It was nearly 10:00PM. I woke up slowly to the sound of Hustlers hitting its three-quarter mark as we began to descend. I packed the unopened bag of complimentary Cheez-its in my backpack for a rainy day as I got my things together. I floated through baggage claim and customs in a disoriented blur. The … Continue reading 820+ Days of Pura Vida
Uncategorized
Peace Corps: 8 Things to Bring
If you, like myself, consider packing for a long weekend away to be a moderately stressful task, packing for a 2+ years away from home is enough to send one into a downright state of panic. Luckily, we are not the first, and certainly not the last, to be put into this situation. At this … Continue reading Peace Corps: 8 Things to Bring
Volleyball in Futbol Territory
Whether the thought of them summons fond childhood memories or induces painful relapses, we all have some type of relationship with organized athletics. Perhaps you were the person that always found an excuse to go to the nurse's office during the basketball unit in gym, or were the pride and joy of your school when … Continue reading Volleyball in Futbol Territory
The Fruits of Our Labor
The advantages of living and operating in a foreign country are abundant. The resiliency gained through learning to adapt to living in a new environment, achieving proficiency in another language, making connections with people from different corners of the world; these represent a few of the "profound" benefits of travel. Today, however, I'd like to … Continue reading The Fruits of Our Labor
Counterpart Spotlight: Johnny
Air conditioning hummed in the background. We waited. The tension in the room was palpable; we knew that the moments to come would define the tone of our service. We sipped at coffee and chatted over muffins to ease the suspense, waiting anxiously for the doors to open and reveal our fates. In September 2017, … Continue reading Counterpart Spotlight: Johnny
Coto Brus Bagel Factory
Rosemary salt. Blueberry. Everything. Sesame Seed. Cinnamon raisin. Prefer to keep things simple with the classic plain and cream cheese? I see and respect you. Or perhaps you're one of those people who has been shamed into hiding your proclivity for ordering a baconegg&cheese on a cinnamon raisin, the similarly estranged cousin of Hawaiian pizza? … Continue reading Coto Brus Bagel Factory
Girls Leading Our World (GLOW)
Feliz Quince Dias! Quince Dias is a 15-day (quince = fifteen - shocker) vacation in Costa Rica during July. It falls right in the middle of the school year, acting similarly to our version of winter break in the United States. It's a busy travel season in Costa Rica; most ticos (Costa Ricans) use their … Continue reading Girls Leading Our World (GLOW)
Two Years Later Back at Home
STATES-CATION ALL I EVER WANTED. Yes, even volunteers get time off. In Peace Corps Costa Rica, we get time off in two forms. The first is called an OOC, or Out Of Community day. We get three of these per month. They do NOT accrue and can be used for professional development opportunities, personal days, and other work-related … Continue reading Two Years Later Back at Home
Lauren’s Den UPDATE: Apartment Edition
This blog is late considering that I've been living in an apartment by myself since April 2018. ANYways. Peace Corps service is a 27 month commitment, broken down into two parts: 3 months of training upon arrival in your country of service, and 24 months of service in your assigned site. In Peace Corps Costa … Continue reading Lauren’s Den UPDATE: Apartment Edition
In Peru?
On top of being a ray of sunshine of a person in general, Lesia is a Youth Development volunteer currently serving in Peru! Fun fact, Lesia and I actually met when we both participated in a summer study abroad trip (also in Peru! Que casualidad, no?) in 2014: #throwback Don't just take my word for … Continue reading In Peru?
820 Days of Pura Vida 