Make your own pizza night!

So at my house in Charlotte, usually once a week my mom has a "make your own pizza night" so I was excited to find out we would be making pizzas in my cooking class! It was really fun because we made our own dough which tasted ah-mazing by the way. We also made our own sauce and had a plethora of toppings! To my sauce I added some garlic, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper... yeah, I know how to make good sauce. I don't want to toot my own horn, but I really think my pizza was the best. 2/3 of it was pineapple and bacon and 1/3 was fresh tomatoes and fresh basil and garlic, the 1/3 was the most delicious because the garlic combined with the homemade bread tasted fantastic. Just by reading this, you can tell I definitely love pizza... especially homemade pizza!

 The toppings!

 My sauce creation... yum

My pizza is in the middle :)

Life is still the same... even in other countries

     My title may have you interested, let me explain. Last night, from about 8-10pm when it is usually quiet in my house, there was some crazy things going on. My host brother Fabian, was pacing outside on the phone, my host mom's sister came over and was talking to Fabian about who knows what. Fabian was going back in forth in the house and my host mom was talking to him and he seemed annoyed... The language barrier still exists and when something is going on, it is hard to understand. I asked Fabian what was going on and he said "nosing hahaha" (nothing with his accent). 
     This morning, my host mom told me that Fabian didn't do something that he promised he would do (something serious) and they kicked him out of the house. I asked when he would be coming back and she told me she didn't know, basically when he figures things out. Then she told me he was probably moving to stay with his cousin in a town 2 hours away. I went and looked in his room and ALL of his things were gone. His bed, his posters, his dresser, his clothes! Everything! I can't believe it, he is actually gone. My host mom said they had to kick him out of the house because he will never learn if they didn't. As she told me this, she was crying, I felt so bad for her, I just sat there and talked to her. I really didn't know what to say.
     It's crazy how you can be in the same country but there will always be similar issues that go on with family. My host mom told me there are two things in life that are difficult. 
1. Marriage: it requires a lot of time, patience, and love 
2. Children: There is not always a right way to do things and even if your kids are all raised the same, they won't always turn out the same way

Feelin' Hot Hot Hot

I don't think I have ever felt so hot in my life. Yesterday, I thought I was going to have a heat stroke. I couldn't sweat because I guess it is too dry here. I had to lay on the glass tile floor in my underwear. I was still burning up and even felt light headed when I stood up. My host brother broke down some ice for me in the freezer so I could put it in my water bottle. I was very hydrated because all I did was drink ice water and go to the bathroom yesterday. I know TMI however I am blogging my experiences. So because I couldn't work on my homework with my hot computer, I drew pictures while laying on the floor. Then it started to rain outside which caused a power outage. Yesterday was just a weird day. I had to take a cold shower because there was no heat, but I was perfectly happy with that. My host family thought I was crazy but I enjoyed the cool water. 


By the way... can you guess what my host mom is holding?

Correct! Wow, how did you know that was a fruit???

Yes, the fruit looks like felt... which I ate

Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs

The Arenal Volcano!

     This past weekend (Friday/Saturday) I went on a trip to Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs. This tour was part of USAC (the study abroad affiliated program I am with, so it was included in the cost of studying abroad). We left Heredia at 9am on Friday Morning and the bus ride was about 3 hours. We arrived in La Fortuna de San Carlos (the town with the volcano) and had some lunch and then checked in to our hotel. Like my host family had said, it was hot and humid in this area... however, no comparison to the extreme hot and humid weather in Charlotte during the summer. Our group changed into our swim suits and we headed for the Baldi Hot Springs. This is another place where the volcano provides heat for the pools. Great, hot and humid weather and sitting in hot water. The night ended up cooling off a little so some of the pools were very nice. However, I did not go in the 156 degree pool. This hot spring resort was very nice. It is about $46 for a day ticket. Beer was about $5.50, i'm too cheap for that! There were probably 15 pools, and the big pool had 3 slides. One slide was pretty calm but the other two I heard could be dangerous. I heard last year a few students had to go to the hospital because of one... I didn't go down that one. I did enjoy watching other students go down it and then after emerging from the water, grabbing their heads in pain from hitting the water so hard. Someone said the slide takes you about 45 kph. I wish I had taken pictures but didn't want to leave my camera lying around. After the water park I was beat and went to bed before 10pm!

     The next morning we all woke up and ate breakfast and headed to the Arenal rainforest. It was a beautiful hike over bridges where we saw landscapes of the volcano, walked over Indiana Jones style bridges (ok they were constructed better, but they did have and Indian Jones one that still exists!), saw snakes and wildlife, and even a beautiful waterfall. I loved going on this hike because it reminds me of the hiking in the mountains of North Carolina. This was a different experience for a lot of the other students since most of them are from out west and they don't have trails like this with waterfalls and such. Here are a few pictures...

