Pura Vida

Smuggling Gerbils

2006-08-01T11:13:00.000-07:00

The transformation has begun. I am turning into a hippie. It all started with my first long skirt. Let me clarify… not my first long skirt ever, just my first long skirt with some flowers on it. I then got my second long skirt that was even more flowery than the first. Now I have my third long skirt (we’re talking down to the ankles long, people) and I also own a pair of feather earrings. I even wore the long skirt while wearing the plumed accessories. And I have learned to knit! I doubt that I will ever truly love the smell of patchouli so maybe that makes me an aspiring hippie or a non-hippie with hippie tendencies.

Life is good up here. The summer has been fun and school starts for Ryan on the 16th. We plan to take a quick beach trip before getting back into the school year routine and I would also like to make a San Jose run. On my next trip to the City I plan to buy a few things: funky yarn (limited choices here on the mountain—basically acrylic yarn or baby acrylic yarn), beads so that I can make more jewelry and of course some refills for my Gillette razor. I may be hippie-fying but I’m not ready to join a drum circle or start smuggling gerbils in my pits just yet.

Summer Fun

2006-06-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

Well, so much for my resolution to post more often. I guess the good news is that it’s June (okay, the very end of June but June nonetheless) and not December so at least I just have a few months worth of blog-catch-uppery. So here’s a recap: We had a great two weeks in Austin in February. Of course the time flew by and we didn’t do as much as we thought we would.--- but isn’t that what visiting home is about? In March Mike and Mike came to visit. We got to enjoy them for a bit before they headed off to the beach. Ryan learned to whistle in March and we had our family photos taken at the end of the month. April 1st was the Caminata (Walkathon) for Ryan’s school. It was a killer (lots of uphill action) 13 kilometer walk and our superstar tough girl, Ryan, walked the whole way! She was the youngest kid to do it. How cool is that? At the beginning of April Jackson pulled himself up to stand for the first time. Then he decided one milestone wasn’t enough for the month so he decided to eat his first (certainly not his last) piece of dog food as well as start doing the army crawl. May was Ryan’s last full month of school so she stayed busy with activities and play dates. Nir and Galit were in Israel for a month so Cane and I stayed busy splitting the hours at Luna Azul. Jackson started clapping and saying “yay” (definitely my kid) and he says “bowwow” to the dogs. Now we’re in June. The second was Ryan’s last day of school. Ran, Jackson, Bodi and I went to her end-of-year program. Jackson has started taking steps around the coffee table. Ran and Shannon went on a two-day retreat to discuss the PSE. Ryan has been busy playing with her friends and having a great start to her summer break. It will be interesting to see how we manage to keep her entertained for 2 ½ months.

Summers are tough times here because that’s when families tend to leave the area. We have been so lucky to have terrific neighbors for the last semester but they are getting ready to head back to Florida. Jim and Donna have two kids, Catie (6) and Kevin (8). Ryan and Catie were fast friends. They are easily able to fill their time together with lots of fun and very little conflict. You know that they are good friends when they even get into trouble together. One day while Donna and I were having coffee at her house, the girls went outside to play. They came back in with handfuls of Ryan’s toys and were proud to announce that they had gone next door to our house via the shortcut (which means they didn’t go into the street). Naturally they got into trouble for leaving the property without an adult but at the same time it’s such a treat to have a neighbor you like and a shortcut through the woods to get there!

I have a feeling the summer is going to fly by—much like the first half of the year already has. This weekend we’re going to David and Karen’s wedding in Sugar Beach. We’re looking forward to celebrating with them as well as enjoying a family getaway. And believe it or not Jackson will turn ONE next week! We plan to have a party for him next weekend so with work and life, parties and play dates, I’m sure July will be over in a blink. Hopefully we’ll have some visitors this summer to keep us even busier (hint hint).

Until my next post...

Pura Vida

Back in Action

2006-02-19T16:32:00.000-08:00

It seems only fitting that I should resurrect my blog in the place where it began... good ol' Texas. It kind of seems like we never left but we have actually been gone for a year and four months. It has been so nice to visit the village that helped raise our first child and introduce them to our second. A lot has changed but so much has stayed the same. It's great being in the "Land of Plenty". Family and friends. High speed internet. Tex-Mex. Dim sum. Sushi. Gelatto. Steak. Haircuts from Kelly. Massages from Christopher. And did I mention shopping? Gotta love it!

Two weeks have flown by and like the true procastinator that I am, I have waited until the day before we leave to get online and post this blog. Our visit has been so much fun (despite the fact that Ran and I both got sick) and we wish we could stay longer. The good news is that we are making a commitment to get back here more often.

My next post will be from Monteverde. I plan to post before the end of the month. I had a bit of trouble jump-starting my New Year's Resolution to be better in touch through emails, letters and blog posts so I am making it my Chinese New Year Resolution instead. That way I haven't wasted an entire month. That's me.... always thinking.

Happy Year of the Dog
I'm resurrecting my blog
No more sitting around
like a bump on a log

Pura vida
Pura amor

Popped Out Another One

2005-07-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

Well, Jackson Kanialama Kalahanohano Smith arrived on July 5th. He's a little guy... 2820 grams or 6 pounds 2 ounces. Ryan is a very proud big sister and I have to say that Jackson is perfect. He is very mellow and super sweet and I just can´t stop staring at him! He started rolling over at 2 1/2 weeks so I guess we have another mover and shaker on our hands. Ran is a proud papa and I am overjoyed to have two healthy, beautiful children. Like Ryan, Jackson came quickly-- and early. I will write up my entire experience and post it in my next blog. Basically it will take you longer to read the story than it took for Jackson to come into the world. Life is good here and we can´t wait for you all to meet the newest member of our family!

pura vida

We Thought Life Would Be Simpler Without a TV

2005-05-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

It's cool having a bright and inquisitive kid... except when she asks questions like, "What does nympho mean?" Luckily Ran was home at the time so after finding out where she heard that word (the movie 50 First Dates), I told her to go ask her dad. His response was, "We know what movie you aren't going to watch anymore." Then he said that he would tell her when she's older. Fortunately she considered that to be an acceptable answer. She figures when she turns five we'll reveal all.

I forgot to mention that we have four pets again. You probably recall when Ran brought home Brownie Kacrownie-Dragon-Copper-Squirt and after a couple of torturous months our lovely Andrea found a new home for him. Then Ran tried to entice aptly-named Orejas (Ears) to become a part of the Smith Clan. Fortuntely Orejas is happy as a street dog and he used Ran for a free meal and went on his merry way. Then a few weeks ago Ran knocked at the door and tucked under his arm was Linda (another appropriately named dog--she is quite pretty). Looks like we're keeping her! We have renamed her Lady and she is a prissy little brown dog. She is smaller than Moki (of course Moki is a particularly large cat) and she is very sweet. She dances around a lot and she seems to be very happy to be a part of our family.

