New beginnings (Part 2)

Wow, blog, it's been awhile. I read my last blog just recently, and I realized that I needed to update people about the new stage of my life that I'm about to enter into (and sort of already have).

Since my last post, I've returned to the U.S. The transition was a lot easier than I thought it would be, since I was back home and in my "comfort zone", so to speak...skating, teaching a beginner Spanish class, volunteering, and still teaching English online.  Before I left Costa Rica, I was scanning The Literacy Center's blog and saw a job opening for Program Manager. I didn't know she was leaving, but I emailed her and the Executive Director asking about it, and they both wanted me to meet with them about possibly taking the position! I didn't really think it was a possibility, since I didn't have all the job requirements, but they basically said I could train for the job, and if I didn't think it would work out, I could opt out at any time. It's now mid-September and I've been the Administrative Assistant for almost 2 months, which will be ending the end of this month, but I will continue to train for the Program Manager job until November 1st, when I will officially start. The non-profit world is a perfect fit for me, and it fulfills my life goal, which has been to help people improve their language skills, no matter their race, ethnicity, educational background, etc.

This job is just what I've been searching for, and although I still want to continue traveling abroad, I think this is the best choice for me right now. I actually got offered a teaching job at a school in Cuenca, Ecuador, but I would like to travel there first, and with four paid weeks off a year, I'm hoping to travel around South America some more.

I'll post my summer adventures soon...I got to do some traveling within the U.S., first to California to see my family and bestie, then to Colorado for a week visiting my skating friend Max, then to Idaho for my annual BBR adventure.

Back in the U.S.A. (Part 2)

About a week after coming home from Challis, my friend Kristin went with my dad and I down to Tempe for the "Livers of Steel" Tour aka the most fun I've had in the Valley in a long time. Three of my favorite groups (Wade Bowen, Micky & The Motorcars, & Reckless Kelly) all in one night was like a mini Braun Brothers Reunion all over again. To escape the miserable desert heat, Kristin and I went skating at Oceanside.  After that, we headed back to the hotel to change clothes and get ready for the concert.  They were playing at an unusual (but gorgeous) venue for them, the Tempe Center for the Arts.  

After eating dinner, we walked along the walkway for as long as we could stand the late afternoon desert sun beating down on us...I think we lasted about 15 minutes! The view was beautiful though. Tempe Center for the Arts is located right along Tempe Town Lake.

The concert was amazing...these guys are great musicians. They somehow manage to get better every time I see them! We ended up hanging out with some of them after the show...it was great getting to know them a little bit better.  They're so nice and it was awesome to go out on Mill Avenue with them!

The last couple of weeks in town were great.  It was bittersweet to leave, but I knew I'd be back over Christmas, so only a few more months!! It was so wet and green in Flag when I left...hopefully there will be a lot of snow and I'll come home to a white winter wonderland!!! 

Costa Rican despedida/Back in the U.S.A. (Part 1)

My contract with Maximo was up at the end of July.  I was sad leaving the great staff and friends I had made along the way, as well as my students.  Thank goodness for social media so I could keep in touch with all of them! As sad as I was to leave, I had made up my mind to come back in September for at least a few months.  I had a potential job lined up, but it wasn't a for sure thing when I left Costa Rica.  Two other girls from Maximo were leaving too, so we had a little goodbye party or "despedida".

Home was great.  It was so great to see all my friends and of course, my parents.  It had been 8 months, and being in the comforts of home again was refreshing. 

I had been a little down my last month of teaching, I think mostly due to burnout.  It's great to know that when I need to and when I can, I can go home again and clear my head...one of the best (and worst) things about Flagstaff is that nothing changes.  This is especially great if you've moved away.

The first week I did experience some culture shock.  This was to be expected, and I think the altitude that I knew for 24 years and loved was the most shocking part.  I was so tired the first couple of days, I didn't really want to do anything, but I got back to my old self just in time to go to one of my absolute favorite places Challis, Idaho for the annual Braun Brothers Reunion Festival.  It arguably beats Disneyland for the happiest place on Earth.

Dad and I got to hang out with our friends, The Departed, and see our old friends Gunda, Jerald, Jenny, Jared, Josh, and some of their friends and enjoy the best music not heard on the radio.  My favorites included:

Todd Snider backed by The Departed,

 

Wade Bowen,

and Randy Rogers Band!

