December 5th, 2010.

It's hard to believe within 2 weeks I'll be stepping off the plane and into the arctic tundra of Wisconsin winter... Summer is just beginning here!

This year I spent Thanksgiving with a family, the husband of which, works for the American Embassy. Every year many "embassy families" open their homes to volunteers so they can celebrate with fellow citizens and enjoy the comforts of home-a big bird, stove top stuffing, pumpkin flavored desserts, and green bean casserole. My friend Becca and I spent the entire weekend with this exceptionally hospitable family and had fun using such gadgets as an oven, and a stove, to make pumpkin pie with ginger strudel. Quite the treat. We spent a little time in the city and then visited our host families from training and snuck away for a day at Jacó beach where 25 other volunteers had rented a house for the holiday weekend.


San José at night


This weekend I visited a married couple's site about 3 hours north of here to help out with a local artisan fair that they had organized-2nd year running! Last year over 25 artisans participated after they had discovered the large number present in their community, providing a forum for selling their goods and forming a local group. It was a blast! We provided the entertainment for the kids- painting faces (for free-and it shows) and then had fun with water balloons. Check out their Christmas cactus!