Starry Skies

Last night I looked up at the sky and literally saw thousands of stars. It was the most beautiful thing in the world. I really do live in a paradise where every night I get put to sleep by the river thats in my backyard, wake up to sunshine, and nap during the afternoon showers.

Of Moths and Mold

There are two things in Costa Rica that will sneak up on you when you least expect them: moths and mold. Moths I've known for quite some time now. Every night they find the nearest light and flutter around in a mad craze. These moths come in all different sizes, shapes, and colors. I've seen one as big as a bat (I know you'd love that one mom), and ones as small as my thumbnail. Either way they are very pesky when you are trying to work on your computer late at night (around 9 pm these days). I've also noticed they have a habit of eating clothes. We were all told throughout training that our mother's vigorous washing of our clothes would ruin them, but for me that couldn't be farther from the truth. Already I have small holes in 2 shirts, I'm just waiting for more.

All my friends have been talking about the mold that seems get on everything they own. I hadn't seen any of it, and thought my place high in the mountains prevent that kind of stuff from appearing on me. No such luck. After I had gotten back from a long meeting in San Jose, I was getting ready for the day. I looked around my "closet" only to see my belts (which I rarely if ever wear) with a thick coat of mold growing on them. I took them to my mom and she just shook her head and plopped them in some soapy water. Hopefully they will be the first and last things to mold.

Of course there are always the ants, who also eat everything, including the moths that eventually die (I'm guessing from overeating). They have eaten my watercolors, gotten into my body wash bottle, and I've also found them swarming my dirty laundry bag (no it hadn't been sitting out for weeks). They have formed a nice little procession across a ledge in my bedroom. Day and night, they truly are the hardest working animals on this planet.

Making Dulce

Here's a video of the sugar cane juice bubbling away to make all sorts of delicious dulce. In fact, enough to put you in a dulce coma....

Because I still refuse to be a tourist

Here are some pictures of my family (my sister, brother, and mother), and a picture of the kinder that I "teach" at.

I'm Lazy or Really Busy

Its been about a month since my last post, and that was just about missing paint, so I will give you all another update. I'm still teaching the kiddies in the primary school. They are overall pretty amazing kids, and I really am falling in love with all of them. I will start teaching the adults in September and having my first real meeting this Wednesday about the class. I am also trying to put in an aqueduct system for my school, and possibly for my community (as I always say: Vamos a ver!). Life has been fairly tranquilo, although as always busy. I saw my first real poisonous snake, it was dead so don't worry about my life being in danger, and my family still refuses to tell me what will happen if the big black spiders bite me (all I can get out of them is they aren't dangerous because I can kill them with my shoe). I'm continuing on my rice and bean diet and failed at convincing my sister that Italian seasoning tastes really good in spaghetti because spaghetti is, well, Italian. I will be baking cookies this weekend too. And for all the women in my life: Happy Mother's Day from Costa Rica. I can't give you all a call and tell you that you are amazing people who have taught me so much and will continue to teach me and be amazing support. I love you all so much!

Paint Thief

There is a paint thief in my house. I have left my watercolors on the top of my dresser/closet/shelving unit, and come back to it to see all the drops of paint have disappeared, only the dried watered down paint remains. First I thought it may be due to the moisture in the air, but realized my clothes would be growing mold by now if that was true. So it is either the tiny ants that wonder around the house, the moths that come in late at night, or perhaps a Tico leprechaun that has an artistic side. Either way the investigation is on.

The Circle of Life

This past week has been one of my busiest and about to get busier. First, I attended 3 important Costa Rican events all in one weekend: a 15th birthday party, a funeral, and a baby shower. Also there is a group of Canadian students that are working on our community kitchen and the church garden. They are all about 16 and well behaved. Next week there is a group of students from the States coming and last year they were, well not the best group of volunteers to come through, so we will see. At least there will be a lot to laugh about with my host mom if this group turns out the same.

Other news, is we are preparing for the fiesta for the school. I may or may not be killing a cow with my uncle, but I'll definitely be spending all day making tamales. I'll also be dancing and maybe winning some bingo.

I've also been doing more house visits. For all you archeology buffs out there, there are giant rocks that have ancient maps of the area carved into them. The indigenous people used these to show where the cemeteries were and where different people's property was. It was pretty neat to see and hopefully next time I visit I can take some pictures and post them.

Overall things are good. I am slowly but surely visiting all the houses in my town and finally remember people's names. Meetings are happening and also not (rain sometimes puts a hamper on how much people want to get out of their houses) (below are pictures of a downpour I got trapped in, also more pictures of the town). I am also still teaching English and helping out with projects. The CAT (community analysis paper I have to write) is starting to stress me out a bit, but one day at a time and I think I'll make it through. And if you ever miss my voice you can always skype call me.