RAIN!

• Another beautiful day in Costa Rica. Well...we were chancing the odds. We washed our clothes yesterday and hung them on the clothes line hoping they would be fine by the time we got back from school. The rain hits here from around 2pm until about 8pm. Well...about 2 hours into school, the biggest rain storm we have seen yet hit. That's when we thought of our poor clothes hanging on the line. By the time we got home, you would have thought we jumped in a pool, how wet they were.
• Madison did well at school yesterday. We shall see how today goes as she continues to settle in. Homework is a whole new concept for her, having been homeschooled for so long, but she seems to be doing fairly well.
• More orientation today, day off tomorrow! YEAH! Think we are going to try and hit the farmers market and get some fresh veggies and fruit - of course then we are going to have to soak them for 30 minutes in bleach water - welcome to Costa Rica!
  
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  Wanna see what rain looks like in Costa Rica? Go here:
  

Welcome to 3rd world culture!

Well, it's been a day filled with learning about the culture. I mean that because we went out to a mall on our own looking for things. The interesting culture tip of the day: NEVER slam car doors. Apparently Americans are notorious for slamming car doors. Check it out next time you get out of the car. I didn't realize how much I did it. Well, Tico's (nickname for someone from Costa Rica) HATE it! As a matter of fact, when we rode the taxi home (it was pouring rain!) the taxi driver told me in Spanish to leave the door open, and that he would close it :-) I wasn't offended in the least! Just another example of differences in culture.

Our internet is down at home - we do have access at school, and that's what I'm using, BUT we can't plug our memory card into the computer, so no pics today. So sad :-( We are still waiting to get internet at our home. We have been able to get wi-fi off of our neighbor for now, but he's currently unable to get on his internet. Sigh...

Had a placement exam today to see what level of Spanish they are going to put us in - we find out next Monday, and start our schooling on Tuesday! We can't wait!

New Country - New Look

First day of school in front of the smaller children's play area.

Madison's teacher - Ms. Melanie. Hmmm...they look to be the same size! Go figure!

Hey gang - I decided to change my look to reflect our move to Costa Rica - so you are still in the same place, don't fret!

It was Madison's first day of school, and she couldn't have been more excited! She actually laid out her clothes the night before! Her backpack was packed before we even left the states. She has 10 kids in her class, 7 of which are boys! Yikes! She has Math, Bible, History, Spanish, Science, Grammar, Gym, and her elective - which she chose Science Club. She also is going to take an after-school activity. Her choices are gymnastics or soccer - she's picking gymnastics. Their day starts off in the gym with worship and prayer time, then off to class. She is in the same classroom except for Spanish, she has a different teacher and different class. She also has a locker, but we need to purchase a lock -haven't found one yet.


Our day consisted of meeting people, and touring around the school. We haven't received an official orientation of what our schooling will consist of. Maybe tomorrow. We have a total of 4 days of orientation.

Firsts:

1. Went to the grocery store by ourselves - no interpreter - needed to get some hamburger. I could get out the "I need some hamburger" in Spanish, but when he asked me "how much" (in Spanish) - that's when the blank look came in. Luckily, he was very helpful, and we managed to figure it out :-) Uno Kilo por favor (one kilo please - no pounds around here)

2. Walked through HUGE downpour with groceries in hand - not so fun (we are here right in the middle of the rainy season)

3. First day of orientation for language school

4. Purchased special type of bread (pan de hawiaian - I think that's the spelling - no, it's NOT Hawaiian bread) at the local bakery - still not quite sure what we purchased (haven't tried it yet), but it sure looks good!

Settling In

This is a view from our front door.

Our apartment. We are in the grey - top right.

Here is a quick video tour of our apartment in Costa Rica:

Today we went to orientation for Madison's school which starts tomorrow. We drop her off, then our orientation starts. Madison is THRILLED to be starting school tomorrow - she wore her backpack to orientation just to "get used to it" :-) After that, we did some MORE shopping for things to help our place feel a little more like home. Believe it or not, we still haven't gotten everything - but we are much closer. Not bad for day 2. Riding the taxi today was quite fun - speaking only in Spanish we somehow managed to get where we needed to go.

New firsts today:

1. Made red beans on stove top

2. Taxi ride speaking only Spanish, in Costa Rica

3. Walked to our school, and managed not to get lost (Mike led the way - but whatever)

4. Being shocked by our refrigerator...everytime I open it (remember - it's a 3rd world culture).

5. Stapled my foot (don't ask)

Something to consider: We flipped through the channels of our local TV station and caught Dora the Explorer on a local station. Hmmm...we thought...a children's program that teaches English kids Spanish - in a Spanish speaking country, it just seemed odd.

We have arrived in Costa Rica!

Mike on Vonage talking to friends back home from our new Costa Rican home.

16 bags into the car. Hard to see - but there are 3 layers of duffel bags on top of that car!

This has been a day of firsts! Whew!

We arrived to San Jose, Costa Rica after getting almost no sleep on the plane (plane left at 0100) in the morning. Our 16 bags flew through customs without a hitch. Getting them on the vehicle that picked us up - well...as they say - a picture speaks a thousand words...


Arrived at our apartment - it's small, but clean, and cute! We immediately ran off to go get some lunch, and over to the grocery store for some needed items - household goods, food, etc. Came back, and started unpacking.


My firsts:

1. traveled with 16 bags (didn't fall down any steps this time)
2. Living in Costa Rica
3. cooked rice for the first time (hey - I've always had a rice cooker - why bother?)
4. washed the dishes in cold water (no hot at the tap), with Lye (only thing around here that works with cold water)
5. Spoke my first Spanish to a national
6. Survived through my first 8 hour downpour (it's the rainy season here afterall - supposed to be like this every day!)
7. Cooked on the worlds smallest stove
8. Called on my Vonage phone back home (it's a local call afterall :-)
9. Made my first blog from Blogger - but it's all in Spanish!!! Don't know how to change it!! Luckily I have most of the locations memorized - I can't read Spanish yet! (HELP!! Anyone out there know how to change it back to English?!)


Anyway - I'm sure there will be many more first tomorrow, but wanted to share a few today.

Adios California, Hola Costa Rica!

The incredible signature quilt that Annette made for us

Saying goodbye to friends.

We are sitting in the airport waiting for our 0100 flight to Costa Rica. It's almost midnight, and we are excited, waiting to see what the future holds for us, and completely exhausted! It has been an incredible journey, these last 2 1/2 years. The last 8 months have been a whirlwind of training, travel, and selling/throwing away a life time of "stuff" that we have collected. Having completed all of that, and checking in our bags to the airport staff, we say goodbye to an incredible life of church family, home family, and California. I want to personally thank everyone for the incredible blessing I have felt during this time, and the support from people all around! From ordering pizza so we don't have to cook - to borrowing cars when we didn't have any, to storing all of our ministry stuff in their garage (thanks Hertzell's), to the smiles, love, tears and hugs. I have a heart overflowing with the love of friends and family that will not be emptied as we continue on this endeavor. Lots of promises from people to come visit and I hope that they will be followed up. The Pettengill's doors are ALWAYS open!

addendum

Today we went to a luncheon at Aunt Jeri's. It was a final farewell to the Pettengill family. Mike's nephew, Lucas was able to be there. It was a great time!

Okay - so let's get this straight...We sold our house a year ago, in 5 weeks, in a market that wasn't supposed to sell. We raised 100% of our support for missions in a record 8 months - even though they told us that wasn't possible. And then...the day before we leave out of country - the car sells - for our asking price...hmm...you would almost think this was a plan! Imagine that! God is good!