Lessons Learned Thus Far in Costa Rica.

1. Try every food--the food is absolutely delicious!

2. Namebrand Crocs and Keens are worth every penny.

3. A stroller with big wheels is a must with the broken and slick, mossy sidewalks.

4. Walking around town is great family time. It's fun to buy groceries after a long walk to the store.

5. Costa Ricans take a very important coffee break mid-afternoon--and their coffee is the best.

6. The flowers are exquisite and will take your breath away.

7. If you have to break a bone, Costa Rica is a very inexpensive place to do it: $150 as opposed to $6000 in the States. That $150 includes cast, doctor's evaluation and XRay.

8. The meat market is cheap and delivers (see picture of fire pit in wall below) to your door.

9. It's far more fun to laugh at yourself and bumble through the language than it is to be quiet.

10. Animation is key to making yourself understood before knowing the language! : )My hand gestures and acting skills are developing at an equal pace to my language acquisition.

One more. . .5 am does not seem nearly as early here as the sun is coming up already! Plus, I have Costa Rican coffee to look forward to!