BlackBerry's 26 advantages over iPhone

1. Blackberry can be used on almost every carrier in the world (over 475 of them). In the US, the iPhone is available on AT&T only.

2. Blackberry is available in five form factors – small keyboard, large keyboard, no keyboard, flip phone, and candy-bar.

3. Most Blackberries have keyboards, so you can actually type fast and with no errors. Helps while driving, walking, carrying something in your other hand – all the time. iPhone: well…

4. Blackberry uses standardized (=inexpensive and available everywhere in the world) MicroUSB connector for synchronization/charging. iPhone has a much larger proprietary 30-pin connector.

5. Some carriers such as Verizon and Sprint offer unlimited international Blackberry data roaming for $40/month or less. iPhone does not. This could save you literally tens of thousands of dollars when you are abroad.

6. If your Blackberry is on T-Mobile USA, it also offers unlimited WiFi calling from anywhere in the world. This is with your existing number – in and out – so no new special number, procedure, etc. iPhone cannot do this (because it is only on AT&T; only T-Mobile USA offers this), and it can save you well over $100 per day when you’re abroad. Think $1 per minute savings, and you’re on the phone two hours per day. That’s $120/day.

7. Blackberry has expandable memory. iPhone is fixed and sold at 8, 16 or 32 gig only.

8. Blackberry has removable and expandable battery. iPhone is fixed.

9. Blackberry allows programs to multitask. iPhone has limited multitasking.

10. The newest Blackberry screen resolution is 480x360. iPhone is 480x320.

11. Blackberry allows communicating peer-to-peer via PIN identifier, circumventing the email system. No such iPhone equivalent.

12. Skype on the Blackberry? Yes, from anywhere to anywhere. Skype on iPhone? Only if you’re on WiFi.

13. Sling on the Blackberry? Yes, it’s free. Sling on iPhone? $30.

14. Google Voice on the Blackberry? Yes, it’s free. Google Voice on iPhone? Verboten.

15. Blackberry can be synchronized to multiple computers simultaneously, if you have multiple computers.

16. Multiple Blackberries can receive the same email feeds simultaneously, if you have multiple Blackberries.

17. Blackberry can sort the address book entries by company name, so you can scroll down a long list of names you don’t remember, but you just want to see who works for which company. Aside from sorting, the iPhone can take several seconds to search your address book, particularly if you have several thousand address book entries.

18. Blackberry isn’t slowed down by having, say, 10,000 or 100,000 address book entries. Try using an iPhone with 10,000 address book entries.

19. All major instant messengers are available on Blackberry.

20. Blackberry is available with multiple browsers from multiple suppliers. iPhone is available only with its standard Safari browser.

21. Blackberry synchronizes with iTunes – and every other media management program.

22. Blackberry models with 480 pixel resolution and WiFi offer PrimeTime2Go, an $8/month TV service that works as a DVR.

23. Blackberry fits as many emails in the inbox as there is memory available (typically many tens of thousands). iPhone is limited to 200 emails. Yes, iPhone has a remote look-up capability, but that doesn’t do you any good when you’re on an airplane or are otherwise out of coverage.

24. Price: Unlimited iPhone voice/data service, including unlimited SMS, is $150/month. Blackberry can be had for much less. For example, unlimited Blackberry service is offered on Sprint for $100/month, T-Mobile USA $125/month, MetroPCS $50/month, although AT&T/Verizon match the iPhone at $150/month.

25. Prepaid “no contract” flexibility: The AT&T web site says the iPhone is sold with a 2-year contract only, although once upon a time it offered a “contract-free” iPhone if you paid close to $899 up-front for the iPhone itself. In contrast, you can get prepaid no-contract Blackberry service on any old or new T-Mobile USA Blackberry handset for $65/month (600 minutes, unlimited Blackberry/Internet, but no SMS), or you can get truly unlimited-everything prepaid $50/month service from MetroPCS, if its handset selection and coverage areas are acceptable to you. That’s ONE THIRD the cost of the iPhone, and there is no contract.

26. Blackberry is an encrypted military-grade security platform, with 100% market share at FBI, CIA, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, major consultancies and major investment banks. In contrast, iPhone has security vulnerabilities. Please see this document for details as to why the Blackberry is the only platform approved for use in our national security agencies.

Taken from: http://seekingalpha.com/article/155015-blackberrys-26-advantages-over-iphone?source=article_lb_author

paseo

The USAC staff has been so gracious in giving us MANY holidays here in Costa Rica this semester, incorporating traditional American fall holidays with others of significance here in San Ramon/Costa Rica. Thankfully (oh, the irony!), this includes THANKSGIVING, one of my favorite holidays of the year!

I will admit, it will be strange to not sit down to a huge homemade dinner prepared by my precious grandmother. Those of us traveling this week are planning to have dinner anyway though, in........

NICARAGUA!!!

Five of us depart Wednesday afternoon en bus para Nicaragua and will return this weekend. I am so excited to add another country to my list of countries visited! Please keep us in your prayers! We are going to a safe area and are so excited! I won't be on to update my blog probably until next Sunday or so, but I am sure that there will be plenty to post about when I return!

Thanksgiving week is one of my favorite weeks of the year. Not only do I spend time with my family, but the Clemson/Carolina game and the days leading up to it are always so exciting!

I sure hope the Tigers can pull out the W for us on Saturday!

more pictures from the weekend

In Bugy's

Me and Helberth!

Tico friends

Me and KL!

Look what we found!

See-sawing....I felt like a kid again! So much fun!

Isn't she lovely?!

Being silly at the volcano

Cafe Britt fotos

Crazy keyboard in the Britt store with 4 languages! Never seen one of these before!

Coffee through the years - our precious guides playing their respective roles as they give us a tour of coffee throughout history

Pope

Cue the heavenly music...

Cute tour guides, explaining coffee growth and beans

AHHH...a forest of coffee trees!

