With a minimal amount of toys and play equipment, he's learning to be creative. Cement tube... FUN!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Walk to the park
Today we went for a walk and found a great running path. We took a few pics to share with you...
With a minimal amount of toys and play equipment, he's learning to be creative. Cement tube... FUN!
With a minimal amount of toys and play equipment, he's learning to be creative. Cement tube... FUN!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Supermercado
This morning we cleaned the kitchen and reorganized Morgan-style. After a few hours of that, we were inspired to plan meals and make a list for the grocery store.
We went out when it was cloudy and dark (again), and walked to the local Mas X Menos.
It's quite exciting to shop in another country. We planned to make spaghetti with tomato sauce, but when we checked out the the canned tomatoes, they were more than $2 for 12ozs. A lot of the canned goods are imported (i.e., more expensive), so that adds up when making sauce. We put the idea on hold to see if we could find them cheaper elsewhere. Later when we were in the produce isle we noticed the fresh tomatoes looked great and were super cheap. So we bought 8lbs of tomatoes for $6 ($.75/lbs.). So we'll make sauce/gravy from scratch, which God knows we have the time to do.
We walked out with a ton of food and spent less than $80. This is not a bragging session of how cheap we could buy food because that is an art we are not trying to master. But the list below is merely an illustration of items we thought were super cheap. In reality, the produces is native to this area so it's not marked up.
Here it is:
Tomatoes $6 for 8lbs.
Carrots .40 for 1.5lbs.
Pineapple - $1
Watermelon -$2
Spinach .60 for 1 bunch
Red peppers 3 for $1.50
15 Eggs -$3
3 lbs of Tilapia- $10
2.2 lbs Trucha (fish) $10
HUGE bunch of celery $1.50
Morgan strapped most of the groceries to his back in a big backpack. I strapped the kid on my back and we carried the rest in the pouring rain.
Magoo would like to share, the yogurt is just as good in Central America.
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jeannie!
We went out when it was cloudy and dark (again), and walked to the local Mas X Menos.
It's quite exciting to shop in another country. We planned to make spaghetti with tomato sauce, but when we checked out the the canned tomatoes, they were more than $2 for 12ozs. A lot of the canned goods are imported (i.e., more expensive), so that adds up when making sauce. We put the idea on hold to see if we could find them cheaper elsewhere. Later when we were in the produce isle we noticed the fresh tomatoes looked great and were super cheap. So we bought 8lbs of tomatoes for $6 ($.75/lbs.). So we'll make sauce/gravy from scratch, which God knows we have the time to do.
We walked out with a ton of food and spent less than $80. This is not a bragging session of how cheap we could buy food because that is an art we are not trying to master. But the list below is merely an illustration of items we thought were super cheap. In reality, the produces is native to this area so it's not marked up.
Here it is:
Tomatoes $6 for 8lbs.
Carrots .40 for 1.5lbs.
Pineapple - $1
Watermelon -$2
Spinach .60 for 1 bunch
Red peppers 3 for $1.50
15 Eggs -$3
3 lbs of Tilapia- $10
2.2 lbs Trucha (fish) $10
HUGE bunch of celery $1.50
Morgan strapped most of the groceries to his back in a big backpack. I strapped the kid on my back and we carried the rest in the pouring rain.
Magoo would like to share, the yogurt is just as good in Central America.
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jeannie!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Second Outing- Lessons Learned
Yesterday we walked the neighborhood. We checked out our neighborhood grocery store.
We also looked for a playground which is yet to be found. We met a few barrio perros. And we also met our immediate neighbors. We walked to our Language School and met the head secretary and the Director's husband. So all-in-all I'd count that as a great start.
Morgan made a great meal, -Fish Tacos. We called it pretty early night since the sun sets early and rises early.
Today I motivated Team Smith to try the Bus. So that's what we did.
Here are some lessons learned:
-When moving to a country that has a "Rain Season" PACK UMBRELLAS!
-When going out during the "rain season" and it looks like it's going to rain, don't wear a white skirt with green underwear! J/K I didn't wear green underwear. :/
-The bus system here is pretty easy and I think we can use it without stress on a regular basis.
I leave you with one question:
Have you seen Magoo's blocks?
We also looked for a playground which is yet to be found. We met a few barrio perros. And we also met our immediate neighbors. We walked to our Language School and met the head secretary and the Director's husband. So all-in-all I'd count that as a great start.
Morgan made a great meal, -Fish Tacos. We called it pretty early night since the sun sets early and rises early.
Today I motivated Team Smith to try the Bus. So that's what we did.
Here are some lessons learned:
-When moving to a country that has a "Rain Season" PACK UMBRELLAS!
-When going out during the "rain season" and it looks like it's going to rain, don't wear a white skirt with green underwear! J/K I didn't wear green underwear. :/
-The bus system here is pretty easy and I think we can use it without stress on a regular basis.
I leave you with one question:
Have you seen Magoo's blocks?
Sunday, September 4, 2011
We've Landed!
Okay.. we’re here. San Pedro, a small suburb of the Capital, San Jose, Costa Rica. 
