The Things You Will See

I have a mere nineteen days left, but who is counting?!
This past week has been another interesting test of my patience and perseverance. Even from the beginning I feel as if every obstacle possible has kept me from experiencing the gap year I had imagined and anticipated. Firstly, I wasn't accepted to the school for the full length program due to my age. I was then able to talk my way into staying for ten weeks instead of six by doing two intensive courses back-to-back. The first six weeks (strictly school-wise) were a little slow, but I continued to learn lots of spanish, just not at the pace I was hoping for. This past week a new group of students came for the next four week intensive course, and I struggled the whole week in a class that was reviewing material that I already had knowledge of. On top of that, I have been trying to get in contact with a local foster home, but the application process has been slow. This whole week has been frustrating to say the least.
Yesterday though, I decided I must sacrifice my social life with my new friends and focus completely on spanish. I have now enrolled in private tutoring and learned more in an hour and a half yesterday than I did all of last week! I hope to make huge progress these next few weeks! As for the children's home, I talked to some friends who were going to an all girls children's home yesterday. I will try to talk to them today about how I can get involved as quickly as possible, as I really do only have a short time left here!
My weekend plans these past 6 weeks were amazing. I have seen two volcanos, felt three earthquakes, and been to both the pacific side of Costa Rica and the Caribbean side. I have taken more buses than I care to count and made a fool out of myself searching for sloths in every tree on every nature walk I've been on. I have seen huge waterfalls and grassy mountain tops. Through the Perifedica I have toured the whole city of San Jose! And I have had enough rice and beans to last me a lifetime. Only have two more full weekends here, and I'm hoping to make the most of it!
My host family continues to be a HUGE blessing to me. I feel really lucky.
Counting down the days until I'm in Europe with Chloe and Denise! As for my spring plans, I have no idea. I'm throwing around any and every idea in the book. From finishing my gap year here in Costa Rica to enrolling in college in the spring to living in Ecuador through a gap year exchange program! I know what my gap year is no where near "normal," but never in my life have I EVER fallen into that category!
Ciaoooooo! xx