Thank you, Lord, for your many blessings.

They needed volunteers. Who raised their hand??!!

Front row, of course!

Prize I won for volunteering!!!

weekend wrap-up

Just a summary of what went on this weekend (more photos to come!)....

FRIDAY

On Friday KL, MIF, ES and I went to Cafe Britt in Heredia. Afterwards we found some lunch, and some ice cream, and walked around Heredia, enjoying the views and playing in a park on some see-saws! We took buses to San Jose and then headed back to San Ramon. KL came to my house Friday night and we did some homework together.

SATURDAY

KL's host parents invited to take her to Volcan Poas, and she invited MIF, ES and I to go along with her! And so we did! We stopped in Sarchi first and bought a few little things in a souvenir shop, hoping that killing some time there would give the clouds enough time to disappear from atop the volcano. We headed up to Poas, but it was unfortunately very very cloudy. I'm glad that I had already been and was able to see it, because it was really cool. We couldn't even see the lagoon for all the clouds! Lastima! We enjoyed each other's company anyway. Afterwards we got back in the car, stopped on our way down the mountain for some fresh DELICIOUS strawberries, and then headed toward Grecia to get some lunch. We ate in the mercado there at a small soda, and of course had cheap and delicious casados. Afterwards we continued onward to San Ramon. We stoped at the panaderia to get some bread and such, and then went back to KL's house to have cafecito, my favorite time of the day! Afterwards, around 5, we went back to our own houses to clean up from the day. I headed back to KL's around 7:30. Then she, her brother and I went out to meet up with several of his friends. ES met up with us later. We spent the evening with the ticos, hanging out, having fun, not knowing what the next step would be! We all had a good time together and then went home.

SUNDAY

Sunday I woke up and got ready and walked to the centro to go to mass at the big Catholic church in town. It was the first mass I have ever been to. It was...well...interesting. I have never been before so it was a new experience for me and I am glad that I went!

Afterwards I went to Delicias with MIF for a while before heading home to go eat lunch with my family. We went to a buffet-style restaurant on the outside of town with big windows overlooking beautiful views of the mountains. Afterwards we went to my host dad's parents' house to hang out for a while. They offered coffee, so of course my host mother, knowing that I NEVER say no to coffee, told his mom that I would like a cup! And boy, was it tasty! His dad also gave me some Archer Farms peanuts which were scrumptious and like a little taste of home. They were so kind to me. We all had a good time talking and laughing.

We then came back home and I continued "doing homework." I Skyped a LOT yesterday with different people, and it was great to catch up with so many special people back home. I did more work last night and then went to bed before 12.

MONDAY

Today I had class from 8-11, then I hung out with some friends a bit before coming home to eat lunch. I did some homework once I got home, and then we had yummy burritos for lunch! AND my mother made fresca de pina, my FAVORITE! I love pineapply things!!!

Afterwards I did some more work and then took a 20 minute nap. I didn't set an alarm or anything, but for some reason when I lay down to take afternoon naps I just can't sleep a really long time. Boo. Anyway, the whole family left rather suddenly and my mother simply told me that my host dad's grandmother wasn't doing well and that they needed to go. So I kept the dogs inside until they left and hung out for a while at home. Then they brought my brother and sister home because they both have exams tomorrow that they needed to study for. We hung out for a while, had some ice cream, and laughed together.

I headed back to school around 3 for a mini-fiesta for DL and Claudia. Today is DL's birthday and Claudia's was last week. We had torta chilena and coffee, of course! It was scrumptious and fun for everyone in the group to hang out together.

I then went to Delicias to hang out with one of my favorite tico friends for about 45 minutes or so. We just chatted and then he had to go to his house to get some things for his class while I stayed there and did some homework.

I returned to school and did some more work there with my gringo buddies. And then I went back to the casa. My parents still had not arrived. I hung out with AM for a while, doing homework and such. Eventually my parents called to bring supper home to us - burgers and chicken from Don Pollo TWINS. It was yummy, but greasy, and I still feel kind of gross from it. Anyway, I've spent the rest of the evening doing homework and I am utterly exhausted! All this lack of sleep is catching up with me. I will probably do a LOT of catching up on it over Christmas break, though, before jumping back into the real world of college back in good ole Clemson.

Speaking of Clemson....

So glad that my Tigers are heading to the ACC Championship!!!!!!!! Wahoo! Wish I could go! If I was at home I would DEFINITELY be going, or trying to, anyway! And Clemson/Carolina is this weekend! I'm sad that I won't be there, and I can't believe that football season is nearly over for the Tigers, but what a year it has been. And to think that CJ Spiller could be the next Heisman trophy winner??!!! Of all the fall semesters for me to go abroad!!! Regardless of my location, I am proud! And am keeping my fingers crossed that we make it to a (BCS) bowl so that I can go cheer them on in person!

I will be posting some pictures separately from the weekend with short comments and such. I hate trying to put lots of pictures and lots of text in one post because the format always gets weird when I try to load pictures.

Buenas noches! 18 days, mommy!

You know you are becoming more Costa Rican when.....

1. You have the sequence and tones of the car alarms memorized.

2. You drink more coffee than all the other drinks you consume combined.

3. You integrate "mae" into regular spanish conversation.

4. Your friends know not to expect you to be on time because you are on tico time.

5. You stroll across the road in front of cars without fear of them running over you instead of slowly and timidly crossing the street.

6. You spend evenings in the park downtown.

7. You are greeted with kisses on the cheek by your tico friends and you greet your tico AND gringo friends with kisses on the cheek.

8. You call the cab company for a taxi and when you tell them your address they know your name because you have called so much.

