Hola! Familia y Amigos! Como Estas?
Hello family and friends, how are you? Today was a fabulous day! We started our day off with the screaming sound of Howler monkeys. Unlike our other days we had one more hour of sleep today. We woke up to the great aromas of Jackie’s breakfast. Breakfast included traditional Costa Rican eggs with pesto and an optional salsa on the side, we also had toast, bacon, sausage, and fruit. The majority of people were asleep while Greg, Perry, and Clint loaded the bus to go deep sea fishing. The rest of the students and chaperones headed off to a primary rainforest. Our guide was Adonis and his two children Fabiola and Jordan joined us. He showed us around the property that belongs to his uncle. Adonis is able to sense what type of animals are near by his sense of smell. Today he smelled a herd of over 100 wild boars. He showed us three main different types of trees. These trees are part of a primary rainforest which means that have existed since the “dinosaur age”.The first tree was large and its roots were above the ground, the wood was worth over 10,000-50,000 dollars. This tree, as Adonis said, is over 300 years old. The second tree was a “healing tree.” This tree has a healing milk inside that can cure a hurting stomach. Adonis said that anytime we ever have a stomach ache to call him and get some of the healing milk. The third tree was a “Tarzan” tree which had many vines coming from the canopy, we all had a great time swinging. Not only did we run into awesome trees but we saw a snake big that was wrapping around a tree and a crowd a spider monkeys that were jumping from tree to tree. Sadly we had to leave the amazing primary rainforest and head home to the lodge for lunch. Mrs. Marx (Laura) and Auntie Randy made us wonderful grilled cheese and ham and cheese sandwiches. After we finished up our lunch we had a relaxed day. Some people slept in the hammocks (Avery and Curran were out cold!), some people did their homework, and others went swimming or kayaking. The men came home in one piece, and brought home another! Mr. Como (Perry) brought home an amazing Mackerel that we ate for dinner. Greg and Clint caught Rooster fish but they had to let them free due to being endangered. To add on the amazing dinner, two ladies made traditional tamales that are usually are served on special occasions. (They were SOO GOOD!) The rest of our dinner was rice and beans, and a delicious vegetable salad. After dinner we had a prayer service, read our nightly blog, and played a friendly game of bingo. Everyone enjoined the great cookies Aunt Randy hooked us up with. We are currently ending the night with Goodbyes to Mr. Andsager, who will be departing tomorrow. We are having the time of our lives and don't want to leave, but we miss you all!
XOXO
Annaliese and Avery
~Thank you to the 2013 Costa Rica girl travelers and we appreciate your wise words of wisdom!
PS Kate J says hello and love to her big sis maggie and kitty cat Tangy!! and mom and Dad!
MESSAGE FROM CAPTIN MORGAN
Hang in there and honker down! I will see you soon!
BEEEEDOOOO SAYS HOLA!!!!!! HAVE FUN WE MISS YOU AND DID YOU EAT A TERMITE???? :)
ReplyDeleteHello, LuLu et al, We made it back from Florida and our car was completely covered in ice at the airport parking lot. You can only imagine how thrilled dad was to chip away at that. We picked up Simon at Grandma and Grandpa's and stayed for dinner. They were glad to look through this blog and see your smiling face. They were convinced we had sold you to the gypsies. The snow is falling, the Oscars are running late, and even though it's only officially a 2 hour delay as of midnight, we are anticipating another 3 am call cancelling school tomorrow. Have fun and we miss you! Love, Mom
ReplyDeleteHola! Buenos Dias! Well, I bet you are jeolous; St. Mary School is closed today! We had a lot of ice last night, covered by snow. Your mom had to white-knuckle it home last night. Alex, on the plus side, your soccer game was rescheduled because of the weather.
ReplyDeleteYour trip through the rain forest sounds like any incredible trip. Alex, your brothers and sister really want to know if you have eaten any "bugs"? After watching Survivorman, they want to know if you have eaten any (non-poisonous) frogs or larvae or juicy warms or drank water from animal dung! If you do, your littlest brother will think you are so cool! Remember, this is a trip of a lifetime and you want to try new things.... Please keep up the great stories and photographs!
