costarica4

September 3, 2002
       Don't I always promise to write more often and then don't? Well again, much has happened since the last time I wrote. Shayla and her mom came to visit and that was great! We went out a couple of times. Had a girls night at Tragaldabas, went shopping and celebrated Fernando's birthday on the 21st of July. Which happens to be the same night as another big turning point. After a very unfortunate disagreement Emily and Steven end things and Emily decides to go back to the states. So 3 weeks later (August 19) Emily leaves me to head home. I really don't know how things are going with her because she's been keeping herself very busy and I haven't had the chance to talk with her or get any e-mails. But I know things are good. Talking to my parents later that same night that Emily arrived, Fernando and I were at my house and he wanted to ask my parents something. We had talked about it before and I wasn't sure how we were going to tell my parents but Fernando surprised us all and got on the phone and simply told my parents, if it was ok with them, if they'd be his In-laws. Well that obviously only happens one way...marrying thier daughter. So......I'm getting hitched! Sounds so grown-up and serious but it's going to be alot of fun. No flowers, no dress, no sappy music or cliche unity candles (no offense to you romantics out there!) Just a bunch of friends sitting around at a neighbors house to witness our vows and then some munchies and we'll head out to start our all nighter at a near by club (el Pueblo) Ps. the whole thing doesn't begin till 11:30pm. Ahhhh anyway surprise surprise. There's a good chance we'll be heading back to Oregon in Jan. So keep your fingers crossed!
    On the work front things are also going well. It's about time for another little raise so let's hope that happens soon! I love my students, many of which, are going to be at the 'wedding'. We have alot of fun and I've learned that sitting around gossiping with one of my classes, I've created a beginners english class that speaks and understands english more fluently than any of the other classes I have, some of which are 3rd year students. Anywho, I better get going! Check out pics of Fernando and I and my new bleached blonde hair. Oh yeah! I went to the Doctor today and I've lost almost 30lbs. since I moved here! SWEET!

November 21, 2002
    October was a whirlwind of a month. On the 11th my mom came to visit. That was something I never thought I'd see. But there she was!!! It was really great even though we ended up spending the first week she was here sitting at home mostly. On Saturday the 19th was the big day! I didn't think I'd be nervous but I think if I would have been just calm enough to feel any part of my body I would have thrown-up on myself. Fernando spent the day running last minute errends and I wandered around in a daze while my future sister-in-law and a neighbor fought with eachother about which hidiously corney decorations should go where, if we should serve the food on white plates or gold plates, how many balloons to put up in the room, where the chairs should go... and if anyone had bothered to ask ME, the bride herself, I would have just told them I had planned to toss a couple of folding chairs into any corner of the room and let the people eat chips directly out of the bags. But as it turned out, all the attention to detail and fussing that everyone else did resulted in a beautiful party that was very exciting and so incredibly fun that we had people telling us it was a better wedding than any of the one's they'd been to where they spent thousands of dollars and a year planning. It started around 7pm, Fernando and I wore all black. Shirts that said 'Bride' on mine and 'Groom' on his, black pants some really great red knee high boots that he bought me and a veil that I myself made for under $2.50 and it looked better than anything in the stores. (Laureen, you'd be proud!) We greeted everyone, Erik read a passage from the bible that he'd picked out for us, read the paperwork, the kiss and we had decided to exchange jade braclets instead of rings for something different. Jade represents a whole lot of very positive and wonderful things and we thought that would be something really special. We ate, we danced to cumbia, salsa, merengue and Elvis. We visited, laughed with friends I got wedding cake shoved up my nose we had an all around great time. Around midnight we headed to El Pueblo to go dancing at Coco Loco. Fully dressed in our black wedding gear. We got in for free, they gave us free drinks, made us get on stage to take shots of some strange red liquor and kiss. But I have to say that the best part of the whole night was as we were leaving. Yes the stares and whispers and high fives from strangers were fun but as we walked out of the complex we came up right behind Fernando's most recent ex-girlfriend. As we walked past her, her face lit up as she recognized Fernando and said hi. One of those high screechy girly 'oh my god I can't believe it's you' Hi's. Of course, mid 'hi' she realized what she was seeing and the look and 'hi' of happy surprise turned in to a scream and look of utter terror. The majority of the female Costa Rican population despise Gringas. It was THEE most gratifying moment of my life thus far. And unless you've ever felt that slam-dunk feeling against a rival that sentence might sound really pathetic. But I still get a warm fuzzy feeling every time I think about that...' Fernando, HIIIIIIIIOOOHHHHHH MY GOD!!!!!!!!' ha ha ha ha ha
Ok, moving on. Sunday Fer and I spent at the house in 3Rios and my mom stayed at Fer's house. We packed a bunch of stuff and brought it to his house for Monday which began our 3 day trip to the canals of Tortugero in Limon. Amazing! It rained alot and the only turtles we saw was a dead baby. Mom scared the crab away that was carying it home for dinner and I shooed the flies that were on it and she took a picture of it anyway. So if she shows you that picture don't let her make you think it's still alive!!!!! Wed. we came home. Friday we went to Isla Tortuga and saw dolphins on the way to the island. Mom left for the states on Monday. The same day I was compleatly moved out of the 3Rios house and at Fernandos. Which is where I am now. More later!

May 6, 2003
After all these months, we thought we'd almost be home for dad's birthday. Any day now we should be able to pick up Fernando's visa from the Embassy, and be able to use the plane tickets (the ones we kind of already have on hold for us.) Our bags are packed we're just waiting for the ok. Keep praying!