9. Car alarms and dogs barking don't wake you up anymore in the morning.

10. A tico asks you for directions.

11. You understand how to use MSN Messenger.

12. A "fiesta" means that you stand in the street and talk to your friends, usually outside of another fiesta.

Cafe Britt

1. Been to Costa Rica?
2. Love coffee?
3. Like chocolate-covered coffee beans?

If you answered yes to at least TWO of the above questions, then you know exactly where this is going.....

Cafe Britt. Praise the Lord for the person who invented this place.

Café Britt was founded in 1985 as the first gourmet coffee roaster in Costa Rica. Before Café Britt, it was virtually impossible to find a memorable cup of coffee in the country. It seemed all the truly exquisite Costa Rican coffee was being hidden away. This, of course, was not true. The simple fact was all the best coffee was being exported.

It was here we had the opportunity to pioneer great change and introduce gourmet quality roasted coffee to Costa Rica. As exporters ourselves, we were able to see the problem and we knew we could solve it; by reserving and roasting some of this fine Costa Rican coffee. We had all the ingredients for success: access to perfect coffee from the country’s best plantations, the finest mills, the roasters, and the obsession with quality. We combined all our resources and the result was Café Britt, Costa Rica’s most remarkable coffee.

We were thrilled to discover this hidden gem and share Costa Rica's heritage with the world. Our enthusiasm for culture, nature and great flavors went beyond borders. In 2005, we headed south to Peru and explored this country's highlands for the best coffees and colorful artful crafts that transpire this nation’s fabulous legacy. Warmer winds blew in 2006 with our expansion to the Curaçao and The Caribbean where we parachuted our creative team into this fun friendly culture to create a line of products that truly reveal the islands’ flair. The vast diversity of Chile’s natural scenes and the warmth of its people blew us away… and we just had to become part of it. Café Britt Chile was created in 2007. With Miami themes and a highly skilled, friendly staff, we were ready to take on the challenge of this iconic city, known as the "Crossroads of the Americas." Our first shop opened Sept 26, 2008 in Concourse D at the Miami International Airport. (Cafe Britt story)


What a godsend, huh?


Anyway, when I purchased a travel guide to Costa Rica before coming I searched immediately for something about coffee or Cafe Britt. Lucky for me I discovered headquarters in Heredia, a suburb of San Jose but still a HUGE city, and I knew immediately that this would be somewhere I would be going.


Well, it took a while to go but KL and I decided last night that the time had come. Being complete coffee addicts, we knew that it was now or never. So this morning, KL, MIF, ES and I set out on a bus to San Jose (with some guidance from Claudia). We had to get off at the airport and hop on the Heredia bus and get off at the hospital in town, and then taxi to Britt. Well, we managed all of that, and I was sore afraid that we wouldn't be able to join on the 11 AM tour (we arrived promptly at 11:15!). The kind people in the welcome booth offered to let us join the tour which had apparently just started, so we happily accepted and trotted off to the rear of the tour. Our guides were just adorable. They gave the tour in Spanish and in English. It was funny how they switched back and forth. They were absolutely hilarious!

The tour consisted of explanations of how coffee is grown, the climate it is grown in, how it is tested all along the way...basically the ENTIRE process of coffee from its initial planting to its packaging to be sold to addicts like me!

hermanos

This is a picture of my host brother, me, and my host sister before her baile. She looked absolutely beautiful!

busy busy busy

WHEW. I am EXHAUSTED. But it looks like I won't be getting much sleep tonight either!

Thursday

Thursday was quite an emotional day for me.

I had to go to the hospital at 8:30 to meet with all the big guys to talk more about their Strategic Plan. When I got there, I was surprised to find out that it was my job to present the whole plan to them. Claudia told me how to conduct the meeting, which I didn't know that I would be doing, and I got super nervous. I had to present the plan to everyone in Spanish. By the grace of God I made my way through it and got it all out! Claudia said I did fine. After we presented the plan, the Director and all of the other doctors there basically took turns speaking for 45 minutes to Claudia and I, thanking us for all that we had done. They now want to start doing things with the University and with other students, and they said that it was all due to the work of Claudia and I. I was overwhelmed by all the nice things they said to us. Completely overwhelmed. They were so thankful and appreciative and just kept going on and on about it. The Director told me that I had been adopted into the hospital, and he called me the 'daughter of the hospital.' And I cried. Claudia wanted me to say something to all of them, but was kind enough to explain that I wasn't able to because I was already crying and would just lose it if I had to speak! They asked to have a farewell get together with me in December before I leave, so I will hopefully have regained composure by then enough to thank them a million times for their hospitality, generosity, and patience.

Think about it....a group of doctors whom I have NEVER met before, take in a young student, inexperienced and unable to speak a lot of Spanish, and letting her take on a project of such importance to them and trusting her with it. The fact that they would trust me with that is incredible. And humbling.

So I cried a little more afterwards, thinking about having to tell them all goodbye and about all that I had been able to do with them and how great of an opportunity I have had, and I just let the tears flow for a while as I walked around town.

I went back to school for a bit but wasn't really in time to catch anything in class, so KL and I talked instead for a while. She was trying to Skype her boyfriend who is also studying abroad this semester in Uganda. Her computer wasn't working so I offered her my computer at my choza. We headed back and got it to working. I studied for my test while she Skyped for a bit, and then she headed off back home. I had lunch with my family and then headed back to school to take my test and such.

The test wasn't too bad. I got a B. Yay! After the test we had a 45 minute cafecito in the cafeteria with the teacher (my aunt - I call her my tia teacher!) and just talked about all kinds of things. It was fun. We then headed back to class and ended around 4:30. I hung out and talked to some people for a bit. Talked to KL for a while at the cafe next to the University and saw some tico friends walk by. Haha. I then headed back to my casa to get ready.

I showered and got ready for my sister's prom. I didn't realize that we were leaving at 6:15 instead of 6:45. So my hair had to go back in a slick straight ponytail instead of down and curly as planned. But I think it turned out for the better. Anyway we took a few photos at the casa and then headed off to the dance!