Ryan just has a week of school left. Then I am coordinating a summer program with some other moms so that our girls can get together for activities and we can have some mornings to ourselves. On Friday we head to San Jose for my monthly checkup and besides shopping for baby stuff and checking out apartment-hotels for our pre- and post-delivery stay, we will look for an aquarium so that we can get even more pets. Ryan and I really want to get the three little turtles at the vet's office.

I will include a baby update in my next post. Ryan still wants to name him or her Kangaroo. (Kangaroo might be an appropriate name because this kid is very bouncy!) And of course I will keep you all posted on our ever-growing collection of pets.

Pura Vida

Funky Math

2005-05-26T07:47:00.000-07:00

On Monday I'll be 32 weeks pregnant which you would think means 8 months. But I'm due on July 25th so I'm really only seven months along. It's funny how when you go by weeks pregnancy is really 10 months long. Either way I look like I'm due any day now. The good news is that I still feel great and baby is very active and I only waddle on occasion.

Big things are happening at the hotel and at home. We are moving to a new house in mid-June and we are very excited. Of course moving stinks but we will be happy when we are settled into our new space. (I'm ready to start nesting!) We will have a nice, comfy home with a view of the Nicoya Peninsula and a huge piece of land to romp around on. (Mom, ignore the fact that I ended that sentence with a preposition.) The downside is that we are moving farther away from Ryan's new school so I am looking into carpooling options. Ryan is transferring to the Escuala de Amigos next year and I think she is going to have a great time there.

We have been full at the hotel every day. It's supposed to be low season but nobody told our guests that, I guess. We have taken on a number of projects but the biggest one has been installing our internet cafe, going wireless and getting a program written so that we can do reservations and book tours on ipaqs (like palm pilots). It's exciting to be the cutting edge hotel up here but it has certainly been stressful and costly. We have gotten great press, though. We had a live radio show from the Pension and we were interviewed for a few periodicals ... a technology magazine, a hospitality magazine and the newspaper. Cool stuff!

Our ongoing project has been sprucing up the place and it is amazing the difference paint can make! Our beloved Jen painted the rooms and when she left we started painting the ugly brown cement walls in the living room. I said how cool it would be if we could paint a mural on the walls and what do you know--- two days later a traveling artist walks in with his portfolio! So now we have incredible murals in the living room and the shared bathroom. We also have our wonderful flower lamps strung and we will soon put up our new room numbers on the doors. The lamps and numbers were made by Ro and they are fabulous!

Our next project (happening as you read this) is our website, business cards and paper goods. After hiring more than our fair share of flaky web designers we have found two great local guys who are getting our website up and running. After that project is complete and once our new internet and intranet systems are running glitch-free we will take it easy for a while. Our focus will be on getting ready for the newest Smith.

So that's about it... we're all doing well. Ryan gets out of school on June 9th and doesn't go back until mid-August. I will have to tap into my creative supermom to keep her entertained during the holiday. I have started baking banana bread to sell at the hotel and will expand my menu this week. Ran is still very handsome and skinny and despite the stress of being a hotel owner he is loving his lot in life!

Pura Vida

Mom's Day

2005-05-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

I’m seven months pregnant and I’m starting to waddle. Baby is very active and seems to be getting stronger every day. I go in for a sonogram at the end of this month so we will soon find out if this kid is still in the 95th percentile. My doctor says that the growth tapers off in the second trimester. So far I have gained 13 pounds—and all of it is in my belly. It looks like someone pasted a torpedo to my abdomen! I will soon have to purchase some medium maternity shirts because the smalls aren’t reaching the waistbands of my pants. We’re still trying to decide what to name Baby if he is a boy. I guess it’ll magically dawn on us one of these days.

Lynnette and John are here in Costa Rica for their honeymoon… what a treat for us! They got to Monteverde on Tuesday and we decorated their “honeymoon suite” at the hotel. They stayed here on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and they were busy busy busy! On Tuesday we hung out and cooked dinner at the Pension. On Wednesday they picked Ran up at 645AM and the three of them went for a hike into the reserve. After the three-hour guided tour, they went on their own and hiked to the Continental Divide. I am SO glad that Ryan and I stayed at home or Ran would have had to carry both of us! They got back to the hotel after 1PM (that’s a lot of walking), and then did Sky Trek at 2:00. We all went to dinner at Sofia’s that night (YUM). The next morning we met at the hotel at 7:30 so we could head to Los Lagos to play and see the volcano. Ran, Shannon and the newlyweds did horse-boat-jeep and Ryan and took jeep-boat-jeep. They all enjoyed the 3-4 hour horseback ride. Ryan and I got to Los Lagos a couple of hours before the others so we played in the pool (Ryan’s favorite thing to do) and had some lunch (my favorite thing to do). Our original plan was to spend one night there and head back to Monteverde the next afternoon but the four non-pregnant adults decided to go canyoning the next day. So while the group was out doing that, Ryan and I watched cartoons (in Spanish), swam and ate a snack at the bar. It was a relaxing day for us and an adventurous day for the rest of the gang. We headed back home yesterday morning. Lynnette and John took Ryan and me to the Cheese Factory for some ice cream and we said our goodbyes. Then they went back to the Pension to say goodbye to Ran and Shannon. They got driving directions and hotel info and headed for Manuel Antonio. Lynnette called us when they got there (which was before 6 last night—great driving time) and they will be there until Monday. I think they’ll have a blast… the nature reserve is so cool (monkeys galore), the beach is so pretty and there are lots of restaurants to enjoy. We miss them already!

Ryan got into the Friends School for next year. There are definitely great things about both Creativa and Friends but we think that Escuela de Amigos is where we want her for the long-term. It’s a bummer that they don’t have a bus; Ryan really likes riding to and from school. Luckily Ryan already knows a lot of the kids who will be in her class. They’re the same friends she plays with at art class on Saturdays. There will be three girls and five boys in her kinder class… how great is that?

Ran reminded me yesterday that today is Mother’s Day! Happy Mother’s Day to all of you fabulous moms out there! I think Mother’s Day in Costa Rica is in August so I guess I will get to celebrate it twice. Ran is working until 2PM or so and I plan to make some real macaroni and cheese for dinner (aah… the joys of Velveeta). Thanks to all of our great friends who sent Lynnette and John with Velveeta, Rotel, books, DVDs and all of the cool stuff! The honeymooners even brought us some of their fabulous wedding cake. It has been great weeks for us… hope it has been for y’all too.

