Day 4: 1st Day Of School

by karen | Nov 18, 2013 | Non-Fitness

Well today was my 1st day of school at School Of The World (SOTW). I stated Spanish at 9:15am, which was like sleeping in for me. We (only 1 person in my class, Nicole from Canada) went over a few things such as the alphabet, Numbers, Days of the week, months, then started on directions. I then took on lab at 11:15am. Here we met with Spanish 2 and did more directions. We had to tell our partner how to get somewhere using a map and spanish. It was interesting, kinda scary that Spanish 2 wasn’t THAT far ahead of us. Below is a pic of my classroom:

Next I had about a 45min break where I came back to my room ate a bite then headed into the yoga room where I began my 1st surf lesson. There are about 4 people in my surf class. We each practiced getting up on a surfboard lying on the ground. Surfing is weird they want me to bend my knees together for balance which is 100% different than what I have programed my body to do since crossfit (“hips back, knees out”); I get it but man what a hard habit to break, even if it is for surfing. Then we got boards put them on a trailer and headed to the beach. On the ride over there I sat by a gentleman and found out he is not only into crossfit BUT he was in Honduras working at a box, he is here for a month, then going to another country to work at a box. What a small world! We got to the beach and it wasn’t anything like I expected. Black Sand and muddy water, however rumor has it that Jaco has some of the best surfing out there. I heard on a good day there is like 600 people out there trying to surf. However, today wasn’t such a good day. We practiced on shore then attempted the water. We got 3 runs in each and then had to come in because the current…or something…was so bad. Needless to say, I need more practice. We all came back in and headed back to the school for more practice in the yoga room. It was here that me and 3 girls in the  class decided to meet up at 7pm to go to dinner at Taco Bar, 4 blocks (cuatro cuadras) from SOTW (Escuela del Mundo). After the balance lesson, I walked down the strip. They have everything you need there! I really wanted to get coffee at this place called Coffee Bar, but it was closed. I walked back to the escuela where it started to rain but supposedly happens every day here, studied Spanish, took a nap. When I woke it was raining harder and it wasn’t stopping by 6pm it was a full on storm…thunder lightening, heavy rain…just how it was last night. Awesome (not). I really didn’t want my new/only friend dinner date to get rained out. So at 7pm I went to the meeting place even though it was pouring…and they showed up!!! We waited for a bit before making the journey. We walked to Taco Bar, ordered tacos (which were yummy, however served on flour tortillas, which I need to learn to ask for corn). Rumor has it they have $3 breakfast Tues-Sunday (Martes- Domingo). I might have to attempt that. While we were their the rain got harder and harder. The streets were flooding, it was getting crazy. We made friends with a guy named Gusto (sp?) and he called us a cab so we could get home…the whole 4 blocks. I asked him where a gym was and he told me about an older one but the newer one had Zumba…i kinda laughed and asked him about “barbell”, Barbell isn’t spanish so the conversation ended.  It was a good experience and I plan to go back to taco bar.

Upon arriving back in my room, I facetimed my parents so I could see The Duke. Sadly they informed me that, long story short, today he “bloated.” Air in abdomen, stomach flips, EMERGENCY. Happens to big dogs and the exact cause is not certain. Emergency surgery and a couple of days at vet being monitored closely post-op. Mom said, “We’ve been facetiming every night with KP and I just couldn’t lie to her so we told her. She is understandably upset but she is a praying mama, so I know she knows where to turn. I’m asking for your prayers for The Duke, KP and ME! Thanks.” Duke and myself are fortunate enough that GB was there to catch it early on because there is a short time to catch this. She got him to the vet where they went directly into surgery. I know GB and Grandaddy are doing EVERYTHING they can for him and he is in good hands, but I’m begging, please pray for my Duke. If you know me, he is EVERYTHING to me…EVERYTHING. It is killing me to be here and him to be there, in the hospital. I’m begging, please…