Christmas Tamales!

A big tradition here in Costa Rica is to spend a day around Christmas making tamales with the entire family. It is a complicated process that takes some time to make, but everyone pitches in to complete the final product. Most are eaten throughout December, but some are saved for January or February - when I am told they taste much better!

My wonderful friend and colleague Krisya invited me to her house on Sunday to learn how to make tamales with her family. Her family was so sweet to me, as usual, and even told me I was really good at making the tamales! Below is a picture outline of how it works.

At Krisya's house, her sister-in-law Yadira was my tamale teacher. 

Step 1:
Prepare all the ingredients to put in the tamales and create a tamale making station.

Step 2:
Lay out 2-3 plantain leafs (hojas), layered.

Step 3:
Put the cornmeal mixture (masa de maiz) in the center of the leaves. Just plop it down apparently. A lot of families take whole corn to be ground and add their own secret spices. The key, I've been told, it that this stuff must be very flavorful.

Step 4:
Put a spoonful of rice in the center of the masa.

Step 5:
Strategically add other ingredients. Place two strips of green pepper on 2 sides, two pieces of asparagus on the other sides (making a square around the ride.) Put two small carrot sticks in the middle. Add two pieces of meat (in this case, pork) in the center. And the put a few green peas around everything.

Step 6:
Wrap it up!!

Step 7:
Tie two wrapped tamales together, and add them to the pile!

Step 8:
Boil the large amount of tamales you spent all day making for 3 hours or so.

Step 9:
Spend most of the next month eating tamales.

After learning to make tamales with Krisya and her family, Catalina invited me over to learn how to eat tamales with hers! Catalina's family uses a different recipe that her father's grandmother learned from a Venezuelan. Hence, the different ingredients in this one. YUMMY!

Catalina and I enjoying our tamales.

Catalina's sweet mother, father, and niece. 

I am very lucky to have such wonderful friends who invite me into their homes and their special family traditions. Now it is time for me to head back to NC for some family traditions of my own!

<3,
Amber

Byron & Mary Beth Visit!

 I am just off another week being Costa Rica's coolest tour guide! Byron and Mary Beth came down to visit for a whole week and we had lots of fun! We spent a lot of time just bumming around the country. Unfortunately, most of you have heard about most of the places we visited on this tour. ( I said I was the coolest tour guide, not the most original.) Below are a few fun snapshots from the trip.

 First stop on the tour: the beach!!

 The key to a good Costa Rican lunch is a giant fruity beverage.

 Our first stop was a hotel right next to Manuel Antonio National Park - La Posada. We LOVED this place and did not want to leave. Byron especially enjoyed the hammock on the porch.

 On our first morning, scores of monkeys came to breakfast at the hotel with us. They were everywhere and super close. Mary Beth snapped this great picture of one of the monkeys with a baby on its back. So cute.

This is one of the raccoons from the park that has no problem reaching inside your backpack for a quick snack. It apparently also had no problem scratching itself right in front of us! I just love that he put his foot up in the air in order to reach maximum scratching capability.

On our second day, we went to La Selvita to do their zip lining tour. Here we are all harnessed up and ready to hurl ourselves off a platform into the jungle. 

Our guides at La Selvita were fantastic. One offered to carry my camera and take great pictures and video. Here is Kendall (the guide) zipping along one of the longest lines they had. Pretty, cool, right? Yeah, I did that. :)

 After we got back from the beach, we decided to head to the town of La Fortuna which is at the base of the Arenal Volcano. Unfortunately it was very rainy and cloudy, so we got no glimpses of the volcano. The rain did, however, make for perfect weather for the natural hot springs at the based of the volcano. We visited the Baldi Hot Springs and Resort and enjoyed dipping in their 20+ pools with temperatures ranging from 90 degrees to 150 (that one was impossibly hot by the way.) The springs felt great and are all heated naturally. They also had 3 big water slides that dumped you out into one of the pools. It was a lot of fun.

Overall we all had a really great week enjoying some of the best that Costa Rica has to offer! I only have a few more days and then I will be back in NC for 2 weeks - hooray! See you all very soon.

