SB2K12

For the last year, since I found out I would be in Costa Rica, my JV friends and I have referred to Spring Break 2012 as a potential reunion and vacation for those who are working or back in school. Last week, the first installment of FJV visitors came. My friend Emily, who lived in Casa Jean Donovan in Koreatown last year, came on Friday to spend a few days of quality time together and to see Costa Rica. She is currently in seminary at Pacific School of Religion in Berkley, CA working torward her Master's of Divinity and is on the ordination track to be a pastor in her church, (United Church of Christ). She's been working hard all year so this vacation was well-earned!

After Emily arrived on Friday and met my community mates, we took off on Saturday for three nights in Manuel Antonio, the site of the national park that I visited with my family. It was my third visit to the park and each experience has been totally unique. This time, we stayed in a really cute hostel about 2km from the park and beach, so we walked the very hilly road to and from (we certainly got our exercise, which was great since we're both used to working out pretty frequently!) the beach.

Emily and me :)

On Sunday, we took a guided tour of the park with Henry, who was awesome. He loved having us in the group because the rest of his clients were a big family with young kids, so I think we offered some comedic relief for him. Plus, I even spotted an animal that he couldn't seem to find, which later landed me a position carrying his telescope as his "assistant." Here's a video he took for us!

 After the tour we spent the rest of the day on the beach until we literally had to move because the tide came all the way up. The next day we spent the day on a pretty isolated part of the public beach where we had sun, shade, and a ton of space and great waves. Later that evening we met up with my housemate Margie and her sister Ceclia who had just flown in to visit. They stayed at the same hostel so we went out to dinner together after enjoying sunset over the ocean from the hostel patio.

monkeys!

sloth!

on the beach 

view from the hostel...nbd

On Tuesday Emily and I came back to San Jose for dinner at home. Em left on Wednesday morning. The trip was certainly a success and it was so great to see her!