Pre-Trip Thoughts, Hopes and Expectations . . .

I thought it would be a good idea to post an online journal with pictures of the sights and descriptions of my upcoming experiences in Costa Rica. I am leaving Portland, Oregon for San Jose, Costa Rica on August 26th 2012. I have never been out of the country besides a trip to British Columbia as a child. I am taking this trip as part of a completion requirement for my degree in Social Work at PSU (Portland State University).  


At this point all I know is that I am to arrive in the capitol city of Costa Rica called San Jose on August 27th, meet up with a few of my fellow classmates and spend one night at a hotel with them and the following morning we are heading out to a town/ "Pueblo" called Turrialba guided by our two instructors, one of which is a native of Costa Rica.  I will spend most of my time in Turrialba with a retired couple who are hosting myself and another classmate by afternoon/evening and by day and I will be working at a service site which is at a Technology High School outside of Turrialba.

What I'm looking forward to...

* Beautiful birds, butterflies, flowers and other animals native to the region.
* Upcoming site-seeing trips to Volcanoes, Banana, Coffee & Chocolate Farms and the Caribbean    Ocean.
* Practicing my Spanish with my Host Family and the students I will be working with.
* Swimming in the Ocean or any body of water that is considered safe!
* Meeting new people and sharing experiences with each other.
* Trying new and authentic foods.
* Celebrating the country's Independence Day (September 15th) on one of my last nights in San Jose!!!
 

What I am NOT looking forward to...

* Any strange and GIANT bugs I have heard stories about.
* Spiders
* Very high levels of humidity in certain parts of the country.
* Any possible spell of dysentery or stomach upsets.
* Spiders
* Bug Bites, especially from Mosquitos
* Having no words for how I wish to explain myself in a language I am not fluent in.
* Oh and did I mention SPIDERS yet??