Pura Vida

Cool Kid

2005-04-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I am so amused by the things that come out of Ryan's mouth. It's great having a real conversation with a four-year-old. This is just one of the things we talked about yesterday:

Ryan: Mom, what do lions eat?
Me: Umm... smaller animals. Maybe deer.
Ryan: Do they eat grass?
Me: No, they eat meat.
Ryan: They eat cantelope.
Me: No, they eat meat.
Ryan: They eat cantelope! I mean antelope. And then when they die they turn into grass and the antelope eat the grass. I learned that from Simba and Nala. You know why? Because I just love lions.

We don't have a TV but we do have a laptop that we use to watch movies. Since she has watched The Lion King about a hundred times, it's no wonder that she knows about the "circle of life".

Bodi brought 13 Going on 30 with her from her last Austin trip. Ryan really likes that movie also. Two days ago I am getting out of the shower and she askes me, "Mom, what does bitch mean? Hmm... how do I answer that? Well, I said it's when someone isn't very nice. And it is also the word for a girl dog. Her response to that... "What does tough bitch mean?" I think we'll go back to watching Lion King!

But the best thing I heard was this one:
Ryan: Do you know what pals means, Momma? It means best friends and you're my best friend, Momma! I love you a lot... all the way to the stars and the moon and to California.

Yep, conversations with four-year-olds are the best!

All Things Gringo

2005-04-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

We had a party on Saturday night and it was quite a success. It’s events like those that leave us wondering why we don’t do them more often. What made the night a success? There was a good turnout of great people and every bit of food and drink was consumed. I went shopping on Saturday morning, came home and whipped up some snacks and everything just fell into place. We had a fire pit in the yard, Jen played her drum, there was a bit of air guitar and it was a fun night.

Much like was the case on my Saturday shopping trip; I often find that the bulk of my supermercado bill is spent on Gringo purchases. Sure I buy the normal box of long-duration milk, unrefrigerated brown eggs, pan integral (wheat bread) made at the local bakery, whole pineapple (for less than a dollar!), meat by the kilo, natilla (sour cream) and queso crema (cream cheese) from the Monteverde Cheese Factory. But then I find that I can’t live without Heinz Ketchup, Hellmann’s Mayonnaise, Cheerio’s, Jello-O Pudding Cups, Green Giant Niblets, Sour Cream and Onion Lays. Maybe that’s one of the reasons the party (or at least the culinary part of it) was a success. I started with Ran’s favorite cleaver (from his old days at Pao’s Mandarin House--- how I miss that place), a dash of love and mixed in my favorite Gringo ingredients to put out a spread that made our guests smile. (And chew and swallow.) I used one of our precious cans of Rotel and half a block of Velveeta (thanks Three Mikes and a Wendy) to make chili con queso. The queso was accompanied by Tostitos--- it’s not El Lago like we have in Austin but it was still pretty great. And I used one of our two Hidden Valley Ranch packets (thanks to Mom who brought them back from her last Austin trip) to make dip for the veggie tray. And of course no party of ours is complete without Korean chicken. The soy sauce came all the way from San Jose (we bought four bottles during that shopping expedition). Oh and I made my first ever crab dip thanks to Roland foods out of New York who makes and imports every product under the sun. For dessert Hershey and I got together to bake some chocolate chip blondies. And we must not forget the devilled eggs! Now those aren’t gringo, they’re just plain white trash.

Shannon and I were talking the other day and we agreed that if money was tight and it came down to toilet paper or frivolous food items, bathroom needs would certainly come second. I guess we’ve always had that attitude but now that we’re here it makes us crave those “tastes of home” even more. I talked with Tonya yesterday and she was telling me about her Mr. Gatti’s pizza order--- boy was I jealous! But I bet you guys are envious of our super sweet, crazy-cheap mangoes and melons, the ridiculously large green onions and the bunches of basil so big you would think they were spinach-- if you couldn’t smell them. And if you had ever been to Picante and had Ayal’s fat boy hamburger you would be pretty darn jealous of that too.

This move has been a gift. We’re learning about balance. One of the things we’re balancing is the tranquilo Tico lifestyle with the Gringo amenities. We’re actually finding how few of those amenities we really need. Funny, coming from Hawaii where we call white foreigners “haoles”, I find myself in Costa Rica where I am called Chinita or Morena but am also a Gringa. But this baby in my belly will be a Tico (don’t panic, Ran is the dad—by Tico I mean local). I think that’s a pretty good lesson in balance.

pura vida

Semana Santa

2005-03-25T17:42:00.000-08:00

It's Holy Week here and Ryan is off from school. We have been keeping busy by reading, going for walks and making her a superhero costume from felt. Ran has been working so we have gone to the hotel for dinner the past two nights. Ryan visits with guests and runs around like she owns the place. Go figure.

Seems like our trip to Hawaii was so long ago. A lot has happened since I left. My dad was admitted into and released from the hospital, followed by my mom. My grandma had to go in for a biopsy because her mammogram revealed a lump in her breast. It's hard being so far away from my family--- especially now that I have a family of my own. I am so grateful that Ryan and I were able to go home when we did, though.

I've always considered myself to be pretty lucky. Look at me, I have a wonderful husband, a cool kid and another active little one on the way. I have an incredible network of family and friends and I have three places to call home. After five months here, Costa Rica definitely feels like home. Then there's Austin, the rockin' city we have enjoyed for the previous 12 years. And of course there's Hawaii. I really want Ryan and her baby brother or sister to know all about the Aloha Spirit! Here in Costa Rica it's Pura Vida. In Austin it's Don't Mess With Texas, listen to some live music, eat lots of Tex-Mex and go to MGGTs!

Girls night (Colecta de Coquetas) is tonight. It's not MGGT but it'll be fun. I'm bringing chips and queso to represent the Austin me. And I think I'll wear a hibiscus behind my ear for the Hawaiian me. Tomorrow is Easter... have a hoppy one!

love you
a hui hou
pura vida

2005-03-25T17:36:00.000-08:00

Princess Ryan playing "Go Fish" with a guest.

2005-03-25T17:35:00.000-08:00

Ran making white wings at the Pension

2005-03-25T17:33:00.000-08:00

Nic and Deven

Sweet Jetlag

2005-03-20T14:34:00.000-08:00

I like jetlag. At the start of a trip jetlag indicates that it’s just the beginning of a whirlwind vacation. And at the end of a trip it means that you’re home at last. Ryan and I got back from our three-week trip last weekend and while we have physically recovered from the time change, our suitcases still seem to be suffering from jetlag. Today is the day, though--- today I will unpack!

