"The Best Costa Rican Thanksgiving Ever"

Well as Amber put it, yesterday was "the best Costa Rican Thanksgiving ever." And it really was. We ended up with most of the work, but it was fair since we do have the full kitchen- plus we liked doing it anyway. We started buying the food last week sometime. We were going for 100% American. Amber and I were in charge of the corn, stuffing, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie and pumpkin cake. Randall and his girlfriend did the mashed potatoes and cranberries. The two newer Americans Matt and Nick bought 4 chickens, drinks and ice and then our other neighbor brought bread and macaroni and cheese. Here's what we had to start:
However, we were still missing a few key ingredients- a pie crust and whipped cream. We went to four stores before finding them. I couldnt find a regular pie crust so I used a graham cracker one, and Amber did finally find the Reddi-Wip. Here's the cake and pie (which didn't look this bad in person, and were very delicious):
And everyone knows the best part about a green bean casserole is the crunchy onions that go on top- but they do not exist here in Costa Rica and we couldn't just forget about them. SO I cut up an onion, dipped the rings in egg yolk, rolled them flour/seasoning and fried them. Then chopped them up and baked them to make them crunchier....the outcome? Well they weren't like the onions from the can but they made a really good substitute! Here's the girls hanging out in the kitchen waiting for the chicken to arrive:
I love this picture! This is everyone in line at the buffet getting their food. We actually estimated everything just about perfectly. We had just a little bit of left overs and everyone was full from the dinner:

Post Thanksgiving- Here are the dishes that were left to wash. Fortunately it was a lot less than originally expected because we asked everyone to bring their own plates, cups and silverware:
Ok so after dinner we decided to go bowling- 6 of us anyway. Well, we ran to catch the bus because it was almost 9pm and the buses don't come as often at night and we got on and it was pretty crowded. Matt & Nick didn't want to go all the way to the back because of the people who were there- and told me not to make eye contact. Well at the next stop some yelling started back there and then someone was going out the backdoor and hit a guy in the back of the head before he got off, then some more yelling and then there were a couple guys punching this guy on the back row- and a poor little old man was stuck next to them, he got over in the corner as much as possible. Well then the bus driver puts the bus in park (and a couple of the guys got off but one guy was still hitting the guy in the back row) well the driver works his way down the asile through all of us and starts yelling at them telling them if they want to fight to get off the bus and then the guy who was hitting starts apologizing and shakes hands with the bus driver, but the guy being hit keeps yelling and the bus driver shoves him but that guy sat down and we were on our way again. Well the guy who got hit in the back of the head starts yelling at the guys out the - window before we roll away = manana! manana! saying hed find them tomorrow...well then when we're down the street that guy started going crazy (this was when I got scared because I was only a couple rows in front of him) But he starts screaming saying that he wants off and for his friend not to hold him down or hed punch him and was literally crazy. Well the bus driver stops the bus again and makes them get off and the one guy who was on the back row crosses the street but is yelling at the driver causing a big scene outside...but when we pulled away from that stop it was all over. A nice ending to Thanksgiving =) Anyway! We went bowling and for 2 hours plus our shoes it was only about $6 per person, which was cool. But here are some pictures of us bowling:
Judging by the ball this one looks like a strike:

Judging by the ball this was a pretty good frame, but judging by his stance I'm not really sure:
Hmm...well by Amber's face it doesn't look like this went too well...

First Week Without Work

OK so... I have completed one week without working and well I don't regret quitting at all =)

Monday I made a "to do" list for the house and my room before we leave (since we're down to one month) its got about 20 things- and I know thats not all... I also updated my resume including UNELA and Orbis/Office Depot. So now I can look forward to my next job =/ I kinda like not having a job haha....

Tuesday is the day my Prison Break obsession started. I watched a couple episodes during the day and then borrowed Season 1 to watch here in the evenings (which sadly I finished in just 3 days!) But now I'm on to Season 2!

