We swam in a volcano!

Ok well we're back safe and sound, no problems on the return trip =)

Friday we went to Laguna de Apoyo and it was beautiful! We thought it was going to be a beach on some lake or something but actually it was a pool of water inside a volcano! The volcano used to be active and the cone caved in causing it not to function anymore and when that happen rain water filled up the crater. Although in the beginning you couldn't swim in it because the sulfuric acid content was so high, now its at a safe level leaving the water a pretty bluish-green color. And the water is still warm from the vents inside the volcano. It was such a relaxing day, there were only a handful of people there so it was very quiet, and the whole day only cost $10!

A view of the laguna from when we were walking:
The view from the hostel there (AMAZING):

The lounging area on the shore:

But before you think that went over smoothly let me tell you what happened that morning (because nothing is easy with us). We got up real early and had breakfast and got all our stuff ready to go and then we were sitting around waiting for the bus to stop by. Well it was five minutes past when it was supposed to be there so we went to the front desk to ask where it was. Thats when the unhelpful girl from before said, 'oh ...that bus left- you shouldve put your name on the list.' I was SO mad because I had been to the desk 3 times to ask about this trip and she never mentioned a list...ugh that still makes me mad. So she said you can try the other hostel they might have openings on their bus and she gave us directions there. So we walked to that hostel and they said 'oh sorry our bus is full' (which turned out to be a lie cause NO one else was at the laguna that day) So we decided to take a taxi- it was only a 20 minute drive so it would be $5 each instead of $3 to take the bus (no big deal)

Well the taxi driver got us there and then asked where to let us out. We told him what the sign at the hostel said and he pretty much just stared at us blankly. So he drove back and forward for about 10 minutes before I finally decided we'd just get out and walk cause we didnt have the money to pay for that and our day at the laguna (and to the Hendersons you should know Amber did not want to do that). Well he let us out and we walked down to the shore (after Amber briefly cried) and walked for about 10 minutes one way and found nothing so we turned around and walked the other way for about 15 or so and finally saw two girls. We asked them where the place was and luckily it was there so we unloaded and relaxed (finally).

We left Sunday morning, and unfortunately missed the Gold Cup Final between the US and Mexico but we were given updates and told the US won (yay!) so that was the highlight of the bus trip (and we were prepared to pay the exit fee this time). And even though we were back in time to work Monday we'd already requested it off so we just stayed here and slept in, it was nice. So today was back to work as usual and Friday's pay day! (also the day rent is due- unfortunately)

Amber on the bus ride (lets see if she ever gets on here to see this):

(haha, she'll kill me)

My mom gets here Friday and my dad on Saturday! I'm so excited to show them around here and spend some time with them...it'll be so great to be with family...Ok well that's enough rambling for now....

I´m in Nicaragua...

Yes its true we are here in Nicaragua.

Our visas are up next week so we had to leave the country for 72 hours to renew them. Nicaragua was closer, cheaper, and easier to plan out at the last minute (although I dont know why its last minute cause we knew for the last 90 days or so wed have to be leaving).

Anyway so we got up this morning at 3:08, because I hit snooze and Amber fell asleep before setting her alarm and the taxi arrived somewhere around 3:20, 3:30. And our bust left at 4:30. At the bus station we were informed that we´d have to pay an exit fee at the border, but this was news to us. At work on Wednesday our friend Sergio said the fee was only if you were flying and we wouldnt have to pay anything. Because of this neither of us had cash, only enough Colones to pay for the taxis in Costa Rica.

(can you believe how white we are???):

We were nervous the whole bus ride about getting off in the right city because the bus was going to Managua and we wanted off in Granada. So we told everyone who was working with TransNica, or seemed to be helping with the luggage, at every stop that we needed off at Granada. Well we made one stop before the border at a little restaurant but they only accepted cash, of course, so we couldnt eat. Amber asked for a cup of hot water because shes been feeling sick and wanted to drink some TheraFlu, but they gave her a glass of cold water instead and told her thats what they had.

