I may be the official worst blog updater ever...:)

So I just looked over my last post and realized it has been almost TWO MONTHS since my last update! Sheesh! And a lot has happened! :) Namely....
1) end of February = Nicaragua trip. Wonderful. Full of dust. Lots of kickball playing. Lovely family, with host brothers for the first time! It was great.
2) Time with host family in Naranjo = great as always!!
3) March 15-25 Second trip to CUBA!! Which really you basically could just read my post from the last Cuba trip and it's not extremely different, although this trip focused more on art and other facets of Cuban culture. Probably just easier for you to check out the foto albums on Facebook than to try and explain it all on here. :) Haha here are the links:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015912&id=137900097&l=377f11035a
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015931&id=137900097&l=b1d79be0f1

4) Now I suppose I can go into a little more detail. :) Haha. For semana santa vacay (April 1-5) and this past weekend I went out to Naranjo, which was great to spend time with everyone and relax! :) I stayed with a different family this past weekend, because my host family was not around for friday night-saturday. It was so wonderful to get a peek into another family's life, and I loved hanging out with my host sister (a girl from the program my semester lived with them, so that's how I got in ;) Haha) and the host dad is just a riot, so it was a great time! :) Saturday night all the "adult young people" haha went to get pizza and just hung out, which was fun because we haven't done anything like that in FOREVER! :) And then Sunday was church, then a friend invited me to her house for lunch, then we went to a christian program/concert, then that night we threw a surprise party for one of the youth who had his 15th birthday! :) It was basically just a wonderful weekend full of fellowship and much needed and missed time with friends!! :)

5) El futuro. The future. Yipes. Well it's coming, that's for sure! I've basically got a month left here in Costa Rica (haven't bought the plane ticket yet. haha). And I'm not sure how I feel about leaving. I am SO EXCITED to see family and friends again after so so so long (Wednesday the 14th I complete NINE MONTHS HERE! ahhh!!) that is for sure, no question! :) But it's hard to think about going and not knowing when I"m coming back. Whew. Tough stuff. Part of me wants to come back here and work, because I just feel so good and at home here, and then part of me wants to move to another adventure. I don't know. Bleh. :) But here are the random options floating in the air waiting to become concrete or passed over....just for an update. :) And in no particular order of preference. :)
a) Stay in Costa Rica and teach English.
b) Volunteer with MVS in La Jara, Colorado most likely at a place called the Immigrant Resource Center teaching ESL, as well as doing some office work.
c) If I am offered the job, working as a program assistant at the Washington Office on Latin America in WAshington DC. I just found out today that of the 150 applicants I am in the top 20. Whoa.
d) Waiting to hear from the Lutheran Volunteer Corps about possible opportunities.
e) Waiting to hear from Olney Friends School in southeast ohio, where I would be a Spanish teacher/dorm faculty and love it. check it out if you're interested (just google it).
f) Be an aupair (nanny) for a year with a family from Istanbul, Turkey who is very interested in me.

So. Whoa. Those are the future possibilities of The Frey. What will happen? Who knows. Only God. What do I want to do the most? I really have no idea. I' m making a pro/con list and the plan is if I can't decide, Laura (who I work with) and I are going to sit down and pull the choice out of a hat. That way we'll see what my gut most wants. :) Haha.

So anyways, I hope this update finds you all good and well, I can't wait to hear from you all about how life is going, where it's moving, what's new and what's old news since the last time I've updated. I want to say thanks again as always for being such faithful friends to me!! :) I miss you all so much and am pumped for the summer of reunions!!!! :) Much love everyone!!
les amo!!! :) paz.
Laurita

Closing in on lucky number 7...

