ego

Well, school is up and running - all the new students are here (including the five I picked up from the airport on Sunday...honestly, I feel like I do the same jobs over and over in different countries....)

Campus always feels so much better when it is filled with students. It has life again.

I can hardly believe I've been home from Costa for a month already.

Pictures are coming...I'm just waiting for something exciting to happen first. Anything really. Got a pretty hot pic of a rainbow the other day. Hm. Yeah. That's about it.

On a totally unrelated topic, I feel like we, as a province, are inviting someone to come and bomb us for having an inflated ego. Check out the new BC license plates...

"The Best Place on Earth" ?? People from Ontario already think that people from BC are cocky...now we just proved it.

one big happy family

Life is beautiful. This weekend (and still today) our house has been full. Bursting at the seams a little...and I love it! There's the four of us, like usual, plus another family of six (Gary's sister's family) and then Gary's parents. It's been fun...feels like dorm living, or Pura Vida-style.

No major stories to tell...I will post some pics soon for your entertainment.

on butting out.

I seem to have a problem of feeling like I need to be involved in other peoples' business. No, I'm not talking about my friends and their "what should I do with my life" situations...Strangers. Random people. Simple everyday situations.

Friday night Dad and I went to see the Bourne Ultimatum. We were almost done the movie, when the fire alarm went off. No one was really sure what was going on...so we filed out, like you're supposed to. It was a false alarm in the end, and we returned to the movie, re-claiming our seats. Now you'd think this would be an easy assignment for most logical adults to fulfill; however, there was one lady, I'd say early 50s, who decided she wanted to sit in a new seat...so when the gentleman who'd been seated there earlier returned to find his seat taken, he politely asked that he could reclaim it. Her response? "You must be kidding." Now keep in mind that all of this I'd observed out of the corner of my eye...but once I heard her response...my blood pressure rose. You must be kidding? YOU must be kidding, lady. Now I was involved as an observer. The end of the story is that he assured her he was not kidding, she called him some names that I cannot type on here, or my blog will be shut down, she found her previous seat, and the movie rolled on. Do you think I could focus on the movie? My mind was racing...wishing it had been me that had had the confrontation with her. Ooh...how I wished I could make her realize to what depths she'd stooped for a silly spot in a theatre for the remaining 15 minutes of a movie. Needless to say, my internal response was "fix this"...not necessarily beneficial or edifying...just there.

Scenario number 2 was on the ferry yesterday coming from Nanaimo to Vancouver. Mom and I had found seats near where the bus driver sells tickets for those looking for a one-way into downtown Van. As I sat, I couldn't help but watch as he sold his last few tickets, and people grew angry and frustrated that seats were unavailable. Then there was the added confusion of those who had mistakenly checked their baggage for stowage on board the ferry, when they should have held on to it and then had it put on the bus. Oh the chaos. Until the sales were closed and the bus driver left to undoubtedly eat a peaceful lunch, again, my blood pressure was high.

So what is all this about? To be honest...I think it's residual. Leftovers from years of being highly involved. As the RD, dealing with all the issues that pertained to girls living in dorms...as the waitress, recognizing that people are just plain grumpy until they get something to eat...and as the whatever my title is when I'm in Costa Rica, making sure things are running smoothly.

I think I need to learn to let others deal. No one likes the girl who can't just keep to herself...and I don't want to become that girl.

On being home again.

I walked into Starbucks last night for the first time in over 3 months, and I almost ordered in Spanish. A guy bumped into me in Walmart today, and I apologized in Spanish. I keep forgetting to put my seatbelt on...until last night when the beeper in Jer's car went off because I wasn't wearing my seatbelt. A few times I have almost thrown my toilet paper into the trash can...whoops. Forgetting where I am seems to be the theme here.

It always takes a bit to get back into the groove of life here. But there are a few things I don't want to forget: how I can live with just a suitcase of items and live happily; how building relationships are more important than passing time; and how stress and surrender bring you closer in dependence with your Heavenly Father.

To all my summer friends...thanks for all that you taught me and for loving me even through those stressful times. I will miss you dearly.

The vacation of all vacations.

I am burnt. Again. It pretty much is the story of my life...but it is the result of a fun couple of days. Yesterday and today we had our staff vacation, out at Playa Tambor, at Hotel Barcelo. It was another all-inclusive resort...and the best end to the craziest summer.

So here's the photos to tell the story.

We left yesterday morning, bright and early (or dark, and early) at 4:30am...

By 6am, we had a flat tire...

But we were soon back on the road and headed out about three hours away, to take a ferry ride (which reminded me SO much of BC Ferries that I was looking for the "Queen of Coquitlam" signs...). Here's the dock where we came into on the other side. Definitely doesn't resemble BC ferry terminals...
We got to the resort at about 9:30...and so they let us in early. Knowing that we only had about 24 hours, we made the most of it. Some took dance lessons...

There was boogie boarding...

The boys...well, they were boys...

And the girls...well, they were girls...

Again, girls...

And then late at night we discovered that the resort had a bit of an infestion of raccoons. They came right up to us, completely unafraid of people...and we discussed the many ways we could dispose of them.

This vacation was bittersweet. We had a blast together (there's many activities and fun moments that I don't have captured through photos...), but it also signalled the end of our summer, and the many good-byes to friends that some of us didn't even know 5 weeks ago, but now know more than maybe we even wish to. Living together does that. Stressful circumstances do that. Serving God together does that. It's been a blast. I've been especially blessed to have been able to work with three friends this year that were on staff last year as well. The first is Julia, my girl...
And Chad, my very reliable, dependable friend...
And Nate, whom I appreciate for his humour and his age...and his willingness to do anything.
And here is my other favourite. Carmelinda amazes me always, and I'm excited to return next summer and see what she is like at "almost 8".
It is hard to believe that my time here is coming to an end. I will be flying back to Seattle on Thursday, staying with family for the night and then back to Abbotsford by Friday night. I want to say thanks to all who have been faithful in checking this thing, and who have offered up prayers and written encouragement to me. I appreciate you all very much.

I leave you for now with the randomness that is Costa Rica. Here's what we encountered in Heredia's Central Park on Sunday....storm troopers...
Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Darth...um...whatever his name is. (I'm obviously not the biggest Star Wars fan)... I have no idea what was going on. But Darth Vader came in later and made a grand entrance. I can't promise such randomness when I return home...but I'll try my best to keep you all updated.
Blessings..

Pura Vida Summer Staff 2007