So, it has been 10 days that I have been down here. Things are going great. Instead of trying to organize everything in a couple of paragraphs, I think I will make a top 10 list of cool or interesting experiences so far.

10) At Austin's birthday party, there were about 25 people and they had a pinata. I thought this was so awesome because you think of having pinatas at hispanic birthday parties, but I never really thought they actually did it. apparently they do! It was cool because it was as authentic as it gets.

9) Being able to sit on the upstairs porch and read comfortable at anytime of the day. Cartago is in a valley surrounded by mountains, at a high altitude so the weather is not too hot. I would say it is about 75 to 80 in the day and 65 to 70 at night. I have never been hot or uncomfortable inside any house, and none have airconditioning. The doors are always open and the air in the shade is the perfect temperature. also, there are no bugs somehow. The house is built with a courtyard in the middle, which goes up 2 stories. It is decorated beautifully with a fountain and plants. The whole house is extremely nice, it was built 4 years ago I think.

8) Going to the orphange with Mark, Danny, Paige and Mrs. Blanco. We went to an orphange that Mrs. Blanco frequently visits. We played with the kids for a while. Some played soccer, I did some back flips for them and we tossed the frisbee. One little girl was super bad though... when we go there, Paide and I found here in a room and she was crying frantically. Paige realized she had some type of gel all over her head that I guess the other kdis put on her. I aksed her in Spanish if she had a new shirt and she did and Paige helped her out. That same girl would NOT leave me alone the rest of the time. She loved to spit on me for some reason. And she knew how to swing a broom stick surprisingly hard. Also, she managed to bite two holes in my shirt. It was still a good time

7) going around san jose at night with Guillermo Enrique, Mark's cousin that lives next door and also whom I work with. He took us kids out one night. We drove all around stopping at many shady looking placces while Danny or someone else told him no, we didnt want to go in there lol. We ended up eating at this restaurnat and talking for a while. it was nice and he paid!

6) getting to know Nachito and Steven at my work. They are my age and are in school, but also work full time 48 hours per week. This is the norm down here, every young person I have met is in school at night and works during the day. These two guys are really nice and funny. They teach me things in spanish and I teach them some english. they are funny and like to get up and tlak when were supposed to be working. I am afraid I am going to get in trouble!

5) going to Arenal volcano. there were 13 of us that took a bus Mrs.Blanco rented out for the week that was big enough fro 25 people. All of us first went to Arenal. The whole area was beautiful. Standing outside of our cabin, looking at the volcano and being able to see actual red lave for a few seconds was a crazy experience. I had seen a picture of Arenal and arenal lake in my spanish book and, sure enough, our cabin was right next to both with an incredible view. It awesome to sit there and look out at everything and realize how much God is doing for me to let me be there. cool times !

4)going to this waterfall close to Arenal and almost getting killed. We went and while we were there, it was raining really hard. we put our shoes on one bank then went around to get closer to the 150 foot waterfall. it was growing fast ! the other people came back and told MArk and I that our shoes were gone, the water had risen the 3 feet to cover them. just about the we heard whistles and the costa ricans were screamign for us to get back up. when we crossed the bridge we had crossed to get there, it was almost covered with water and mist ! it was soooo cool. I was scared for a minute

3) when we got to Montezuma after going to Mal Pais, we were hungry and went to a place to eat which was pretty much some ladys very small house. She did not have enough food or chairs for all of us to eat so we literally bought all the soup she had which was 3 bowls and the 13 of shared it before going to the beach to swim.

2) sitting outside reading at Arenal, listening to the rocks falling from the Volcano but not being able to see it at all.

1) The hot springs we went to after the waterfall ! they were rediculous. there were probably 15 different pools that all hard waterfall type thing to sit under. they started really hot at the top of the mountian and went down to the coolest pool at the bottom that had a slide and was about the temperature of a normal hot tub.


I did get a job, I work for Pathway services international. It is a company that surveys roards using vans equiped with a lot of camers and sensors. My job is to watch the videos on a computer and amrk where there are bridges, construction zones, detours, and somtimes I look for mile markers ! how exciting, I know. The work is a little borring but it is so cool to be working side by side with costa ricans abnd communicating with them in spanish and really living their lifestyle. Once we return from Limon on saturday, I will be working from 730 am to 530 pm mon through friday.

My boss who is Mrs. Blanco sister in law is very nice and is letting me get off for things that come up like projects with the missionaries or going to these beaches and stuff. I talked with the missionaries last night at another birthday party and got some info about what they do here. I hope to figure out more and plan some stuff with them soon. well, I am going biking at 530 tomorrow moring with the 2 girls, marks cousins, that live here and next door so I am going to go to bed. oooo, I got a new skype name so you can and should add me, drewallencunningham