So, on Valentine's Day this year I will have officially been in Costa Rica for SIX MONTHS! ahhhh. This is the longest I've ever been away from home, and I have definitely felt it at times. There have even been days when (gasp!) I miss snow. I know, it's nuts. But it's only for about 5 minutes and then it passes. :)
More so I miss my family and wonderful friends at home! I'm so glad I have made good relationships here, or I would be SO LONELy without you all! So thanks for being so awesome and keeping up friendships even though it's hard across thousands of miles! :) I couldn't do this without all your wonderful love and support! :)
So we're getting to know the students a little better, and they are all super sweet and fun! I love hanging out with them and getting to know them better as we spend more time doing activities like going to Limon (great trip! dancing, beach-ing..what more could you ask for?! :) and leaving for Nicaragua on Monday! Ayyyy! :) So we'll all be super-bonded after that trip for SURE! haha :)
We also had a bachelorette party (despedida de soltera) for Lindsey, the girl who had my job last year, just this past Saturday at a place called Loubnan (or something like that) with Lebanese food that was DELICIOUS! Oh my gosh, it was so super fun! We of course gave her underwear and other inappropriate things,and some cute things for her house, and I didn't get home until 12 am, so you know it was a fun night! :) Haha
So all in all, this is a short update, but life is good! Guy stuff- whatever. I'm not concerned about that anymore. So we'll just see what happens. I'm loving being single and being able to do whatever I want. It's great most days, but then there are other days where I just get so excited to meet someone who "completes me" as Sid says in Ice Age II. ;) Hahaha. We'll see what's in store for my life, I'm very pumped for the coming year and all the years after that! :)
Anyways, I'll give you my next update after Nicaragua, so look forward to hearing from me around Feb 26th! Happy Valentine's day to you all! (Or dia de la amistad (friendship) as they call it here. :) Hugs & Peace!

Men, you can't live with 'em, and you can't live with 'em....

Okay, disclaimer for anyone reading this post. My apologies for the title, but it just fits. :) I'm not one of those women who likes to go around bashing or belittling men, but I just needed to say it to get out some frustration. Thanks to Julie, who I worked with at Weeping Willow, for the quote..:)
So a few weeks ago I headed out to good ol' Naranjo for a great weekend. On Saturday, a group of the jovenes (aka "youth" (anyone 12 + who isn't married. basically) went on a hike to El Cero (mountain top). When I say hike, what I mean is an hour and a half walk through cafetales (coffee fields) on paths. Uphill. Sweating. in the sun. and it was GLORIOUS! :) I had such a great time! (((for pictures, click on the title, it's a link to one of my facebook albums...)))
But anyway, I can see you asking, how does this relate to the title? Well, if you read through ANY of my blogs, including the one from last year when I was in CR as a student, you'll learn about Andres. Who now has a girlfriend. And I thought we were all hunky-dory, until Saturday. When he started flirting with me. And I got confused. REALLy confused. He even sang a song to me that day. Yeah. Seriously.
So the impression I have gotten, after a few short conversations after Saturday, is that really he just wants me to like him, even while he has a girlfriend. Now, maybe that's not the entire truth, I also get the feeling that he is extremely confused about what he wants (as am I, now, thanks to him). :) But...if you really want something, wouldn't you GO for it? I mean, personally, I want someone that KNOWS they want me. The end. :) I want to know I want to be with someone, and I know it isn't that simple, it isn't black and white. But. Some things you should just know.
So that's my rant for the day on men. Well, one man in particular. The rest of you are off the hook for today. ;)

Happy Costa Rican Christmas, and a Tico New Year!

Holy Moses, my apologies for not having written in another month! I need to keep up on this somehow! :)
So my family came down to visit for Christmas!!! Talk about wonderful! :) We had a great time laying by the pool at the rental house, driving to some pretty beaches, seeing Poas Volcano, and just being together and enjoying the holiday! A lot happened, so you can check out the facebook pics if you want to get caught up on the Freaky Freydays.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015079&id=13790009&l=7c43defb6b
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015101&id=137900097&l=52b347f387