Our vacation was great. It actually started on February 11 when Mike and Wendy arrived from Austin. Two days later Mike (from Austin) and Mike (from South Dakota) got up to Monteverde. We had so much fun hanging out with Three Mikes and a Wendy. We showed them around our cool little town, then headed down to the beach for fun in the sun. On Sunday February 20th, Ran headed back up to Monteverde while Ryan and I left for Alajuela with the two Mikes. The next day we got on a plane. We first went to LA, then Maui and finally to Hilo to see my family. Ryan had a ball. In LA she got to play with Collin who was born two weeks before her. She also got to admire Collin’s sweet baby brother, Evan. Collin and Evan are the sons of Jenny and Steve and I hadn’t seen them since before we all had kids. Jenny and I went to high school together and she and Steve met while Jenny was in college. On Maui, Ryan got to hang out with Jacob and Joy. Jacob turned 5 this month and Joy will be 3 on Easter. Ryan had fun playing with her friends and I enjoyed catching up with Kirstin and James. Kirstin and Ran went to middle school together in Austin. She ended up going to college in Hawaii and met her husband in law school there. (What a small world.) Kirstin took some time off of work and we ate (a lot) and hung out and enjoyed each others company. Then Ryan and I were off to Hilo. My parents were so excited to see us! We spent our time in Hilo eating (oh how I missed local food) and visiting and relaxing. Kirstin managed to come down for the weekend so we also squeezed in some shopping and manicures and pedicures. Ryan fed the goat and the pig which she thought was really cool. Naturally she was showered with gifts and I ended up buying more luggage so we could take it all home. We had a lot of fun but we were anxious to get home to Ran. When we got back (after a very long day of traveling), Ran asked Ryan what her favorite thing about her trip was. Her response was, “Coming home to see my daddy!”

So life is pretty much back to normal (except for the partially unpacked suitcases in the living room). Ryan enjoyed her first full week of school and I enjoyed spending my mornings at the Pension. This is the start of Semana Santa so she has this week off. Ryan wants to go horseback riding and to visit the snake farm. We don’t celebrate Easter with colored eggs and bunnies here but I managed to buy a couple of packs of Peeps in Hawaii. They’re sitting in one of the three suitcases that I swear I will unpack today.

My next doctor’s appointment is on the 29th. My tummy is growing rapidly and Baby is having a blast tap-dancing on my bladder. Yesterday Ryan and I were walking to her art class and came upon some tourists who were headed to the Cheese Factory. They deduced that I must live here since despite my big pregnant belly I was briskly walking and talking and wasn’t out of breath. And also because I said that the Cheese Factory was just a little way ahead and it seemed much farther than “a little way” to them. Living here has been good for us. I always thought we lived a pretty healthy lifestyle but this is stuff you don’t get by going to a gym. Come experience it for yourself!

pura vida

Embarazada

2005-02-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday! I’m 16 weeks pregnant today and the baby is doing great. We spent the weekend in San Jose and although Friday was a very long day because of the 5-hour bus ride and two doctors’ appointments, we had a good time. We had our first sonogram and we were glad to see ONE big, healthy, active baby. We didn’t find out the sex (just like with Ryan) so we’ll have a nice surprise when July rolls around. Baby is measuring a week bigger in size. He or she is in the 95 percentile for growth and besides being a big kid; everything looks good--- amniotic fluid level, movement, proportions, heartbeat, placement of the placenta. My pregnancy this time around has been a little different than with Ryan. I had a bit of nausea in the first trimester but it has subsided. I never threw up, fortunately, and the nausea was never too terrible. My stomach is definitely bigger than it was at this stage with Ryan but I feel good and I haven’t had any swelling, excessive weight gain or blood pressure issues. My babies are very good to me! From the looks of the ultrasound, we may have another thumb sucker on our hands. And we definitely have a mover, shaker and hiccuper! I wonder how alike or different Ryan and her brother or sister will be. Can we handle another chatty, fearless, bright and sassy wanna-be rock star? We may not have a choice!

Ryan is starting school soon. We’re going in tomorrow to sign the contract and put down the deposit. We have to pay for all of this month and next to hold Ryan’s spot but her first day will probably be March 14. (Ryan and I are going to Hawaii and we will be back on March 11.) We’re really excited about the school. She will have a bilingual education with an emphasis on the environment. The campus is 106 acres, 72% of which is virgin cloud forest. 23% of the land was at one time a pasture for dairy cows and it is in the process of being reforested by the school. So besides getting a formal education, Ryan (and someday her sibling) will learn about being ecologically aware. How cool is that?

We just got a car! I’m glad we won’t have to take the bus to San Jose for our doctor’s appointments anymore. And I’m sure I’ll be really glad to not have to take the bus when I head to San Jose to deliver the baby! Little by little we’re getting settled. We just hired a friend to build us some furniture, so at some point our house will feel like a home. We hope that at least some of the pieces are complete by the time Wendy and the three Mikes arrive this weekend. We’re so excited… they’re going to be our first visitors since we moved here on October 19. I guess we’ll spend a few days up here in Monteverde and then head to the beach (I’m going to prance around in a bikini and my big pregnant belly) for the rest of their stay. Then on Monday the 21st, Ryan and I leave for LA. We’ll be there for two nights, visiting my best friend from high school and her family. From there we head to Hawaii for a long-overdue visit. I’m really looking forward to seeing my family and our friends but poor Ran will spend nearly three weeks without us. Be sure to visit, email or call him while he’s playing lonely bachelor, okay?

Shannon’s friend, Deven, is visiting from New York for two months so he went to San Jose with us. We went to the mall but we didn’t do much shopping. We didn’t feel a sense of urgency to buy things since we’ll be back in San Jose this Friday to pick Mike and Wendy up from the airport. Mostly we ate. On Friday night we went to the Inca Grill for Peruvian food and on Saturday night we went to Samurai for Japanese food. Both restaurants are terrific. And of course I had to go to McDonald’s for a Big Mac and fries. It’s great being where we are because it’s so tranquilo (peaceful) but it’s also nice being just three hours (now that we have a car) from a major city. Besides tons of restaurants, there are also tons of shoe stores in San Jose and Escazu. You know I like that.

It’s another beautiful day here. I hope the weather holds up for Wendy and the Mikes. An agouti was walking through our yard this morning and Ryan came into the house with a butterfly on her finger. We’re all healthy and we have Hershey’s Kisses and leftover pizza in our refrigerator. Life is good.

pura vida

p.s. embarazada means pregnant, not embarrassed

Across the Border

2005-01-16T15:36:00.000-08:00

It's a beautiful Sunday in Nicaragua. Last week went by so quickly. We had dinner at the Pension a few nights. We finally got our internet connection at home on Thursday... yahoo! We were planning to leave for Nicaragua on Friday morning but we weren't able to get on the bus. Ran had gone in three times to buy tickets and kept being told not to worry about it, that there would be space. Well, we got up early on Friday and rushed to Santa Elena with our suitcase to make it to the ticket counter when they openend at 0545. And what do you know, there was just one seat left on the Tica bus! Needeless to say, Ran was livid. I managed to purchase three tickets for the following morning. Since we already had a housesitter, we opted to spend the night at the Pension so we wouldn't have to rush around again the following day.

