Unfolding As I Go - Carole's travel blog

First stop after Costa Rica: Colorado, USA! Just one hour north of Denver lies the town of Fort Collins where my grandmother, aunt, uncles and cousins live, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. They all moved there from Iowa as a family in the 1950s when my mother was  a child . That's where I get my US mother tongue and citizenship. Both my US grandparents were born and raised on farms in the Iowa countryside, growing corn and soy beans. Three years without seeing my grandmother was just too long and I decided to take an extra flight on my way to Bali and additional stop-over in Colorado. And I'm so glad I did! I got to: - spend nice time with everyone of the family; - go on a beautiful sunny afternoon hike up Poudre Canyon with my aunt and uncle through snow, ice and creeks; - bake bread with Grandma; - hang out with cousin Laura and Kyle; - look at old pictures of childhood (mine and my grandmother's as well); - listen to the brand new composition of my uncle ...

I could have spent my last days in Costa Rica partying and going out and visiting many things left to see, take that day-trip to the Irazu volcano or to the turtle beach, or I could have stayed longer in Puerto Viejo with friends or even gone back to Quepos for a day to see that special person I really like, but no, I'm doing what I really need and want to do right now, even if all the other things are so tempting and this is so hard to do: catching up on my blog! I am sitting here for hours in the hostel writing and documenting as much as I can about the permaculture course and days in and around Puerto Viejo and Cahuita. If I don't do it now, it will be even harder later. Here in the hostel, I can make the mental and physical space and have good wifi before I set off on the next adventures. Blogging and journalling has been a way for me to stay 'sane', centered and somewhat structured on this trip, helping me to keep the purpose of my journey in sight (somewhat...

Yes I'm just throwing myself in there, and what a better way to start teaching yoga then through a work exchange teaching 3 students: the host Rodolfo, born and raised here in the Caribean, and the 2 other volunteers Rocio and Africa from Spain. I'm definitely nervous about teaching but they are all 3 super nice and chill, so that helps to take the pressure off. My goal is for them to have a positive experience with yoga and help soothe their minds and muscles through movements and meditation. I think they enjoyed it and felt the benefits! It's just a few days but I'm having a really nice time with the 3 of them, the yoga, the nice dinners and breakfasts and fun conversations. Still need my notes for teaching Oh and my room is also the living room/kitchen/dining room! Very exposed but all good to sleep! Rodolfo's house Fun times and authentic Spanish tortilla de patatas

February 3rd - coming back to the city after 1 month of yoga the jungle. Why not start right away? I'm certified and all the information and practice is nice and fresh, let's do it! Arriving back in my usual hostel in San Jose - my little home away from home - before settling in my room I already ask about giving a yoga class at 4pm, and minutes later it is already on the white board in the hostel entrance! I have my first 2 students and have a great first class outside in the garden. The next 2 mornings let's go again, 7:30am! It is also a few days in the city as a transition for me to soak in what has happened in the jungle and the past month, update my blog (have you noticed all the posts suddenly coming out after weeks of silence?) and prepare for what is coming next: bus ride back down south to the jungle and the coast - this time to the Caribean side! For a Workaway teaching yoga and a permaculture course. As I was sitting in the hostel garden in the hammock ...

We've all worked hard for 21 days, sweat a lot and made new friends. We're all enjoying feeling very light, no more homework! We're done and have one last night together to chill, enjoy a delicious last veggie/vegan meal in this paradise place of Ojo del Mar :-) and take lots of pictures around the fire! Oh and they brought us a birthday cake, the birth day of 15 new yoga teachers today!   Concetta and Inka - our top-notch teachers striking a pose!

21 days have gone by, intense days, starting at 6am, finishing sometimes at 8pm or later, all day classes, yoga, theory and practice, ceremonies, rituals, homework, peer teaching self-reflection, sunrise gazing, adventures and bonding --- we open our eyes from a guided meditation, and here it is in front of us: our teacher teaching certificate! We are now all 15 of us Certified Yoga Teachers! Our graduation is a ceremony, we throw our hats and pose on the beach. 21 days of intense work and connections - leading us to a new level in our yoga practice and in our lives, we are now ready to share the gifts we have received! Get your mats out, we are all set to teach! We did it!  Deep gratitude to our 2 incredible teachers Concetta and Inka who gave so much of their heart during 21 days!

Hammocks overlooking the lush jungle, bamboo bungalows completely open to the outside, mosquito nets to help us feel nice and safe during the night, many spiders all around, usually at the same spot every night so we gave them names: Josephine, Zoe, Andre, were our 3 main spiders in the bathroom area. With Talyor, Marcela and Mary Kate I really felt at home in our open cabin, laughter and connection. It was like living with 3 sisters, getting along so well. Our shower was out in the open jungle, the big bamboo tree just outside was a favorite napping spot for Billy the super cute raccoon-bear (actually a coati ) and a corridor for the monkey families crossing the jungle. To make it all even better, our location is also right by the ocean, so every morning we have the chance to go see the amazing sunrise, walk on the sand, see the little hermit crabs crawl around everywhere and the pelicans soar and dive it to catch their fish, so graceful and majestic. Let's talk about food:...