Then I spent my first Costa Rican New Year with my old host family from Naranjo. It was so great to just chill out for a few days. I headed out on the 30th and stayed until the 3rd, because work started up again the 4th. Bleh. ;) Haha no, it's not bad, I really am enjoying it! But anyway, on the 31st we didn't do anything all day, then in the evening we made carne asada and then headed up the hill to the church to watch fireworks shoot off all over the central valley at midnight! It was so awesome, minus that I had no one to kiss ;) Haha Just kidding, I didn't even think about that!
On the first we slept in (sooo wonderful!) and then headed to a river in the middle of a coffee farm to just hang out and swim. We went with another family from the church, so that was really neat to share time with them! :) I'll hopefully get some pictures from my host sister soon and post them on here. Then on the 2nd, my host sister Yorleny and I headed to the public pool with our friends Luis and Andrea, which was so fun and relaxing! We just spent time swimming, talking about nothing, and laughing, which was great! :) And then Sunday was church, and back to San Jose as usual! So it was a relaxing new year, though I still have a hard time realizing the year has changed when I didn't do anything "normal" around Christmas or New Year's this year. But normality is overrated, right? :) Haha. This was a grrreat christmas and new years! :)
Who knows what 2010 has to hold in store? :) I will admit I didn't make any resolutions until a few days ago, when I decided that something I want to change about myself is to say what I think, what I mean, what I feel, and what's important to me. There have always been so many times when I hold back, and I don't want to do that anymore. I want to live fully in myself! That's my resolution. What are yours? :)

~If one day you wake up and find that you're missin me...~

Well, I just got done taking all the students' names off of their mailboxes. It was a symbolic way for me to say goodbye to each of them, and as I pulled of each name, memories about each one came flooding back to me, and I just took a little time to think good thoughts and send prayers and positivity their way...
One time I heard someone say that relationships never end, they only change. This is how I feel about "goodbyes". Even if you don't see that person ever again, you've still got a relationship with them, it's just different than it was before. So I'm sure I'll talk to you guys again, and hopefully someday we'll have a sweet reunion. Goodbyes don't suck as much as you might think. Really, it's just like an extended "nos vemos." :) It's just the closing of one way of knowing someone, and then new and exciting moments come into your life and you go on living and loving and growing, all the while remembering and cherishing the past good times. This is what i wish for anyone reading this...
and so if any of my LASPers are reading this, I miss you! And I hope you all have a magnificent homecoming and a wonderfully wonderful new year! :) You had the best semester ever (I hope!) so now go and make 2010 the best year ever. :)
Much love.
Laura Intern

This is the day, your life will surely change...

(click on title of blog to see pictures on Facebook)

Well, I have officially returned from CUBA, and the LASP students have all left and will be returning to their homes tomorrow. I was so sad to say goodbye to them all, they were such an amazing group of students and I am so happy that they were my first group as an intern. So if any of you are reading this, THANKS for being awesome! :)

I figured the easiest way to blog about my Cuba trip would be to just type up my short journal entries from the trip. Enjoy!

Nov. 30- Lunes

It's the last day of Nov. and I'm in CUBA! What? :) It was so weird to get off the plane last night, realizing where we are! They are freaking out about swine flue here, so everyone working in the airport was wearing a maks. Crazy. Today began our 1st day in Cuba, and it has been awesome! We went all ove rthis morning- to the Plaza de la Revolucion, Old Habana (where we had mojitos where Ernest Hemingway stayed) and saw a beautiful view from the rooftop. We even saw where daquiris were invented in Habana! Sweet :) This place just has such an elegant, mysterious charm to it, and I can see why it was such a hotspot to travel to before the blockade! No wonder so many tourists come here form other countries: it's beautiful! The Museum de la Revolucion was very interesting today, filled with a LOT of Cuban history, not just of the Revolution. After dinner we went to the largest fort built by Spain in the Americas to see the Canonazo. It's a ceremony they used to do when Habana was surrounded by walls, and at 8pm each night they would call people in by shooting off a canon. Now they re-enact it every night at 9pm. I was surprised by how many people came, but they did turn parts of the fort into museums/galleries/shops/restaurants so it makes a little more sense. :) It was a great day, & we all CRASHED when we got back. So far, totally awesome! Go Cuba!

