Girls Gone Wild

...in the frigid waters of La Fortuna. We went on a trek to La Catarata in this tourist town and decided to just jump in there....why not, right? The trail going to the waterfall was pretty steep but absolutely doable. We were lucky enough to have a guy on a rock with free hands to take a picture of us. From the left: our beloved Carol in purple, a Tica friend named Raquel, SIT teacher trainer Susan, and yours truly, la chinita.

buenas from the pure life

Winter? I scoff at you, Winter! Just some warm and steamy messages from the gals down in Costa Rica. Here is Arenal Volcano on a clear Sunday. I went to visit a friend who happened to be in Costa Rica (small world) around the same time I am. So we met up near the volcano on a clear day. Quite clear indeed. Look at her in all her glory!



A view from a fine dining establishment called Sarichi overlooking the Orosi Valley...We obviously paid for the view (all 7 bucks worth of our meal).

A Thursday night in San Pedro with familiar faces and two who aren't (Jeany and Carmen from El Salvador up front). These two mujeres are taking the TESOL course with us at El Invu. We were rowdy in there....

looking at the seams

Life offers its wisdom generously. everything teaches. not everyone learns. Life asks of us the same thing we have been asked in every class: "Stay Awake." "Pay Attention." But paying attention is no simple matter. It requires us not to be distracted by expectations, past experiences, labels and masks. It asks that we not jump to early conclusions and that we remain open to surprise. Wisdom comes most easily to those who have the courage to embrace life without judgment and are willing to not know, sometimes for a long time. It requires us to be more fully and simply alive than we have been taught to be. It may require us to suffer. But ultimately we will be more than we were when we began. There is the seed of a greater wholeness in everyone.
-Rachel Naomi Remen, "My Grandfather's Blessings"

Carry on, friends...Nos vemos pronto, Shei

here are some pictures from the first couple of days in costa rica... the first two shots are from Alajuela, a city outside of San Jose. Carol and I meandered and sauntered and got lost a couple of times in this busy city. the next couple of shots are from El Invu de Penas Blancas, at the school. Rochelle and Carol are looking at chestnusts that have fallen from the tree. Our advisor Mary walking in at the perfect moment while i take a shot. the landscape shot was taken on our way to the school.

more to come in the next installment from Costa Rica....
pura vida!

the dolly lama

look closely...VERY closely: in the hand of the tallest woman there (right in the middle, Susan Berry) is a sacred doll....the lamb, the dolly lama. Mary Scholl, Susan, Rochelle, Carol, Elizabeth, and I are standing in the Spiral classroom of Centro Espiral Mana at the end of our workshop orientation. PURA VIDA! stay tuned for the next installment from Costa Rica....