We arrived and had to wait in line outside for a while. Por dicha it wasn't raining!!! We finally made it in and sat down at our table and enjoyed some Coca Cola while we waited for the others to arrive. One of my aunts and I went outside to wait for mi amigo MIF. My host mother offered for me to bring a friend who would want to dance a lot along with me, so I decided to invite him since he likes to dance too and since he dances so well!

There was a parade of the graduates, of sorts. They eached walked down the stairs and through the arch with their parent(s). Then they brought snacks out for everyone to share. And THEN the dancing began. Initially there was a DJ who played salsa and meringue. Then the live band started! And then it was LIVE salsa, meringue, cumbia! They sounded INCREDIBLE! When I get married I want a band like that there! The music was great. And MIF and I danced a LOT! My feet were hurting, due to hours of dancing...in very high-heeled shoes. But we had a blast! My family danced a lot too. And they invited MIF and I to dance with them. And boy did we all dance! My tia teacher danced the whole night. She was the life of the group and we had so much fun!!!

I am so thankful that my host family allowed me to go along and experience all of this with them. It was a blast and I really felt like a part of the family!

tonses

Yesterday I spent most of the morning at school doing work and talking as much as I could. I had lunch at home with the fam and then had to go to the hospital for a while to work. I was so sleepy initially and I think I may have fallen asleep at some point while I was there. Anyway, one doctor offered me coffee so I gladly accepted and drank it down fast...black. I was fine after that! We had to complete this table yesterday that will help them evaluate how well they have done in reaching their goals and such. Initially it was confusing and they argued some, but somehow it all became clear and we got it figured out.

After the hospital, I went to cultures class. We talked about problems with unemployment among youth in Latin America. Then we had coffee and snacks and our teacher invited 3 Costa Rican students to come talk to us. We all took turns talking (in Spanish, of course), about how we were raised, what kind of family we came from, our universities, costs, scholarships, working, etc. It was fun to exchange stories with them, and they were very nice! After class I came home and turned around back out the door to go have ice cream with a tico friend! We sat in the park for a few hours and talked a lot! It was fun because I got to speak a LOT of Spanish. It was very windy and cold, though. Apparently windy and cold is typical November/December weather here.

Today I had class as usual. I then met with Claudia for a while to go over some internship stuff. Had spaghetti with the fam at home for lunch. Spent most of the afternoon leisurely studying and doing homework. I was going to run some errands for tomorrow but was just too darn lazy. Costa Rica must really be getting to me! I feel like I have been so lazy here. Daddy tells me that I shouldn't overload myself and take on too much, but it seems that doing just that and overexerting myself is the only way I manage my time well. I'm sure there will be some culture shock as far as that's concerned when I get back to the States.

Currently watching game 2 of Costa Rica/Uruguay. Unless they score 2 goals they are bankrupt for the World Cup next year. Keep your fingers crossed!

the winds are changing

I can already tell a difference in the climate here. The rain comes less frequently, the wind blows much harder, and the sun is seen more and more.

The rainy season is ending here in Costa Rica, and the "dry" season is beginning, meaning that instead of raining every day, it rains every 2 or 3 days instead. This doesn't mean it does not get cloudy and dark and gloomy. The rain just falls less now.

The climate is nice. It reminds me of Easter weather. I always remember being at home for those weekends, the chill in the air, the warmth of the sun, and the wind blowing strongly. I love the climate here. Along the beaches of Costa Rica, it's much hotter and much more sunny. But since San Ramon is in the mountains, it's a bit cooler.

Yesterday I didn't do a whole lot. Class from 8-11, lunch, then homework most of the afternoon and evening. I went over to KL's house to watch Lords of Dogtown with her and her dear host brother. It was a good movie, not what I was expecting.

Today I spent the morning at school doing some work and talking whenever I could. Claudia and I have a workshop at the hospital this afternoon, and then I have class this evening. After that I have to write an essay about "El Area de Libre Comercio" for my economy class.

I can't believe how little time I have left here. It sure has flown by! 24 days! I know my parents are counting the days....and the hours too, I'm sure.

compremetida

Meet the happy couple, Foshee (left) and Scotty boy (middle).

She and I met our sophomore year at Clemson. She went to UCF for her freshman year, and then transferred to Clemson at the start of our sophomore year. She signed up for a small group with FCA, and was put in the same small group as me! I remember to this day the first time I met her and we had small group together. Anyway, since that time we have become best friends.

Foshee is the girl who knows no stranger, and is so selfless and giving and just all-around incredible!

Enter Scotty. They met a couple of years ago at Clemson as well. I don't have all the details of their meeting, dating, etc., though I know some of what happened, but they have been together over a year now and are just the cutest couple! SB is so humble and caring, and I have always been able to see how much he cares for my dear friend and for everyone else around them.

As of this past Saturday, the precious couple is ENGAGED!!!!! I have seen this coming for a while, and have just been wondering when it would be. Her ring is absolutely GORGEOUS! And the both of them are SO happy.

I found out yesterday when I got back from the beach. I had received e-mails from both Foshee and my mother saying that she needed to talk to me and that it was important, and I IMMEDIATELY knew!!!! I wanted to scream because I was certain that was what it was. Eventually we got Skype working, and I noticed a shiny left ring finger, and knew I was right! We both started crying and I screamed a few times. I think I frightened my host sister! Anyway she told me how it happened and about how happy she was, and I just kept crying!

I am so happy for them!!! They are both incredible people and are such an inspiration to me. Can't wait for the wedding!!!!!!!

Congratulations! I love you both so much and couldn't be happier for you!!!

Playa Tamarindo - photo summary

Yet ANOTHER beautiful beach that I have found!