The trip to Nicaragua took all day. We took the regular bus down from Monteverde (leaving at 0600) to Lagartos. That took about two hours-- to go 35K! Then we waited for the Tica Bus to pick us up. It's a big, fat bus with air conditioning, movies, a bathroom and a vendor selling food and drinks. It was very comfortable and the ride was pretty smooth. I was pleasantly surprised when we got to the border. But then it took a LONG time to get through immigrations at the border. The line was huge and it took about three hours or so to get our busload through. I got put in a special line so I was able to get all three of our passports stamped and then we sat around waiting. There certainly are benefits to being pregnant! Once we got to Nicaragua, we all had to get off with our bags and go through customs. Then we were back on the bus to Granada. By the time we got a taxi to our hotel (the Oasis--- a great place) it was 5:30 in the afternoon. We were tired and gritty and I, for one, was grouchy. Ran took Ryan swimming while I rested, then we ordered a pizza and went to bed.

This morning we got up early. Ryan and I took a quick swim (her favorite thing about Nicaragua so far), then we all sat down for a nice breakfast here at the hotel. We each had pancakes and a plate of fruit (watermelon, orange, pineapple, papaya, banana, cantelope). After breakfast we relaxed. Ryan and I took a nap (gotta love vacation) and then we headed out for a walk around town. Granada is a pretty city. Our camera is on the blink so we'll have to come back to take pictures. We had lunch at an Italian place and on our way back to the hotel (for more swimming with Ryan, of course) we stopped and bought a super-sweet pineapple for 12 cords-- less than a dollar. And here we are. Ryan and I are at side-by-side computer terminals and Ran is talking with some guys. Tonight we're going to check out a Mediterranean restaurant and tomorrow (after pancakes and fruit) we are heading to the open market which I hear is HUGE. We will leave on Tuesday and hopefully it won't take us all day to get back to Costa Rica.

Life is good!

pura vida

Happy New Year

2005-01-12T06:58:00.000-08:00

Happy 2005! Ran and I are celebrating our 14th anniversary next week. Ran, Ryan and I are heading to Nicaragua this weekend (which I hear is beautiful--- I’m excited that I get to find out for myself). Last week we (including Bodi) went to San Jose. We took the bus there (5 hour ride) and Ryan was great. We’re lucky she’s such a terrific traveler. We went to San Jose for two reasons: 1) to go to the doctor and 2) to shop ‘til we drop. We all really like my doctor. She is a Costa Rican woman who did her medical training at Baylor. In case you don’t know why I had to go to the doctor, it’s because I’m 12 weeks pregnant! The baby is due on July 25th. We heard the heartbeat at this visit and next month we will have a sonogram. So far we don’t plan to find out the sex of the baby (just like with Ryan). We’re all looking forward to the newest Smith and Ryan is going to be a terrific big sister.

The shopping in San Jose is great! We went to Hipermas which is kind of like a Super Target, then to the Multiplaza in Escazu (one of the largest malls I have seen--- way bigger than any in Austin) and to PriceSmart which is a membership store like Costco or Sam’s. I certainly got my shopping fix for the month but I will be ready for round two by the time we have to go back. We were able to buy things for the hotel as well as lots of stuff for ourselves… cotton towels, 400 thread count sheets, soy sauce, microwave, toaster oven, Pyrex pan, cream of mushroom soup, shoes for Ryan, dog toys, maternity clothes. Bodi even bought us a Mixmaster as a belated Christmas gift! I didn’t realize how large San Jose is. The population is about 1.5 million and you’ll find fast food restaurants (I ate at McDonald’s twice; maybe next time I’ll hit Subway or Burger King) as well as other corporate chains there (Outback Steakhouse, Office Depot, Osh Kosh B’gosh). We even bought Ryan a Cali Girl Barbie complete with Hang Ten shop as a reward for being so great on our whirlwind shopping trips.

So let’s talk about the pregnancy. Ryan loves looking at “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” to see what the baby looks like at each stage. I am showing more than I was with Ryan (I know that’s hard to believe) but I am still at my pre-pregnancy weight. I guess it’s the healthy lifestyle here. Good thing I don’t live in San Jose because I’d have way more access to junk food. I had nausea and heartburn with this baby which isn’t very fun. But that seems to have passed for the most part and now I can just enjoy having my belly button pop out. I went to the bank the other day (there’s only one in this town). The line was all the way to the door and the security guard asked me if I’m pregnant and moved me to the front of the line! So maybe it’s a good thing to start showing early.

All in all, life is good. We’ve been here for 13 weeks. Being a hotel owner is the ideal job for Ran. Ryan loves being a part of it too. We’re slowly getting work and life in order and it’s another beautiful day in Monteverde. Next week we have our first girls night and I think I will call the Monteverde version of MGGT “Colecta de Coquetas” (gathering of flirts). More to come…

Pura Vida

Countdown to the New Year

2004-12-26T15:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Christmas. It was a beautiful day in Monteverde. The puppy (his name is now Squirt) didn’t wake us up through the night so we actually slept for the first time since we got him on December 3rd. Ryan woke up at 7:30 declaring it Christmas day so we got out of bed to see if Santa had come during the night. Although we didn’t have a Christmas tree this year (we don’t have a chimney either) he still managed to find us. Ryan got some toys and mints (her favorite) and a tree swing. The swing is so much fun!

We opened gifts and had a relaxing morning. Then Ran pushed Ryan on her swing while I made breakfast. I had a hankering for breakfast tacos (I’ve never even seen flour tortillas— lots of corn, though). I’ve discovered in the short time we’ve lived here that you either live without the things you miss or you figure out a way to make them (or have someone ship ‘em--- thanks girls!). So I made my first ever flour tortillas and we had bacon, egg and cheese tacos. They were great!

After a leisurely morning, Ran left for the Pension. Ryan and I stayed at home to relax and clean up. I spent the afternoon making rice krispie treats, deviled eggs and chocolate cakes (from scratch… I have become a crazy dessert lady). After Ryan’s nap we got dolled up and headed to the Pension with our food and gifts for the Christmas party. It was a huge success! Ran grilled a bunch of meat (with his fantastic secret dry rub) which was the hit of the night. Everyone pitched in with food (mashed potatoes, salad, pasta salad, veggie lasagna…) or money or dishwashing help. All of the employees as well as many friends and guests were there. We had a Secret Santa gift exchange and it was such a fun night. The surprise of the evening was that Daniel’s family (dad, mom, brother, sister-in-law and two nieces) came from Cartago without telling anyone they were coming! They brought gifts and tamales and desserts and were so nice. I wish we spoke more Spanish since they don’t speak any English.

