First few weeks in Palo Verde

So I have apparently slipped back into my normal internet-hating, lack-of-communicating self. Sorry! In my defense, we had a minor setback with the organization a few weeks ago, and then I have not had internet in Palo Verde and have to walk an hour to and from La Estrella to use the one computer with internet they have there, so when I was able to use it I usually emailed and did things for lesson planning. Anyways, excuses aside, where to begin.... My last weekend in Orosi wasn´t quite as we had planned. On the last day of orientation, I was so excited and really loving my experience here thus far. However, after lunch that day, we had a special meeting where our director informed us that the WorldTeach contract with the government had yet to be signed by the government and it now looked as though they were not going to sign it. This would be that we had four options:
1. Receive half of our program fee back and go home.
2. Transfer to a different WorldTeach program in another country for "free." The two other Spanish-speaking countries are Ecuador and Chile, and both are very different programs from Costa Rica.
3. Stay in Costa Rica and teach "illegally." Furthermore, our Visas would not be accepted without the contract, so we´d have to leave the country every three months for 72 hours and then re-enter for another three months.
4. Try to find another volunteer organization in Costa Rica that was somewhat similar to WorldTeach.

Needless to say, I was seriously crushed. I had really been looking forward to the year ahead and was excited about my site placement and both of my host families. Furthermore, Palo Verde was expecting an English teacher this year for the first time. On top of that, I had fundraised money for the students in Palo Verde. How do I tell the donors that there money will no longer go towards the students in Palo Verde? It was a tough weekend. For the next few days I contemplated my options. Going home was definitely not an option, so it was between staying in Costa Rica or going to either Ecuador or Chile. I've really fallen in love with Costa Rica so far, and I really wanted to stay here, so ultimately I decided that I would stay here and try to teach in Palo Verde somewhat illegally. The downside of this was that I would not have the support of WorldTeach or the CR government. Anyways, I spent Saturday night at my Orosi family's farm in the mountains, and then went to Palo Verde Monday morning. I talked to my family and asked if I could stay with them even if the contract falls through, and they said yes. I was pretty much prepared to get the news that the contract did not go through, but I found out on Wednesday that it did!! Thank God! So it was all just a minor set back that ultimately reaffirmed why we're all here in the first place.

Hmm... okay so I just had a lot more written and this program logged me out and failed to save what I had written, so when I have more time I will update you all on my life in Palo Verde! Miss you all tons! Thanks for the emails and comments--keep them coming! Sorry for my lack of replies! Hopefully as things settle down, I'll have more time for emails and blog updates!