The Graduating Class of 2008

Strong 6.3 Richter Earthquake Hits Panama, Costa RicaNo casualties reported yet
PANAMA CITY -- A magnitude-6.3 earthquake was registered early Wednesday along the Panama-Costa Rica border, but there were no reports of casualties or serious damage.The Geosciences Institute at the University of Panama said on its Web site that the temblor occurred at 1:10 a.m. (0610 GMT).The epicenter of the quake was around 220 kilometers (137 miles) southeast of San Jose, Costa Rica, and 55 kilometers (34 miles) west-southwest of David, Panama's third-largest city, according to the U.S. Geological Service.A spokesman for Panama's Sinaproc civil defense agency told reporters here that his office had received no reports of deaths, injuries or significant damage. EFE

Earthquake!

6.2 quake strikes Costa Rica, Panama frontier
12 hours ago
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — A 6.2 earthquake has struck overnight on the frontier between Panama and Costa Rica, shaking people in their beds but causing no damage or injuries.
Costa Rica's earthquake observatory says the quake struck just after midnight Wednesday, about 15 miles (25 kms) deep. Its epicenter was 7 miles (12 kms) north of the Panamanian frontier town of Puerto Armuelles. Red Cross officials say the quake felt quite strong but said they had no information about damage.

Costume party

The 10th Graders organize a good-bye party for the graduating class every year. It was a costume party. I went as a cowgirl.

Daniel and I are the highschool English Teachers. He went as a rapper.

11th graders singing karokee.

Most of the 10th grade class with their homeroom teacher (on the ground.)

11th Graders

Busy Weekend

Reformation Service October 26, 2008

Clint Preaching in the rain

soccer after lunch

singing during the service

It started to rain a little during our service but thankfully not too much.

I've had a too busy weekend. Friday night was a "Good-bye party" for the 11th graders. Every year the 10th graders host a party for the 11th graders. 11th Grade is the last grade here. I spent Thursday night getting my costume together. Friday after school I helped my friend Lau (assistent to the secretary) get her costume together. Friday evening was the party. We ate carne asada (grilled meat). Saturday afternoon I went to another birthday party from two girls from church. We had carne asada. Saturday night I went to another birthday party of a friend and we had carne asada. Today Sunday we had a combined service in a park for Reformation Day. I have papers to grade, and homework to do from my Spanish class. I want to take a nap but instead I'm uploading photos because my card is full. Tonight a friend is going to help me with direct and indirect pronouns which I can't miss because they're killin' me. ;)

This Week

Hello Friends,

I thought I'd write a brief update about my week.
Sunday I got over to the Green's at 9 and ride in the church bus up to the church. We have Sunday school from 9:30 until 10:30. I "teach" the 2-3 year old classes. I have five kids in my class. We talk a short break and our service starts about 10:40. Usually the service ends about 12. After church I often go to the Greens for lunch after church. Sometimes I go home sometimes I stay there all day. At 5 we usually get together with a few people and play cards and eat dinner at the Greens.
Mondays we have staff devotions at 6:30. My first class is at 7 it is a double period elective English conversation class. I have classes until 1. I started taking a Spanish class a couple of weeks ago. On Monday afternoon-es until 11:30 and finish at 2:30 and then I tutor. On Fridays. I have class from 7-12:20 and then Spanish class in San Jose from 2-5.
A couple months ago the Lammaes moved here. Nick is working with CLIR. Rosie is scheduled to have a c-section tonight. I didn't have class today and right now I am babysitting for their two girls. I am going to be spending the night with them. It is pouring rain right now and has been all day. The girls are watching "Milo and Otis" for the first time. They are 4 & 5 years old and the perfect age to watch it. A was sitting on my lap crying because they got lost and then later running around the house yelling about the kittens and puppies.
That's my week, kind of. Usually on Saturdays I do my shopping and chores and try to do something fun too.