Dec. 1, Martes

I've said it already, but I'll say it again Cuba is complex. Well, I guess the world is complex, but htis is the first time I just feel lost about politics, economics, culture & how they all interact. Seriously, it's nuts! This morning we went to a bodega, where people go monthly to pick up their ration, which usually includes: chicken, eggs, rice, beans, cooking oil, soap, etc., Ariel (our guide) told us this ration is usually enough to last 12-15 days. When the people use it all up, there are markets where they can use their salaries (in Cuban pesos) to buy food from farmers, as well as other stores where they can buy clothes, appliances, etc. Maybe I should explain a bit about Cuban money. Cuban pesos are the money used by the government (aka NOT hard currency) just inside the country, then there are CUC's (Convertible Currency, also called pesos) which is the money used by tourists and people from outside the country. Basically, 24 Cuban Pesos = 1 CUC and 1 CUC = 1.25 US Dollars. I just can't get over how awesome it is that every person, from the day they're born, receives enough food for 1/2 the month. And ALL healthcare free, AND education (even university!). I mean, I know it isn't a perfect system, but I feel like people in places like Nicaragua would be psyched for that kind of system! So I just feel like Cuba is this amazingly inspiring place that's tuck to their guns and said, "screw you, US government! We're going to live out what we believe in with or without you!" I love the spirit of independence and solidarity here among the Cuban people. Tonight we are going to a house that used to belong ot Batista to see folkloric dancing, & then tomorrow we're going to a hospital and 2 schools,which should be extremely interesting!

Dec. 2, Miercoles

To say that today has been awesomely informative would be an understatement! First we visited an elementary school, which was interesting. In Cuba, all classes are 20 students or less, due to the great number of teachers. Awesome! And we saw this 6 yr. old named Braulio who could recite poetry/speeches like nobody's business. It was crazy impressive! Then we visited a cardiovascular hospital for children, which was very impressive as far as achievements go: Sophisticated machinery, no waiting list (often an argument against this type of healthcare system). Did you know that Cuba has the largest number of doctors working in a country other than the one they are from? Cuban doctors are volunteering their services all over, especially in Latin America and Africa. I still can't get over the fact that healthcare is free, as well as all the education! Nuts. Our last trip took us to a school for mentally & physically handicapped children that is a partial boarding school during the week, & that provides hands-on training for those who can't learn academically beyond a certain level. The people working there are so inspiring to me- all these people are! They live real, concrete solidarity every day! I guess you could say they were/are "forced" to do so in some ways, but I just feel like after 50 years of the revolution, it has now become a key element of the culture in Cuba, more of a mentality. I don't know, its' just so different than any other place i've been. I think there are many positive things Fidel and the revolution have brought to Cuba, and we are only doing ourselves a disservice by ignoring that.

Dec 5, Sabado

A LOT has happene din these last 3 days! Thursday for lunch we were all given 20 Cuban pesos (aka less than $1) to go out near the U of Habana & buy lunch. Basically, this is the same (or slightly more) than what some Cubans make in a whole day from their work. We were able to find hamburgers and juice for 11 pesos (the hamburger and drink) for each person, and they filled us up pretty well, but that means we spent half a day's salary eating out at just one meal. Crazy. Also, we tried getting ice cream later in the day, but it was a nicer place that didn't accept Cuban pesos, only CUC's, and we didn't even have half a CUC. So it was interesting to wonder how Cubans feel compared to tourists (and Cubans who have access to hard currency) who can eat wherever they want, while the Cubans themselves are then basically excluded from those places. Hmm. Thursday night we went to Gregory Bini's house, who is a Canadian that lives in Cuba. It was interesting to hear his story, as he was very interesting and inspiring as he told us about his belief in the Cuban model, how he studied and then taught at the U of Habana, married a Cuban, and now lives in Cuba working in consulting with different government agencies. He was just so candid, yet knowledgeable and passionate, which was very inspiring. That night we had our first free night, so a bunch of us went to a Jazz club called El Cuervo y La Zorra, where they had some GREAT live music and, oddly, a bunch of people from the states! They were mostly there illegally (some for the 5th time), but then some had musicians' visas. Yesterday (friday) we spent our day driving from Habana to Matanzas, stopping along the way to see some sights. We ate lunch at a seminary, where we heard THE best chamber choir I've heard in my life. They gave me goosebumps and filled my eyes with tears. When we got to Varadero (aka the BEACH!) we immediately changed and ran to the sand, and then after dinner headed to a place called Calle 62. It's basiclaly a big open dance area & bar on a stree. Tons of people showed up, and we had a great time with our Cuba Libres and dancing with Cubans and even talking with some Canadian guys who were shocked to see people from the states in Cuba! So now today (Saturday) is beach day, which I'm psyched about! Bring on the sun! :)