 I'm glad I have zoom! Just found out it's poisonous! 

 I guess the bridges were strong...

 Waterfall!

The Indiana Jones bridge... I stayed away 

Me in front of the volcano, we had an amazing view!

Visiting my Uncle

Sorry it has been so long since my last post!!!
So last Saturday, I met up with my uncle at the airport in San Jose. My uncle Will came to Costa Rica on a missions trip with my church with an organization called "Finish the Wall". They started working on a church about 10 years ago in the town of Esparza, they are still working on it to this day! So I caught a ride with the people from my church to this town. Its a cute little town full of people that seem very happy to have help. People would always say "Dios le bendiga" which means God bless you. The church they were working on is a Methodist church. It was really nice to hang out with my Uncle and people from my church. There was a lot of men in the group but Sally, a woman who I know from my church was there too! I caught up with my uncle which I seriously never get to do. The next day we went to church. These people really get into church! They were all raising their hands and yelling out random things. They sang songs that I knew the English version to! After lunch I hitched a ride back with the pastor of the church. Then I took a bus back to my town which ended up being a 2.5 hour bus ride. 1.5 hours longer than it should have been but dumb me couldn't figure out where to get off. My frustrations in Costa Rica make me cry :( Thank the Lord there was this nice old guy who told the bus driver to help me get off at the right stop.

The not so hot part of the trip: Sleeping on a noisy air mattress with no pillow while being freezing because the room was air conditioned... something i'm just not used to around here!

The nice part of the trip: Spending time with my uncle

The highlight of the trip: First of all, as you may have read from other blog posts about how amazing my boyfriend Michael is, well, yet again I have to share...

Out of my uncles book bag came a few things:
~From my mom I got some girl scout cookies (thin mints)
~From my Oma and Opa I got homemade Opa's special chocolate chip cookies
~From Michael:
A huge back of candy including dark chocolate dove eggs
Cadbury eggs (which I complained about missing this year since I wouldn't be in the U.S. for Easter
Lollipops (because when we went to Michigan I bought lollipops and Michael remembered I liked them
Snickers and butterfinger eggs
~Then another bag:
A bible bag with a smaller leather New American Bible which I had said I looked for at the store but couldn't find
A guide to.... well, something that relates to the bible
A ruler with the books of the bible on it
Bible tabs
A brand new watch (because my other was dirty)
Hair bands (because I complained about my hair being in the way one day when I was running)
A travel tooth brush with travel size toothpaste and floss bushes
And two wonderful love letters

Seriously? There is a guy out there who cares about me this much and I am dating him? I think I just may be the luckiest girl in the world.... just saying

Mi tio y yo (My uncle and I)

Fun facts on Friday! And some of my random thoughts...

~ The second day I was in Costa Rica, the main light in my room stopped working. I only told my host mom today that it stopped. The line to open the shades in my room was also broken, she told me it breaks all the time and to not be scared to tell her if it breaks... haha


~ The first two months I was in Costa Rica I was sick almost every day. Michael told me it had to be the water and I believed it most likely was but I didn't want to buy water everyday so I never proved if he was right or wrong. He bought me a special water bottle that filters water and now I use it all the time and have not had problems yet!


~ My uncle is coming to Costa Rica tomorrow on a mission trip with my church and I am meeting them at the airport and then traveling with them!


~ My host mom cleaned my room and stacked everything neatly together, remade my bed, and cleaned the floors of my room


~ My gym is closed the next few days... the gym was in the basement but since the expansion, they are moving everything to the newly completed upper level... hopefully there will be more than two treadmills now


~ I am counting down the weeks until I return! Sad I know but I really miss everyone... plus I just want the semester of school, papers, studying, and tests to end, I'm ready for summer!


~ they sell french fries at the taco bell here... no nachos!


~ My new favorite thing to eat is platano (plantain) chips (lemon and salt flavored) They are really good and not too terrible nutritionally 


~ I ran a 6k yesterday... even though I took some breaks in between I still think it counts! I ran 6.5k and .45 was walking... so technically I did run all of it... and the breaks were short


~ Today marks 4 months with my Michael... I really wish I was in North Carolina


~ Today my host mom made french toast for breakfast... she learned the recipe from another student... I feel like I have the best host family in all the students here!

Proud to be an American

USA!!!


