1.5 Trees for Every Costa Rican

Costa Rica seeks to become the first carbon neutral country.

Go Costa Rica! I would like to say though, you can plant a tree but you cannot plant a forest.

Costa Rica has a beautiful rainforest full of insects I hope I never see again.

Costa Rica 2007

Just drink in the greenery in the picture. That, my friends, is the rainforest. It was my first time to go there in Costa Rica and it was so green and so beautiful. And there were tons of insects that I don't mind if I never see again. But apart from that, it was really lovely. When all you see is desert brown, the rainforest is a welcome respite indeed.

It was interesting to see the rainforest. I think I watched Ferngully, the Last Rainforest, about 10 times in school when I was young. But I didn't notice any flying fairies while there. And I didn't meet any bats that sounded like Robin Williams. But it was beautiful!


This was my third trip to Costa Rica. My sister and her family live there. My brother-in-law grew up in Costa Rica, and works at Portantorchas, which is part of Capernwray Missionary Fellowship. Or so the sign says.

I have three gorgeous nieces, ages 6, 4, and 15 months that live there as well. I would post a picture of them, but I've been permanently scared off posting pictures on the internet after the serial killer book I read on the flight home. But they are sweet girls and I had a blast with them.

I did get sick. I threw up three times. I think I got a 24 hour flu. But apart from that, it was a great time!

Crickets, Grasshoppers, and other things I hate

When I was in Costa Rica, grasshoppers enjoyed the place where I was staying, particularly right above my bed.
I don't enjoy grasshoppers. In fact, they freak me out. Everytime I had to attack them with the broom, my heart started to race. I was so afraid of just how far they could jump, those icky sticky legs, and if they were going to jump on me.
They made the brown crickets that seem to infest this building seem small. Until today. Today, a cricket started walking and jumping (eww!) around the place as if he owned it. My student (a grandma for crying out loud) was equally as freaked out. Somehow, we managed to trap it in the wastebasket. There it stayed, jumping around, unable to get out. I asked my next student if she would kill it. She refused, but took it outside and freed it. Apparently, crickets are good luck. (why? i feel quite unlucky whenever I see one) She then proceeded to tell me various horror stories about cockroaches.
So.......I told you all of this to say two things...
Firstly, I hate bugs and am quite incapable of killing them.
Secondly, everyone has a horror bug story (mine really aren't that bad)...what's yours?