Ran went to work early today. Now he’s doing a canopy tour with Daniel and his brother and sister-in-law, then he’ll go back to work. Ryan is walking around in my shoes and a feather boa and singing to herself. Tonight we’re going to the Pension for dinner (Ran’s grilling the rest of the meat) and a fire show. Ro is a guy who works at the Pension. He spins fire poi balls and two guests at the hotel happen to as well. It should be an interesting night!

Here the supermarket closes at 8. There’s just one gas station. I can’t get a cheesesteak or Chinese food or a real hamburger. But it’s beautiful here and we’re spend a lot of time walking and playing outside. I’m learning to make my own tortillas and the other day I made a sandwich that would give any deli a run for its money. And there are so many great people in this town. We have always believed that it takes a village to raise a child. We had it in Austin and somehow we lucked out again. I can’t wait for you to come experience the tuanis (cool) lifestyle in Monteverde!

Pura Vida

Eight Days 'Til Christmas...

2004-12-17T09:13:00.000-08:00

... and we're not ready for it! Our house looks a bit more festive, though. Lorena bought us the last strand of garlands in town as well as some Christmas dish towels and an oven mitt. I hung up our stockings and bought a lighted ball ornament at the supermarket. The supermarket is pretty big and you can buy everything there… shoes, underwear, dishes, clocks. The interesting thing is that there’s not a single roll of wrapping paper! All paper is sold in individual sheets. Or you can buy gift bags. Not that it really matters… we haven’t done any shopping yet anyway. Ran did mention that he wants a basketball so hope I can find one at our local department store, Vistosi.

We’re going to try to make it to Cartago for Christmas Eve with Daniel’s family. Then we will be back for Christmas at the Pension with our group of friends. We’re going to have a Secret Santa gift exchange and a nice big dinner. Tamales are the traditional Costa Rican Christmas dish. I hope to have some of those as well as a nice, fat turkey. We’re going to miss your green bean casserole this year, Ryder.

The weeks keep flying by. Ryan had fun at the farm on Wednesday. She played with the bunnies and was so happy to see Cotton Candy Ho again. Then she and Tara rode the ponies and played. When we got home she took a nice, long nap, then we met Ran, Bodi, Shannon, Daniel, and Samantha for dinner at my favorite restaurant, Sofia’s.

We were without a phone the other day. I was talking to Shannon and the line went dead… Clara bit right through the phone cord! And I thought we’d have to worry about the new puppy chewing on things. The puppy is no longer called Brownie Kacrownie. His name changed to Dragon for a couple of days, then Sugar Bear, and now Copper. I think we’re sticking with Copper. (Although “Whiner” would fit him quite well also.) It's hectic having four pets. Maile is the same trouble-making sweetheart she has always been. Moki is his demanding and loveable old self. Copper is loud, loud, loud and frisky! And then there's Clara. Sticking with the theme of mischevious pets, she breaks out of her cage every day. She chews and scratches at the door until the latch loosens, then she pushes it open and runs around the house. This morning she jumped right into bed with me at 5:30 this morning (Ran was already at work). It kind of freaked me out since I didn’t know she could jump that high. But she snuggled right under my arm and started licking me. When I moved my arm, she put her head on my pillow and started licking my face. Before we got Clara I had no idea that rabbits can be such sweet pets with so much personality. I'm trying to get all four pets together (with Ryan) for a Christmas photo but I haven't been able to work that miracle yet.

Yesterday was our last day at CPI. School won’t resume until February so we had a little party in our classroom and invited the two other classes and Samantha (the director… she also works at the Pension two days/week). We played hangman and ate snacks. Then we talked about our holiday plans. It was a fun night.

Ryan and I are going to art class on Saturday and a Christmas program at the Friend's School on Sunday. Ran will be working all weekend and Shannon is in Nicaragua for three days. Then next week Bodi, Ryan and I will head to San Jose to do some shopping. I'll probably be able to post a blog before Christmas but in case I don't... hope it's wonderful! Miss you all!

pura vida

Life goes on...

2004-12-13T09:49:00.000-08:00

We’re still a four-pet family. Unfortunately Clara never accepted Cotton Candy Ho so we had to return her. She has been welcomed back to her bunny family at the farm where we bought her and all is well. But now we have a new pet… a little brown puppy that Ryan has named Brownie Kacrownie. I am reading to Ryan as I type this and her words were, “And I love him so much it makes me want to have another dog.” Ran, being the sucker that he is, took Brownie Kacrownie in because a man was going to throw him away—literally! So while Ryan and I were at the grocery store, Ran was being persuaded by someone at the Pension to save the puppy. Brownie is 7 weeks old and he’s pretty sweet. Maile and Moki aren’t so sure about him but he and Clara seem to get along just fine.

Yesterday was our day to see wildlife! Ran saw a toucan in the morning and we all saw a bunch of capuchin monkeys in the afternoon. Then we saw two female quetzals. All of this took place in our back yard! The monkeys are so cute until they bear their teeth… then they look pretty darn intimidating.

The hotel continues to be full every day. Ryan really enjoys hanging out with the guests. Shannon took a trip to San Jose and bought some Christmas decorations so the Pension looks nice and festive. We don’t have any decorations at home, though. We brought our stockings with us so I’m going to hang them today. I can’t believe that Christmas is two weeks away! I hope to take a trip to San Jose next week to do a bit of shopping.

We’ve had a guest for the past few days. Lorena just got back from a month-long vacation visiting her family in the U.S. and she and her live-in boyfriend broke up. So she’s staying with us until she moves into a new apartment. Ryan loves having a house guest, of course.

We had a pretty full weekend. Lorena got here on Friday afternoon so we got her settled, then went to dinner at Flor de Vida, a vegetarian restaurant in walking distance from our house. (They have the best tomato gorgonzola soup.) On Saturday Ran went on a three-hour horseback ride. He had a great time and came home with a sore bottom. Ryan, Lorena and I went to art class. Ryan made a Christmas card and an ornament. Then we stopped at Lazy Frog--- a coffee shop and gallery. Ryan played with a bunch of the kids that were at art class and I bought her a cool sweater. I magically found one bottle of Tostito’s queso at the little grocery store near our house so we added tomatoes and peppers to it and indulged in cheese and chips! Then Ran came home with some pizza for dinner. On Sunday Ran went to work for a while and us gals went to an open house at Bromelia’s. It’s a gallery that has jewelry, clothing, books, music, aromatherapy--- all kinds of cool stuff. They also do massage therapy and yoga there. I bought some lip balm and eucalyptus oil. Ryan played with one of the owner’s sons—a little cutie named Kyle who is 5 days younger than Ryan. They are so alike that we (the parents) were laughing that the kids had met their match. We came home and Ryan took a nap, then we went to a birthday party at Moon Shiva, a restaurant/bar. There was a bonfire outside and a DJ inside and tons of people everywhere. Ryan, being the true party girl, ate cake and danced all night. She slept in until almost 10 today which was very nice!

