"If you look at the map, you're only an inch away..."

Cheers from frozen Waynesvegas!  I'm one week away from my Costa Rican Adventure, and there's a mixture of fear and excitment.  I'm super stoked to be leaving the sub-zero temps, frozen streets, and snowy yards of WNC, but my departure is bittersweet.  I'll miss my friends and family dearly from the tropical shores of Manuel Antonio!

Friday, I'll be driving down with Logan and Richard.  We're going to see the Killers on Friday night!!  Woohoo!  Then they'll be hangin around the ATL as I get things done, and then it's off to Costa Rica on Sunday.  

I fly from Atlanta to Charlotte, and Charlotte to San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport, getting off at SJO, going through customs, finding a shuttle transfer to Tobias Bolanos International Airport, hopping on another plane to Quepos (a whoppin 25 minute flight...though probably the most nerve wracking of the three), and finally a cab to Manuel Antonio...all before 5 pm.  Should be crazy!

I have to do all of my traveling in one day, because our orientation program starts early Monday morning!!  

Our classes are at least six hours a day, and weekends are free for the most part!  Hopefully there will be a couple people who'll want to travel around or enjoy the adventures that the M.A. area has to offer!  

Hopefully Karyn, Cassy, Nat, Kelsey... will all come visit!!  

Well that's about all for now.  The next time I write anything on her, I'll be posting from Costa Rica!!!  Hopefully there are no big snaffoos in my travel plans!!  Adios for now!!  Como se dice "Peace Out" en Espanol??  Haha!!  

Cassy, Richard, and Logie... I'll miss you all sooooo much!!  See you in 6 weeks!!

Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey...

-Fitzhugh Mullan

I've had my share of potholes this year.  I don't feel the need to go into them here on the internet...that's creepy...those who need to know already know.

So...Costa Rica...who knew?

I applied for and got into a TEFL international program in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica!  I'll be studyin and working hard for a month, and then traveling for a bit afterward.  

I've never lived at the beach.  

I know that sand gets annoying after a couple of days of being COVERED in it, so it should be interesting to see how long the novelty of livin on the beach lasts.  

I wonder if Fitzhugh Mullan ever traveled to Costa Rica, because the roads are FULL of potholes... so, following his advice, I'm sure my journey of 3.5 hours from San Jose to Manuel Antonio will be very celebratory.  They asked if I'd like to rent a car...my answer... NOPE!  I still have very graphic flashbacks to that very road...it looked a little like this... 

"Bridge of Doom" 

...and I remember seeing things under and around aforementioned bridge that looked like this...

Not Good...

So the car is right out for the time being.  

Apparently there are one or two other WVU grads heading down to Manuel Antonio too!!  

Ironic, since there are only 15 spots in the program!  

I'm excited to surf, SCUBA, fish, and tour around!  My experiences with Costa Rica have been limited to one (truly amazing) trip with four other staff members and 6 fabulously AD/HD children.  Kids open your eyes to things you might miss otherwise, but it'll be nice to skip the head counts and exchange the strenuously strict travel schedule for a more leisurely...er...flexible...er...well, equally strenuous educational schedule.  

I'm going to try to be good about posting about my travels, so my friends and family can keep up with me and my crazy travels.  One of my goals before I leave is to get a digital camera so I can share pictures as well as stories (the ones here are from my N75...old school!!).  Grandmama and Grandaddy got a new computer...Hi guys!  There should be some good stories!  I'll post again right before I leave, but for now, I'll leave everyone with this parting shot...