Both events-the book fair & Earth Day-went very well! Sure there were some hiccups, teachers not keeping track of raffle tickets for their 7 yr old students, classes not showing up at the last minute for their activities, etc but none of that was unexpected.

As a school, we had a goal of 50 books in "good condition" to get the library started. At the end of the week, the final tally was 285! It was an overwhelming success. The next step is organizing our books in the teeny tiny space that I commandeered, and forming a "club" of 3rd-6th graders who will be a direct part of the project. Remember pizza hut's book-it program? Something similar may be coming down the pike...

All grades preschool-6th seemed to enjoy the time out of class to celebrate Earth Day. 4th-6th participated in a "community clean-up" while the other grades imitated their favorite part about nature and presented their drawings. The drawing contest was a ton of fun as well- the final winners came from preschool, 1st, and 5th grade. They were chosen for the message that was portrayed not just aesthetics.

I've added pictures from both of these events, the school assembly I organized (eeks!) to celebrate them both, and photos from "National Indigenous Person" Day where the preschoolers dressed up. I helped get my host nephew into costume... he took the role pretty seriously and didn't smile once during their presentation.

On a different note, I've officially moved into my own place! Visitors are welcome!! (my address has not changed)

Here's a preview of the school events this week...

#1 Book Drive (Campaña de Libros)
Fingers, toes, and limbs crossed that at least ONE (please!) book shows up for the book drive. So far everyone has shown a lot of enthusiasm but words and actions are two very different things, especially in CR.

#2 Earth Day (Día de la Tierra)
Earth Day is Thursday! Every classroom will be participating in some sort of activity: community clean up, environmental "chat", video watching, and/or a drawing contest. I'll post the 3 that win.

I'm thrilled to finally be working with the school in a very hands-on sort of way, and not just tagging along on someone else's prearranged project!

Well it looks like I’m back to my old habits of skipping several weeks keeping up and checkin in. I hope that once I’m in my new house next month (with internet!), this unsightly habit will change...

Speaking of my new house, I’m going to include some pictures of it in the new “April 2010” folder if you’d like to have a look. Please note the fact that although I will soon be washing all of my laundry by hand, I will not be sacrificing the ability to download podcasts or chat on skype simultaneously.

Most recently, I have been hanging out at the beach with 4 friends playing frisbee, riding beach cruisers, and indulging on breakfast crepes and overpriced pizza. We strung up our hammocks (with mosquito nets) along side the beach, and enjoyed the sounds of the ocean and the $15 nightly savings gained from not renting a room. Of course this did come with the “sacrifice” of not taking a proper shower the entire trip, but who needs that when you have Caribbean downpours and the big, blue ocean.

Despite the 13.5 hours it took for me to get there, it was a fantastic trip and just the get-away I needed from the usual 5:50a, screaming baby, wake-up call.

Saturday night was the annual “all volunteer” dinner held in San José. I couldn’t comment on the actual dinner, because we missed it. From 10:30 until 1:15 we waited for a bus under a slanted, tin overhang to San José that never came. Was it back luck? Tico time? Did the bus get a flat?? Nope. Try we were waiting in the wrong place thanks to the directions and affirmations from 3 different hostel workers. So instead of the planned 11:00a.m. bus, we hopped on the 4:00p and joined the rest of our comrades about 2.5 hrs after the scheduled start, sandy, sweaty, and un-showered. Thank goodness the beer was flowing because no one seemed to care nor notice. It was incredible to see so many people I had not seen since the swearing-in ceremony last May. I can’t believe it’s almost been a year!!

Back in my community, I’ve spent the usual hours loitering at the school and attempting to plan a number of projects. The first one that now seems to have taken flight is a book fair in honor of “Book Day” next Friday. (Is that international??) This morning the Spanish teacher and I are going to buy prizes for the raffle, collect boxes and purchase wrapping paper to decorate them for each classroom, and start making posters. Ideally, this will turn into a library literacy program but for now, I’m taking it one step at a time and am just grateful to get things moving.