It’s another beautiful day in Monteverde. Ran and Lorena are at work. Ryan and I had a Cheerios for breakfast and we’ll probably clean the house and go for a walk. I’ve got to go into the village (Santa Elena) today to get some craft things so we can make some Christmas decorations. On Wednesday Ryan and I are going to visit Sabine and Tara. We’re going on a horseback ride, then we’ll play with the bunnies (they now have 40), and Ryan really wants to milk the goat.
It’s the last week of classes at CPI before winter break. We might go to visit Daniel’s family in Cartago for Christmas. It’ll have to be a quick turnaround trip since the hotel is always open. Daniel has been taking English classes at CPI and he is doing so well! Last night at the party Ran gave a toast to Shannon and Daniel because they are getting married in January! Of course Ran cried as he called Daniel his brother and friend. And Daniel went to hug him and said (in English), “My friend, my brother, my life.” It was so touching and even kind of funny because you’d think Ran and Daniel were getting married the way they were hugging! So life keeps goes on in Monteverde. This is an awesome community and we are so blessed to be a part of it. Can’t wait ‘til you get here!

Pura vida

Some Things Change, Some Things Stay the Same

2004-11-30T18:32:00.000-08:00

Today I was making soup for lunch. (That’s a new one, isn’t it?) As I was cleaning up the potato and carrot peels, I saw a huge tarantula on the kitchen floor next to the garbage can. Usually when I see an insect that creeps me out I put a glass over it and wait for Ran to come home and free it. Well, a glass wouldn’t fit on this sucker so I got a colander and put it over Mr. T and got out of the kitchen. That thing gives me the shivers!

Yesterday I went to the grocery store. I’m getting used to buying meat by the kilo instead of the pound. I also went to the department store to buy some fabric to make curtains for Ryan’s bedroom (we’ll see how that works--- I may just pay someone to sew them for me). I had to remember to measure her windows in meters instead of feet. I’m still converting colones to dollars in my head whenever I shop so I can figure out how much I’m paying!

We finally got a Monteverde phone book. All of the emergency numbers (including 911) are on the first page but it’s a lot easier to navigate than the Austin phone book since it’s just twenty pages long. Some of our friends don’t even have a phone at home. I guess I shouldn’t find dial-up internet access so archaic when I take that into consideration.

Ran and Daniel are in Puntarenas today. They’re shopping for things for the Pension that we can’t get here (or we’d have to pay a lot more for because we’re up here). I hope that Ran will also pick up some hangers and pillows and maybe even a blanket. And a doll for Ryan. There isn’t much to shop for here. I know I keep saying it… it’s true! But this weekend there’s a craft fair at the Friends School. Maybe I’ll find some cool knick knacks or Christmas gifts. I need to get to know more of the community because I think the way to get “stuff” (besides traveling to San Jose or “the States”--- I can’t stand that expression because people would always use it while visiting Hawaii, forgetting that they were in one of “the States”—but enough about me and my issues), is to have people make them for us. Like cool shirts for Ran or sheets that aren’t scratchy and too small for the bed.

Maile is having fun chasing the wildlife and getting into the trash… same old Maile. Yesterday we had at least 20 pizotes in our yard digging through our organics. (Here everything organic gets put out in the compost pile--- not just veggies and fruit. Maile was freaking out so I wouldn’t let her outside. Being the dog she is, she jumped through the window and chased them away. Yesterday and today we also saw an agouti in our yard. It’s an R.O.U.S. (rodent of unusual size--- like in The Princess Bride but not as ferocious). Ryan loves to run outside and look at all of the animals and bugs. She thinks the tarantula is really cool. Thank goodness I’m not raising this child alone… otherwise she’d be a wimp who puts a glass over insects instead of picking them up, declaring them beautiful.

We still haven’t decided if we’re keeping Cotton Candy Ho, Ryan’s new bunny. Clara doesn’t like her and doesn’t look like she’s planning to change her feelings. We aren’t willing to have two bunny cages so they’ll have to learn to tolerate each other (and hopefully eventually love each other) or CCH goes back. In the meantime, Ryan is loving being in a four-pet family. She’s our little Elmyra--- she defines “smother with love”.

Well, there’s no Rotel or Velveeta or soy sauce or canned soup or comfy pillows here. But fear not! When you get here you’ll find: Hershey’s syrup, Pillsbury cake mix, good coffee, great folks, a terrific lifestyle and the Smith gang waiting to show you a good time. Some things never change…

Pura vida

Real Life Has Begun

2004-11-27T14:24:00.000-08:00

Well, we’re hotel owners. It took such a long time to get here but we’re thrilled. Ryan worked with Ran for an hour yesterday while I did the grocery shopping for our party. Ryan likes to sit at the reception desk and deliver her standard line, “Do you need anything?”

The party was a success. I was surprised that so many people came. I made Korean chicken (always a big hit), potato salad (thanks, Tonya and Erma) and seven-layer dip (hooray, Teeny). Sabine brought homemade goat cheese… very yummy! I also baked a chocolate cake which was well-received since ovens are rare in Costa Rica. Ryan gathered everyone together so we could sing happy birthday to Ran.

Our house here is spacious enough but we don’t have any furniture yet so the typical thing happened: everyone gathered around the food table, then went outside to hang out and talk. The boys built a fire at the beginning of the evening so it was nice to sit around it as we enjoyed the full moon. Ryan had several costume changes and was a wonderful hostess.

So now it’s Saturday morning. Clara is sitting on my lap (licking my arm) as I type and Ryan is beside me reading me a story in Spanglish. Ryan is getting her second bunny today--- a white one--- and she said she is going to name her Cotton Candy Ho (maybe we can call her Candy or CC or Cotton Candy). Ran is working all day so Ryan and I are going to hang out this morning and do some post-party cleaning. She has art class this afternoon and we’ll head to the Pension tonight to meet Ran after work.

Thanksgiving was uneventful (except for the phone calls) but I think we’ll be able to have a semi-normal Christmas. (I’m going to start decorating the Pension next week.) Of course we’ll have to go out of town to shop for gifts since there’s nothing to buy here… you’ll see when you come.

Well, we can’t wait to see you all! Time to eat a piece of cake. Aah, the good life…

Pura vida

Afternoon update: Clara doesn't seem to like Cotton Candy Ho. Maybe it's the name that turned her off--- she took a huge bite out of Candy's backside. I spent some time applying antibiotic ointment on the wound and we'll just have to see what happens next. Poor CCH must be miserable. I'll keep you posted on life at the Smith farm.

