It is the first day of Spring and I am jumping ahead to our August adventure. I think I have a tentative plan for our next phase of Compassion Jaxon. This one will have to be on our continent again until I can figure out the funding aspect to go further.
Matt will be leaving for a brief Tour of Duty (TDY) in Iraq in August, so I think that Jaxon and I are going to head out West for a 4,000 mile loop from Montecito, California to Redwood National Park to Eugene, Oregon, to Spokane, Washington, to Bozeman, Montana, to Estes Park, Colorado, to Guadlupita, New Mexico, to Sedona, Arizona and back to CA. I would like to rent a Hybrid and drive through this part of the country that I have not much explored. We will stay with friends mostly along the way and let our spirit of adventure guide us! I think we will try to go for 4 weeks, however that would mean Jaxon would miss his first week of "real" school. (brick and mortar this fall at the Montessori School of Camden). Hope they won't mind!!
As usual, creative financing will be necessary, so any ideas (or donations!) will be much appreciated!!!
I will post more as our plans develop!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Final Moments
Dec. 15, 2009
These are our last few hours here in Costa Rica and the last 24 have been melancholy for me. Jaxon is thrilled to be returning to the Land of Excess and Consumption, but I am not ready. I feel free for the first time in years. Not as free as the 20-somethings I watched with longing as they celebrated finishing their yoga training with a surf trip to Montezuma. Now that is real freedom. That was me, once upon a time. I was overcome by the sensation of time literally flying by as I watched the Costa Rican landscape pass me by out the bus window, and I listened to the girls planning their adventure.
Jaxon had fallen asleep with his hand slightly gripping my arm. He reflexively squeezed and released my arm and I was reminded of how he used to do that to my finger as he was sleeping as an infant. The tears came pouring forth as they are about to again as I write this. Nine years since my baby was born and here we are on our first adventure together. Gosh, he is so big now and his upper body barely fits in my lap.
Tears poured hot down my face as I gazed at the beauty of the mountains, the azure sky and the puffy clouds, the cows on the hill, the boldly painted Tico homes – pink and teal. I thought of my Uncle who just passed away days before our trip and my Dad who died when he was almost the age I am now. I was so sad that they could not share this view or any others with me - grossly aware of how sometimes we do not have as much time as we think we do.
In 2010, I approach my 40th year and as the landscape blew by me, it reinforced my feeling of how my life is passing me by. How, if I am lucky, I am probably at the halfway point. Given my family history, that may not be the case, but I am a positive person and (mostly) healthy. I hope to live a long life so I can take Jaxon’s kids zip lining with me in Costa Rica and elsewhere to experience the world.
Well, Jaxon is nagging me about his stomach growling, so I must end my Costa Rican journal to take him to breakfast…our last breakfast in Costa Rica. One thing I will not miss is rice and beans, but I have developed a new fondness for fried plantains.
Today, give your kids a big hug. Call your mom, or your dad and tell them you love them. Kiss your spouse on the cheek for no good reason and wrap your arms around them and say thank you for sharing their life with you. Be grateful you have eyes to soak in the beauty around you. Be thankful that you can hear the beautiful sound of laughter and music. Shout out in joy that you can breathe and feel the coolness and freshness of the winter air or the feeling of raindrops on your skin.
Be grateful for each moment of your life, each minute, each second.
I know I am…….
Until our next adventure,
Lisa
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Los Personnes de Santa Rosa
Tuesday, Dec. 8. 2009
Jaxon and I have worked at the La Marina Zoo and Wildlife Rescue Center for 2 days now. I must say, it is extremely satisfying work. We arrive around 8:30 after taking the bus up the hill, work until about 10 and then go have café with the others who work there. Then we go out for a while more, came back and have a communal lunch at noon and then out again till 3 pm and then we’re done! Today we took the bus to Aguas Zarcas and spent some time in the internet café.
The zoo is not very modern and every animal eats either bananas, plantains, yuca or papaya, so we spent a lot of time preparing fruit. I will give a more specific journal of each day at the zoo for those who are interested. I will try to post a new one each day.