Wednesday Monica had off work so I went to her house and then we walked to Plaza del Sol and ate at Pizza Hut. You know its weird. I hate Pizza Hut at home but here I LOVE it... I don't know why its so different, but man its good. Then we walked back to my house since shes never been here and did some grocery shopping and talked for awhile...

Thursday I got up early and went to the National Museum downtown. It was interesting, but not like the National Museums in the US- It made me really want to go to Washington, DC because although history in general is interesting to me- its just so much more interesting when its directly related to me- know what I mean? And after the museum I bought a few things in the open air market- I love that place...

Here's me by the tower on the National Museum- it used to be the headquarters for the government. Before Costa Rica got rid of their army there was a big civil war and all the diplomats and politicians were in this building and the outside walls are still covered with bullet holes but they never repaired them to remind the country where they are now and where they came from:

Here's me with a painted ox cart- a traditional symbol of Costa Rica:
And here's me with some canons:Inside the museum they had a Secret Garden which was a butterfly exhibition so there were hundreds of butterflies flying around- it was nice:

Well, that brings us to today. Big thing today is I'm going to the mall to pick up my last pay check. Bittersweet since now I have a set budget =) But worth it not to go take phone calls all day....

Work Pictures...

These are the top Customer Service Performers (from that one Friday where we got candy and Fanta)- We got certificates AND really cool Orbis pens (which I'm holding there very proudly):



Heres me on a call but taking a picture for HR of a certificate I received for good client feedback from Office Depot representatives:

This is Jasen. He's in charge of the QA for Office Depot and travels to each call center to do trainings and updates and stuff like that. He's the one who fires people for not giving good customer service. Here I'm very red again as I receive my certificate in front of the training group- and I look like I've never been happier to receive an award... Amber looks on with pride:

For having perfect attendance in a 2-week period we get 3,000 colones (about $6) to buy lunch. Somehow I got this almost everytime:

This is Randall, Gaudy, Monica and Me- we're the people from Monica's team who got the 5-5 award. Randall is now a TL and after today I no longer work here (!!!!!!!) so I guess Gaudy is the only person thats still officially on Monica's team:

Special thanks to Monica for working so hard and so long to get these pictures from HR =)

The Shrader family

Ok This is Lena and her family- who I've written about here. And here is the information that I found on the AG website. Bill and Lena have ministered for over 20 years with Chi Alpha in the states. On Christmas Eve of 2003, the Lord called them to Peru with the prophetic gift of two alpaca sweaters. Now, they're looking forward to working with Latin America Chilcare and teaching at the A/G seminary in Lima. Web Address: www.ShraderMinistries.org I'm sure they would appreciate it if you (whoever is reading this) pray for them and their ministry. Like I said they'll be in Peru at the start of the new year.

It's been FOREVER!

I'm so sorry. But with going home and all it has been quite sometime since my last entry. But don't worry I will do a full update!

Ok so I went home on the 17th it was almost a smooth trip. My flight left Miami 15 minutes late which was a bad thing because my layover there was only about 20 minutes. So i ran all through the airport carrying a huge duffle bag and arrived at the gate just as the plane was leaving. I was so out of breath and when I asked for the flight to Indianapolis the guys put his hand up and said, 'its gone' and walked away. I was to the point of tears and then a business man arrived behind me (also out of breath from running) and I told him what the guy said and he was not satisfied with that answer so he gave the man there an earful and i was on the next flight to Indy (unfortunately that man wasnt since there werent enough seats on the plane and I arrived first).

Ok so Thursday was the Bachelorette party for Jessica Williams (Orme) I think it was really nice. We went to Buca de Beppos for dinner and then bowling at Jillian's. We were very nice to Jessica and didn't embarass her too much, it was enough though that she said I'd be sure to get it bad when it was my turn (she'll probably forget about it by then haha). But it was good, I think she had fun overall.

