Part 2: ¡Semana Cívica!

A week has passed since I started my blog entry about civic week, so I guess it is time to continue it.  Of course I intended to finish this entry during the week, but that didn't quite happen.  You see I had last Monday off in observance of Independence Day, so I was busy going on adventures with my friend in Montezuma.  Then Tuesday, as a result of my adventures the previous two days, but mostly as a result of sleeping in my contacts, my right eye burned like it was on fire, was red and puffy like I had conjunctivitis, and was watering so much that I appeared to be crying.  All day long.  That resulted in me leaving school early to have my eye checked out, because I literally couldn't keep  my eye open.  Then Wednesday I decided to stay after school before an afternoon meeting to catch up on work I had wanted to do the previous day.  I ended up not leaving school until 6 pm, and after my 11 hour work day, I didn't exactly get much done.  I woke up around 10 pm that night still with my clothes on, my light on, and the book I had been reading tossed aside on the floor.

But now it is Saturday, and I am curled up in the hammock as I type this, trying to regain feeling in my legs from my morning bike ride up and down these hills.

I believe I left off my civic week entry with Thursday evening's events.  

Friday morning was the running of the torch; or, it was supposed to be.  The event was cancelled as a result of the September 5th earthquake.  Since the earthquake the ferry, which is the primary means to access the Nicoyan Peninsula where I live, has been inoperable.  The water levels dropped significantly, and the ramp was also in need of repair.  

A bit of history about the torch:  I am going to pre-apologize if any of my facts are wrong, because I am just learning all of this, too.  The independence torch is a national symbol of freedom in Costa Rica.  When the Central American countries declared independence from Spain in 1821, the letter carrying the message of new-found independence left Guatemala and ended in Costa Rica.  

It has become a tradition that the schools in Central America emulate the path of the mail carrying the news of independence back in 1821.  The torch actually didn't arrive in Costa Rica until a month after the declaration of independence, but each year throughout semana cívica students run with the torch from school to school.

I was super excited about this event that our small school had the honor of participating, and I was equally disappointed once I learned that it would be cancelled.  Well, enter the police force of Cóbano:  although the official torch could not arrive without the ferry, the police force arranged for an unofficial running of the torch to keep the tradition alive.

Friday morning of September 14th, several students from the school met at city hall in Cóbano and began the relay from the municipalidad to the school.  Since I have walked it multiple times, let me tell you, that is no short distance!  Those of us at school waited and waited for the torch to arrive.  It was estimated to take about an hour to get from the city hall to school, so the teachers gathered all the students into the lunch room and anxiously waited.

As my students were responsible for the acto cívico of the day, I volunteered to stand down at the end of the driveway to keep a lookout for the torch.  I could hear it before I saw it.  Rounding the corner and kicking up dust along the road, the police truck led the way with its siren going.  Right behind the police truck, was our school Director driving and honking his car horn.  Behind his vehicle was the group of red faced, sweaty students still running.  Behind them, a group of police men ran along, and finally a small caravan of school parents drove their cars and honked along. The torch was passed off one last time before running it up the drive and into the comedor where the rest of the students were waiting.  

waiting...

here they come

getting closer

last leg of the relay

that's my student holding the torch!

almost...

running it into the comedor, with the flag waiting

As I mentioned before, Friday was fifth and sixth grades' turn to lead the acto cívico.  We were assigned to explain the symbolism and importance of the torch.  Thank goodness my co-teacher who teaches Spanish and Social Studies to my students is Costa Rican.  She always keeps me informed.  If not, I would have been googling away.  She prepared a little blurb for one of the students to read in Spanish.  I translated it for one of my students to read in English.  The previous day, we got crafty and made little torches from construction and crepe papers.

cute, right?

Our acto cívico was short and sweet.  The students put the torch in a special torch-holder (not sure the official name), and were recognized for their job well run.  No pun intended.

Then we sang the 3 patriotic hymns, and said the pledge.  

And then two of my students read the story of the torch.  

Like I said, short and sweet. Unlike this blog entry.

Friday night, September 14th, was supposed to be a parade with faroles (lanterns).  All the children in town make their own paper lanterns and walk from city hall back to the community gym while singing the national anthem.  The lanterns are lit with candles at 6 pm and this is symbolic of the meeting held in a Guatemalan plaza the eve of the declaration of independence.  That meeting was lit by candles.

