The Philadelphia Story (not the movie)

I'm home!!!  I arrived back in the states about 2 weeks ago and though I have at least started to readjust to the cold, the rampant consumerism, people not knowing Spanish, and cars that I have to ride inside of instead of trucks that I ride on the back of, I still don't have anything even close to the right words to sum up my years experience.  Instead, I will let some photos do the talking that I can't.  Here are some of my favorite photos from this whole year (I took a little over 4000 this past year in Costa Rica, but don't worry...I'm not going to post all of them).  At this risk of making this sound like an Oscar acceptance speech, I want to thank the wonderful town of La Esperanza for taking me in as family, my students for challenging me when I needed to be challenged, shutting up when I needed them to shut up, and making me laugh when I needed a laugh.  My 18 students at the school were paradoxically the driving point of my insanity all year and simultaneously the only thing keeping me sane and happy.  Lastly, I want to thank Rina, my parents, and great friends at home for the continuous support this entire year.  I started writing this blog just to keep in touch with all you special people back home and give you a little glimpse into my life, but I didn't expect to have so many dedicated readers.  I really appreciate your interest in my adventure.  I am now back in Philly trying to figure out my next adventure, so wish me luck!  With no further ado, here are some pictures of my past year which sum up, if only the tip of the iceberg, my life, experiences, and "what the fuck?" moments this past year.  Enjoy and adios! Nos vemos.

The official La Esperanza Public English Library, a.k.a the bookcase I built

Me and some of "the guys" in town on graduation day at school

6th graders at graduation. So proud of them! Also, I think it's illegal to smile in pictures in Costa Rica

Picking coffee during my last few weeks in CR; the bag is my take for the afternoon!

Pickin' coffee with my boy, Wili

My 2nd Family's house

San Jose: the 6th graders were part of a National Primary School Theatre Presentation in the capital, so I went with them for support

The girls on Independence Day (September 12)

Ezequiel, Brandon, and Nicol on Costa Rica Independence Day (September 12)

Me and mama...and mama

My first host-house!

Monkeys on the monkey bars!!

Dad (real Dad) feeling the power of cutting down a banana tree with a machete

Prison in Nicaragua

The Sobels being teacherly.

Rina and I atop Cerro Chirripo, the tallest mountain in Costa Rica! (12,520 feet)

Me and Dan Israel at the beach!

Treeboat!

My 6th graders during our "field trip" to the plaza in April.  Here they are posing for the stereotypical "heads in a circle on the ground looking up shot", but it was midday so they were all staring right at the son = hilarious photo

Teacher Mark exuding brut masculinity with a bunch of my kids...I struck a pose in an attempt to upstage all of my girls who think they are models

Some adorable Panamanian Indian girls hanging out at the pulperia.  In general, Panamanian Indians are always really serious, so when I sat down next to these girls, my main goal became making them smile.  Almost there!!!

Drying plantain tree leaves to make Tamales...and yes my tongue is out because I'm focusing...

My first parents (Virgite and Fernando) and I at Carlos's (my host brother) wedding in March 2011

My first grader Dylan using me as a packmule

My 2nd day in La Esperanza.  My host-bro Nito as his finest!

2nd Graders

The tree I would climb to read.  In the bottom left is my foot.  The view is of the entire "downtown" of La Esperanza.

View from my house in the summer at dusk