Five Things I Accomplished This Week:

Wow, It has been exactly one week since I updated! I am sorry. This week was sort of uneventful so I feel like I didn't have much to write. So here are some things that I accomplished this week. It was my last week of My Core Seminar Class so I was busy with lots of school work!

Five Things I Accomplished This Week:
1) The first and most important thing that I finished this week was my Position Paper for Core Seminar (This was due Tuesday). I wrote about 14 pages on the relationship between the United States and Nicaragua throughout history. I had to take a position on the relationship and give suggestions for what President Obama should do in Latin America. I have never really had to write a paper like this before so it was especially difficult for me. I hope that I get a good grade because I worked REALLY hard!

2) On Wednesday, I had my second and final exam, which we call Reading Assessments. This is an all essay exam where we are given four possible essay questions and we respond to two of them in an hour and a half. The essays are graded on ability to think critically as well as incorporate the tons of readings we did and the speakers we heard. The first exam I did pretty well so I hope this one goes better!

3) On Wednesday and Thursday, I worked VERY hard on a group presentation. I was in a group of six people and we all had similar topics for our position papers (see #1). We had to make some kind of thesis statement that brought all of our topics together. We ended up doing a series of skits and on Friday we presented! Everyone seemed to really like our presentation and I saw a couple of nods of approval from our Professors-which was reassuring! After the presentations, we had a party to celebrate our last day of classes. We even had pizza-AMAZING :)

4) On Friday, I went for a run for 40 minutes! Before this trip, I don't think I would have considered running for 40 minutes a serious accomplishment because I used to run that almost everyday! However, here in Costa Rica, running is different. It is not a normal way of life and I can probably count on one hand the amount of people I have seen running on the street. I don't have a team of wonderful girls to go out and run with. I have to go when I feel like it or when it is safe. There are so many variables that I never had to think of before coming here! However, on Friday I was inspired. I ran for 40 minutes all by myself and I even finished my run UP a HUGE HILL! I realize how lucky I am to have the ability to run and I cannot wait to get home and start training for cross country!

5) I packed for Nicaragua. Now this is an accomplishment. In my next post, I will tell you more about my Nicaraguan trip but, I am only allowed to travel with a backpack for two weeks! It is definitely an accomplishment to have completed by packing!