<3,
Amber

Playa Hermosa

I needed to get away this weekend, so I rode with my friends to Playa Hermosa. Playa Hermosa is on the Pacific coast, only about an hour and 15 minutes away from San Jose. What is interesting about this beach, is that is has black sand - apparently due to volcanic activity. Although, I can't figure out where the volcano is around here...unless it is under water. The other beaches in the area are all white sand. Playa Hermosa is also known as one of the best surfing beaches in Costa Rica due to its consistent waves. There was the end of a surf competition going on when we arrive and lots of surfers in the water. The currents were pretty strong, so swimming or bobbing in the ocean wasn't too possible. Also, if you think white sand gets hot, you haven't felt anything until you try walking around on black sand! OUCH!! I snapped a few pics with my phone, so the quality isn't superb. Enjoy!

<3,
Amber

My super wonderful and supportive parents came to visit over the week of Thanksgiving. It was their first time in Latin America and I think they handled it splendidly! I played tour guide all week, and have been told I lead an excellent tour. We saw the beaches, wild animals, day to day life in San Jose, a coffee plantation, and a volcano (sort of...) Below is our vacation "slide-show." Disfruta! (Enjoy!)

Sally May the Hyundai (that's the car's name) is packed full and we are off to the town of Quepos and the beaches at Manuel Antonio National Park! 

After a mostly easy drive (I only hit 952 pot holes) we stop on a cliff with a wonderful view of the Pacific Ocean. 

 

Self portrait:

 

We had a great time in Manuel Antonio National Park. We got to see lots of monkeys, raccoons, frogs, and a pizote. I have a great shot of Mom with her coconut drink after exiting the park. But since we were "roughing it" that day, I promised not to post any photos. So, here's the pizote instead, because I know you are wondering what the heck that is. Google it.

We left Quepos and Manual Antonio and stopped to ride an aerial tram through the rain forest. It was a very interesting view of the forest, but, alas, no wildlife was to be found. They're smart and stay away from the stupid tourist with cameras. 

Dad is a big coffee drinker. So for his birthday I took him to the Cafe Britt coffee plantation for a tour. It was really interesting to see how coffee is grown and learn more about the history of coffee. Here we are in front of some brewer-roaster thingy. In hindsight I realize I should have gotten a photo of us in the coffee fields. That would be have been much more interesting...

 

 On their last full day in Costa Rica, we got in the car and headed for Poas Volcano. It is supposed to be an easy drive from San Jose. And it is, in theory. However, the roads were so riddled with pot holes that I spent the hour drive playing a game of frogger with the giant craters. Not fun. We made it to the park and were told that the crater was clouded over. We didn't believe the guy, so we paid to go in. This is a photo of me in front of the crater. Isn't it pretty? (I'm being sarcastic here folks. Obviously the guy was right about the whole cloudy business..)

So that's the tale of Ma and Pa Featherstone's adventures in Costa Rica! I'm back on tour guide duty next week when my best friend Byron and his wife come. Here's to more adventures!

<3,
Amber

Mas o Menos?

Hi All,

I've added a list on the left-hand side of the screen called "Mas o Menos," which means "More or Less." A lot of people ask me if it's much cheaper here than in the US. It is and it isn't. My mom was recently horrified at the prices in the grocery store - where prices are shockingly higher. So, I decided to start a running list. I'll keep adding to this as I come across these differences. If there is a price in particular you are curious about, let me know and I'll check it out!

<3,
Amber

Thanksgiving Abroad

Living in another country means that you may miss out on some holiday events that are specific to where you are from. But, with Mom and Dad in town, I was determined to have Thanksgiving in Costa Rica!

First we had to find a turkey in San Jose....Have no fear, Price Smart (our Sam's club equivalent) had them for the gringos! One giant 16 pound frozen turkey? Yes, please!

Have you ever wondered how much will fit in a Costa Rican mini stove? Luckily, one large turkey fits perfectly. Whew! It was close!

Mom was a little under the weather on Thursday, but we managed to pull off a full meal with turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, dressing, cranberry sauce, rolls, and gravy! And let me tell you - this was not an easy feat! We had to hunt down ingredients, get creative with some, and work in a not-so-well stocked kitchen to make this happen.

My colleagues from my office came for lunch along with my friend Casey (the one from Gaston County.) Everyone visited and enjoyed the food. (Or, so they tell me.)

Overall, I would call it a Thanksgiving success! I'm so thankful for being able to share this day with my family and friends here in Costa Rica.

More to come about the adventures of Ma and Pa Featherstone in Costa Rica!



<3,
Amber

La Gripe

I have arrived safely back to my home away from home in Costa Rica. The trip was long, but no real bumps along the way. Everything was just as I left it in my apartment and all of my luggage arrived with me. So, all in all, I call it a success.