Dec 7, Lunes

Today we left Cuba. How sad! But it was a marvelous trip and I enjoyed it to the fullest! Saturday night we went dancing again at Calle 62, and it was very fun to spend the last night at the beach dancing! :) Yesterday morning (Sunday) we went to a Presbriterian church, and afterwards we returned to Habana to stay in the MLK Center for our last night. We ate in Ariel's (our guide's) house, because his wonderful mother cooked some GREAT food for us, and afterwards we spent a few hours dancing at the house of someone who is part of a group that plays Cuban music and teaches Cuban dances. It was awesome to share the last night with the whole group, as well as with Javier, Ariel (guide) and Alberto (the translator). I still can hardly believe I was actually in CUBA. It seems strange to me how I felt there. I have never felt the way I did there on any other trip. I think it's because many people from the states have strong opinions about Cuba, even though they don't know anything about the country, and now I have a perspective that is different from that of many of those people. I am very excited to share what I saw, learned, and what I felt in Cuba. It's a country that is relaly very impressive and it inspired me to think about how we could make other economic systems work better for the PEOPLE of those countries. I was to use my voice to give a new perspective on Cuba, I also want to use my voice to try and show those working in the US government that it is finally time to let Cuba be Cuba, not a place under blockade. They need to recognize (as does much of the rest of the world!) the good that is in Cuba: the healthcare system, the educational system, and Cuban solidarity. For too long we have been told lies about Cuba, and it is now time to respect the country and the way that it wants to govern itself. Cubans deserve the opportunity to live as they wish.

*Extra note: Cuba's government is Communist (meaning only one political party is allowed by the constitution) but the people still VOTE, and only 10% of the population is a member of the Communist party. AKA: people have a choice, they have elected Fidel for the last 50 years, and they do not have to elect representatives that are members of the communist party. It's still a democracy, just a different one than ours. The economy is socialist, not communist.*

CUBA CUBA here I come!

Today, I go to CUBA!
....and I will be friends with Fidel when I come back. ;)

Totally Tuesday

Well, the students will officially be back here in San Jose TOMORROW! And then begins the insanity of running around (and heading to CUBA!) until they all return to the states on the 8th of December. Whew. How crazy that the whole semester is almost over! Every time I think about it, my mind spins a little. 3 months have gone by like 3 minutes. literally. So I'm sad to think about saying goodbye to them, but excited for the possibilities of the coming year. :)
It's hard not to miss home, with Thanksgiving on Thursday and all, but I am excited to celebrate here with the staff at Laura & Trevor's and to celebrate even more with a trip to Cuba. :) And then my family will be here on the 17th of December, which makes me REALLY happy! Basically right now I just want to listen to Christmas music, make cookies (or maybe just eat them ;) ) and watch ELF. Because, that's Christmas, combined of course with family and friends, who I miss like crazy! But I am having such a wonderful experience here that I wouldn't trade it for the world!! Or for cozy slippers and hot chocolate on a cold winter night. Nope. This holiday season will definitely be different, but that's nothing negative. I'm smiling at the thought of new experiences for this month of celebration. :) Thanks God for that chance!!!

Funny the way it is, if you think about it...