Hi Rose and everyone! Love the picture of Rose and Lucie -- great way to start my day. UA and SMS are closed today. A few inches on the ground but the snow has stopped. It's really cold here. Sadly, I have to go to work - no sleeping in for me. Rose: Dad attacked your room yesterday while you were gone -- the decluttering made a HUGE difference -- we can see your floor!!! Matthew McConaughey wins an oscar for his role in the Dallas Buyers Club -- I know you would want to know that! Have a great day!!! I need to dig out the Pilot! Love, Mom
ReplyDeleteJust so you guys know. On the news last night, they announced that winter is being extended though Thursday May 8th. Earlier this morning we were notified by Ms. Rosemond that the SMS school year will end on Tuesday July 22nd and the 8th grade commencement will be held on Saturday August 2nd.
ReplyDeleteRosemary, I am going to leave the driveway and sidewalks in the natural state they are currently in so that when you get back you can cool down from the CR heat you are experiencing with a shoveling session. It's not going to melt this week :) xoxo
Here is the rest of what Ms. H. left off
Best Picture - 12 Years A Slave
Best Directing - Alfonso Cauron (Gravity)
Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
Best Actress - Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Best Supporting Actor - Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
Best Supporting Actress - Lupito Nyong'o (12 yeas A Slave)
Best Animated Feature - Frozen
For those Ellen fans in Costa Rica, the Oscars were entertaining. Ellen was very funny. If you are not an Ellen fan you would have fallen asleep by 9 pm or started watching Spring Training baseball from Arizona on the MLB Network (Dodgers vs. Padres). I elected to watch the Dodgers game. Michael and I are re-discovering hockey as I've watched more hockey in the past three days than in the past 10 years. Great outdoor game from Soldier Field on Saturday night (Penguins vs. Blackhawks). A very entertaining game played completely in the snow.
ReplyDeleteThank you for detailing the exploits of the St. Mary 8th grade in Costa Rica as it has been entertaining. Has anyone seen Mrs. Marx or has she turned into a vampire and her image does not show up on film - digital or otherwise?
Yes That Blackhawks/Penguins game was amazing. As Mr. Marx stated, played entirely outdoors in a blizzard at Soldier Field. The complete polar opposite of where you guys are right now.
DeleteI too have rediscovered the NHL his year. Must have something to do with us basically living on a glacier this year...
Hey Rose! Last night, Dad and I watched the Oscars. We were very upset that Gravity was winning every award. On the bright side, Frozen won an award for best animation.
ReplyDeleteThe weather has been pretty bad with lots of snow piling up overnight. We finally have a 3 day weekend! Enjoy the weather in Costa Rica!
(From Grace)
Hi Meme! I love reading about all the cool things you guys have been doing. I'm sorry I haven't been able to post more. I've had a pretty busy weekend with basketball. I'm not sure if you've been updated (or if you even care haha) but we lost to DePauw in the finals of the NCAC tournament. It made me sad to see the seniors so sad but it's nice to final have some free time.
ReplyDeleteHave you been eating? We're all worried about you over here. Eggs with pesto and tamales aren't exactly on your tiny list of foods you're willing to eat. I hope you're trying new things!! As for the howler monkeys... annoying but cute!
Can't wait to keep hearing about all of your adventures.
Say hi to The Morgans for me!
Love you more,
M
Mem-
ReplyDeleteI second M on the eating. So proud of you for eating shrimp! I already have a list of shrimp dishes I can make for you. :) Keep trying new things!
Well, as it has been reported, there was another snow day around here today. I got to use my trusty shovel again! I know that you are bummed that you weren't here to help. I feel so bad that you are sweating from heat over there (insert slow violin music here). As I was sweating from shoveling snow, I tried to picture you sweating by just sitting on the beach. I don't know why I did that though because it just seemed to make the snow heavier and the air colder. I can only hope it snows again once you are back so you will get a chance to participate in one last shoveling day!
I spent the weekend with mom and dad in the middle of no where in Indiana to watch M play in the tournament. #1 Fan! I rushed out of school on Friday and we got there in time for the game, then we stayed overnight and had to wait until 7:00 the next day to see M's next game. Let's just say Mom had to do some research to find things to occupy our time... you would have been bored out of your mind. Good news - they had a Target! Bad news - it was not as great as our Target. :(
As tempted as I have been, I have not touched your room. We may need to pay the girls in pizza and a night of Frozen to come back and restore it to what it once was. Also, I told Abby that you tried shrimp, but I don't think that she believed me.
Have fun! Love you!