I was very excited about taking part in such a unique tradition, and once more disappointed when the announcement came that the lantern parade had been cancelled.  Again, we can blame this on the earthquake.  We have had so many tremors and shakes since September 5th that the city officials did not want to have children and families out walking with lit flames in case of another quake.  First their decision was to change the time from 6 pm to 2 pm in the afternoon and just ask everyone in the town to turn off the lights (what about the sun?), but it was then decided it would be safer to cancel it all together.  Can we say thank goodness?  Because that was the day at 1:57 pm a 4.1 shook us with the epicenter only one kilometer from this house.   Three minutes before the time that we would have been about to start the lanterns.  Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

Saturday morning, the actual day of Independence, Cóbano holds a parade, so the students donned their uniforms once more and the preschoolers dressed in their cute Trip the Worm costumes again.  The preschool students rode in a float. The honor students marched behind, leading the way for a banner held by each grade.  The teachers marched alongside their students who held the banner.

Of course the parade started on Tico Time, and the sun wasn't taking it easy on us.  The teachers had to wear our school polos and jeans because apparently jeans are the only pants we all had in common...I know it's "winter here", but 29 degrees Celsius may as well be summer.  We also were given these red scarf things to tie around us, because its part of the typical clothing of this area.

with my Tica sister before leaving for the parade .  She was an honor student!

I took plenty of pictures while WAITING for the parade to start

The fancy banner for our school.  Ohh-la-la

another float.  Don't let those "rain clouds" fool you.  

so thankful for a recently hired American teacher/ new friend :)

I let Jorge choose between my sunglasses and the hat.

precious pre-school on their float.

yay!  The 5th grade banner.

stopped for a bit in el centro

Despite the heat, it was an exciting way to start the morning of my first Costa Rican Independence day.  I loved marching alongside my kiddos and waving to their parents as we passed by!

The parade followed the route of the rest of the semana cívica activities:  from city hall to the community gym.  Once we finally arrived at the gym, it was packed with townsfolk and a performance was already taking place.

no wonder the Ticos dance so well--start 'em young!

I went back outside to watch the remainder of the parade while waiting for my complimentary plate of arroz con pollo.  

The color guard is a little bit different here...the flags don't spin.  I guess more of an honor guard.

And last but not least, the animals:  I guess so the other parade marchers wouldn't step in their poo.

neighhhh

an old coffee cart

That is the end of my longgggggg two-part blog entry about civic week in Costa Rica.  Yes it was a montón of extra activities throughout the week, but I loved every bit of it.  I'm just trying to soak up every little bit of culture I can while I'm still here.

¡Fín!

¡Semana Civica!

This week has been a very interrupted week because it was semana civica, civic week.  September 15th is Costa Rican Independence Day.  Instead of celebrating this holiday with barbecues, beer, and fireworks, Costa Rica goes back to its roots.  Although the actually independence day is only on the fifteenth, the entire week leading up to Independence day is celebrated with daily acto civicos in the schools and symbolic festivities at night.  Despite more ground-shaking, I have had a great time this week learning about the history of the country in which I now live.

Every morning, just after the first bell, the students and staff of Futuro Verde gathered in front of the flag pole for an acto civico.  The students lined up by grade and sang the patriotic hymns, said the pledge and listened to the outdoor lesson for the day.

Each day a different teacher and grade was responsible for organizing and planning the events.  On Monday the preschool shared the importance of Costa Rica's independence by looking adorable, singing the anthem, and having their teacher read a short story.  Tuesday, first and second grade educated us on the history and evolution of the Costa Rican flag.  On Wednesday, third and fourth grade recounted the history of the Costa Rican shield.  Thursday, was a practice run for Thursday night's presentation in the community gym (more on that later), and on Friday, the wonderful 5th and 6th grade students led the students in staff in welcoming the torch to our tiny campus.

In addition to the acto civicos, each class took part in decorating the school.  The students brought in flags, shields, streamers, and anything red, white, and blue.  It wasn't just our school that was adorned in the national colors all week; each of the little bakeries and tiny shops around town were equally festive.