We were delayed a week due to Hurricane Isabelle.
First, It should be noted that Myles was a star traveler today. Even with a 4am wake up call, he stepped up and kept things relatively calm for the travels. He slept on the plane for over an hour. The first flight was less than an hour, we had a three hour layover, and the second flight was 3 and half hours, so that’s really not a bad travel day… minus the 4 am alarm clock.
Linda, the Language school director, picked us up from the airport and thankfully had a car big enough to fit all of our luggage and gear. She brought us back to our new home (for the next 90 days) and helped settle us in a bit, She then took Morgan to the grocery store to pick up enough food to get us through the next few days. Unfortunately, he left the bag that had the fish (tonight’s dinner). He walked back to the store with a couple of phrases but they didn't have it. Turns out it was in Linda's car.
Our new home is perfect! Big enough for us, plus our live-in nanny. Yes we have a nanny for four weeks when Morgan and I go to Language School. Lucky… I know. The place is clean, warm, and will be great. As I type right now, Myles is checking out every door, drawer, lock, and gadget.
We met our neighbor/landlord, Maritza. She was really friendly. I understood about 70% of what she was saying, which I think is a strong start to learning a new language. I was a bit surprised how much I understood being that I haven’t really been around the language on a consistent basis for 2 years.
Maritza lives with her daughter and two children who are 5 and 9. Maybe some good playmates for Myles?
Tomorrow we plan to get out early and check out our neighborhood. Linda says it’s beautiful in the mornings and then rains like crazy in the afternoons. So we’ll have to scope a few things out before the downpour.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Saying Goodbye
Tomorrow we hit the road. The first stop is DC. We'll unload our stuff and gear up for Costa Rica.
It's hard to say goodbye. Portland has so many wonderful people and I'm sad to see that end. I know we'll be back a million times over to visit, but the truth is when you move, it's never the same. Your friendships change with a big move.
It's hard to say goodbye. Portland has so many wonderful people and I'm sad to see that end. I know we'll be back a million times over to visit, but the truth is when you move, it's never the same. Your friendships change with a big move.
Myles and I won't be a part of the monthly play dates and dinners with the new moms group. I won't meet up with my weekly dates(you know who you are). Kira won't meet up with her most treasured friends at the dog park. Morgan and I won't have evening dinner dates with our great friends here. I won't see the neighbors outside on a warm afternoon for a spontaneous play date to occur. And I won't have the same great workout partners to meet early in the morning for a run.
But that is the way it is. I consider myself (and family) super lucky to have met and befriended an amazing group of Portlanders. Thanks for making our lives over the past three years pretty amazing. LOVE you all!
But that is the way it is. I consider myself (and family) super lucky to have met and befriended an amazing group of Portlanders. Thanks for making our lives over the past three years pretty amazing. LOVE you all!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
KIRA'S TEMPORARY HOME
Morgan and I drove 2,000 miles to take Kira to her new temporarily home. I have been dreading this moment for months. But I'm sooo glad we were able to take her down there and see the wonderful place she'll spend the next 12 months.
As I shared in earlier posts, Kira is staying with her breeder Patricia. She will be with her biological mom (Keeda), sister (Sage), and sometimes her brother (Soloman) too. She'll also be living with 15-week old (Quest), two other dogs of whom I didn't not meet, and Keeda's 4 week old litter-11 pups.
Keeda w/ 4 week pups
Soloman
Quest- 15 weeks
She's on a 3 acre property that homes horses, chicken, turkeys, chicks, cats, dogs and a bird.
Horses
3 Turkeys and lots of Chickens
A hand-full of chicks
Kira meeting the Bird
I didn't get pictures of all the animals... Somehow my camera lens kept capturing pictures of Kira...
Kira also has Patricia's four children and husband to hang with too.
So while I'm sad she's not hanging with us today, I'm POSITIVE she's in the best home. She has her pack of dogs, a cat that will remind her of Omar, some kids to give her a Myles-fix, other animals to keep her busy, and a human mom that will love her to pieces.
A world of thanks to Patricia.
As I shared in earlier posts, Kira is staying with her breeder Patricia. She will be with her biological mom (Keeda), sister (Sage), and sometimes her brother (Soloman) too. She'll also be living with 15-week old (Quest), two other dogs of whom I didn't not meet, and Keeda's 4 week old litter-11 pups.
Keeda w/ 4 week pups
Soloman
Quest- 15 weeks
She's on a 3 acre property that homes horses, chicken, turkeys, chicks, cats, dogs and a bird.
Horses
3 Turkeys and lots of Chickens
A hand-full of chicks
Kira meeting the Bird
I didn't get pictures of all the animals... Somehow my camera lens kept capturing pictures of Kira...
Kira also has Patricia's four children and husband to hang with too.
So while I'm sad she's not hanging with us today, I'm POSITIVE she's in the best home. She has her pack of dogs, a cat that will remind her of Omar, some kids to give her a Myles-fix, other animals to keep her busy, and a human mom that will love her to pieces.
A world of thanks to Patricia.
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