This weekend, KA, CD, TJ and I ventured to the Guanacaste province in northwestern Costa Rica to Playa Tamarindo. This beach is somewhat touristy because of its reputation for great surfing. Though llena de gringos y extranjeros (full of gringos and foreigners), we still managed to meet people from Argentina, Colombia, and even Uruguay!

Below are the photo highlights of the trip, 10 of the 200+ that I took. Check out my facebook for more! In random order.....

Friday night sunset = breathtaking

Girls hanging out in the room

Night 2 - rainbow

The LARGEST rainbow I have EVER seen in my life! SO incredible!

Blue sky

The pinkest/orangest sunset I have ever seen - night 1

Girls on the beach

Sunset - night 1

Sunset - night 1

Hostel room - $12/night

"Proverbs 31 wife"

I'm not gonna lie...when I hear someone say "the Proverbs 31 wife," I sometimes turn my head to roll my eyes, not out of disrespect, but because sometimes this woman just sounds like someone who is tired, overworked and underpaid, a woman who has a ton to do and look after. What woman do I know of who has time or energy to do all these things fully and passionately? My mother always amazes me with all that she does and how well she does it, as well as so many other Godly women that I know. But the thought of striving to be this woman overwhelms me at times. I totally respect her, though, and do want to be able to be a woman of this caliber.

Anyway.....I was reading something about it today on Bible Gateway, and read this in the footnotes:

Verses 10-31 are an acrostic, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet

Maybe this is common knowledge, but I'd never heard that before in my life. So I looked a bit more into it and this is what I found....

Acrostics in the Hebrew Bible

One of the many interesting rhetorical features of the Hebrew Bible is its use of alphabetical acrostics. These acrostics are not "hidden codes" -- they are literary compositions in which the writer has used the letters of the Hebrew alphabet as the initial letters for a sequence of verses. J.A. Motyer describes this feature as "a poetic way of saying that a total coverage of the subject was being offered."

In the common form of acrostic found in Old Testament Poetry, each line or stanza begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in order. This literary form may have been intended as an aid to memory, but more likely it was a poetic way of saying that a total coverage of the subject was being offered -- as we would say, 'from A to Z.' Acrostics occur in Psalms 111 and 112, where each letter begins a line; in Psalms 25, 34, and 145, where each letter begins a half-verse; in Psalm 37, Proverbs 31:10-31, and Lamentations 1, 2, and 4, where each letter begins a whole verse; and in Lamentations 3, where each letter begins three verses. Psalm 119 is the most elaborate demonstration of the acrostic method where, in each section of eight verses, the same opening letter is used, and the twenty-two sections of the psalm move through the Hebrew alphabet, letter after letter. --J.A. Motyer, "Acrostic," in The New International Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1987), p. 12.

In Proverbs 31:10-31 the initial letters of each verse go through the Hebrew alphabet in order.

(Source here)

How cool is that? I had no idea! Go to the website and check out the hebrew and english translation next to each other. It's really neat.

What a neat way for us to have a thorough idea of a woman of "godly character"!

Adios, and my 100th post!

WOW - I feel like I should be doing something special to celebrate my 100th post!!!

I think I will celebrate this momentous occasion by going to the beach for the weekend. What do you think?

Be back Sunday! Will do some catching up on Thursday, my host sisters cena, and the weekend then! Que tengan un BUEN fin de semana!

Me hace falta un mes

11 de Noviembre....One month from today I will be heading home.

Well my alarm clock (epically) failed again. I popped awake at 6:58 am and ran to the shower. I got ready quick as I could and ate breakfast (delicious - buttered toasted pan, french toast, scrambled eggs, and coffee) and headed to school (just a minute or two late). Today in International Political Economy we watched a movie - Maria llena de gracia (Maria full of grace). It was interesting, to say the least....It was about women in Colombia who make their living by working for drug cartels who force them to swallow 60-70 pellets, each about the size of a tube of chapstick (but fatter), board an airplane to the US, get off the airplane, meet up with people in the United States, get rid of the pellets (you can imagine how this process is done), get paid, and return to Colombia to do it again. All of this happens provided that they don't get stopped or caught in the airport. If an X-ray is done, GAME OVER for the pretty ladies! At the end one of them 'died' (I imagine one of the pellets came unwrapped in her stomach and messed up her system), and then it was made to look like a suicide or homicide, and they cut her open to get the pellets. It was disturbing.

After class I came home and did homework until lunch time. Today we had hamburgers for lunch. Yum! I then continued doing homework after lunch until 2 pm, when my mother, sister and I took off to the centro to do some shopping! On my way out I saw my neighbor tico friend and waved hello. We headed to a jewelry store first so that my host mother could pick up some accessories. Afterwards mi hermana y yo walked around town in search of the perfect dresses and shoes for me to wear to her dinner and to the dance! I loved the first dress I tried on (usually happens to me) but instead of giving in I decided to wait. I soon found a lovely dark turquoise strapless sweetheart cut dress that I will wear to the dinner, and I ended up going back for the first dress I tried on, a black one shoulder dress. Don't worry, there WILL be pictures. I found some slinky silver gladiator high heels to match both dresses.

Mi hermana and I then went to Delicias to meet one of her aunts for cafecito. This particular aunt has lived in the United States, altogether 12 years total! She is taking my host sister and brother and some of the other cousins and aunts and uncles to Disney World in January! She is fun to talk to, and I enjoyed having cafecito with them.

After finding some earrings and such, AM and I returned home. My host mother seemed to like the dresses I had found. I did homework for anothe rlittle wihle or so, and AM invited me to go see a movie at 7 with her and my brother and my aunt (same one!). We went to see the same movie that I saw with my friends last week. On Wednesday movies are only 1200 colones = just over US $2. Yes, that's what I had said, as Bon Qui Qui would say! The movie was good the second time around, and I was able to pick up more of what was said this time. It's a good feeling to be able to go see a movie in Spanish, without subtitles or anything, and understand what is being said!