"window" decorations in 6th grade

above the board in my 6th grade room

All of the guide teachers were responsible for their class's creation of a pancarta (banner) for the cumulating event of semana civica:  a parade on Saturday morning, the actual independence day.  I am the guide teacher for fifth grade.  That basically just means that I am the 5th grade teacher, but I also teach the English language subjects to 6th grade.  I was right in my element getting ready for the parade!  I love getting crafty, so it was great being able to get a bit messy (or messier than usual) while making our banner.  My kids came up with the phrase "nuestra tolerancia y cultura" to put on the banner.  They wanted to make a flag to go on the banner, so I suggested that the entire banner be colored like a flag.  And to make it more personal, I thought they should use their handprints.

being silly with my boys!

in progress

ta-da!

And for everyone who thought all of those years of color guard and marching band would be useless after high school graduation...wrong!  The director asked me to lead marching practice during the week.  I reverted back to my days as LMHS color guard captain.  I have to say, from our first practice on Monday until today, there was a lot of improvement.  Monday we had shuffling feet and swinging arms.  By the end of the week we had strong, straight arms and marching feet.  Not to say that everyone was on the same beat, but one step at a time.  Turns out the teachers had to march in the parade too!  But more on the parade later.

Thursday night we all gathered in the community gym in Cóbano.  Our school was leading the performances of the night and also selling the typical Costa Rican foods as a fundraiser.  The night started out with a group of policemen singing and playing guitars.  You know the crime is low if that's what the police do here!

Later the children's string orchestra played a few songs.  The big open gymnasium wasn't the best venue to hear strings play, but I still enjoyed it.  A few of my students play and it was neat seeing their talent at such a young age!

The main performance of the night was put on by our school.  It was sort of like a fashion show of the traditional clothing and traditions throughout Costa Rica's history and nearly every student in the school participated.  The students came out in groups modeling their clothing while a recording played over the loudspeaker explaining the clothing and tradition that was particular to a region at a certain time.  Then the students lined up in the front and music played while they showed off their personalities a bit.  Here's a look:

First Communion

introduction of black

scarves and dancing

typical machete

I don't know if I've mentioned this before but nearly everyone has a machete here.  It's like an essential item.  If you have a car, it is not uncommon to have a machete in your trunk.  Some men just wear them through their belt loops.  How else would you be able to chop open a coconut when you are away from home?!

At the end of the show, all of the performers came out together to take a bow.  Here they are:

Later in the evening, the preschoolers presented the "Story of Trip the Worm."  One of the little girls' moms is a seamstress so they all had little costumes on.  The story was about a worm who looked different than all of the rest;  none of the green worms wanted to be friends with Trip because he was spotted.  Trip was traveling, hence the name, and explained that back home all the worms have spots.  So one little green worm took a chance with Trip and before you know it all of the green worms have accepted Trip and the forest is happy.  The story just made my heart melt.  Here is a little clip of it:

This blog author is tired, but I'm not finished writing about all of this week's festivities so this post will be continued at a later date.

Plate Tectonics.

I guess the plates only needed the green light from Marino Protti in order to start moving again.  Because since my last blog post on Tuesday, I cannot begin to count how many earthquakes or aftershocks or tremors, whatever you want to call them, that we have had.  Six today, three of which were strong enough to be felt.  I hate it when they are during the night.  Today one of them occurred at school.  I was on a break talking to another American teacher.  I was standing and she was sitting.  She immediately jumped up and held each other until our heart rates slowed down a bit.  We talked about how much anxiety this is causing.  It seems she is like me in that every single movement she thinks is the beginning of an earthquake.  

About an hour and a half ago, we had another strong one.  Another advantage to living with ticos is that no one understands me when I inadvertently shout a profanity.  It felt strong and longer than some, so we checked the online registry.  It was a 4.1 and the epicenter was only 1 km from this house.  I walk through here when I go on walks.  Thank the Lord I hadn't had my afternoon coffee and decided to go exercise yet today.  I haven't walked or gone on a bike ride since last week's earthquake.  No thank you.  

You know what is ironic?  I had just finished a unit on earthquakes before last Wednesday's quake.  Well played Mother Nature, well played.  Next week we will wrap up a chapter on Volcanoes.  Let's not get any ideas Mother Nature... We don't need to add volcanoes to the mix.

Día de los niños

Can some one please tell me why the USA does not have a Children's Day as a national holiday?!  I mean there's mother's day and father's day, but we don't have a children's day.  I think when I was younger I asked my parents this very question and they responded "everyday is children's day."  Very true.  But here in Costa Rica, Día de los niños (Children's Day)  is a legitimate holiday.  Whattttt????  That's right.  Why did I not know this when I was still a child????