Lucky Me

2004-11-24T13:41:00.000-08:00

I wrote this on November 19 and it's for my family... you know who you are.

My husband, daughter, dog, cat and I have been living in a foreign country for a month… to the day. We’re going through a chaotic transition and it’s during times like these that I depend most on my family. When I say family I don’t just mean the people I am related to by blood or marriage. I also mean the family that I have chosen… my family of friends.

The blessing of friendship is one that I have an abundance of. And at a time when I need my family of friends the most, I find that I am without some of the communication comforts that I have become accustomed to. I can’t see my friends every day or every week or every month at girls’ night. I can’t get online and send corny emails whenever the fancy strikes. I can’t pick up the phone without first purchasing a long-distance calling card. But somehow I am happy. And I feel lucky to have such an amazing network of strong, beautiful, intelligent, supportive people thousands of miles away. Because they are a short distance from my mind… right here in my heart.

pura vida...

nic

We don't need no stinkin' humidifier!

2004-11-10T15:59:00.000-08:00

The bad news is that I have been out of touch. Ran has been working a lot and Ryan has been sick (nothing to be alarmed about... just a cold). But the good news is that we're getting settled and enjoying life here. I hope to have internet access at home next week. It'll be dial-up and on the same phone line as the home phone. It could take a year (I'm not kidding) to get a second phone line. Either way it's only 56k but I'll just be glad to not have to leave the house to check my email or post a blog.

A quick recap... Ryan had a great birthday. She rode a pony and got a beautiful brown bunny that she named Clara. We spent a couple to days at Los Lagos and saw the volcano. Ran has been working a lot. I have only been working a little. Very little. It's kind of like Austin! I'm going on a tour of the coffee plantation for the co-op job tomorrow. The coffee co-op is in walking distance from our house. And tomorrow night I start my teaching job. I will be teaching English at CPI (google it) on Tuesday and Thursday nights. It's also in walking distance. This walking thing has been great for my lungs as well as my waistline!

We moved into our house on the 2nd. It needs love and furniture but we're excited about it. It's close enough to everything to be convenient but far enough away to be tranquilo (peaceful). We have seen all kinds of wildlife in our yard... even a river crab at our front door! The other day there were 15 pizotes in our yard... they're kind of like raccoons I think. And the birds and butterflies are incredible. And the foliage too. And the sunsets. I could go on and on. It's pretty wild living up in the clouds. Everything is very moist. We have to paint the walls with mold-resistant paint. Our cement floors sweat when it's cold and rainy because of the humidity. We miss you all and we're going to have so much fun showing you our new home! Don't forget to bring house shoes and a sweater.

More to come... especially once we have internet access at home!

pura vida

Miercoles... yep that's Spanish!

2004-10-27T11:45:00.000-07:00

I think today is Wednesday. It's hard to keep track since I am still feeling like I'm in some kind of whirlwind... or cloud forest. We were supposed to go to Spanish class today but our teacher forgot so we sat at her house with her son for 40 minutes before giving up and heading to breakfast. Guess what I had... rice and beans with eggs and ham and cheese. Yep, my heartburn is gone and my appetite is back. Last night Ryan, Ran, Shannon, Daniel and I went to an awesome restaurant called Sofias. We'll all have to go there when you visit. On Monday night Shannon and I went out to Taberna and shook our booties a little. It was fun!

Today Ryan and I took a taxi to our future new home. We gave our landlord our deposit and we should be moving in at the beginning of November. The first is Ryan's birthday and we are going to pick out her bunny. Daniel is building the bunny hutch and Ryan is going to be thrilled. We walked to the co-op after visiting with our landlord. Ryan fell twice. She'll have to get used to the rocky roads--- gotta pay attention to where you're going around here. I met with Lorena and we talked about my new job which I start next week. I'll be making coffee and telling people about the co-op. Their website is under construction but you can find out about it www.texascoffeetraders.com . Funny how things are so inter-related.

We are going on a two-day vacation to Los Lagos. We'll be taking a taxi-boat-taxi ~it's just what it sounds like it is~ and we'll go to the volcano, swim in hot pool, etc. We're looking forward to it!

Ryan is being great singing as I type this blog at an internet cafe. I don't want to push my luck, though. We're still stressed out from the transition but we are glad to be here. I'm still trying to figure out what everything is at the grocery store and I continue to look for things that don't exist... like a can of cream of mushroom soup. We bought Ryan bandaids with dragons and dinosaurs on them. She keeps falling down but she's a tough chick.

My time is up. Ryan said she needs to go potty. Our Spanish is getting better little by little and we're looking forward to taking Spanish classes. Daniel ~ Shannon's boyfriend~ starts English class on the 1st. (Oh, I finally found parentheses on the keyboard... yahoo!) Oh and I've been offered a job teaching English. We'll have to see if I can juggle Ran's schedule at the Pension with Ryan being at home and me having two part-time jobs.

So much to tell, so little time. More to come...

pura vida

Looks Like We Made It

2004-10-20T14:02:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are in Costa Rica. It's hard to believe that we live here now. Considering how much stress we went through to get here, you'd think this would feel more real than it does! Our flight was a breeze-- Ryan was awesome on the plane-- and we got through customs very quickly. We spent last night at a pretty hotel in Alajuela and we came up to the village early today. We're exhausted but thrilled.

I have had heartburn for four days but I think it is finally subsiding. We're going check out some houses tomorrow and Ryan will go look at her school next week. Reality will kick in soon, I'm sure. It's a beautiful day today... life is good.

I'll have to get used to going to an internet cafe for a while since we don't have access at home and we are not likely to get it any time soon. I'll keep you all posted!

On Our Way

2004-10-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

At this time next week we will be on a plane heading to Costa Rica! Reality is setting in and I am getting excited and sad. We're going to miss our family, friends, home, food... so many things! But I know we will have tons of visitors (hint hint) and just think of all the cool stuff we'll get to show you. Ran and I are celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary the day after we arrive and we are looking forward to the new life we have ahead of us. Ryan will be four soon and as you all know she is really wanting a baby brother or sister. We're planning to get her a bunny for her birthday (don't tell her---it's a surprise). The sibling and pony will just have to come later.

So what will I miss? Besides my village, my peeps, my ohana, mi gente? Well, I'll also miss English reading material, queso, high-speed internet, MGGTs, going out to eat, quick trips to the mall just in case there's something waiting there for me that I didn't know I'd been missing. And I imagine that, at least on occasion, I'll miss speaking English and having everyone generally understand me. But you wanna know what I'm most looking forward to? Having a cool, bilingual kid(s). Living in a rain forest again. Sleeping through the night (it's all about the little things). Meeting new people. Really knowing what pura vida means.

More to come...
Nic
www.pensionsantaelena.com