Bobbing for apples

On this day in Rey Curré, I bobbed for apples with my second, third, and fourth graders.  I printed for the first time from my classroom thanks to your generous donations and the all-day efforts of the tech guys putting up the cables.  And, I took a short bike ride to clear my thoughts and view the Térraba river whipping through the hills. 

With 50 days left, I'm trying to keep my senses alert and notice everything.  The full moon.  The theatrical voices of the soap opera in the next room.  The still night air.  The thump of the bar music.  The tractor trailers driving past on the InterAmerican.  Wait, is this a scene of rural America or a an Indigenous territory in Costa Rica? 

But, the full moon illuminates a palm tree rising into the night sky.  And, the voices of the soap opera are chatting in Spanish.  And, the late October night air is warm enough that I'm lounging in a tank top and shorts.  And, across the street from the bar is a hut with a leaf-thatched roof that sells hand-made, hand-painted Indigenous masks and purses knit from naturally tinted threads.  And, the trailers driving past on the Interamerican are carrying loads of plantains and coffee and bread for little coffee breaks, staples of the Costa Rican diet. 

And, I'm sitting under a tin roof in my coral and sea green room, walled with two by fours, planning for tomorrow's English lessons with my first, fifth, and sixth grade students.  My mind is racing through the dreams I'd still like to fulfill here: visit the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet, hike to the third sizeable waterfall on the reserve, milk a cow, and make a mini-film of all the pictures of the year for the graduation in December.

And, I'm sitting here under the night sky, wondering what it will be like to sit under the same night sky a thousand miles to the North in less than two months.  My family and friends will be within an arm's reach again.  My hands will grip a steering wheel.  My mind will drift back to Costa Rica.  I will unpack a year's worth of memories, and I will tell stories if you let me.  But, most of all, I want to listen.  I want to listen to your stories.  I want to listen to the English language.  I want to listen  for the quiet Shepherd leading me.  

All in a year's work (and play! ;)

On this day in Rey Curre, I administered an exam to the fifth and sixth graders, ran into a barbed wire clothes line while trying to hang up my laundry, learned a song in Spanish to sing at church, and watched an ancient clay Indigenous pot being dug up by some archaeologists.  All in a day's work.

On top of all that, I'm still nursing some sores on my feet from a hike last Saturday to a 60-meter high waterfall that happens to be a 2-hour walk from my front door.  How have I not been there yet???  It was another reminder of what an absolute privilege it is to be living here this year...

In January, when I got off the bus in Rey Curre, it was a dusty little town with a few corner grocery stores and a bar.  Now, it's a lively town filled with familiar faces and memories.

In February, my students were just brushing up after summer break and now they yell up to me when I'm at the bus stop, "Teacher, where are you going?"  And, when I greet the students with "What's up?" one student slyly replies, "the sky!"

In March, I spent the afternoons practicing soccer with the women's league and the evenings giving private English lessons in exchange for dance lessons.  Now, I spend the afternoons visiting houses, sipping coffee, chatting with the parents, and playing hide-and-seek with the kiddos.  And, the evenings are spent attending church, playing music with my friend, or hitting up my host mom with an amusing recollection of a past volunteer or a childhood memory.

In April, I traveled around to some of the best tourist spots when my parents came down for a visit:  Volcan Irazu, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, and Uvita.  Now, I'm enjoying the local treasures and saving on the cash...visiting family farms and local waterfalls.

In May, I went to the mid-service meeting and couldn't believe how quickly the first part of the year had gone.  Now, I'm gearing up for the end-of-service meeting!  aaagh!

In June, I visited another volunteer's site and was inspired by her creativity and dedication as a teacher, and I was delighted to meet the family, friends, and students that appreciated her so much.  This month, I got to host a group of friends here in my town and found myself rambling on and on about every little tree and flower and introducing them to everyone we passed.  It's amazing how we begin to identify so much with our little towns!

In July, I was overwhelmed with more beautiful sites in Costa Rica, from the beaches to the monkeys to watching human-sized turtles lay their eggs in the dead of night, and awe-filled by traveling to the Panama Canal and witnessing several ships make their way carefully through one of the locks.  Now, I'm soaking up all the weekends I can in my little Southern town, even if it means building a canal in the front yard to keep the house from flooding from all the rain (like we had to do earlier this evening).

In August, I wore out my camera at the student art festival where I watched mesmerized as elementary and high school students performed traditional and modern dances, displayed their artwork, and showed off their talents.  Now, I'm beyond excited as we gear up for another festival a week from Saturday which will feature the culture, the food, and the customs of the Indigenous territory where I am living.

In September, I enjoyed the Independence day celebrations, including the numerous renderings of the national hymns, the torch run, and the evening walk with the hand-made lanterns.  Now, I'm making the most of every day here but thinking fondly on my own country and the special ones there that I will soon be able to tackle with a bear hug.

Earlier this month, I made snow angels on a beach in Guanacaste and learned "bombas," rhythmic poems typically about love, with my friend's host family.  Now, I'm trying to finish up some last minute projects to earn my TEFL certificate and winding down the school year with a unit on different countries/cultures.

Sigh...All in a year's work.  (Well, and play)

As always, thanks for tuning in and thanks for always supporting me with your kind words and prayers.