Sarah's Top Ten in Costa Rica, June 8-14...

This week has been so full, I wasn't sure how to justify it...so I decided to give you a run-down with a top ten list. Honestly, once I got started, I could have done a top 20 list, but this will do for now...


10. Made fish. It was amazing. Allie and I have developed the habit of taking pictures of the meals we cook. That probably says something about how often we tend to cook at home. We are becoming so domestic down here.
9. Woke up at 3am to catch a bus to Puntarenas. At the bus stop at 4am there was a scary man with a metal stick that stared at us while tapping the stick on the ground and making funny noises. Good thing our big, strong friend Jordan was there to protect us.
8. Ordered lemon chicken at the Chinese restaurant and got...an entire chicken! With enough lemon sauce for me to to bathe in. Literally.
7. Watched our first telenovela; Marina. She is claiming to be the murderer of Laura to protect her son, Chui, who everyone thinks actually did it. He's in love with a girl who is in some rehab center and everyone thinks is dead, but she's not, and she still loves him. And everyone in the show has like, two dads and two moms. Pretty wild. We're torn between watching again tomorrow and swearing it off forever.
6. Interviewed Francisco Portuguez, our 90-year-old Tico friend. He sells sugar cane products at the Mercado Central- it's been the family business forever, and he's worked there since he was seven. Best line: “Uno nace para servir, no para que le sirvan.” (One is born to serve, not to be served.)
5. Helped teach a lesson to Porfirio, our doorman, with the elders. He is wonderful, and has really been prepared for the gospel. It was so fun to be a part of the lesson!
4. Had FHE at our place with a group of young adults. They are seriously amazing. We not only had fun, but were humbled by how much they sacrifice to live the gospel. As a bonus, we're hoping that our singing got the neighbors' back for their constant noise...dogs, phones, TV's, two-year-olds, drunken friends, elevator jazz...
3. Saw dolphins!! Up close! In the wild! We were on a little motor boat in the middle of the ocean...and we totally hung out with dolphins. It was amazing. Honestly, this pictures doesn't do the experience justice. For a better idea, check out the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihd9fHWh9wo
2. Found out that Rodrigo speaks English. Not just a little bit either...he was an English PROFESSOR, and he did a masters in the States! He's our specialist, and we've spent a good deal of time with him. We went to Panama with the man! And we had no idea that he spoke English. At all. When Brian leaked it to us, we were sure that he had not told us on purpose, and that, in fact, he had taken relatively drastic measures to hide it from us. It was payback time! We went to talk to him in his office after the workshop on Tuesday, and after talking about a few items of business, Allie and I proceeded to have a conversation (in English) that went something like this...
A- Are you going to tell him about last night?
S- No way!
A- You're really not going to tell him that you kissed that guy?
S- I can't believe you just said that in here!
A- It's not like it matters! He doesn't speak English anyway!
S- So what, you never know...just drop it, okay!? (Rodrigo chimes in with big eyes)
R- Sarah, ¿porqué te pusiste tan roja?
S- No, no es nada. No pasó nada.
R- Entonces, ¿porqué estás enojada?
S- No estoy enojada, sólo es que...We know you speak English!
A&S- Hahahahaha....
The best part was that he totally fell for it! And then commended us for our acting skills. We love Rodrigo. And we love him even more now that he doesn't have to lie to us!
1. Isla Tortuga. This is possibly the most beautiful place in the world...at least one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. We soaked up the sun, climbed the coconut trees, played in the crystal blue water, ate fish with the tails and fins still attached. It'll be interesting to see if anything tops it.

I'm beginning to feel jealous of myself!

Till next time,

Sarah