Here’s a little more about our host family. They are all very sweet:
Jaxon and I have worked at the La Marina Zoo and Wildlife Rescue Center for 2 days now. I must say, it is extremely satisfying work. We arrive around 8:30 after taking the bus up the hill, work until about 10 and then go have café with the others who work there. Then we go out for a while more, came back and have a communal lunch at noon and then out again till 3 pm and then we’re done! Today we took the bus to Aguas Zarcas and spent some time in the internet café.
The zoo is not very modern and every animal eats either bananas, plantains, yuca or papaya, so we spent a lot of time preparing fruit. I will give a more specific journal of each day at the zoo for those who are interested. I will try to post a new one each day.
Here’s a little more about our host family. They are all very sweet:
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
At the new Casa con Rosa y Ronald
Sunday, Dec. 6. 2009
Today I have a bit of a hangover. Another birthday party last night and my new hosts were very successful in never allowing my glass to be empty. I told them I like Pilsen and they made sure I had many. Felt like college again! I don’t usually drink that much (beer that is!)
We arrived here yesterday afternoon. I really do not even know where we are, except to say we are between Aguas Zarcas and Quesada and our house is on the same street as the prison. The accommodations are not bad, but certainly a different standard than most Americans would find acceptable. My threadbare sheets on my single mattress are a combination of floral and 101 Dalmations with a VERY pink satin Asian theme comforter with pagodas. We have separate entrances from the house and a Jack and Jill bathroom that connects this rooms, so it is comfortable. I miss having a little kitchenette and certainly will go a little crazy without wifi, but that I s part of the adventure!
What a different way of living! I am not allowing Jaxon to use his iPod touch because we cannot charge it and I need the translator on it for emergencies. We do not have a TV and there is no internet service. This should be a reality TV show for Americans and their kids! Maybe I should pitch that idea? Like a Wife Swap, but instead have whole families swap lives in a different culture for a week. It would be a hit. Anyone have any connections in Hollywood? I want to do this!
We begin working at the zoo on Monday.. We had a chance to go and walk through it yesterday. Some of it is nice and some of it is very sad. Many of the big cats do not have adequate accommodations – small cinder block cages maybe 10’ x 10’. And neither do the spider monkeys and the parrots. How do I tell them that without sounding judgmental or rude? What could be done to fix it? Throughout the zoo are messages in Spanish and English about conservation and environmentalism, which I think are good. I think most of the animals they have here were obtained from a bad situation (so rescued) and I think they release some that are able to be released, but not many. I think! Again I need to clarify that.
Well, today is Sunday and it is raining (surprise!), but I am sure will pass. I need to get up and shower and make an appearance in the main house for breakfast, lest my hosts think I am dead in here. Feeling a bit fuzzy, like I stubbed my head. Today we do not work, so we may go to the local pool and maybe up to the hot springs that are pretty near by.
Oh - last night Jaxon was hilarious at the party. The lights went out for about a half and hour (no one knows why!) This was a big party with loud music, tons of food about 50 people, etc. We were sitting in the kitchen making strained conversation and Jaxon suggested that there was a guy upstairs that was riding a bike to make the electricity for the lights and that maybe he fell off or had one to many cervesas! I almost fell off my stool laughing. Funny boy!
Today I have a bit of a hangover. Another birthday party last night and my new hosts were very successful in never allowing my glass to be empty. I told them I like Pilsen and they made sure I had many. Felt like college again! I don’t usually drink that much (beer that is!)
We arrived here yesterday afternoon. I really do not even know where we are, except to say we are between Aguas Zarcas and Quesada and our house is on the same street as the prison. The accommodations are not bad, but certainly a different standard than most Americans would find acceptable. My threadbare sheets on my single mattress are a combination of floral and 101 Dalmations with a VERY pink satin Asian theme comforter with pagodas. We have separate entrances from the house and a Jack and Jill bathroom that connects this rooms, so it is comfortable. I miss having a little kitchenette and certainly will go a little crazy without wifi, but that I s part of the adventure!
