It seems almost imposible to shrink all of these experiences into words really. If I had to try and encompass the whole experience so far into two loaded words, I will borrow from the Costa Rican motto and say ¨Pura Vida.¨ I don´t think that life is any better down here really, just different. But it´s different in a way that seems to inspire me more each day and seems to remind me more of my purpose for living.
I am currently studying abroad through the Univeristy of Idaho and I attend the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR). Since I finished my Music Education degree at U of I last semester, I am taking a few music classes (including guitar, choir, and fundaments of music education) just for fun! and a photography class also just for the FUN of it!!! Because a person can´t simply study at a University and shell out lots of money just to take classes for the fun of it, I am taking a Spanish and Culture class through my program to fulfill my Spanish teaching degree. I will finish this degree at the U of I this coming Fall.
This is a picture of Universidad de Costa Rica
As I am SO inspired down here, I have begun writing many songs. I will write songs anywhere here. The other day I wrote a song I am quite particular to on the bus. Yea, on the bus. Just normal every day life stuff. There´s song writing material in that normal stuff... that´s right. I don´t always write the music to it, but there´s plans of writing it all out and putting as much material to music as I can. I have found freedom in writing my thoughts without ever even hoping someone will hear them. That way, I am free to write what I feel. And when it turns into a song and someone hears it someday, it will just be that much cooler. The plan is to have a Costa Rica inspired album made someday. I´ll keep you posted. And whenever I get the chance, I´m going to try and make a music myspace so you can actually hear some of this music I´m writing.
As many of you know, I came down to Costa Rica two years ago with the main purpose of working on Summer Project with Campus Crusade for Christ. Where is all that this trip you ask? Still definetely there and still a HUGE part of my life. The changes are this time I am actually in classes with the tico students and have been able to make so many connections this way. At least once a week I have someone ask if we can get together and practice English sometime. This is a great window to share my faith and to see if they want to be involved in Campus Crusade at all. It does become a little harder because this time I have homework, a family, and I live in a house about 20 minutes away from the action of Crusade. I don´t let it stop me though. It´s just different. And amoung SO many afirmations from God that I should definitely be here, one of them is that I walked into my photography class and happened to recognize one of the girls I met on the 5 day Spring Break trip 2 years ago. She remembered me and we´ve gotten to hang out and chat. I run into people all the time from 2 years ago and it´s like as if I never left. It´s funny that here I think of every friendship as an opportunity to share Christ with my friends and the people that I meet and for some reason I don´t do that when I´m in the states even though that´s how we should be.
The campus is so beautiful. And HUGE. The number of students here alone equals the number of people and students combined that live in Moscow. Somehow I still manage to bump into people and friends that I know, however. Guess this world is small, right?
So, when I´m not enjoying my classes or hanging out on campus, I live with a Costa Rican family. I have two younger sisters Paola and Valeria. Their mom-my Costa Rican Mom is named Miriam and is SO much like me it´s crazy. Except the only thing is she likes to have everything very clean and organized and that´s a little hard for me. I´m learning to be a little less organized and she´s learning to be a little less worried about order. It´s a good combo. I also have more Aunts and Uncles and cousins here than I can count. My host Grandma is SO cool. She´s the typical Grandma- always trying to get me to eat more and mumbling when she speaks. She talks about her life and her experiences like a person would tell the most amazing story ever written.
So, when I´m not enjoying my classes or hanging out on campus, I live with a Costa Rican family. I have two younger sisters Paola and Valeria. Their mom-my Costa Rican Mom is named Miriam and is SO much like me it´s crazy. Except the only thing is she likes to have everything very clean and organized and that´s a little hard for me. I´m learning to be a little less organized and she´s learning to be a little less worried about order. It´s a good combo. I also have more Aunts and Uncles and cousins here than I can count. My host Grandma is SO cool. She´s the typical Grandma- always trying to get me to eat more and mumbling when she speaks. She talks about her life and her experiences like a person would tell the most amazing story ever written.
As I am SO inspired down here, I have begun writing many songs. I will write songs anywhere here. The other day I wrote a song I am quite particular to on the bus. Yea, on the bus. Just normal every day life stuff. There´s song writing material in that normal stuff... that´s right. I don´t always write the music to it, but there´s plans of writing it all out and putting as much material to music as I can. I have found freedom in writing my thoughts without ever even hoping someone will hear them. That way, I am free to write what I feel. And when it turns into a song and someone hears it someday, it will just be that much cooler. The plan is to have a Costa Rica inspired album made someday. I´ll keep you posted. And whenever I get the chance, I´m going to try and make a music myspace so you can actually hear some of this music I´m writing.
As many of you know, I came down to Costa Rica two years ago with the main purpose of working on Summer Project with Campus Crusade for Christ. Where is all that this trip you ask? Still definetely there and still a HUGE part of my life. The changes are this time I am actually in classes with the tico students and have been able to make so many connections this way. At least once a week I have someone ask if we can get together and practice English sometime. This is a great window to share my faith and to see if they want to be involved in Campus Crusade at all. It does become a little harder because this time I have homework, a family, and I live in a house about 20 minutes away from the action of Crusade. I don´t let it stop me though. It´s just different. And amoung SO many afirmations from God that I should definitely be here, one of them is that I walked into my photography class and happened to recognize one of the girls I met on the 5 day Spring Break trip 2 years ago. She remembered me and we´ve gotten to hang out and chat. I run into people all the time from 2 years ago and it´s like as if I never left. It´s funny that here I think of every friendship as an opportunity to share Christ with my friends and the people that I meet and for some reason I don´t do that when I´m in the states even though that´s how we should be.
A group of some of my friends came to Costa Rica for a week from University of Idaho on the same trip that I took 2 years ago and it was sooo great to have them here. We had a lot of fun and they had many great spiritual conversations on campus and just overall had a great trip.
This is me with the group:
Oh and did I mention that about three fourths of my day is in SPANISH. All in Spanish. My classes are in Español as well. I am currently reading my first whole book in Spanish. Más que un carpintero (More Than a Carpinter by Josh McDonnell) you should check it out. It´s very good.
Well, at the expense of keeping my first promise above about not writing EVERYTHING from 2 months of adventures I will leave this first post at that. I´m so excited for what God has in store for me and every day I seem to wake up a little bit more ready than the day before to see what those adventures are for me.
The best way to see what´s going on in my life and to see ALL my pictures (if you have spare time of course) is to find me on facebook. I take enough pictures there of course to document this life.
Thank you for being a friend of mine and for joining with me in this exciting life that God has for each of us. No matter what country you´re in, you´re life is exciting and God has great plans for you. I KNOW IT.
With much love and inspiration I write to you,
Jodi Marie Fisher
If you´re at all interested, my blog from two years ago is:
www.jodesmariecostarica2007.blogspot.com
Well, at the expense of keeping my first promise above about not writing EVERYTHING from 2 months of adventures I will leave this first post at that. I´m so excited for what God has in store for me and every day I seem to wake up a little bit more ready than the day before to see what those adventures are for me.
The best way to see what´s going on in my life and to see ALL my pictures (if you have spare time of course) is to find me on facebook. I take enough pictures there of course to document this life.
Thank you for being a friend of mine and for joining with me in this exciting life that God has for each of us. No matter what country you´re in, you´re life is exciting and God has great plans for you. I KNOW IT.
With much love and inspiration I write to you,
Jodi Marie Fisher
If you´re at all interested, my blog from two years ago is:
www.jodesmariecostarica2007.blogspot.com
