My first few days have been great! I am learning a ton of Spanish and classes haven't even started. I was placed in a higher spanish that i was originally put into it will be a big challenge. Right now its almost midnight and i have class tomorrow at 8 so i will make this short.

This is my tica (Costa Rican) Mom and another student studying at the school who lives with me.

My tica mama is AMAZING, she is so sweet and so patient with us. I have a million more things to say but i have school at 8 tomorrow and it is now 12:15! Tomorrow will bring full explanations and more pictures.

North Carolina

I have decided I really don't like flying. The air is so annoying and it gives me a sore throat. There is no way i can ever sleep sitting up and between two strangers. So I was too nervous to sleep Friday night and I'm about 1000x more nervous now, so sleep is out of the question. I am currently sitting at the Charlotte airport all by myself feeling exhausted. Although I have to admit there is something empowering about traveling alone, I wish I had just one other person to share this with. Its finally starting to sink in that I will be gone for three months. In my mind this is just a short trip, but I have ten weeks until I can sleep in my own bed. Right now my biggest fears are of losing my baggage and someone forgetting to pick me up at the airport. UGhhhhhh we'll see if either of those happen in about 6.5 hours.

2 days!

After working my butt off this summer i have somehow managed to save 1500 dollars, pay off my credit cards, and pay back the majority of a 1800$ car repair. I have no idea how but it feels excellent to be done. If anyone hears of a job that pays more that 9 dollars an hour, i am NOT working at the pool next summer.

So the day i have been ignoring and dreading has finally come too close to be oblivious to. In exactly 60 hours i will be flying out of Portland to an even rainy-er (sp.?) location. See the forecast below. Amazing.

San Jose, Costa Rica

High Low (°F)	Precip. %
Today Sep 23		Scattered T-Storms	77°/56°	60 %
Fri Sep 24		Heavy T-Storms	77°/57°	80 %
Sat Sep 25		Heavy T-Storms	80°/60°	70 %
Sun Sep 26		Heavy T-Storms	80°/60°	70 %
Mon Sep 27		T-Storms	81°/60°	70 %
Tue Sep 28		T-Storms	81°/59°	70 %
Wed Sep 29		Scattered T-Storms	81°/60°	60 %
Thu Sep 30		Scattered T-Storms	81°/61°	60 %
Fri Oct 01		Scattered T-Storms	81°/61°	60 %
Sat Oct 02		Scattered T-Storms	81°/61°	60 %

62 days before i leave - 146 days until i come home

Fear Level : Moderate

My very first blog post must explain why you are reading a blog titled "Costa Rica Bound" (I am not creative). In the fall I am studying abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica at a small school called Universidad de Veritas. I would never follow through with something like this on my own, thankfully this is required for my Spanish major, forcing me to leave my comfort zone. I have been studying Spanish since high school but it was never a passion until I began taking classes in college. Learning a second language can open up sooo many doors, not just for a career, but to people you are able to interact with. As a career, my goal is to become an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher in an elementary or middle school. Right now I am about 1/4 fluent and I have taken all of the classes that teach Spanish at George Fox. Ahhh!!! This is what I hope to get out of this trip...

1. Learn Spanish

2. Come home

3. Come home!!!!!

Did I mention I am not very adventurous?