I hope everyone at home is enjoying spring weather finally!! I’ll check in again “soon.” :)

Short n Sweet

I don't really have time for a captivating update....

So, I'll just post an FYI: I added new photos!

Hopefully I will update the who/what/where/when part very soon. In the next couple of days I will be in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca on the beach on the Caribbean side just enjoying and hanging out.

Until next week!

These past two weeks...I haven’t stopped moving. Obviously, that has it’s advantages and it’s disadvantages, but overall it’s been an absolute blessing.

Work:
Meetings (!)... parents, Committee Against Familiar Violence, all school personnel, PANI (counterpart), my boss, Environmental Committee, my counterparts at school, new regional Women’s Office. etc....
Presentations to each class re: the history/celebration of “International Women’s Day”
Writing my diagnostic community report (riiiiight....)
Many cafecitos

Fun:
Playing soccer in flip-flops with random neighbor kids
Going to the Botanical Garden (with new friends!)
Bingo - to raise $ to pave a portion of the roads
Mango eating
Coffee drinking
Coloring everyday with kids at home
Many cafecitos

My bad!!:
Ruining a teacher’s (surprise!) baby shower by walking past her with my gift
Asking my school counterpart to collaborate on a project using sexual innuendo
Spending hours creating a powerpoint presentation on a Mac, acting shocked when the dodgey PC’s couldn’t recognize it at school

Tico Culture:
Being left off the “all personnel” agenda after the director (agenda creator) specifically asked me to give a (powerpoint!!) presentation. There goes 3 hours I’m never getting back...
Meetings starting an hour late, lasting for 2 hours longer than they need to
“Aren’t you getting a little old if you want to have children?”

Despite the aforementioned events, not EVERYthing has gone poorly. That’s just the dirt blog readers love, isn’t it? For every awkward event or frustrating moment, there’s been a counteracting high point as well... A lot of those include spending time with my host family, watching/listening to the rain, walking everywhere I go, reconnecting with the community, and eating “exotic” fruit/veg. And CR coffee!!

Another large part of the highlights includes potential projects:
Planting gardens in the school
Forming a women’s group in “the projects” to organize a cooperative
Educating adolescent mothers on parenthood, vocational skills, etc
English Club for children struggling in school
Lip-sync contest

It’s important to note the keyword in that sentence though...potential. Aka these are nothing more than ideas at this point. Almost everything is great in theory...whether or not I can get the ball rolling remains to be seen.

I added some new photos!

Deep Sigh

It is incredible to be back!!

This time, I'm returning to an entirely different experience. Suddenly teachers are happy to see me, my counterparts are interested in joint projects, I'm recognized in the community. I am more confident, focused, and can envision this experience in the context of my entire life, not only just the present.

Although countless things have changed-people have died, some have separated or divorced their partners, babies have been born-it is still the comfortable community I left just over 6 months ago. For that, I am thrilled and relieved.

It has become unmistakably clear that the happenings (read: stagnation and decay) of the last 6 months, were the best thing that ever happened to me. So far, I think I've counted 11 reasons why...but for boredom's sake I'll stick to this experience. It's difficult for me to explain, but I'm better prepared and I feel the community at large is better prepared to receive me as well. Aaand if nothing else, my absence has been a stellar ice breaker.

I'll be staying with my old host family (+ one new baby, María Celeste) for at least a month if not two. Then... we shall see. My new close of service date is 10/25/2011.

I also have the same P.O. Box and cell number! (hint)

You like me, you reeaaaaally like me

It's official...I've got a date! And it's next Thursday, the 25th.

I've been fervently practicing my acceptance speech, incorporating the Sally Field quote above, for the make-believe awards ceremony I will be returning to. Let's just hope my community feels even a pinch of that sentiment.

I guess all that's left to say is....yeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaahh!! And... don't let go, even when people doubt you, and there seems no hope. I'm back!!