College football's crystal ball remains in the SEC for the 6th consecutive year and is back where it belongs-in Tuscaloosa!
The Alabama Crimson Tide are 2011 BCS National Champions!!! Can I get a Roll Tide?!
You would think it doesn't get much better than that...but it does. After living in Costa Rica for the entire college football season, I was in New Orleans for the game! In my last post I gave an overview of my potential travel scehdule for my Christmas break, and I pretty much stuck to the plan. I started in Birmingham and ended in Birmingham, but I visited Mobile, Atlanta, Maryville/Knoxville, Nashville, Tuscaloosa, and New Orleans in between. Talk about a whirlwind trip to the States!
Brief overview of my time in the States:
I arrived back in Costa Rica on the 11th and left to do work crew at Vida Joven camp on the 12th...crazy! Nicki and I were the ONLY Americans (gringas) at camp so it was quite a way to be re-introduced to the language and culture. It actually ended up being kind of a joke between the two of us because several things happened that ironically made our "gringa-ness" that much more evident. One example of this being that we returned to our cabin one evening to find that our beds were the only beds in the entire cabin that someone had done an incredible job of completely Saran wrapping...I'm talking like 7 layers deep, all the way around the bed. We were later told that it was a mistake and the prank was intended for someone else...but we laughed because that would happen to the gringa girls.
On another note, camp was beautiful in so many ways. The location was amazing- on a mountain in Heredia where you could look out over the ocean. We were on a work crew with 8 other Costa Rican Vida Joven volunteers. We washed dishes 3 times a day by hand, cleaned bathrooms, chopped food for meals, and whatever else needed to be done to make the camp experience excellent. It was long hours and hard work, but seeing the leaders interact with the campers throughout the time made it so worth it! In many ways it was just like the YoungLife I am accustomed to in the States- leaders with genuine relationships with their kids, spending time together, and experiencing Christ in a very unique way. I loved seeing program done in Spanish, too- such a treat!
Vida Joven camp was an all-around great experience, but it was also a good reminder of just what I was coming back to in this country...the little cultural things that reassure you that you are, indeed, back in Costa Rica.
I am, no doubt, back in the land of:
The Alabama Crimson Tide are 2011 BCS National Champions!!! Can I get a Roll Tide?!
You would think it doesn't get much better than that...but it does. After living in Costa Rica for the entire college football season, I was in New Orleans for the game! In my last post I gave an overview of my potential travel scehdule for my Christmas break, and I pretty much stuck to the plan. I started in Birmingham and ended in Birmingham, but I visited Mobile, Atlanta, Maryville/Knoxville, Nashville, Tuscaloosa, and New Orleans in between. Talk about a whirlwind trip to the States!
Brief overview of my time in the States:
- Birmingham- Visited with Mississippi State friends and celebrated with December Samford grad friends
- Mobile-Spent the week with mom & Jack and worked at McCoys
- Atlanta- family Christmas with mom's side of the family
- Maryville/Knoxville- lived with the Coffields, saw old friends, had some important meetings, ate at all the necessary eateries (Los Amigos, Subs & Such, etc...)
- Nashville- roadtripped with Louis & Ryan to spend New Years in Nashville with Dani and went to the Music City Bowl (Miss. State v. Wake Forest)
- Maryville again...and it snowed!
- Tuscaloosa- saw college friends, spent time with the Lancasters, and enjoyed being back in the City of Champions
- New Orleans- Celebrated Alabama's 14th National Championship win!
Mom & Jack swing dancing in the living room
The 3 of us on Christmas day in Atlanta
Jack & I on Christmas morning
My sweet grandparents (Meme & Gran'dad)
The whole Henry side of the family for Christmas dinner
The view from Newfound Gap in the Smoky Mountains
Will, Josh, & I enjoying the snow
What an action shot...
Mom & I eating at Camellia Grill the morning of the title game in New Orleans
I bet these people feel silly now...
Roll Tide!
Rebecca & I ready for the game!
On another note, camp was beautiful in so many ways. The location was amazing- on a mountain in Heredia where you could look out over the ocean. We were on a work crew with 8 other Costa Rican Vida Joven volunteers. We washed dishes 3 times a day by hand, cleaned bathrooms, chopped food for meals, and whatever else needed to be done to make the camp experience excellent. It was long hours and hard work, but seeing the leaders interact with the campers throughout the time made it so worth it! In many ways it was just like the YoungLife I am accustomed to in the States- leaders with genuine relationships with their kids, spending time together, and experiencing Christ in a very unique way. I loved seeing program done in Spanish, too- such a treat!
On a break from our long hours of work
Some of the work crew washing dishes after dinner
Your Campa de Nuevos 2012 Equipo de Trabajo (Work Crew)
Mariana and Mario ready for Pleito de Pelos
Nicki's & my Saran wrapped beds...impressive, right?
Vida Joven camp was an all-around great experience, but it was also a good reminder of just what I was coming back to in this country...the little cultural things that reassure you that you are, indeed, back in Costa Rica.
I am, no doubt, back in the land of:
- Food from a bag- This used to freak me out a little bit, but I've accepted the fact that it's impossible to avoid. Here you find beans, potates, mayonaise, ice cream, jello, etc..packaged in bags. Yes, bags.
- Fashionable fanny packs- Fanny packs are "in" here and actually preferred to any other type of bag. After being at camp, Nicki & I decided that our Mountainsmith bags are actually just glorified American fanny packs.
- Extreme dental hygiene- This one was unexpected at first, but a pleasant surprise. Brushing your teeth after every meal no matter where you are is a must. There was a special "teeth brushing ONLY station" at camp.
- Flavored mayonaise- Not only is it in a bag, but it comes in a variety of flavors...
- Banana hairclips & scrunchies- Really anything but a rubberband is preferred for women in this country. I don't fit in in this regard.
- Down and/or fur lined coats- Keep in mind it doesn't get colder than say 50 degrees here...ever. But I guess if you have it...wear it!
- Cafecito- This happens twice a day. It's a break between breakfast & lunch and then between lunch & dinner where you stop and have coffee and a snack. You know I love this.
- Never ending rice- Rice can be served for every meal of the day...even dessert.
- No dishwashers or dryers
- Widowmakers or freezing water- Hot water heaters are rarely found here. You either have electrictity running to your showerhead (via a Widowmaker) and heating your water as it comes out, or you're taking the coldest shower of your life.
- Casual hiking boots- You don't have to be going hiking here to break out your boots.
- Bottomless coffee- all day, every day.
- 5 am sunrises and 5 pm sunsets year round
- Seranades- it's normal and traditional for groups of girls to seranade a boy or vice versa.
Well, I'm back! I'll keep the posts regular again this semester as I spend 6 more months in the Rica! Roll Tide, ya'll!