I love this festival...knowing I might have to miss it next year is going to suck, because it's the best out there right now!

The countdown begins...

Well, I have 19 days left in Flagstaff, my hometown.  I'm seeing everything differently, especially now, in October.  There's a reason October is one of my favorite months in Flagstaff.  The changing leaves and cooler nights, mixed with my changing sentiments of the city, are bittersweet.  The mountain lights up with yellow from the aspen leaves.  I have always loved this mountain town and will always call it home, but now everything's different. 

I'm growing tired of the daily routine, and as much as I love both of my jobs, it will be a nice change to be teaching, because I know that is my calling (at least right now).  I'm ready to experience a (relatively) new culture, and see things as an expat.  My friend Andres, put it this way last night in a text message: "You have a new vision of Costa Rica, not like a tourist, now like tica."  I want to go to different places like Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest, and still see it as an American, but Andres told me I could go to places like Puntarenas on the weekend and meet his family.  These experiences will make me appreciate the culture even more and expand my love and adoration of the Costa Rican people.

I know I should be living each day that I'm still in Flagstaff to the fullest and appreciating everything that Northern Arizona has to offer, but I can't help feeling antsy.  Costa Rica has been calling my name since I left it 4 1/2 years ago, and I love jumping into the unknown. My tica friend Pridian has been helping me look for apartments, and emailed me the other day letting me know that one of her friends is looking for a  roommate.  I might not even have to bother looking for an apartment.  It's close to the university (and my school, Maximo Nivel) and get this, I'd be paying $140 a month!

New beginnings

It's been almost a week since I signed the teaching contract with Maximo Nivel.  I've asked what seems like a thousand questions to the director, a new co-worker, the BridgeTEFL program advisors, and my Tico friends Andrés and Pridian.  All of them have been great with dealing with these questions, and Pridian even offered to drive me places, help me find an apartment, and go with me to buy a phone.  

I really couldn't ask for much better right now.  I'm still riding an amazing high that I hope won't go away for a long time.  I don't think leaving my tutoring job at CCC will be that difficult, and even my co-workers at the rink won't be that hard to say goodbye too, even though I love all of them.  Even saying bye to my parents won't be too bad...I will cry leaving my figure skating family, and I'm dreading it.  I've been skating with most of them for at least five years and a lot of them I've grown really close to.  The students I teach will be really hard to leave, as well as my Literacy Center family.  They've given me so many amazing opportunities (especially the executive director, Carynn) to grow as a teacher and I don't know if I can ever thank them enough for everything they've done for me.  My students there have been amazing as well, and I'll definitely be sad the last class...I had one learner come up to me the other day and say that there won't be anyone that can replace me.  

That statement is why I teach...I've always wanted to change people's lives in a positive way, and right now I feel like this new chapter is exactly what I need.  Despite the misgivings, doubts, sadness, and nervous feelings that I have right now, the excitement of the unknown outweighs all of them.  I remember crying on the flight home from Costa Rica 4 1/2 years ago, and now I get the opportunity to go back and fulfill what I struggled so hard to achieve with my bachelor's degree. 

Me?! Inspiring?

I'm an avid Zumba fan.  Today I was walking out of class and this woman named Dottie said "So I see you have an insulin pump...well my daughter has one too."  This is a rarity in my small Arizona city, as only a handful of people in Flagstaff have it.  She proceeded to tell me that her daughter was a T2 on a pump and had spent 3 weeks in a coma from ketoacidosis. She now has some permanent brain damage, but has started to exercise more and is trying to take care of herself.  Dottie then said that she had noticed the site in class on Thursday and told her daughter about it and then said that I was a little inspiration for her daughter.  As a 23 year old T1, about to celebrate 15 years with diabetes, I was flattered.  This comment proved to me that I'm not only not alone in this world, but the littlest things can inspire other diabetics...I continued to show them the Dexcom CGM and Dottie was also surprised to see that I put my site in my arm.  We all have bad days with diabetes, but comments like this make me realize how unique and different I am, and I'm truely fortunate to have a loving and caring support system behind me.  There is nothing greater than to hear the words that you inspire someone with a disease that can be so tough to live with. :)