Then we walked to the highway and the bus stop, where it was raining cats and dogs and orangutans... There it was another 20 minute wait, as we watched various buses go by to San Jose and not stop. Finally a Tralapa bus stopped and picked us up, and I even got a seat! My legs were soaked and my bag too, though everything inside the bag was wrapped in plastic (which is a boon because I had my compu with me!!). About 35 minutes into my ride, the bus got too hot and the driver stopped to let it cool down. Another 35 minutes later and all of the passengers were outside, waiting to board another bus. I was stressing out, my plan for catching a local bus at the airport SCREWED because of the late hour. I stood awkwardly the rest of the ride on the second bus, an armrest in my crotch and someone's backpack against my butt. There was barely room to stand, and it was a good thing I remembered deodorant otherwise the lady sitting in front of me would have fainted. Getting off the bus I grabbed a taxi to Nidia's, my Mama Tica, and arrived soaked and tired at about 9:40pm. Muni was there after her baby shower, as well as Jimmy and Jason (hermanos) watching a soccer game. I re-packed my bag, Skyped with Elliott, called to double check my ride for this morning and talked with Nidia and Miguel before falling asleep around 11:45pm.
Yesterday was a tough day...saying goodbye to my esposo, my Familia Tica. I didn't get to touch base with some people after all, that I wanted to say goodbye to in Heredia. At Elliott's I had a good cry, my head on his shoulder and looking up at the house around us. Things are changing there, too. He will soon be moving out of the house and into a smaller apartment closer to downtown Esparza, which is less expensive. His room-mates are also leaving, having found a house closer to their workplace and more comfortable.
He is very organized and kind of a neat freak, which I alternately love and hate...it keeps me on my toes about being organized, even about brushing my teeth. (He brushes after every meal, me twice a day.) In any case, we will be living in a new place when I come back in December. We will likely be looking at more permenaant places in Puntarenas or Jaco.
It is getting lighter here, and the plane is being loaded with our meal...there is breakfast on this flight, HOORAY! Since I didn't eat dinner last night and 4am is a little early to drink coffee. It is beautiful and clear, and I can see the mountains in a ring around the central valley. My gate is starting to get busier.
Looking forward to people watching in Atlanta, and grabbing some Starbucks.
After Atlanta I head to Cincy, and from there go on to Dayton. Mom and Dad will be waiting for me at the airport, I think. Will do my best not to cry...
I am going to miss this beautiful country sooooooooooooo much! (Below: Mal Pais, in Guanacaste. We visited there two days ago!)
These 3 months will go quick, I know. Time flies...just like my time here did.
Dayton, here I come.
Pura Vida
Sitting in the airport at 5:30am, I look around and marvel at all the people here...staff that make this place function, other passengers (including a pink-and-purple haired girl I saw at the ferry a few days ago! who is also on my flight it seems) and ponder the increased security measures. Maybe someone tried to sneak an iguana through recently? The only sketchy things I have are safely ziplocked in a little plastic bag, my little bottle or perfume, some purell and two lotions.
Yesterday night getting to Heredia from Esparza was pretty epic. It began to rain around 5pm, at which time Elliott and I had a cup of coffee. We debated calling a taxi but decided not to...walked all the way to downtown (about 20 mins from his neighborhood) and stopped so he could print something and then at the supermarket so i could exchange a few dollars for colones, to pay bus fare. Then we walked to the highway and the bus stop, where it was raining cats and dogs and orangutans... There it was another 20 minute wait, as we watched various buses go by to San Jose and not stop. Finally a Tralapa bus stopped and picked us up, and I even got a seat! My legs were soaked and my bag too, though everything inside the bag was wrapped in plastic (which is a boon because I had my compu with me!!). About 35 minutes into my ride, the bus got too hot and the driver stopped to let it cool down. Another 35 minutes later and all of the passengers were outside, waiting to board another bus. I was stressing out, my plan for catching a local bus at the airport SCREWED because of the late hour. I stood awkwardly the rest of the ride on the second bus, an armrest in my crotch and someone's backpack against my butt. There was barely room to stand, and it was a good thing I remembered deodorant otherwise the lady sitting in front of me would have fainted. Getting off the bus I grabbed a taxi to Nidia's, my Mama Tica, and arrived soaked and tired at about 9:40pm. Muni was there after her baby shower, as well as Jimmy and Jason (hermanos) watching a soccer game. I re-packed my bag, Skyped with Elliott, called to double check my ride for this morning and talked with Nidia and Miguel before falling asleep around 11:45pm.
Yesterday was a tough day...saying goodbye to my esposo, my Familia Tica. I didn't get to touch base with some people after all, that I wanted to say goodbye to in Heredia. At Elliott's I had a good cry, my head on his shoulder and looking up at the house around us. Things are changing there, too. He will soon be moving out of the house and into a smaller apartment closer to downtown Esparza, which is less expensive. His room-mates are also leaving, having found a house closer to their workplace and more comfortable.
He is very organized and kind of a neat freak, which I alternately love and hate...it keeps me on my toes about being organized, even about brushing my teeth. (He brushes after every meal, me twice a day.) In any case, we will be living in a new place when I come back in December. We will likely be looking at more permenaant places in Puntarenas or Jaco.
It is getting lighter here, and the plane is being loaded with our meal...there is breakfast on this flight, HOORAY! Since I didn't eat dinner last night and 4am is a little early to drink coffee. It is beautiful and clear, and I can see the mountains in a ring around the central valley. My gate is starting to get busier.
Looking forward to people watching in Atlanta, and grabbing some Starbucks.
After Atlanta I head to Cincy, and from there go on to Dayton. Mom and Dad will be waiting for me at the airport, I think. Will do my best not to cry...
I am going to miss this beautiful country sooooooooooooo much! (Below: Mal Pais, in Guanacaste. We visited there two days ago!)
These 3 months will go quick, I know. Time flies...just like my time here did.
Dayton, here I come.
Pura Vida
Friday, September 2, 2011
yes i am going back.
Ticket to Costa Rica in December is BOUGHT!
Thank you Kayak for your sweet deals : )
You can find me in CR again on December 29th!
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