Dia de Independencia

Indepence Day

September 15 is Independence Day for Costa Rica and Central America. We have a 4 day weekend. We had no school Friday but had an assembly at school. It started at 5 and lasted an hour. This is the hour that the sunsets here and so when we began it was light and when we ended it was dark. In this photo: 2 Elementary School Teachers. Teachers wore red white or blue shirts with a panuelo (bandana) and jeans.

Abby and Amanda (Green's granddaughter) with their lanterns. Costa Rica became free from Spain in 1821. The celebaration usually begins the night before (the 14th) but we celebrated early this year since the 14th falls on a Sunday. The elementary students make or buy lanterns and bring them to school to be judged in different catagories. The lanterns represent the news of their Independence arriving in Costa Rica at night and being spread from country to country, provience to provience and city to city.

After the assembly the students take their lighted lantern and make a parade around the street.

After we came back and each class sold a different "typical" food. These eighth graders were selling warm churros con dulce de leche. (250 c. = aprox. 50 cents)

David and Goliath Play

We did a play of David and Goliath in English Conversation class and did it in Elementary and Primary chapel.
Israelites on left.

Narrators and Philistines on the Right.

Finally Another Post

Sorry its been so long!

I'm going to add some pictures.

Parque de Diversiones (http://www.parquediversiones.com/

A few weeks ago I went to an amusement park here in San Jose with Didier (social studies teacher), Laura (secretaries assistent at the highschool), and Jonathan (a Spanish student from Arizona who went to our church for 4 months.) A day pass costs aproximately $10. In this photo they are waiting for a spinny ride that I decided to skip. It was the day after a holiday and rained off and on so not very busy we went on somerides 3x in a row without waiting.

At the entrance to the roller coaster.

Part of the park is "Pueblo Antigua" a replica of old San Jose. They do shows during the day included typical dances like these.

El Torre, Laura and I went on this ride 4 times in row without waiting in line. We got off ran around and got back on. After 4 times I told her I couldn't do it any more. My heart was pounding and I was feeling so hyper because my adreneline was pounding.

A Few Links

These are links about the mission work in Costa Rica. Warning: some are pretty old reports.

• http://www.reformedmissions.org/index.html

• http://missionsurc.org/?q=node/2

• http://www.trinityurcwc.org/missions.html

My Birthday Party

to egg: to throw eggs at someone on their birthday

we both got egged for our birthday which was during the last week

Blowing out my birthday candle.

Smash. Thanks Sergio.



The first egg. I knew this was going to happen I did not know it was going to happpen at this moment.

Centro Educativo Cristiano Reformado

Elementary School Grandparents Day

The highschool students at parque nacional during a field trip.

Teaching 7th grade

Some pictures

We couldn't pass to playa escondido (hidden beach) because it was high tide (where the name comes from evidently but sitting here was great . . . until I fell coming out . . .

Just one of the monkeys at Manuel Antonio National Park

A casado pescado (typical lunch with fish) in Manuel Antonio.

snow cones made with powderd milk (which is much better here) and sweetened condenced milk on the top.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Monos

Eating lunch at the beach

A casado at the beach (typical lunch plate, always a little different but always meat, rice, and beans)

Finally Another Post

I'm sorry its taken me so long to write. I've had an eventful few weeks. School is going very well. In eighth grade I've moved on from being the cool teacher to the mean teacher, but its so much easier being the mean teacher.

Three of my best friends from Northwestern came to visit last week. They attended classes with me during the day and went sight seeing in the afternoon. We also went to the beach for two days which of course was beautiful.

I also made the huge decision to go ahead with braces. Its a rather long story as to why I need them and even though I can't afford them they are less than a third of the price here then if I would do it in the states. It is also rather urgant (either a tooth is going to come through the top of my mouth or my tooth will break off and form a cyst on my gum with in at the longest 5 years). Right now I have spacers in and they hurt plenty I'm not looking forward to the braces . . . .

My grandma on my Dads side was diagnosed with cancer last week. I pray for all your prayers that it hasn't spread and for minimal pain.

My brother Nic is at bootcamp in Missouri right now. Please keep him in your prayers and write him a letter! He will be 19 on June 9 send a birthday card!

My dad is still in Georgia at a training.