This past week from March 4-13 I went back to the USA to refuel myself for the second half of my study abroad adventure in Costa Rica. When I got back to Costa Rica, it would mark the halfway point of the semester. I decided the second week into my study abroad adventure I had to go back home for a week because I just couldn't make it without seeing my family and Michael for the entire semester. The plane ride was the longest plane ride I have ever been on (4 hours) even though I went to China once and it took 13 hours. The last 30 minutes were endless and all I could think about was running into the arms of Michael and hugging him. I also couldn't wait to see my family. I went through customs and thought I was going to die, they were so slow. Finally after finding my bag I walked pushing my cart with my heavy suitcase full of souvenirs through the exit terminal of international flights. My eyes were smiling and my heart was pumping. I saw many people waiting at then end of the terminal and then I heard my sister shout "There she is". The sound of her voice brought peace to my pounding heart and I began to feel tears forming in my eyes. My cousin ran and hugged me as I looked at Michael. Still watching Michael I hugged my sister, then my mom who said "ok go hug Michael". Standing there so wonderfully with a vase of my favorite flowers in his hand, I finally I got to wrap my arms around him as he wrapped his around me. I couldn't believe I was actually feeling a hug from him, its like I was dreaming. I looked at his face but couldn't let go of him and kissed him as many times as I could. I couldn't let go of him for the rest of the night. If you thought the flowers from Michael were amazing, just wrap your mind around this. I needed to take shower and asked my sister if I could use her soap and shampoo. Michael said he had it taken care of. For me he had: Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face lotion, body lotion, and chap stick. He had a new water bottle for me that had a filter in it to take back to Costa Rica since the water makes me sick. He had bought me gum and special droplets for your water to make you a better athlete. How do I deserve such a wonderful boyfriend? All the more reason wrap my arms around him for the rest of the trip. 

The next morning I woke up and headed over to Waffle slam with Michael. Waffle slam is a breakfast tradition my Grandpa has. My Grandpa and Grandma live in the house behind my aunt and uncle, which is also next door to my house. So every Saturday we walk over there and eat waffles topped with fruit, whipped cream, and bacon on the side while we drink coffee and talk about the week and our weekend plans. It was so great to see my whole family all at once. Afterwards, Michael went to a Knights of Columbus meeting while I went to the beautiful South Park Mall to visit one of my good friends Jaclyn. We at Chick-fil-A together (which I desperately needed) and then went and did some shopping around the mall. Jaclyn works at Vera Bradley so she was able to use her employee discount to buy me a few things, then I payed her back. She knew exactly what I wanted and the colors I love, that girl is amazing. After the mall I went back home and got ready to go out to eat with my parents sister and Michael. We went to a wing place where we enjoyed wings and Margaritas, it was so nice to have a margarita since I haven't been drinking is Costa Rica! We had such a great night!

 My sister and I!

I was so happy!

 On sunday, I woke up and it was raining. I actually can appreciate the rain now! Michael, my mom and I all went shopping for running clothes and nice asics shoes, which Michael recommended. Then, since our plans of exercising outside were ruined, we met my dad at the Y and all worked out together and then rushed home to shower and watch my cousin do gymnastics. She has improved so much! The Michael and I went to mass and I got to watch Michael sing in the choir! Michael and I returned to my house and had a delicious spaghetti dinner with my family and then we watched the movie "Fireproof". What an awesome movie, I recommend it to everyone! It was such a great day and I got to sleep in my wonderful bed which is so comfortable!

She is so talented! About to do a back handspring!

Monday was Michael's Day. Because he had made my Valentines Day so wonderful, I wanted to take him out to dinner. First we went on a run around my neighborhood and then got ready to go out to dinner. Out of four places he picked my favorite pizza place (Wolfman's Pizza) We enjoyed a huge salad and the pizza of the month! Then we went to Rita's Ice and got a "Michael's Creation" Blendini which was delicious! I was so happy to treat him to a date for a change since he has brought me on so many! 

Tuesday I went to IKEA with my mom and it was Fat Tuesday, I actually never knew about it. I didn't even know it was Mardi Gras was french for fat tuesday. But for Fat tuesday, I went to Michael's Choir concert and they had a little party. It was so nice to watch all the songs Michael had been working on since I had left. Afterwards we went to Chilis and ate some delicious food to celebrate the day! Tequila, chips and salsa, salad, turkey sandwich, Michael... what more could I ask for? 

 Singing wonderful praise songs!

Celebrating Mardi Gras

So while Michael was at work every day, I spent the days with my parents at the ice cream store. I miss eating lunch with them so it was nice to just hang out. Wednesday night Michael and I rushed to Panera and ate food with no meat since it was Ash Wednesday. We then went to mass and had ashes spread on our foreheads. I had always wanted to see this Ash Wednesday tradition so it was very interesting to watch. Afterwards, we unexpectedly ended up having a free night to hang out so we went back to my house and had a great time just talking with my parents.

Hanging out at the ice cream store! My mom looks great after loosing 20lb while I was gone!

I think I ate a little ice cream every day... I missed it so much!

