The Packing List – REVISED

Posted: May 28th, 2008 | Author: Ryan | Filed under: Costa Rica, Featured | No Comments »

Recently I was looking back over some of the posts we made leading up to our trip to Costa Rica and thought it would be fun to revisit the packing list. I can’t really think of anything we needed, but didn’t have (or couldn’t buy), but I can think of several things we could’ve done without.

Bedroom

Closet

Miscellaneous

Bathroom

Kitchen

  • chow kit (fork, spoon)

Office

First Aid Kit

Wound Care
  • alcohol prep pads
  • iodine pads
  • irrigation syringe
  • 2 x 2′s
  • 4 x 4′s
  • tape (athletic, waterproof, electrical, duct)
  • triple antibiotic ointment
  • butterfly bandages
  • band-aids (all sizes)
  • moleskin
  • rubber gloves (3 pair)
Stings, Bites, & Burns
  • stings, bites, burns
  • ana-kit
  • insect repellent
Survival
  • waterproof matches
  • cigarette lighter (2)
  • orange route tape
  • mylar blankets (2)
  • multi-purpose tool
Medicines
  • chloroquine (malaria)
  • ibuprofen
  • tylenol
  • benadryl
  • immodium
  • nb pills (?)
  • scopalomine patches
  • dramamine
  • z pak
  • cipro
Orthopedics
Miscellaneous
  • miscellaneous
  • forehead thermometer
  • cotton swabs
  • lip balm
  • sunscreen
  • tampons
  • petroleum jelly
  • super glue
  • plastic garbage bag
  • plastic ties
  • ziploc freezer bags (5)
  • utility shears

Documents (with copies in each bag)

  • passports
  • driver’s licenses
  • cash
  • travelers checks
  • credit cards
  • itinerary
  • emergency phone numbers (?)

Everything Else

What I Learned

Posted: December 8th, 2003 | Author: Ryan | Filed under: Costa Rica | 5 Comments »

It seems like after we pass the 5th or 6th grade we stop being asked, “What did you learn at school today?” That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep asking ourselves. Here’s a photo summary of what I learned in school over the past few months.
You can’t always pick your neighbors, but you can always be nice to them.

Some things happen by accident (wind, thunder, stars, love, and sunsets are not included).

It’s OK to be silly.


The two greatest things in life are friends and family. Do everything in your power to preserve the relationships with both.


Life doesn’t have to be hard. Keep it simple.


God is everywhere. We just forget to look for him a lot of the time.


Don’t just stop and smell the roses. Stop and smell all of the flowers.

Find something your passionate about and go be passionate about it.


I’m the luckiest man in the whole world.

Thanks for following along. We’ve loved sharing all this with you and feel like we’ve gotten to know you all better in the process. Although they probably won’t be updated daily, a form of this weblog will continue on the main page at www.stuboo.com . Have a happy holiday season.

The Voice of Adventure

Posted: December 1st, 2003 | Author: Jeanna | Filed under: Costa Rica | 4 Comments »

Those who try to keep their lives will lose them. But those who give up their lives will save them.
Luke 17:33

There is a rawness and a wonder to life. Pursue it. Hunt for it. Sell out to get it. Don’t listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second-rate life and want you to do the same so they won’t feel guilty. Your goal is not to live long: it’s to live.

Jesus says the options are clear. On one side there is the voice of safety. You can build a fire in the hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry and
safe. . .

Or you can hear the voice of adventure – God’s adventure. Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart. Follow God’s impulses. Adopt the child. Move overseas. Teach the class. Change careers. Run for office. Make a difference. Sure it isn’t safe, but what is?

From “Grace for the Moment”, by Max Lucado

This passage was sent to Ryan and I from our friend Jessica just before we left the country. The words had a huge impact on me. Jessica sent the email at the perfect time – just as the fear had set in because we had purchased our plane tickets and realized there was no turning back. Selling our house, quitting our jobs, parting with our furniture, and leaving our featherbed mattress wasn’t hard. It was leaving the comforts of routine and habit and entering the world of fear and the unknown that was hard.

I have read this passage several times since returning home and it still has a profound impact on me. I can only hope that Ryan and I will continue to hear the voice of adventure and follow our hearts wherever life may take us.

Bittersweet Return

Posted: November 25th, 2003 | Author: Jeanna | Filed under: Costa Rica | 10 Comments »

It’s official . . . Ryan and I have returned to American soil. We arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio on Wednesday, November 20 at 1:00 am. It was a bittersweet return. It’s great to be back home, but at the same time, we miss the life we had in Costa Rica for three months. It’s amazing how attached to people and places one can become in such a short time.

I know many of you are wondering why in the world we are back now when our original plan was to return December 18. We’re home for a number of reasons, but more than anything, we accomplished everything we wanted to and decided it didn’t make sense to continue spending money just to kill time. Why not kill time at home with the company of our family and friends?

I am writing this from Winchester, TN where we are spending Thanksgiving with Ryan’s family. We managed to surprise both our parents by returning home early. My parents happend to be at their cabin in TN when we returned to Ohio, so our friend Ashley picked us up in Cincy and drove us back to pick up our car. We drove to Sevierville, TN where we surprised my parents and stayed for a few days. We headed to Winchester this Monday to surprise Ryan’s family. As of now, our plan is to spend most of December in Ohio where most of our belongings are. Shortly after the start of the New Year, we will be moving to Hershey, PA to start our new job. Several people have suggested that we continue our weblog with stories of our new experiences in Hershey living with ten kids. We’re considering it, so who knows. Maybe you all can share in the next wild journey we are about to embark on.

We had an incredible experience while being away and I can say without any hesitation that we have no regrets. We have enhanced our lives in ways I simply cannot put into words. I have no doubt that we are better people because of this experience. We learned a great deal about ourselves as individuals, as well as about our relationship together. Many have asked whether it was hard to be with your spouse all day, every day. No. The experience has only strengthened our relationship and assured us that we are truly lucky in having found our soul mate. Now that we are home I have actually found myself missing him when are apart for a few hours at a time. Call me crazy, but I think I am the luckiest woman in the world.

Ryan and I are both taking some time to decompress and reflect on our wonderful experiences. We thank everyone who traveled along with us. It was comforting to know that family and friends were sharing in our adventures. We will both be making a few more posts to this site, so please check back for more at a later date. See you soon!

The Unseen

Posted: November 19th, 2003 | Author: Ryan | Filed under: Costa Rica | 6 Comments »

Jeanna happened to get sick earlier in the week which forced us to change our plans a bit. The good news is that she is feeling much better and I have managed to avoid the sickness, for now. We are heading out of San Jose and going to a place where internet cafes will be few and far between. You can expect not to see any new posts for a couple of days. If you are my mom or Jeanna’s, that should work out just fine since you are both going to be traveling over the next week or so anyway and access to a computer will also be more difficult for you. We promise we’ll be in touch when you get back home.

Less than one month before we come home.

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