Thats it for now. Theresa

And you thought it rained a lot in Washington!

http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/compare/CSXX0009?sfld1=San%20Jose,%20Costa%20Rica&sfld2=Bellingham%20WA&clocid1=CSXX0009&clocid2=

click on the percipatation button to compare rain fall in San Jose and Bellingham.

Desrae, a volunteer from Montana, and I at the Hot Spring Gardens.

I love these flowers

Taya and I in the gardens

La Fortuna parque central, catholic church with volcan Arenal in the background.

La Fortuna Waterfall was beautiful

The water was cold but the bottom was sandy.

Eating Gallo Pinto (very typical breakfast) at the bus stop to La Fortuna.

Photos of our trip to La Fortuna

Our 5 hour bus ride to La Fortuna. I'm sooo thankful we had seats even if sweaty bodies were leaning all over us.

Marzo

I can't believe its March already! Time has flown by. I've been super busy teaching. This week is holidays. Its called Semana Santa which literally translated means Holy Week. Less literally translated. Easter Week. My friend Taya (from Washington) is here visiting. She came in Thursday night.
One of men from the Thunder bay group had decided to stay to help with maintenance around the school after his churches group left and he was going back Thursday so I was able to get a ride with him and a couple of teachers who where dropping him off. However we (Des and I) had to wait several hours for Taya's flight so we found a soda (small restaurant) acr0ss from the airport to wait at.
When Taya came in we took the bus down town and then walked to the Guadalupe stop and took the bus home. Walking through down town San Jose with luggage was not a fun experience for me but I'm sure it was a great welcoming, shocking experience for Taya. At least she has a story to tell. Friday I gave exams in all my classes. I know I'm such a nice teacher. I tried to explain how much nicer it is of me to give the exam right before semana instead of right after . . . they don't understand.
Saturday until today we went to Arenal, the third most active volcano in the world. Although it was clear enough to see the top we didn't see any lava we did see lots of smoke. The entire time we were there we didn't feel any tremors or hear any rumbling and then tonight after we were back from Arenal we were watching a movie at the Greens and we felt a tremor. Crazy.
We hiked to the La Fortuna waterfall and swam by it. We also went to the hot springs. It was a beautiful landscape. Pictures coming soon.
I have the rest of the week off although I have a pile of exams to grade and plans and activities to write.
I'll try to upload pictures tomorrow.
Love, Theresa

No siento bein

I'm feeling better although not one hundred percent yet. I'm going to try to take it easy this weekend but I have a lot to get caught up on. Thanks for your prayers.

My Apartment

My "foyer"


Part of my kitchen area the other part is outside . . .

My shower ducha

El Bano

my beautiful squeaky wood bed.



My extra guest cot . . hint hint**

Week 5 aka 2 more weeks until semana Santa

I sent out an update letter yesterday by email. If you did not recieve that letter and would like to be on my mailing list please let me know.

This is going to be short because I am sick. There is a group here right now from Providence College. I started feeling sick on Friday but pushed myself to keep going. Saturday night I came down with a fever and have been sick. Today I am missing school because I am too sick to sit up for very long. I have a stomach ache and all the things that go with that, body aches, head ache, and fever. I had hoped to be well enough to teach today but now I'm hoping for tomorrow . . . prayers would be appreciated.

Thanks, Theresa

Good Week

I've had a great week but I'm so exhausted. There is just so many new things to process. Working at the school this week was definitly more fun then productive but I felt really comfortable with the teachers.
There is an 19 year old girl from Montana volunteering here also so I spend a lot of time with her. She was also here last year for 4 months so shes been showing me around a little.
Last night I went to a movie which was sooo fun! We saw 27 Dresses and it was in English with Spanish subtitles. The audience was so much more animated then in the states. The cost was less than $4.00
Tonight I went to Jovenes (Youth Group) it was probably the most awkward I felt since I've been here. It was so much spanish and so fast and so overwhelming!

Wish list

I also need a power bar and extension cord!

My Wish List

Two options for sending me things:

Both involve getting things to my mom and then she will get them to the people coming down.