This past Sunday was children's day, and we had a nice fun day planned for this past Friday.  But with the earthquake and school being cancelled, it had to be rescheduled until Monday, and then rescheduled again to today because of the clown's schedule.  Yes, there was a clown.  The parents who planned the children's day activities went all out and it was FANTASTIC!

decorations in the lunch room

There were 10 stations and each teacher was in charge of one station.  The students were then put in groups.  The older students were each paired up with a younger student.  At first I thought that might not go over so well, but it was neat to see the high school kids helping the pre-schoolers with the different activities. The kids had 20 minutes at each station before rotating to the next.

There was face painting, several relays, sock puppet making.  Obviously I'm forgetting a few stations...

I was in charge of the cupcake decorating station.  Don't for a second think that I was assigned to decorate cupcakes.  Oh no, I definitely volunteered for that one!  I haven't seen a cupcake since.....ummm....I really don't know.  I was thinking it was July when I was last home in the US, but I actually don't recall a reason that I would have eaten a cupcake.  Not that I would actually need to justify eating a cupcake.  We can just say it's been too long for me to remember.

Station 9: CUPCAKES!!!

I'm quite certain I had one of the messiest stations there was.  It's a close call between cupcake decorating and face painting.  And why I chose to wear white shorts today when I'm dealing with icing?  Don't know.  Did I mention the icing was CREAM CHEESE?!  My favorite.

num num num

There was a bubble machine, and a popcorn machine, and the clown was making cotton candy, and, and, and, and, and.  Yes, I am just as hopped up on sugar right now as the kids were.  And we had pizza delivered for lunch.  And it was really good.  And I ate four pieces.  Because I didn't want to waste the leftovers. And we had french fries. And then we got treat bags and they had candy.  Yes, we, because the teachers got them, too.  The director said this morning that this day was not just for the students, because we are all children at heart.  Agreed.

some of my babies

trying to fill the bucket one spoon of water at a time

juggling of some sort

sock puppet!

the clown made hearts for all the girls and swords for the boys

one of the performers

or small,
it was fun for all!

BIG

Earthquake update:  we have been waiting of some special geologist, by the name of Marino Protti who works at el Observatoria Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica to finish his study regarding last Wednesday's earthquake.  There was a press conference today at 11, but since I was working at that time (if you want to call it work or play) I didn't get to watch the press conference.  I  read an article about it online though.  Apparently Costa Rica had been waiting for a BIG earthquake in the Nicoyan Peninsula for some time.  Protti's study was to clarify if last week's earthquake was the one that CR had waited for.  Now I know you can't exactly predict earthquake's, but since Costa Rica is right on edge of the Cocos plate and the Caribbean plate seismic activity is common.  Quite some time had passed since an earthquake had occurred in this region, so pressure had built up in the subduction zone of the plates and it was only a matter of time until it was released.  

So, the results:  The 7.6 magnitude earthquake at 8:42 in the morning on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, was indeed the anticipated large-magnitude quake.  That is the good news.  

Now, the not so good news.  Only 40% of the energy that had built up along these two plates was released in last Wednesday's earthquake.  That means there is still 60% of energy waiting to be released.  

What the study can't tell us is how or when the other 60% will be released.  Will there be another large earthquake, two smaller ones, or more frequent tremors?  When will this seismic activity occur:  tomorrow, a year from now, 5 years, 50 years?

Just wanted to write a quick update.  The aftershocks had finally started to slow down until we had another earthquake yesterday!  A 5.6 at 2:29 pm.  We turned on the news immediately and the epicenter of this one was also in Sámara.  (This is the beach town where I studied Spanish at last year. )

The news has said that this could go on for about 3 weeks, and to expect another earthquake that is at least a 6, until all of the energy is released from the subduction zone.  Well I hope the Costa Rican news crews are just like those of Florida when it comes to hurricanes:  "hunker down!  this is going to be a big one!"  and then the hurricane turns and misses Florida altogether.

So far, since yesterday's quake we have not felt any movement at all.  Not even any aftershocks followed the earthquake yesterday.  Maybe it is all done now.  I sure hope so.