Shortly after, a man came down the asiles to collect our $8 for the exit fee. Amber and I felt like we were in school again and the teacher was coming around to check off homework assignments and we knew we hadn´t completed ours. When he got to us we told him we had no cash and asked if thered be an ATM at the border. He looked very disappointed in us and told us there was one in Nicaragua but not before and hed allow us to pay him when we arrived.

After that conversation we fell asleep until the border, about 10am. We got off and were mobbed by people trying to convert money for us. It was a 3-man tag-team. The first guy put a calculator in your face from the right, the second pushed a huge handful of money in your face from the left and the third guy just walked around you really fast and they all were really excited about helping us exchange it, but sadly we had none to exchange.
(the man behind amber sold every 'brand' of watch you could imagine):
We were the last ones in line to get our passports stamped so of course everyone had to wait on us, which I´m sure made that man really happy- not only had we not paid but now we´re holding up the whole bus. After we were stamped we were rushed onto the bus and driven a short distance to another stop where they were going to check our suitcases. He made us go into the bank there and get money to pay him. However the ATM only gave us money in Cordobas and we had NO idea how much to take out. So each of us took out 100 just to see how that would go over. When the money was exchanged it came out to approximately $15 =) we were expecting a little bit more haha Well from there we had our bags checked and then walked over to the immigration building. We paid the man and he gave us some insructions about the bus that we didnt understand so we just kinda smiled and nodded and laughed a little bit and as we left he told me he loved me in english. I´m just glad that he was looking out for us and let us enter the country without paying.

We got off the bus in Granada on a little street and were directed to the ´bus station´to get our return tickets stamped and dated. It was like a living room of someones house where all the bus records were done in a notebook...I just hope we can make it back on Sunday. We took a taxi to the hotel/hostel and arrived just as they began fumigation so we were told we could leave our bags and come back in a 1/2 or so. What were we supposed to do? Well we found somewhere to eat and a bank (the first banks ATM was broken of course) so we should be set for the weekend.
(this is where the bus leftus, in the middle of no where):

So we are alive, we made it across the border, and we´re safe in the hotel. Its an interesting little place, we´re splitting a room $8.50 each/night. If you want to call it a room. Its a set of bunk beds about 2 ft from the wall and thats it, nothing else.

our room:the pool: the 'hang out area':
PS Matty´s moving out of the complex soon- Hes moving to Nicaragua for like 2 months. Amber and the owner of the complex had a fight over the laundry room, that lady is crazy (the owner, not amber) The whole time she was yelling at Amber it sounded like she was going to break into tears. It was really awkward.

my pay rate sucks, but what a great job!!!

OK so heres whats going on at work....

Meeting after meeting after meeting, we've been complaining about our pay because its more that a $1.50 less per hour that what the other call centers are making and our job is three times as difficult with so much more to learn...

well they told us yesterday we'd be getting a 50 cent raise... but with that their dropping our bonus from .85 to .50 meaning that overall we would only be making .30 more...if we're being an amazing representitive and make no mistakes, ever. so really that means nothing...

so after an awful week at work (awful enough we thought about quitting and went to datascension to ask about jobs) friday came along. started off bad for amber cause someone stole her pocket translator... but then its like the whole world changed...

we moved upstairs to new offices (they were renovated with the money they were gonna give us for pay raises) but since the offices were new all the bugs werent worked out in the system so we couldnt work for the first two hours!!

then since the team has been doing so good we had an ice cream sundae bar!!! it was a waffle cup, with two scoops of ice cream and then practically any topping you could imagine! it was amazing- and better yet, they let us leave the phones to eat it and we didnt have to use our break time!

then we got awards! amber and i both got perfect attendance awards and then she got most consistent 5-5s (which is a perfect rating for her phone calls from the customers- they answer 1-5, was she helpful, knowledgable and would you reccomend office depot to someone else) then i got another award for most calls handled per week from the team (206), that was monday through thursday- my team leader monica said that today wasnt included...

which is my next point, we have a new team leader- monica. shes from chicago, about our age and very nice...she let me take my lunch 2 hours early today!

next...since amber and i didnt pass our last certification test we have been retesting this week and we both past!!!

then because we got two certificates, we got two gifts from office depot! a really cool water bottle and piggy bank!!!!