We returned home, and then AM and I watched another pelicula that was on TV in her room. I then retired to my quarters, but still somehow did not go to sleep. I Skyped for a while, and then went to sleep after 11.


I am thankful for the quality time that I was able to spend with my host sister today, and am looking forward to even more with the dinner and dance coming up! Be looking for pictures!

Hoy y ayer

Today has been a good day. I didn't have morning class, so I was able to "sleep in" and not be in a hurry about getting out of bed, which is really nice, especially since I have been so lethargic since we returned from our aventura to the hot springs and volcano. I got up and got ready and had breakfast. I was about to change clothes, and was at home alone, when I heard the voices of gringos calling my name outside my window. It was AK and DB, inquiring about a book that we are reading for Advanced Spanish. I let them in for a few minutes and we chatted and then they flitted off to school. I finished getting ready and did the same. While at school for a couple of hours I did some homework and reading for classes. I then returned to my casa, did some more reading, and then had lunch with my hermana. I then went back to school for class at 1. Class seemed to pass slowly today, but I always enjoy learning more about the language. If only I could speak it as much as I think it! Class ended promptly at 4, just in time for my next class to begin. DB wasn't feeling well so he didn't come to class, and I'm not sure why TC didn't come, but it was just me and the profesora tonight! It was fun. She talked almost completely in Spanish and I learned a lot and was able to pay attention easily. At the end of class she had an activity - I had to listen to about 12 different songs that she played and I had to guess what Latin American country they were from. I got some of them right, but just had to guess on most of them! After class she let me take home some of the CDs so that I could have the music! A lot of it is upbeat and fun. One CD is calypso songs from a 5-member group from the Limon province of Costa Rica. One is piano y bosque lluvioso, or piano and rainforest. Another has upbeat songs from each country in Central America. And the last one has a mix of salsa, cumbia, meringue, and some other different types of music heard here in Costa Rica. I have been listening to them all evening and have really enjoyed them!

Yesterday was uneventful but good. I had class from 8-11, spent time at the hospital from 1:30-3 with Claudia, and then spent the afternoon and evening at home doing homework and studying. I got a good bit done. My host sister and I had cafecito together while her parents went to run some errands, and we sat down and had a good conversation for about 45 minutes. She finds out within the next week what she made on her college admission test, which will determine whether or not she gets to go to medical school here! Say a prayer for her! I think she wants to go to medical school. She is very smart and I'm sure that she would be a great student at med school here. We talked about careers and choosing them, what we wanted for our lives and things like that. I really enjoyed our conversation! She is a sweet girl who is very smart and has a good head on her shoulders, and whatever she does I am sure that she will be successful.

For Advanced Spanish we are reading our second book. This book is by a Costa Rican author - Anacristina Rossi. The book is called La Loca de Gandoca. So far it seems like it will be an interesting read. It's easy to read and the language and subjects she talks about are familiar to me now since I have been here for nearly 3 months! I can hardly believe it's been that long, but at the same time it seems like it has been ages ago that I arrived here! One month from tomorrow, I will be departing Costa Rica to come back home. Ahhh!!!

Thursday my host sister has a graduation dinner with the family at school, and they were kind enough to invite me! The only problem is ..... I still have no dress!!! She and I are going tomorrow afternoon after lunch to find me one. We have a short amount of time, so I am praying hard that the right dress will jump out at me quick!!! She assured me that I would be able to find one easily. I need to find a cocktail dress of sorts. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I am also about 99% sure that I am heading off to the beach again this weekend, most likely somewhere in the Guanacaste area. I'm excited to see that part of the country and travel with my amigos!

Bueno, me voy a dormir! Que tengan una buena noche!

thoughts for the day

Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and redeemer.

Psalm 119:37
Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

Colossians 3:1-2 (from The Message)
So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is. See things from his perspective."

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Volcano pictures

Hanging bridges that we explored

Our cute little rooms!

Hey, volcano!

Arenal Volcano

at the hotel

hotel pool

First thing I saw when I walked out of our room

Welcome to La Fortuna!

Weekend

This weekend our group went to see the famous touristy Arenal Volcano, which is totally cool by the way. We spent all day Saturday at Baldi Hot Springs, going down slides and pool hopping, and eating from the DELICIOUS buffet there. Sunday we hiked for a while across some hanging bridges and then had lunch at this amazing lookout over the volcano. I didn't take any photos at the hot springs for fear of destroying my little camera. Here's the website, though, so you can still see what it was like: http://www.arenal.net/baldi-hot-springs.htm. The food at the hot springs was incredible - fresh cucumbers for the salad, fresh pineapple, and a chocolate fountain that was out of this world. The hotel we stayed at was nice too: http://www.lapraderadelarenal.com/. Unfortunately, Saturday night I got the worst headache I think I've ever had in my life. It really was unfortunate because I wasn't able to hang out with everyone. I laid down in bed and seriously could not move. I still have a small headache now and hiked and stuff anyway today in spite of it all, which may not have been the best idea. Anyway, stay tuned for some photos!

stumbling

Check out these awesome photos:

http://thedesigninspiration.com/articles/40-beautiful-hdr-pictures-you-would-be-amazed/