We did have a crazy aguacero yesterday.  It POURED rain for 6 whole hours.  No lie.  I guess that's not much different from Florida, though.  One of the bridges from Cóbano flooded out yesterday making it completely un-driveable.  (That shouldn't be a surprise if you read my description of the dinky bridges in one of my previous posts).  The river was rushing over the bridge so you couldn't even tell what was the road and what was the river.

Tomorrow is our first day back to school since last Wednesday's earthquake.  Let's pray that the seismic activity does not start again so that this teacher can stay calm for her kiddos.

This coming week is semana civica because Costa Rican independence day is on Saturday.  Throughout the entire week we have activities at school, a few activities after school in town and on Saturday a parade.  So a super busy week for us all at school.

Buenas noches.

Earth-shaking Update!

I wish I could say that I just woke up from a very long nightmare.  That's what I feel like, but this is no bad dream.  Yesterday, at 8:42 am the ground started crumbling beneath me, literally.  That is when the 7.6 magnitude earthquake shook the Nicoyan Peninsula.

I was in my fifth grade class in the middle of a math lesson.  I had just propped myself on top of the table while my kids were copying something down.  I felt the table shake lightly so I said "está temblando."  Tremors are common and somewhat frequent since we are situated on top of the Cocos and Caribbean plate boundaries.  A lot of times these tremors go unnoticed, but I tend to feel them since I am not accustomed to them.

Anyways, I thought I felt a tremor so I got off the table and told the kids and that's when it really started.  I honestly don't remember what I said,  but I got all of the kids out of the classroom and I ran out behind them.

The ground was like jello and people could barely stand.  I felt like I was running at a 45 degree angle to the ground.  I remember seeing the swing-set swaying as the ground buckled beneath it.  It seems like it took me forever to run just that short distance because it was so hard to move with all the movement beneath me, but once I finally stopped I had two crying kids wrapped around my waist who weren't even my students.  I was looking at one of the buildings and how it was moving and thinking 'this really is not happening.'

It seemed to last forever, it really did, but within minutes after the quake ended cars rushed into the school and flustered parents bursted out of said cars looking for the students.  I'll be honest:  I was wishing my momma was there to wrap me in her arms also.  I couldn't stop shaking for several hours.

Maybe ten minutes after the quake, a caravan of cars and trucks loaded with people began passing the school.  They are coming from the direction of Montezuma and toward Cobano.  Someone hangs up a phone and says that Montezuma is now under a tsunami warning.  Our school is high enough that we didn't need to be concerned, but it was still quite alarming to me.

Needless to say classes were cancelled for the rest of the day, all the children had gone home and the town was without electricity and water.  (We are still without water...)  The teachers had a little meeting to survey the damage and discuss the natural disaster and how it was handled.  Other teachers were saying that this was the strongest earthquake they had ever felt!  That is coming from Costa Rican natives who are somewhat used to quakes--so imagine how strong it felt for me!  I did experience one earthquake last year when I was studying in Heredia.  It was my first one and was strong at the time (I think a 5 something), but it was nothing compared to this monster!

We have had countless after shocks since yesterday morning.  Last night we were all having a candle-light dinner and the table starting shaking.  We listened on the radio and that was a 3 something on the richter scale.  We all slept in the same room last night and everytime there was a tremor I would gasp and then hear "tranquila Morgan."  I don't know who was more scared, me or the 9 year old.  Last night was definitely a time where I was very thankful to live with a host family.   I kept checking the time and I may have dozed off once or twice.  I was shaken awake, though, at 3:07 am.  Come to find out, that 3 am "tremor" was more of another earthquake than a tremor because it rang in at a 5.1 on the richter scale.

Just felt another one.  I'm still so nervous.  Just when you think it's over, there's more.  I heard on the news that the tremors could continue for several weeks!  Also it is possible that we could have another severe earthquake in this area in the coming month or two.  That's not for geologists to decide though.  Only God knows.

By the way, I'm at home because the President of Costa Rican cancelled all schools in Cobano and several nearby towns for the rest of the week until all school can be inspected for structural damage.  Wouldn't exactly call it a day off though because my Principal has called me 3 times already today.  I was supposed to be getting work together for two students who are going out of town.  I'm not a complete procrastinator to the point that I hadn't done it.  I had their packets ready, but in all of the craziness yesterday, I completely neglected to give them to them.