So I've officially decided that life goes by way too fast. We just realized the other day that in TWO MONTHS a whole new group of students will be here. And saturday I just realized I've already been here for three months. Which means there are only 7 left. Which may seem like a lot, but really, it's not much.
So needless to say, I'm freaking out about time. The future. Changing everything again. I know life is about change, and normally, I'm cool with that. But I think I've just had SO much change in the past year (going to CR, leaving CR, graduating from college, leaving home to come back to CR, etc etc) that I'm going a little nuts. :) Haha this is not to worry anyone, just to say it out loud: I'm having a small freakout time about what is to come. But just as I was really starting to freak out in the past month, lots of good things have been happening. For example, I had an interview with MVS that went really well, and got me excited about that possibility for the next year. Very positive. And this weekend I had a great, great, GREAt time in Naranjo, which was really calming and made me happier than I've been in quite a while, actually. Friday night at the prayer service we were in groups of 2 and prayed for each other, and it was something I really, really needed. I kneeled on the ground and just cried to God, praising and worshipping and loving ina way that I haven't done for a long time. Most definitely refreshing spiritually for me, and a good chance to reconnect with God.
We had a surprise party sunday night for one of the girls of the church, and it was a total, total, BLAST! For the first time since I've been back, it was like we were all great friends again, just like the old days without all the awkwardness of Andres being weird and grumpy and none of us really talking or hanging out. Nope. We all hung out, talked, and had just a totally awesome time.
So while I'm freaking out a little bit about what's next (Even though I kknow i've got plenty of time and can chill a little bit!) I'm still living in the moment. I'm still enjoying the beautiful view I have each day, the wonderful chances I have to share with new and old friends, and the breath of God's spirit living in me. Life is good, even in the middle of chaos. :)
OH: officially ONE MONTH until my family is here!!!!!!!! :) and officially 12 days until CUBA!!!! :) see? life rocks after all. ;)

Just because everything's changing, doesn't mean it's never been this way before...

Wow, I've gotten bad at this!! I'll work on keepin up with the Jones' and blogging a little more often. For my own sanity and yours. :)

Life is still going well, the students have all headed off on their internships/homestays throughout Costa Rica (and some are even back in Nicaragua!). So it's been quiet around the office, which is strange, but not too bad! Starting tomorrow, Javier and I will be going around and visiting the LASC students for the next week, all over Costa Rica! So we will have some long days ahead of us!

In other news, this past Monday and Tuesday I was in La Fortuna with the International Business Concentration students (IBC). We first visited EARTH University in Limon, which was amazing! Students from all over the world come there, and all leave with a degree in egronomics (i think that's what it is, basically some kind of agricultural degree), so they all do the same program. The university was partially funded by USAID and other world organizations, to bring together people who are interested in sustainable business/agricultural practices. Many of the students are on at least a 50% scholarship (the school is $30,000 a year, which for most of the people would be at least twice of what their families make in a year) up to %100 scholarships. But then there are suuuuper rich students who also go there and pay the full price (rich as in, they arrive sometimes in helicopters. yup). It must be a fascinating school to attend! But anyway, all the students follow the same program, in which they divide up into groups of 6 people, and have to start their own business that puts into practice what they've learned in the university. The university gives each group a $3,000 loan, and then they actually make the business. It's so awesome, because it's not just theory, they really DO what they're learning! And some have made large profits off their businessess. It's just a really cool place! They even have a banana paper-making center, where they take leftover banana stalks, grind them into the pulp, and make paper out of it! Super cool. :)

After EARTH, we headed to La Fortuna, where Arenal Volcano is located. Unfortunately we didn't get a good view of the Volcano, since it's rainy season and all, so I have no pictures. But dont' worry, I'll be sure to go back. :) But we stayed in these great cabinas, and went to Eco Termales that night (AKA Hot springs!!!). The guy who owns it is a graduate of EARTH, so that was a really cool tie-together! They make their own natural cleaner from microorganisms that eat bacteria, they process all the waste to make fertilizers, and use the methane gas to cook the food in their gas stoves, i mean, it's unbelievable! They waste nothing there, it's just really astounding and inspiring! (Not to mention the hot springs are BEAUTIFUL and awesome to relax in!!! :) So all in all it was a great time, and then I got to return on my own on Tuesday, taking random busses and figuring out how to get back to San jose. So that was an adventure all its own! :)

Last night my host sister Maria Fernanda and I went over to the neighbor lady's house to hang out with her son and his girlfriend, which was fun! We had some wine, and then he taught us how to dance a little (since he used to be a dance instructor!) It was a lot of fun, especially to spend time with my host sister outside of the house! :) Very relaxing, and very fun! :)

All in all, life is great here, I am loving the independence I have, although at times it still can get lonely not having people who I've been friends with for a long time. But the students are amazing, and the staff..well, I just love them all! And I know they're all here for me no matter what! :) So thanks for your amazing prayers, and I am very excited to hear how you all are doing as well!! Much love my friends and family!!!

Paz