Elle
Hi Kate, I'm giving you permission to stay an extra week and already cleared it with your mom and dad and school. And when you do come back, bring some warmer weather because opening day is only 4 weeks away and the Derby a month after that. AJ kept his volleyball team alive Saturday with a 2-0 sweep of St. Luke's on their home court. Wondering if the chocolate you had down there was as good as what grandpa used to give you? Enjoy the time you have left and safe travels home. Uncle Doug (aka Uncle Buck)
ReplyDeleteBrittany, just wanted to let you know that Mrs. Hofstetter is a much nicer mom than I am. I have not touched your room, I am leaving all of the decluttering to you. It is nice however to know that there are other kids that same flair for decorating their floors.
ReplyDeleteKatherine and Peter are out playing in the snow again, they tried to build a snowman. It is a cross between the worlds smallest snowman and a pile of snow. Okay, it's a pile of snow. At least she is burning off some energy.
The play was cancelled because of the snow, they will be doing it next week so hopefully all of you will be able to see it. The songs are cute.
Love the stories about your adventures, and truly wish I was there to enjoy them too. Mom
So, we wrote some extremely entertaining posts yesterday (including a letter from the crazy ginger that lives here) but they seem to have disappeared. Oh well. Your loss. Amazing how funny and creative we can be when we're bored out of our minds :)
ReplyDeleteAvery: Sleeping the afternoon away in the hammock. That SOOOOO doesn't sound like you ;) We can just picture it - your mouth hanging wide open and "dainty" little snores exploding from you. Curran, however did you sleep through it?! The short people in this house are kinda liking being man down, but they are speculating on what you are bringing them. I repeat: NOTHING ALIVE!
Cate: I hope you're staying in shape, Sue emailed me and she needs you to swim breaststroke in two relays at JOs. I told her you would be thrilled and you'd be home JUST in the nick of time.
Meme: I think you're going to have to provide your family with pictorial evidence that you did not sneak 17 lbs of dino chicken nuggets in your luggage, and that you did indeed consume some food during this trip.
The rest of you kids: have you eaten the chaperones?! Seriously, we need Proof of Life back here. Even if you DID eat them , I still think Capt. Morgan's crew will make you come home. I could be wrong though, they might enjoy 16 extra sets of hands to help out cleaning and such. Apparently you are all equally talented at displaying everything you own on your bedroom floors.
As you have heard, we have yet another (unwarranted) snow day. I agree with Mr. Hofstetter, you guys may be the fist class from St. Mary to move on to high school before you graduate!!
And finally, Mac has nothing to say to any of you. Sorry.
Enjoy your last day at the Jungle Lodge! Take lots of pictures and soak it in, every little detail.
Missing you at home!
Love, Mom/Kari/Mrs. Walter
Annie,
ReplyDeleteEAT! Try new things. No more snapchats about being hungry.
Love. mom
ps. we had lasagna last night. I made an extra one and froze it for your return.
Dear Jungle Dwellers,
ReplyDeleteI just read the message from Mrs. Savage . . . Annie - are you really starving??? If so, I know Annaliese has a secret "stash" of PEEPS! Those could provide you with all of the nutrition that you need for a week (including some preservatives). Alternatively, Annaliese - how is counting carbs down there?
Does "Jungle food" have more or less carbs than an average meal at home (and I'm not talking about White Castles)?
SADLY, It seems that you are nearing the end of your "jungle adventure" . . .
I sure hope you have some BIG plans for tomorrow - besides shaking the scorpians out of your suitcases and "drying out" sweat soaked t-shirts!
PLEASE enjoy your final day, do something you've never done, try something new - and try to make it home in one piece!
I look forward to seeing your smiling, tanned faces - at 11:30 PM on Thursday night!
Love to All,
Angela Andsager
PS - Just got a text from Greg - he was getting ready to go through customs in Atlanta . . . I sure hope you didn't plant any "illegal" fruit or vegetables in his luggage!
And - there will be NO TRANSPORT of spider monkeys - back to the United States!!!!
Brittany,
ReplyDeleteKatherine has asked me to tell you that she really, really, really wants a spider monkey of her very own. She promises to stay out of your room, and let you get your homework done in peace.
Enjoy your last few days on your grand adventure. You will be able to catch up on the Voice and Survivor when you return. After this trip you will have a new respect for the players on Survivor.
Love Dad
Avery:
ReplyDeleteMac would like to remind you that he wants a Jesus Christ lizard.
And I would like to remind you of the NO LIVE ANIMALS rule.
Mrs. Murray and I will be celebrating with the 4th grade boys on their repeat League Championship and Final Four appearance on Thursday night. Maybe you and Curran could catch a cab home.....
Love, Mom