So against my wishes, I had to venture into town.  I was to meet the parents in front of the copy store because they needed to copy a few pages from the textbooks.  I also needed to pick up the copies I had sent in on Monday.  (Remember, the school doesn't have a copy machine).  The copy store always delivers the copies to school for us, and mine were due back yesterday, but clearly that did not happen.

Anyways, I went into the copy shop and I couldn't believe my eyes.  The entire ceiling had fallen down and ceiling tiles were everywhere.  It made everything so real again.

From watching the news, I learned that yesterday's earthquake was the second strongest that has ever affected Costa Rica.  The shocking part is that as strong as the quake was, the damage was relatively minor.  Things could have been a whole lot worse.

I think it is tremoring again right now.  Or I'm feeling things.  I'm honestly not sure.

Here are a few pictures I took after things stopped moving:

my 5th grade classroom

next door in 9th grade

two rooms down in first grade

 Back at home, everything was in disarray.  Things were all over the floor, and many glass things broke.  A tv fell and cracked.  Milk flew off the counter and many of the kitchen cabinets were emptied out.  My bed (a heavy beast) was moved out of place and the contents of my bathroom were tossed about.  Water splashed out of the toilet, too.  Yuck.  A few cracks, but thankfully no major structural damage.

portions of the cement wall between us and the neighbors came tumbling down, knocking a tree down too

22 candles.

I have been here, there, and everywhere except my computer to write a blog post.  The simplicity of life here is so great.  It is such a change to be "unplugged" but a good one at that.  There are days that I don't turn my computer on at all, and I neglect my cell phone even more.  You can usually find me swinging in a hammock with my nose in my kindle.

I was on a mini staycation so blogging was not on my mind and when I returned I  neglected work, such as exam writing, to catch up on.  Two weeks ago I got the best birthday present ever, but I had to wait until 8 pm to pick it up from the bus station--nothing happens fast around here.  My momma, my poppa, and my tía Barbara came to visit me!

We had a blast. Or at least I did.  They didn't much care for the humidity and lack of air conditioning.  Now they know my new way of life, though.

I was thinking back to last year on my birthday I did something I had never imagined I would do:  I got my first tattoo!  That was so adventurous for me, but I didn't do anything daring this year.  Then I realized, HELLO!  Morgan you have taken a huge leap of faith and are living and working in in a foreign country!  Now if that doesn't rate high on the list of "craziest things Morgan has ever done," then I don't know what does.

throwback to 2011

We stayed in this beautiful house for the week while my family was here.  It was right on the ocean in Montezuma.  The house is a two-story with the bedrooms upstairs.  There ended up being a twin sized bed on the porch upstairs that I claimed.  Aside from the mosquitoes, it was so nice sleeping outside and having the sound of the ocean lull me to sleep.  ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz!  And the sunrise!  A written explanation can not do it justice.  I only got bit by one spider (YIKES!) and it wasn't even while I was sleeping outside.

Casa Sol, our home in Montezuma for the week

view from the house!

I got to show my parents and aunt some of my favorite places and spaces, and introduce them to typical Costa Rican cuisine.  They now know the little town that is the center of it all, my school, and the people and house that I've come to call my home away from home.

first found this rock last year; such a peaceful place to sit

I think what most surprised them was the trip getting here.  No, not the 2 hour 45 minute direct flight with airconditioning and snack.  It's the half-day journey to get down here to Cóbano.  Getting from the airport to the correct bus station in downtown San Jose, then taking the bus, the ferry, more bus, stopping in Cobano, unloading your luggage and switching busses to finally arrive in Montezuma.  Oh and then pulling the luggage up the hill on the unpaved road to finally arrive at the hotel.  No need to take a taxi when you have legs that work, right?!

I obviously don't live in the hotel, so I can cut the last part about getting to Montezuma out of my personal travel itinerary.  Nonetheless, it is quite a trek to get all the way down here in the Southern Nicoya peninsula.  I guess I should be a little proud of myself for having now done that trip two times by myself.  I kind of felt like a pro, making sure my family had their luggage off the bus and that we switched to the correct bus after we met in Cobano.  It does make things a whole bunch easier that I speak Spanish, too.

On my actual birthday I had to work, but it was so nice of the country of Costa Rica to make the day after my birthday a national holiday.  I really do appreciate it, Costa Rica.  My students sang to me in five different languages!  (I really don't know how they knew it was my birthday because I didn't tell them...)  When I woke up my host family stood outside my door and serenaded me with Cumpleaños Feliz and my host mom baked a tres leches cake, which was to die for!