Thursday

Yesterday my alarm decided to malfunction and not go off. Therefore, I snapped awake at 7:15, leaving me with 45 minutes to get ready, eat, and get to class. Somehow, I managed to do it and I made it to class on time. Class went well and passed by quickly. She let us leave a few minutes early. I came home to finish some homework for my 1 pm class. I laid down to rest for a while, and woke up around 12:20. Normally at this time we have lunch since I have class at one. However, I awoke to a silent house and no food. Initially I was not concerned. Then it became 12:30, and then 12:40. I knew that unless they arrived right then with prepared food, I would not be able to eat and make it to class on time. I got my things together and just figured I could go to the pulperia on the corner and get a sandwich and head to the U. Just as I was getting ready to walk out the door at 12:43, my family busts up in the house with pizza. Apparently the meat that my mother had was bad, and they went to get pizza. I sat down to eat, and they offered to drive me to school. They all decided to ride, even though it's just up the road, but it was special to me that they all wanted to take me. So they took me, and told me if the teacher gave me any problems for being late (the teacher here is my aunt), to have her call them. Class went by quickly. During our break we had coffee and cake in the cafeteria - lovely, as always. We got out of class I bit late, so I went to change and headed straight to dance class. We reviewed all the dances we knew, and then did some aerobics at the end. I love the dances here, especially salsa. At some point before I go home I want to go out somewhere and ONLY salsa the whole time! We all decided to go to a costume party together that was put on by some of our tico friends from the U, and decided to meet at DB's apartamento at 9. I went home and ate some papas with the family. They told me Nicaraguan jokes. (To Costa Ricans, Nicaraguans are a thorn in their side.) They were funny and I was glad that my family decided to share some funny things with me. I took a shower and got ready, called a taxi, and headed over to DB's to meet everyone. We all met there and hung out for a while before going to the costume party. When we got to the costume party (in Night Fever - where else??), our tica friends greeted us and talked to us for a bit. We all hung out together and then started dancing. It wasn't overly crowded like it sometimes is, which was really nice. But there still was a good number of people there. I made a friend and we talked as best we could, given the loudness and darkness. SC and I left together kind of late. Needless to say, I slept in this morning, till 8:30, even though I woke up at 7:15 thinking I had to go to class or something. Overall, Thursday was another busy but good day!

Tuesday y Wednesday

TUESDAY

I woke up early Tuesday morning, had some quiet time, and then put on my running shoes and headed out for a little walk around town to wake me up. I walked for about 45 minutes and watched the town come to life! It was pretty chilly, and I just had on shorts and a t-shirt, so I was cold and will definitely remember to take a sweater next time. The walk was pleasant anyway. I walked up the street a good ways from my house and explored some neighborhoods up there. There are some REALLY nice houses up that way, some that I wouldn't mind living in! I also discovered a baptist church that I have never seen before! They have service on Sundays at 9 and on Wednesdays at 7, so I am going to try to make a service ASAP!!!! I was so excited to find it, even though we are already three months into the trip. I really enjoyed the walk and will go again tomorrow. I want to go up high into some of the hills so that I can see out over the city, and out toward the Pacific Ocean toward Puntarenas.

I came back and got ready and headed to school to meet with Claudia at 9 for internship stuff. We 'met' for about 2 hours. During this time we got some stuff done, but she also was doing other things too so it was nice for it to be laid back. We shared a pot of coffee to celebrate the end of our meeting....coffee grown and processed right here in San Ramon! After the meeting I wanted to head back home to wait for lunch, and I ran into Julio! We walked a ways and talked for a bit. I really enjoy speaking Spanish with the ticos, especially one on one, because I think when I am around other gringos I feel intimidated sometimes and don't want to talk in front of them. I don't know why. Anyway, it was fun! I made it home and worked on pharmacy school applications while I waited for lunch to be ready. We had yummy spaghetti!

I headed back to school, to go to class at 1. We had a good class and we talked about prepositions which have always kind of given me a hard time, because the preposition you think you should use based on its meaning in English is not the one you use, and sometimes it can be confusing! About halfway through we piled into teacher's car to go to the bookstore to look for a book for us to read, since the other was out of order. We were unsuccessful. We then went to Aroma's Cafe to have the rest of our class. I ordered the Aroma's Cafe cold coffee special drink which was DIVINE, and a strawberry crepe covered in ice cream, sent straight from God's table in heaven!!!!

After class we went back to school. I did some work and checked e-mail. I left around 5:30 to head home. At home I continued doing homework with my host sister. At 7:30 KL and ES came over to have Bible study. We sat in the sala and each talked about where we were coming from, why we believe what we do, things like that, just to get to know each other better spiritually. It was fun to talk about. We talked about Ecclesiastes too because ES has been reading it and was confused about a few things. We also had prayer with each other, and it was really nice to have the fellowship and talk about the Lord. We are going to make this a weekly thing! I called a taxi for them and then went to bed as soon as they left.

WEDNESDAY

Class from 8-11. We watched a movie about female factory workers in Tijuana, Mexico. It was kind of depressing, and made me understand why so many people try to come to the US from Mexico. These women were paid little, had to deal with pollution and contamination - at work and in their homes and neighborhoods - and then their companies would move locations without giving them any severance pay, leaving them with little to no money. The conditions were terrible, and they tried to fight against it, but companies there have so much power. It was really eye-opening.

After class I went to the library with AK to check my email and such to kill some time before 11:30. Yesterday instead of having Cultures class in the evening, class was cancelled so that we could have a field trip today! We left school at 11:30 to head up into the mountains - Piedades Norte, I believe. It was REALLY rainy all day today, so we weren't able to see views of anything really well while in the mountains. We headed to a trapiche, which is used for processing sugar cane, a huge thing down here in Costa Rica. We were able to see the whole process in action, from cutting the sugar cane down, to processing it to get the juice out, to heating and boiling it to get all the junk out, to making sellable products out of it. I didn't have my camera unfortunately, but DB took pictures and said he would send them to me, so I hope to get those ASAP and post them so that you can better understand what was going on, or you could probably google it and find lots of good pictures. I'll work on that! Anyway, it was neat to watch, and the people who owned it were brothers and were very nice! They knew Silvia because many years ago she did some work with the museum here in town to recognize and preserve traditions like these and to bring attention to them so that people would recognize their importance and appreciate them. So they had a photo of her on the wall because she is special to them!

After visiting there we went to Cafeteria Flory to eat (we were in La Paz, by the way). We had casados that were out of this world, with pineapple fresca, and coffee afterwards. There were also SO MANY beautiful flowers there, and more species of orchids than I have ever seen in my life! Again, I am going to get pictures from DB so that you can see.

