Painting the World

So we finished the World Map Mural a looooooong time ago...and I apologize for not putting up the completed pictures. Just two quick notes about that:

1. It takes a lot more time and effort to do this project than it looks like. My friends and I worked from dusk to dawn (ok, if you really know me, you know enough not to believe that we started at dawn, but we did work 8 -10 hour days) for a good amount of time. We are still missing the country names, but I am afraid to write on my beautiful map....

2. I have to give a HUGE shout out to Davis Villarreal Martinez who worked all day everyday with me and took on this project as his own. By the end of the project, I was exhausted and Davis was encouraging me to finish! Also - a huge thank you to my family - Gaudy, Cristian, and Ivannia -- who also put in a good deal of hours. And to my neighbors Xindia, Sherry, Wendolyn, Francini, Golla, Angie, and others who helped paint as well.

VRR and KRR take over Costa Rica

I know that I am currently doing a HORRIBLE job of keeping up with the blog, but I hope that makes you all feel reassured that I am very busy…too busy to play on the internet. Luckily, I did find a little time to play in Costa Rica when one of my really good forever friends, Virginia, came to take over Costa Rica.

One of the best parts is just having Virginia, from my “old life” see, experience, and understand my “new life.” Both “lives” are unexplainable to the other… People from the United States can hear 1 million descriptions of my family, friends and work, but even the most attentive listening doesn’t satisfy my desire that they TRULY experience (even for just a day or two) my life. At the same time, Costa Ricans only know the Spanish speaking, Spanish humor, outside her comfort zone Kim. With a little bit of home by my side, it can be a totally different picture.

Virginia and I laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed…and its fair to say that my Costa Rican friends never really understood WHY we were laughing, but Virginia and I totally did. It was so wonderful to see Costa Rica through the eyes of someone else – someone who is close to my heart and appreciates the same things I do.

We did lots of adventurous activities (note pictures above), but we were also perfect travel buddies because we both enjoy the RELAXATION part of vacation. We both had a lot of firsts and…I am just so glad to have shared Costa Rica, my friends, my current home, my life, my frustrations, and some good RELAXING with Virginia.

P.S. My Costa Rican friends LOVED Virginia. LOVED Virginia.