(side note, on wednesday they gave everyone a quiznos sub at work)

basically...we love orbis now!!! all the ice cream, awards, pictures, etc has really changed our perspective. who cares that we're being paid close to nothing, we get ice cream and subs! and sometimes they put up balloons! our job may not have enough money to give us a decent salary but they do have enough to throw one of the best ice cream parties ive ever seen!!!

so costa rica lost to canada, but hey the US won! ok well i just wanted to share with everyone that even if your company doesnt pay you well, but they present a nice working enviornment the employees can still be happy....

Identity Theft...

Ok so a couple things have happened since my last entry, but not too much..

First, I received a package from the Teeple's =) That was very exciting, although I went through a lot to get it. On Monday night Randall gave me the slip to go and pick it up so on Wednesday I asked my 'team leader' (aka boss) if I could leave a few minutes early to go and pick it up because the post office closes at 5:30 and I get off work at 5 and by the time I walked down stairs and on the other side of the mall and then to the bus stop I wouldn't make it in time. So anyway he let me leave 10 minute early. Well I got downstairs and when I left the mall it was pouring down rain and of course I never remember my umbrella even though it rains almost every day...so I walked to the bus stop- its probably a good two or three blocks away and I just barely missed the signal to cross the road so I had to wait- in the rain. So while I was waiting I saw my bus drive by and then it stopped in traffic. So I was getting really anxious to cross and then the light changed, just as the bus started moving. So I started running (in high heel wedge sandals that lace around my ankles) to catch the bus. So I wave him down and he stops and the I have to run along side the bus in the little drainoff area, full of water- it was so gross. Well I got on and made it to the post office ok, got the package and walked outside only to see one of my buses pulling away (normally id wait for the next one, but not in the rain) So I wave him down while holding on to the box from the Teeple's and then run and jump on the bus. Well he wasn't about to wait for me to sit down so I'm standing there trying to dig out my money and I couldn't hold on to anything cause I had the box in one hand and the other hand in my pocket, so I was getting tossed all over the place and almost fell twice- I can only imagine what all the other people on the bus were thinking...anyway, so I got home and opened it and it was tons of gum, twizzlers and oreos! yayThe only thing that couldve been better is if the Oreos were double stuf, but you know what, I like the regular one alot too...So thank you Teeple family- and thank you Amanda for the Costa Rican stationary...

Heres a picture of the goods:

So Thursday I went to a store on my lunch break to buy some stuff and when I went to pay for it my card didn't work. So I asked the man to try again because I knew there was money on it. He did it again and it didn't work. I went directly to the ATM but my card didn't work there either. So I just forgot about it. When I got home I had two text messages from my mom saying I had suspicious activity on my card and then one saying someone had stolen my information and been using it. So I went online to check my statement and it said I had -$500 available (it was only at $300 some when my mom looked a couple hours before) So I talked to my mom who was talking to the bank and we've worked it out, the card is invalid now- which kindof sucks because that means I can't use it for anything and I have to rely on my last paycheck to last me until I get the new card. But that may end up being difficult because I have a PO Box and no physical address. So we'll see how that all goes, I'll send in the affidavit of fraud, and after that just wait I guess.

This is me being sad about my card. This is also me with my hair down (something I haven't done in a couple weeks)

Monday starts the next bimestre for UNELA (woo hoo) I'll be teaching from the green book again, the more advanced students. I just hope this time they've been placed in the right level so we can actually cover the material and they don't all fail. My Saturday class from last bimestre was so good! Almost everyone ended with an A, I was so proud.

Last night I finally saw Pirates of the Caribbean. I did like it, it was long, but good. I think the reason it seemed so long was because we went to the 10:40 showing. So is there gonna be a fourth one?

PS Amber has a new cell phone the number is 001-506-395-7969...her phone is just as cool as mine.