Unfortunately, the US left me with a parting gift - la gripe (pronounced gree pay)!! In Spanish, la gripe means "the flu." I like their word for it better; it seems more menacing or threatening somehow. So for now, la gripe has me confined to the house. I cannot let it go on too long as Ma and Pa Featherstone arrive in just a week!!

That's all for now.

<3,
Amber

Mocking the Moth

I am thoroughly enjoying my time back in NC this week. I have had the chance to catch up with some of my trusty blog followers and have loved getting feedback and requests. I love sharing my stories with you, but sometimes the silence from your end can be a bit deafening. (Hint! Hint! Leave comments!)

Many of my followers have had a good laugh over my giant moth visitor. I do realize that the photo does not do it justice, but I promise it was GIANT!!!

This week, my company is having their annual meeting and my colleagues from all over the world are in town. I had a very rousing dinner the other night with my colleagues from England, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Canada, and the US. They had me recount the moth story and all had a good laugh about how it was just a measly moth that could not have been frightening in any way. One of my colleagues compared my moth story to a big fish story - where each time it is retold the fish (or moth in this case) gets larger and larger. By the end of dinner the table created their own giant moth model for a good laugh. I think the plates were supposed to be it's giant wings...

I love that my stories make good dinner fodder. Glad I could bring some laughs!

More to come next week from what is now hopefully a sunnier and less rainy Costa Rica!

<3,
Amber

Attack of the Giant Moth!

The title of this post sounds like a B-Horror Movie. It very well could be one. And if it is not, it should be!

Anyways, sometime this morning in the wee hours I wandered to my kitchen for some water. As I passed my guest bedroom I could hear flapping and see the shadow of something quite large in the room. Fearing for my life, I closed the door to the bedroom and tried desperately to forget whatever it was that awaited me in the morning.

Well, Monday mornings are tough enough. Who needs to deal with a flapping bird monster on a Monday morning?? So, I left the door closed all day hoping that whatever was in there would just disappear somehow. Alas, I was not so lucky.

When I returned home, I mustered up all of my courage and carefully opened the bedroom door. There was no flapping...That's a good sign right? I walked in and closed the door behind me and turned on the light. Still nothing. I scanned the ceiling...nothing. I thought to myself "YES! It DID disappear." Silly girl...

As I turned to leave I saw it. It is quite possibly the world's largest moth, just chilling in the corner of the ceiling. It scared the bejeezus out of me!! So, I did what any strong independent girl would do...I screamed and ran and shut the door behind me!

Meet the intruder...

Now, I realize that this photo looks nothing like a big ol' donkey sized giant moth. But trust me, it is HUGE! I mean, It's got a bigger wingspan than most birds. This is not the "beat it with a magazine" type of moth. I don't even think a dictionary would phase it. Not to mention the possible mess involved....

So what the heck do I do now? Leave it locked in there to die or find it's way back out of the window? I am certainly NOT going to try to swat it with a broom - it will attack me for sure! So, unless someone comes up with a good idea...the intruder stays until it just disappears. (Wishful thinking?)

All moth exterminating ideas are welcome. In the meantime, I leave for NC in 5 days! I think I'll just ignore it. If it is still there when I return, I guess I have to name it or something.

See you soon NC!
<3,
Amber

**Update**
Tonight as I was trying to gently retrieve a suitcase from the closet in the room with the moth he got spooked and actually flew out the window! Hooray for both of us!!

Bogota Recap

I spent last week in Bogota, Colombia for work. In between the working, we were able to find a few minutes here and there to sight see. Bogota is not at all what you expect. The drugs, men with guns, and violence have all subsided in the last decade. What is left is an absolutely beautiful city with wonderful shopping, restaurants, and great historical sites. Really, a visit to Bogota will shatter any and all preconceived notions you may have.

Krisya and I arrived in Bogota a day early to try to catch some of the sights. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating. We managed to make the journey to Monserrate. Monserrate is an active Catholic Church that sits atop on of the high cliffs surrounding the city. Krisya and I took the funicular up the mountain and wandered around the top. The weather wasn't great, but I managed to get a few good pictures.

 

A self-photo of Krisya and I. 

Panoramic of a view from the top! If it weren't so cloudy, this would be a way better picture. 

A storm was obviously rolling in, so Krisya and I made our way down the hill. At the bottom, we met a very nice looking Llama. Krisya had her photo taken with the well behaved animal first. When it was my turn however, Mr. Llama decided he wanted to eat me. Hence the surprised look on my face.

