WOW! That is the first word that comes to mind when trying to describe the last 7 days and what this semester will be like. Here are 10 cool, totally awesome things I've already done:

1. Seen a sloth, poison dart frogs, tarantulas, giant stick bugs, toucans, finches, hummingbirds, and every kind of palm tree you can imagine.
2. Visited the tropical rain forest on the Caribbean side of the country.
3. Planted a beech tree.
4. Made organic microorganism compost.
5. Drank straight from a coconut with a straw.
6. Gone on a night hike. 
7. Held a hummingbird to measure its beak size.
8. Made tons of friends who play frisbee. A couple who are even on teams at their own schools. We've already been tossing the D on the center's soccer field.
9. It's 80 degrees, sunny, and breezy everyday here.
10. Gone out to the only bar in town, "Sports Bar", and we are heading there soon for the super bowl!

We have classes Mon-Wed, bad ass field trips Thur-Sat, and Sunday is free time. Atenas is the town we are living in and their slogan is "el mejor clima del mundo" based on a review from Nat Geo a few years ago. I agree! No wonder there are so many ex-pats living here. Right now I'm sitting at Gelly's, an outdoor gelato cafe with free wifi!

Pura vida: the catch phrase of Costa Rican life. It literally translates to pure life, but it is a way of living, a mindset and a reality. So, if you're wondering how I'm doing when you think of me, I can guarantee you my answer will always be pura vida.