My "sisters" and I with the yummy peach tres leches cake

This post is so out of order because it follows my train of thought!  Where was I?  August 2nd, I had the day off from school so we basically just spent the day in Cobano.  I gave them the grand tour that lasted all of 5 minutes.  Cobano is just soooo BIG. not.  But we saw iguanas just chilling.  It's funny how used to iguanas I am now.  Yea, that's an iguana running across the road.  Nonetheless it was fun to "play tourist" and whip out my camera.

To the left you see the center of town. That is the only four way intersection in these parts.  Do you see any traffic lights? Me either.







And to your right we have the local post office on the left half of the building and  police station on the right.






Then Thursday night we went downtown Montezuma for dinner and a movie at Sano Banano.  The closest movie theater is about 3 1/2 hours away, so you go to the restaurant  instead because they show a movie every night at 7.

belated-birthday dinner

Friday I had to work again and do some errands in town before heading back to Montezuma for the night.  Saturday I woke up outside and it was so bright I thought for sure it must be at least 10 am.  Nope, it was 6 something.  Why not get up and enjoy where we are at?!  We sipped our coffee, laced up our tennis shoes, and applied the sunblock and bug spray.  We headed to the cataratas.  (waterfalls).  It had been a while since I had made the trek, and I can't say it was a complete success.  I definitely missed my fearless Aggie leading the way.

I didn't remember being on any sort of trail when I hiked this last year.  I'm climbing over rocks looking back at my dad and aunt crawling on their hands and knees.  When my mom saw a trail above us I figured I just didn't remember the trail from last year.  So we crawled back over the rocks and hoisted ourselves up onto the slippery red clay.

Well I should have trusted my instinct.  Turns out the trail did not lead where I wanted to go.  The trail led up, up, up and I am not so fond of heights.  It led to a point across from the top of the waterfall.  If we would have not taken the trail we would have ended up at the pool at the bottom of the waterfall; however, the view from the top was spectacular also!

this only shows the top two-thirds or so of the fall!

After nearly killing my family on the climb, I led them on yet another adventure on this fine Saturday morning.  We took a bus to Mal Pais/ Santa Teresa.  What do you mean a bus ride is not an adventure?  I am soooo glad I do not have to make that trip from Mal Pais to Cobano everyday...what was I thinking when I was considering moving there?!  40 minutes on a bus, up and down those rocky mountainy roads.  The bridges.  That's what gets me everytime.  The bridges are maybe a foot wider than the width of a bus.  And that's a generous estimate.  And there are no guard rails on these bridges.  I'm getting nervous just typing this.  Uhh.

The bus ride back from Mal Pais wasn't 40 minutes, just 30.  Is the trip back shorter, you ask?  No, it's not.  The bus driver clearly wasn't getting paid by the hour.  We sat in the back of the bus, and I think we all have a little brain damage now.  One of my friends was further up toward the front of the bus and she asked me later, why were you guys screaming back there?  We were flying around, that's why.  I think that bus ride is something you won't understand until you've done it.

Sunday we were supposed to go to Isla de Tortuga and I was so excited because it is soooo pretty there.  It was a gorgeous day, too.  Our trip got cancelled though, because the seas were too rough.  Makes me wonder how our trip was not cancelled last year....

Tortuga trip in 2011

Monday, back to school back to school.  Are you bored of reading this blog post yet?
Can you tell I'm kind of bored of writing it?

Where was I?  Monday.  Oh yes.  My family met me at work to see the school and meet my students.  I really enjoyed that.  Now they have can put faces to names when I tell stories, and they can see where I spend 40 hours of my life each week.

Mom and I on the playground (classrooms behind us)

My kids are still talking about when mi familia came to visit.  The funniest thing was the day after my parents came to school, one of my boys asked me "is your dad a police officer?"  "No, why?"  Turns out they were quite intimidated by him, his serious demeanor, and his size!  My boys started flexing their muscles and one boy made this serious face that [until then] only my dad can make--lower the chin, furrow the eyebrows, and gaze upward.  Oh children......

my 5th grade class--just so cute!

So after reading this, who else is ready to come visit me?!  Any takers??? I wish I could share this wonderfulness I have found with each of you in person, but until then I will have to share it with ya'll through this blog.

Thanks for reading!