If you get whatever to her now, it can come with a group from California on the 23 but it has to be there the weekend before.

Second a friend of mine (Taya) is coming March 13 and she will be able to bring somethings.

Here are a few of the things I have a need/want for, most of course my mom can take care but if you have these items to donate . . . :

- a small flashlight to put on my key chain, only one that uses AAA or possibly AA batteries, I have a batteries.

-USB key drive, I need one so that I can make worksheets, letters, and exams on my laptop and print them at the school. (No interenet on the school computers or I would email files.) Most of the teachers have them but they are more expensive here.

-small and medium plastic containers w/ lids just a few. Everything here needs to have a lid on it. Only if you have it and aren't using otherwise I can buy some here.

-a dish drying rack, only if you have an old one you don't need anymore. I can buy it here.

-silverware just a couple of each piece doesn't matter if they match, don't buy it only if you have a few mismatched to get rid of. I can buy it here.

-votive size candle holders (1-3) Don't need to match, nothing else does. :)

-ziplock bags quart size and gallon size.

-clothespins

-Venus replaceble razor blades

-shampoo and conditioner I think my mom knows what I like but it doesn't really matter. CHECK -Thanks Mom :)

-American Candy- for students and me. (lollipops w/o gum, licorice)

Give to my mom or email me for her address.

Address and Phone in Costa Rica

Since so many people have asked me for my address here is the story,
My address is:


Apdo 2070-2100
San Jose, Costa Rica


Anything bigger than a business envelope I will have to pay duty on!!!! So only send me regular size envelopes! Ocassionally I should be able to get the address of someone coming from the states and packages will be able to be sent to someone in the states to be sent down. I don't have a phone here. My mom has emergency numbers of the Green's. My skype name is "theresacr" if you have skype and want to add me I'd love to talk to you!

Dumptruck delivering more rocks for the rock retaining wall. Notice the wall. We were so excited about how far we had got. This wall represents 2 months of work.

And this is the wall a few minutes after the truck dumped the load of rocks. I could have just told the story but it's better with pictures. It fell alltogether with a thump, we all watched it fall and afterwards it was silent. So discouraging I could feel my heart and stomach drop. So discouraging for those of us who have only been working on it for a few days but I can't imagine how it is for the Costa Rican crew whose worked on it from day one. Behind the wall or rather under the wall are several tools and waterbottles since it was one of the few "safe" shady places. Groups immediately congregated to talk about the disaster I was amazed by the witness, the resounding sentiment was gracias a Dios Thanks be to God that no one was taking a break in the shade, going for a walk down to the creek, getting a drink, or going after a tool. Fifteen minutes before many of us were working on the wall passing rocks up to people in the cages filling them with rocks. We were frustrated because we didn't have any work to do because the wrong wire had been sent. People were on there way back to the site with the right wire when the wall fell in a few minutes we would have been back up on the wall. This happened about 2:30 and after coffee break I know no one wanted to tackle the job ahead but they did! People started cutting open cages. Moving piles of stones and throwing stones up on to the higher ground. With 30 people working at least the Costa Rican crew knows they don't have to tackle this alone. We can be so thankfull it fell now and not in a couple months when students could have been on their way down to where the soccer field will be. And we know that we are not alone either and God is always with us. Someone mentioned in a prayer yesterday, Nehemiah and rebuilding of the wall. And I remembered how the book of Nehemiah talks about different people built different parts of the wall. We still have several groups coming in the next couple of weeks and each church group will work on a different part of the wall. God frustrated the plots of evil people wanting to attack them but the people worked with all there hearts.Praises: No injuries, the guys finished a concrete wall, safe travel for so many groups, I'm learning my way around, I used the washing machine and I didn't break it, I need a bank account but I'm suppose to be here 6 months first but since I visited last April and have that stamp in my passport I should be able to get an account right away, the wittness of the North Americans when the wall did fall. Petitions: conversations between work teams and cr crew, continued safety on the work site, teachers, the Green's, encouragement, that rebuilding might go quickly.