After our scrumptious lunch we drove further to see more of the country side and another small trapiche that wasn't running today. We then went back toward SR and stopped at a nice souvenir shop on the way. It had a lot of neat stuff but it was way overpriced! TOURIST TRAP! Afterwards we proceeded back to town and the driver dropped me by my house. We had cafecito shortly after I arrived (cup 4 of the day).

I spent the afternoon studying and doing homework. I had to read a long story that I still don't quite understand, so hopefully I will get some clarification tomorrow in class.

Around 8:15 KL called me and invited me to go see a movie, "Gestacion," with some of the others. It is a film made in Costa Rica with Costa Rican actors, all in Spanish, so of course I said YES! In my opinion it was like a Costa Rican version of Juno. Anyway, the ticket was 1200 colones (just over 2 dollars, yes, only 2 dollars) and popcorn and a drink was 1200 more. Nice, right?! Anyway, I liked the fact that it was Costa Rican, because I could understand some of the slang and things that are said a lot here!! The movie was okay overall. The whole movie was about her pregnancy and such, but at the end we didn't even see the baby! Crazy, right? We took a taxi home after it was over (and pouring down rain STILL), and now I am in bed about to fall asleep. It has been a great couple of days, and I hope tomorrow is equally as good! Vamos a ver!

Buenas noches!!!

November already???

I guess it doesn't feel like November because (a) the time has passed so quickly and it feels like it should still only be September, and (b) because it is not cold here at all, not the November weather I am used to in the States!

It is bittersweet to think about it being November... It makes me happy because I know that in a few short weeks I will see my friends and family again. But it makes me sad because the longer I stay here the more that I love it and the more that I want to stay. Several times this past weekend I had chances to look out over the city, either while walking or being in the car, and it just still astounds me, the beauty of the city and of the mountains and the landscape of San Ramon and of Costa Rica. Initially I thought that maybe I just found it breathtaking because it was novel and different than what I was used to back in the States, but now I realize that it's because it really is just THAT beautiful and magnificent.


And to think that I could have missed out on all this because I was afraid of coming here, afraid of doing what I knew the Lord had called me to do! A dear friend reminded me earlier of how distraught I was when my plans for Mexico fell apart, and then the Lord pieced it all back together so that I could come to Costa Rica, and look at how incredible it has been and how much the Lord has shown me and taught me since I have been here.


I think that more than anything this trip has been a 'return to innocence' of sorts for me. Let me try to explain. Before I came to Costa Rica, I felt like I was in a holding cell, waiting for something big to happen, waiting for God to take me on to the next thing, waiting waiting waiting. I had grown impatient. Yes, I managed to be joyful through this time of waiting, but I knew that there still was something missing. So I came to Costa Rica, terrified and uncertain of what was waiting for me here. And what a ride it has been. I believe with all of my heart that the Lord has been giving that joy back to me, has been giving me a sort of child-like happiness and perspective, like I am 16 all over again! Even so in silly ways, like having a mother here to cook everything and do all of my laundry, so that all I do is go to school and hang out with my friends and enjoy life. I feel like he has simplified my life, and has shown me what life is really about and what is important. Now of course I don't have life completely figured out, that's not what I'm getting at here. But he has been restoring my joy and has been pursuing me and loving me and showing me so much. My prayer is that he would continue to do that throughout the rest of this trip, and even after.

By submitting to the Lord's will for my life for this semester, I believe that I have given him more room to show me how BIG he is and how in control he is. I have learned that when we try to be in control of our own circumstances, we give God less room to be creative and show us what He can do! When we allow HIM to be in charge, we are able to see just how POWERFUL He is!

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Today was a good day. It was kind of dreary outside, so I spent most of the day in the house. I got a lot of work done, and spent most of my study time with my sweet host sister who is studying for her final exams so that she can graduate from high school!

I had class from 8-11, then I came home to eat lunch with the family. MIF and I went out to search for a book for Advanced Spanish, but apparently it has been removed from all stores because the author wanted to make some corrections, so it is not being sold until he finishes. We then decided to see if we could check it out of the public library. We wandered around the tiny tiny library and found the book after looking it up on the database, and were soon approached by the librarian. She kindly informed us that we were in the restricted section which required special permission to enter, though it appeared to us like the other sections because there was no designation or separation at all. We told her what we were looking for and she said we couldn't check books out of that section, that we were only allowed to read them in the library while being supervised, but that if we really wanted to check them out, since we didn't have library cards and couldn't get them (I guess because we are gringos), we could bring a water bill or power bill from our family's house to show that we DID live here, and go through some process to be able to check the book out over the weekend while the library is closed. She was very kind through all of this, and when we left, empty-handed, we both realized how thankful we were for the ease of checking out books in public libraries in the US.


The rest of the afternoon was spent studying, enjoying coffee and pancakes, and relaxing and talking to friends and my mother. It was nice to have a relaxing afternoon and evening. I still managed to get a good bit of work and studying done.


Hopefully tomorrow will be equally as relaxing and stress-free. I meet with Claudia in the morning to work on internship stuff, and I only have one class from 1-4. Normally I have a class after that, but we are taking a field trip on Wednesday so we are not having class tomorrow! Que dicha!


Buenas noches!

little gems from Urban Outfitters

Silk Printed Square Scarf

For some reason I just love these Peacock T's!

Above, 1920s Deep V Peacock T

Peacock Pop Deep V Neck T


And who knew Members Only made such COOL jackets??
Leather Aviator Jacket

I couldn't believe how good of a price some of these shoes have!

Wool Skimmer, $28

Kimchi Blue Tassel Slipper, $18

Kimchi Blue Lace Skimmer, $28

Kimchi Blue T-Strap Skimmer, $28