What a different way of living! I am not allowing Jaxon to use his iPod touch because we cannot charge it and I need the translator on it for emergencies. We do not have a TV and there is no internet service. This should be a reality TV show for Americans and their kids! Maybe I should pitch that idea? Like a Wife Swap, but instead have whole families swap lives in a different culture for a week. It would be a hit. Anyone have any connections in Hollywood? I want to do this!
We begin working at the zoo on Monday.. We had a chance to go and walk through it yesterday. Some of it is nice and some of it is very sad. Many of the big cats do not have adequate accommodations – small cinder block cages maybe 10’ x 10’. And neither do the spider monkeys and the parrots. How do I tell them that without sounding judgmental or rude? What could be done to fix it? Throughout the zoo are messages in Spanish and English about conservation and environmentalism, which I think are good. I think most of the animals they have here were obtained from a bad situation (so rescued) and I think they release some that are able to be released, but not many. I think! Again I need to clarify that.
Well, today is Sunday and it is raining (surprise!), but I am sure will pass. I need to get up and shower and make an appearance in the main house for breakfast, lest my hosts think I am dead in here. Feeling a bit fuzzy, like I stubbed my head. Today we do not work, so we may go to the local pool and maybe up to the hot springs that are pretty near by.
Oh - last night Jaxon was hilarious at the party. The lights went out for about a half and hour (no one knows why!) This was a big party with loud music, tons of food about 50 people, etc. We were sitting in the kitchen making strained conversation and Jaxon suggested that there was a guy upstairs that was riding a bike to make the electricity for the lights and that maybe he fell off or had one to many cervesas! I almost fell off my stool laughing. Funny boy!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Moving On....
I am sittting in the lobby of the lounge to write our final post from Tirimbina. We are very sad to be leaving. Tirimbina is a such a warm place and they people who work here are like one big family. They have embraced Jaxon and I, and really made us feel welcome.
I am thinking of trying to come back next year, but leading an educational trip for kids for a week to 10 days. If any of you parents would like to send your children with Matt and I out here for a week, let's talk! I promise it will be the experience of a lifetime for them, as it has been for us. Many educational tours through the rain forest, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, etc., We even know an ex-professional soccer player to teach us soccer! I am working on pricing now, but it would be affordable. Better experience than a summer camp!
So now, we are heading to La Marina Zoo in Aguas Zarcas on the bus. We will be there for 6 nights and then to Arenal (active volcano) for 3 nights where we have arranged a high octane zip line through the canopy where they take you up the mountain in a gondola and you zip line back down! I do not know if I will have internet access or not in Aguas Zarcas, but will defnitely in Arenal. Check back with us every day, just in case!
PURA VIDA, AMIGOS!!!
I am thinking of trying to come back next year, but leading an educational trip for kids for a week to 10 days. If any of you parents would like to send your children with Matt and I out here for a week, let's talk! I promise it will be the experience of a lifetime for them, as it has been for us. Many educational tours through the rain forest, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, etc., We even know an ex-professional soccer player to teach us soccer! I am working on pricing now, but it would be affordable. Better experience than a summer camp!
So now, we are heading to La Marina Zoo in Aguas Zarcas on the bus. We will be there for 6 nights and then to Arenal (active volcano) for 3 nights where we have arranged a high octane zip line through the canopy where they take you up the mountain in a gondola and you zip line back down! I do not know if I will have internet access or not in Aguas Zarcas, but will defnitely in Arenal. Check back with us every day, just in case!
PURA VIDA, AMIGOS!!!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
A Tree Falls in Tirimbina
This morning Jaxon and I accompanied Emanuel on a two and half hour hike through a rustic trail in Tirimbina to do a visual check of some of the plants in a study and to search for caterpillars. Tomorrow begins the week-long butterfly (mariposa) study. Tirimbina has been collecting data on butterflies the first week of each month for about the last five years. All of this cumulative research will be very helpful in studying the health of the forest and the butterfly population.
Slideshow: Monkeys and Mushrooms and Frogs - Oh My!
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