The week was spent working. But on our last day we had time to go down town before our flight left. We visited Plaza Bolivar, the Gold Museum, and lots of great shops.

The plaza:

Krisya and Kevin in front of the cathedral in Plaza Bolivar:

The trip was great, but exhausting! Only 2 weeks until I am off to NC again! :)

<3,
Amber

That's SIR Featherstone to you!

Some of you know that I am frequently referred to as "Sir Featherstone" or "Mr. Featherstone" via email quite frequently. This is due to the fact, as I have been told, that Amber is not a very common name outside of the US. Furthermore, I have even been told it is a name used for guys in the Philippines. It never offends me; it only makes me laugh! Well, I am happy to say that "Mr. Featherstone" has made an appearance in Bogota this week. Sure they called me "Mr." and sure they mispelled my name, but at least this time the errors came with a free beer! Now, if only I had a free beer for everytime someone referred to me as "Mr." or "Sir"...

<3,

Sir Featherstone

A small victory!

Buenas noches from Bogota, Colombia! I arrived in Bogota today for a week long interview trip. My colleague Krisya and I came a day early to do a little sightseeing. It was a bit rainy today, hopefully tomorrow will be better. However, today I had a small victory in my journey to navigating Latin America! As in any country, when I entered Bogota I had to go through immigration. Last December when I came, the immigration officer took my passport and asked me if I spoke English. I frowned, and shook my head. The immigration officer frowned and shook his head, stamped my passport and waved me through. But today....I navigated the entire process and questions in Spanish! He asked me why I came, how long I was staying, where I was traveling, and the name of my hotel. And not only did I understand all of his questions, but I answered them in Spanish! Victory! I had a serious urge to fist pump the air and scream "YES!" as I waked away from immigration. I restrained myself because this isn't a place to draw attention to oneself. They probably would have thought I was so excited because I was doing something illegal. Has anyone seen any episodes of "Locked Up Abroad?" It's no joke here... So that is my story for today. A small little victory in my assimilation to my new language. Now, let's see if I can do it again when I go back to Costa Rica! More from Bogota soon! <3, Amber

Earthquake!!!! Or not...

Just this morning I was thinking about the probability of experiencing my first earthquake while in Costa Rica. I wondered if I would completely freak out or handle it with ease. Apparently, the way I handle an earthquake is by not even knowing it happened!!

Right before I left NC, an earthquake struck Virginia that could be felt all the way in Chapel Hill. I was in the office, talking with a colleague and I MISSED IT! Everyone was a buzz with the earthquake and how it felt. I was there, and I totally missed it. Maybe it was because I was standing up and not at a desk where I could feel things shake? Alas, I missed my "test run" before moving to a place that has frequent earthquakes...

Then today, late this afternoon, it happened again. And again, I MISSED IT!! Seriously? How does that happen? I was at my desk, rocking out to my music with my headphones on, working away. Krisya sent me a Skype message that said "Did you feel that?" Did I feel what!? Apparently an earthquake hit that made the building sway, but did not shake things on the desk. And...I've got nothing...

Maria thinks I need to get my inner-ear balance mechanism thingy checked. I have to agree. But, I suppose being completely oblivious to an earthquake is better than freaking out about one.  For now, I have yet to really experience my first earthquake. I'll keep you posted!

<3,
Amber

Is it raining there?

This is the question that I get asked most whenever I talk to folks back home. (And no Dad, it's not just you!) It does rain here, almost every day. It's the "rainy season" after all! However, it's not quite as bad as how my friend Jenna has described Seattle to be at times.  To give you an example, I took some photos of the mountains from my office window over the course of the day. (Yes, I have a beautiful view from the window when it is sunny!)


 Typically, when I wake up in the morning, the sky is blue and the sun is shining. I can see the mountains clearly from my window.

Usually by mid-morning, it becomes "partly-cloudy" and the clouds start rolling in over the mountains. 

By lunch-time, it is pretty grey outside and you can tell the rain is coming soon...

And usually by mid-afternoon the rain has arrived in varying degrees. Sometimes it is short and my drive home is dry. Sometimes it is a deluge that lasts most of the evening.

The good news is that my parking space at home and at the office are covered, so I'm not too stressed if/when I forget my umbrella! So far, this "rainy season" is pretty bearable. However, I am told that October just flat out sucks (for lack of a better way to put it.)

So, is it raining here? Yes - daily. But, it's not so bad!

<3,
Amber