Thursday was an awesome day! We had a wing off! A wing off is where two people make their own style of wings and then everyone judges them. Michael and I made wings using a special recipe from his second mom, Mrs. B. She also sent us the most amazing bleu cheese recipe I have ever tasted. The bleu cheese combined with the wings made my mouth have an orgasm! I never knew homemade wings could taste so good. The competitor, my cousin Grant ended up winning though... but we all know why he won :) What was awesome is that my friend Mikelyn came over to enjoy the wings and even brought her adorable son Eli who is so cute when he eats ice cream! After the wing off we went to Hickory Tavern, a bar/restaurant which has karaoke night on thursdays. My dad sang Johnny Cash and Michael and I went Glee style and sang "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Don't Stop Believing" Michael is an amazing karaoke singer, don't let him convince you otherwise. When we got back to my house Michael wanted to go on a cold winter walk around my neighborhood. He ended up bringing me to a bench and had a gift for me. An Irish Claddagh ring. I had never heard of this ring and he explained it was a promise ring which symbolized loyalty, friendship, and love. Was I dreaming... no, I'm wearing the ring right now so it was definitely a reality! 

 Mikelyn and me!

 Delicious!

 The Competitor!!! 

Mikelyn's Eli, so cute!

As the week was going by so fast, I started to get so sad! Time never flys like this! After spending the day with my family at the ice cream store, we came home and went on a walk around the neighborhood. When Michael got there we wanted to try out our kite that Michael had ordered off the internet since it was a windy day. Too bad the kite was damaged! We decided to go to Target to see if by chance they had any and they actually had a selection! We bought a turtle and flew it while the sun set... I know, its like another dream that really happened. After flying the kite we decided to go out to eat to one of our favorite Restaurants, Carrabas. However, we had to find something with no meat in it since it was friday! Success! We had  italian bread, delicious vegetable soup, and a salad with eggplant instead of meat. I have never had eggplant before and guess what? I liked it a lot!

 A quality kite for only $5!

Turtle flying in the sky

Saturday was probably the most wonderful and sad day at the same time. It was the last day I would spend in Charlotte until I returned. We of course went to waffle slam and I ate an extra half a waffle... why not? I would be missing 8 more Saturday waffle slams. After that, Michael and I went shopping for a picnic. We bought another kite, cheese and crackers, wine, fruit, stuff for turkey sandwiches and borrowed a picnic basket from my grandpa. We went to Francis Beatty Park, a park about 15 minutes from my house in Matthews. I thought it would be a great place to go since it had a small lake. Michael and I drove to the park with the windows down listening to classical music. When we got there we displayed our picnic out with all our food and our kites. We used the new Dayton Flyers blanket I got Michael. We sat, drank wine, at food, and talked the whole time. I had never been on a real picnic before and it was the best one I have ever had. Michael and I flew kites too! The wind was great on the lake!

 How perfect!

How perfect again! Claddagh ring!

After the most wonderful day in the park, we went back to my house to enjoy my last dinner in Charlotte. We went walking on the trail in my neighborhood, launched my cousin Grants rocket, played frisbee and learned about throwing disc golfs, we enjoyed shish kabobs from the grill, sang a little, and played a game of scrabble... which Grant won, since when did he get smarter than me? After everyone was gone and I was in my room packing I hugged Michael and cried, I didn't want to leave and I know now that I won't be doing any long trips alone in the future. 

The ones with the frisbee talent 

 Shish kabobs! 

Rocket launching preparation! 

Sunday morning I woke up depressed and Michael took me out to breakfast. I didn't want to look at him because I knew I would just cry some more. We waited in the airport as long as we could until I had to go. Michael waited with me in the security line and watched me go through security until I had to find my terminal. The entire flight I still wanted to cry... but luckily a nice guy sat next to me and talked about his fishing trip he was about to go on. I kept repeating to myself, 8 weeks and then forever. I'm in Costa Rica for 8 more weeks and will try my best to make the most of it. Its hard when you leave your family and the person you love for such a long time. But I have learned to appreciate the USA so much more and I know I won't forget it. Studying abroad has so far allowed me to learn a lot about myself and about life outside the USA and for that I am grateful. I am still dreaming of the day that I return home though!

Yum Yum Yum

Mr. Grill
So every day for the past 3 weeks I have walked past this little restaurant called Mr. Grill. It is a Persian food place and always smells so amazing! The format is shish kabobs of meat and then you can choose salad or rice or pita bread with it. They even have a hookah you can rent, so interesting. It looks like a small bar with bar stools that were carved out of trees. So finally I decided to try this place tonight! It was so delicious, I got chicken with pita bread. It was very similar to a gyro. It came with lettuce, onions, tomato, and some kind of white Persian sauce. Sooo delicious!