Here's the girls at Jillians:Heres Jessica with her classy veil and glasses:

Friday morning I spent with my beautiful neices and then got my dress fitted and then off to the rehearsal dinner- at El Jaripeo, it was great. I havent been there in a while. Saturday was the wedding. Everything went wonderfully- I dont think anything went wrong or not as planned which is always nice. And the reception was nice too.

Heres the wedding party- I love this picture:This is us being 'silly' I'm glad I wasn't in the front for this one:Heres a nice one of all of us- might've been perfect if Katies shoe wasnt off and in front of her dress:Sunday was family night at the house to celebrate Aarons birthday- he's getting old =) But it was so great to see all my family and friends again! Monday I went to Bob Evan's (yay!) and then that night we had Monday Night Football with the new big screen at my parents! That was very fun. Then sadly Tuesday was my return trip to Costa Rica. It went well so I didnt have to worry about anything there...

Wednesday- back to work- Thursday was exciting Orange Day (the theme days keep getting better and better) And then Friday was great! My team had a perfect customer service rating so we all got Fanta's, chips, homemade chocolate chip cookies, and tons of candy. Then later they had a special certificate ceremony for a group of us who consistently receive perfect scores (Amber and I were both included in that). That was nothing super special but I did get to be off the phones for about 30 minutes.

The following Sunday my TL, Monica, had a BBQ at her house for our team. It was really good. Stuffed peppers, shishkabobs, sausages, etc...It was a good afternoon. (Here are some stuffed peppers):

My parents bought me a laptop as an early birthday present, however once I got here its quit working. I tried charging it, messing with the battery and calling India to talk to HP directly (unfortunatley they didnt have any information and i'll have to try again later when I have a screw driver). And on top of that Ambers computer is having all kinds of problems. She may have a virus or something even though McAfee isn't detecting it. It just runs really slow like it's out of memory- so those are my excuses for not being online very much and leaving updates...(Heres my beautiful new, not functioning laptop the Compaq Presario C500):

Now on to last week. Monday night I met Lena again for dinner at Pane e Vino an Italian restaurant in Multiplaza del Este. Shes the woman whos in the language school here. Shes actually going home (to Cleveland, OH I think) on Dec. 17th and then to Peru a couple of weeks later with her husband and children to serve missions for 2 years. I really enjoy meeting with them, they are very interesting people. I told Lena that if I can get a position working in the AG somehow when I get home I'd try and get an AIM or MAPS trip there, she really liked that idea.

Halloween at work was interesting. We got lots of candy and some people dressed up, but I dont know that there were any prizes or anything. The people who dressed up were mainly the new people that just started that week. And I was so priviledged to walk around all day and offer support and answer questions to those people. I really enjoyed that day. They actually had a meeting, all the TLs and managers about opening a new TL position and the manager Rico asked if anyone had an agent in mind for the position and everyone said no. Then he said the only one I would want to do it won't be here long enough to do it. (oh and that was about me!) That made me feel really nice though that of all the people working here I'm the only one he'd pick for the job. Friday was payday- I worked a total of 5 days so that wasn't very exciting- just enough to cover my rent =) But I guess thats all that matters. Heres my TL, Monica, and super trainer Gabriel as Zorro in celebration of Halloween:

Yesterday was the big day. Colts vs Patriots. How sad it was that the Patriots won. Just a bunch of cocky cheaters. But! We did break all their 'staggering' numbers and records- ex: they didnt score on their first drive, they trailed longer during this game than all others this season, Brady was sacked- not once but TWICE and I beleive there was an interception in there somewhere. And didn't they have like 150 yards in penalties? Weird that a top notch team plays so dirty and against the rules, right? So all in all I still feel good about the game. This isn't the important one- the important one will be at the end of the season. This one just shows that the almighty Patriots may have a weakness or two and we may have figured those out to capitalize on come playoffs...

On that note I guess I'll close this entry out. I'm sure anyone reading this is probably tired of reading now...So I'll be better about updating and I'll be sure to try and get all the fun work pictures from my bosses to put on here... (oh I added pictures to the other entry, the one where I won the $100)